The Addiction to Money

2009 Nov 04

Money is the life-blood of society and essential for the efficient functioning of the economy.

We pay a significant attention to the economy with inordinate amounts of data collection, statistics, analysis and forecasts to the extent of being totally overwhelmed and to a major extent, misled by inaccurate and inappropriate numbers. We have become obsessed with number crunching data that to a major part is erroneous, data such as GDP.

"Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts." - Albert Einstein

We need to take a more holistic view of the economy and less on the numbers. As with the human body, we need to pay less attention on the disease and more on what brings overall health to the mind, body and spirit.

Money has become an obsession and an addiction, not only for the individual but for all of society.

We have shifted money from being a tool, a means to an end, to become the end in itself. The problem we are faced with is the ubiquitous nature of money which, like advertising, consumerism, sexual exploitation, arrogance, aggression, corruption, violence, greed, profiteering, image, appearance, prestige, power, and wealth, does not make it valid. It is more a virus than a virtue. These have overshadowed virtues such as love, friendship, kindness, patience, tolerance, compassion, caring, sharing and generosity.

In a simple sense, money gets us the things we need and the things we want. Money can level the playing field in a fair and equitable manner.

But this ceases to be the case when we succumb to the dark side of human nature.

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© 2008 Kenrick Chin

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2008.04.04 - Updated 2008.05.15