The root of all Evil??
I love Rand's idea of attacking the idea behind the common phrase "money is the root of all evil." Her argument is, "what is the root of money?" (Rand, 2020) Which I would have to say is man. Money is what we use to exchange for everything and the value we use to get the things we need to live our lives the way we want. Rand alludes to money being "a token of honor-- your claim upon the energy of men who produce." (Rand, 2020) She even goes on to describe it quite poetically how money is actually quite noble because we are the true wielders of money it is us who are the corrupt ones. All of the things we make or systems we use are truly extraordinary, but it's humans who dirty it up by spending their money to manipulate and try to do evil bidding instead of using it for market exchange and being a productive citizen.
"Money will not purchase for the man who has no concept of what he wants: money will not give him a code of values, if he's evaded the knowledge of what to value, and it will not provide him with a purpose, if he's evaded the choice of what to seek." (Rand, 2020)
This brings back the age-old question of is it us or is it the object which we place power in. However, my rebuttal to that question is, what is the common denominator? People are very easy manipulated and controlled especially when it comes to objects of value. They will throw their lives away for it, we see it with drugs, sex, food, if you can derive any pleasure or enjoyment out of something there has probably been someone who abused it. With the more extreme cases you are going to see your more extreme example like with money. I like how this quote says that money doesn't put a lack of conscience and morals into people. People are the ones who become corrupt. Money just reflects our wants and how bad we want it because by weighing all the prices we choose what we want.
"The price therefore, is expressed in what is given up, which is different for each of the parties involved in the transaction." (Bylund, 2016, p. 24)
In chapter 2 Bylund discuss the exchange of value which in most terms is the exchange for money for some good or service, but Bylund is going into the process even more deep by describing how the person with the money and the labors and toils of the seller are really what make the price. It isn't the grocery stores, government, or schools. We are the ones with the influence over what we choose to give power too. I agree with both authors in their view that it's not money that is evil. Money is just the arbitrator between people so if you think money is evil then in turn it's really just people you're talking about. Bylund concludes by giving an example of a vendor being too high on their prices which just creates opportunities for other people to do it for cheaper. The point of the market price is that people will end up with what they want the most or value the most. (Bylund, 2016, p. 25) The prices within the economy help us decide which things we do want more than others.
"Cigarette's were Berlin's most sought-after currency, because they were far more valuable than the debased mark." (Tamny, 2022, p. 34)
It's funny how in America we always heard how the economy did so well after world war II, but no one thinks how the competition just had their country completely turned upside down. Of course America was doing good in the wake and financially, but war is never the answer for the economy. I believe the general accepted idea from that statement is the U.S. generates a lot of money from the equipment used by the armies, but isn't that really just redirecting government spending into stuff that will inevitably set us back as a country because we used our resources to kill one another rather than trying to improve and build our economy. This is a perfect example of what war actually does to an economy which is completely devastate it. There are so many other ways to build an economy. People suggesting that war is good for an economy is really kind of comical.
"Money will always remain an effect and refuse to replace you as the cause." (Rand, 2020)
I love this statement. In one of my other classes the other day Dr. Edwards discussed about how successful people view their problems as things they could've done better or handled better. Unsuccessful people tend to blame their environment or money. Anything or anyone but themselves. Apart of growing up and becoming a good person is accepting responsibility for actions even sometimes when it wasn't completely your fault because at the end of the day you have to control the things you can control, and if you see it as the worlds fault then you are essentially giving up.
Sources:
- Rand, A. (2020, April 13). "Francisco's money speech" by Ayn Rand. Capitalism Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://www.capitalismmagazine.com/2002/08/franciscos-money-speech/ Links to an external site.
- Bylund, P. L. (2016). Chapter 2: The Price Is Right. In Seen, the unseen, and the unrealized: How regulations affect our everyday lives (pp. 15–26). essay, Lexington Books.
- Tamny, J. (2022). Chapter 2: The Meaning of Stable Money. In The money confusion: How illiteracy about currencies and inflation sets the stage for the Crypto Revolution (pp. 29–41). essay, All Seasons Press.
- picture is from https://www.canstockphoto.com/dollar-devil-11956229.html
When talking about what the root of money is, I would have to agree with you that man is the root. With mankind being the creator of money, it would only make sense we are the root of money. However, we made it evil by
It is interesting that if there is something that gives pleasure, someone has probably abused it. With money, money itself may not cause pleasure, but what you are able to do with money is where the pleasure comes into play. Instead of using money smartly, people use to to buy drugs, weapons, excessive food, etc. which is why people say money is the root of all evil. Its not the physical paper but the results due to evil people. As you stated that money is just a reflection of the person. One may think that the prices we see on products are given by the seller, but like you said it is actually the creator and the economy, the population. We as a population are the economy, meaning we ultimately decide what has more or less value. The market place is an interesting place. Like you said, if vendors are selling too high, it gives others to do it cheaper. One way or another, people will get what they want. It may look good to the economy, but on paper and morally, war is never the answer, especially not when trying to get out of an economic slump. Sure it gives companies less competition but the money spend to get the ammunition, guns, gear, fuel, tanks, etc. is not cheap. Instead of killing foreign countries, trying to negotiate trading, or material prices seems safer and cheaper for the economy. I like how you explained that rich and poor have problems. Having money does not take away all you problems; but the rather investing in yourself. The rich blame a situation, the poor blame the economy, neither blaming themselves. So no, money is not the root of all evil, it definitely adds fuel to the fire, but men is the root of money which we make evil. Its not money but rather the true colors it brings out of an individual. Great essay and loved expanding my perspective through you writing.
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