Money Corrupts?

[Steezie]

Do you feel that money or excessive wealth is a corrupting force in people's lives?

Last week, my parents got it into thier heads to do this little family togetherness trip. We went along with my aunt and her husband to a little social gathering.

My aunt is a Nouveau Riche woman, her husbad did well in the stock market and they have a decent chunk of change now. She tends to associate with the blue-bloods (People I despise).

We went to this party and people are standing around in nice dresses and casual wear but what really struck me was how EMPTY half these people were.

I mean it was just incredible, I wouldnt buy an apple off half of them and the other half I wouldnt let them GIVE me an apple. They were haughty, rude, and just...not nice people in general. I just...cannot take people like that.

Do you feel that money is a corrupting factor in people's lives?

 

[CCGirl]

Definately. Nothing is more pathetic than some Nouveau Riche trying to look like they are comfortable with their wealth.

 

[The Nihilist]

Do you feel that money or excessive wealth is a corrupting force in people's lives?

Last week, my parents got it into thier heads to do this little family togetherness trip. We went along with my aunt and her husband to a little social gathering.

My aunt is a Nouveau Riche woman, her husbad did well in the stock market and they have a decent chunk of change now. She tends to associate with the blue-bloods (People I despise).

We went to this party and people are standing around in nice dresses and casual wear but what really struck me was how EMPTY half these people were.

I mean it was just incredible, I wouldnt buy an apple off half of them and the other half I wouldnt let them GIVE me an apple. They were haughty, rude, and just...not nice people in general. I just...cannot take people like that.

Do you feel that money is a corrupting factor in people's lives?

Not corrupting. Corruption is value-loaded. You can only say money corrupts if you believe that they were pure before, but these are nonsense words, relying on a cumbersome metaphysical model. Money may change, but it does not corrupt.
And what is this, Steezie? Is this some subtle class resentment?

 

[Garnet2727]

I would love to have the opportunity to show that loads of money wouldn't corrupt me...really.

 

[Paulos23]

Well here is my logic.

A) Power can corrupt
B) Money is a form of power
C) Therefore money can corrupt

And while I am willing to admit that power does not always corrupt, there are plenty of examples to the contrary.

 

[jayem]

Depends on the persons. My family was very middle class when I was growing up. My father sold insurance and my mother was a public school teacher. We had what we needed, but never any frills. My sister and I were sent to college, with the help of loans. But my parents saved and invested steadily over the years. When my father died 2 years ago, I was actually rather shocked to discover my folks had accumulated a net worth in the 10^6 figure range. But they still lived in the same house, (which I don't think they spent a dime on in 20 years) had one 10 year old car, and another 15 year old junker that didn't run, bought clothes at TJ Maxx, and dinner out was at a buffet place. They did do quite a bit of traveling, which I'm happy they enjoyed. But they were of the Depression generation, and I guess they believed you shouldn't spend money on frivolities, and you shouldn't put on airs. So some wealthy people take exactly the opposite tack and hide it.

 

[nvxplorer]

What definition of "corrupt" are you using? When speaking of politics, power and the like, corruption generally refers to dishonesty or lack of integrity. All I can determine from the OP is that these people are arrogant. As RecoveringPhilosopher noted, money may simply be a valve through which already-present arrogance is displayed. If you've seen a marked change in your relatives over the years, it's possible that wealth is a contributing factor, but there could be many other factors, including inherent personality traits.

Money is only a tool. It is a measure of goods and services. Being a tool, we can expect people to use it in various ways. How it is used depends more on a person's character than the quality of money itself, IMO. People are dishonest in the use of other tools as well; knowledge, intelligence, charm, physical appearance, etc. Anything can corrupt, and it all boils down to what Paulos wrote: Power.

 

[LouTheWicked]

It's not the money that corrupts, it's the people who use it.

 

[JesusWalks78]

I have more than my fair share of money, God has blessed me for my faith. I still do regular things like sew my own clothes, I dont like to hang out with the snooty people (the shallow ones).

I think it deopends on whether you were born with money. People who always had money are pretty shallow in general, I never had money growing up. I worked hard to achieve what I have achieved and I find that others like me are still just regualr guys and girls.

Also money cant corrupt, its impossible tio happen...money is just that...money. Its what lies inm the hearts of people that is corrupt.

 

[bammertheblue]

I think it depends on the people. I've known people who were rich and absolutely empty and shallow, like the OP describes. I also know people who were rich and as generous as the day is long. For example, some family friends in high school (a couple with two children, one adopted from India) were literally millionaires. They had a large house, a wine cellar and hot tub IN the house, and had a Porsche from the 1960s. Sounds annoying, right? They were literally the nicest family I'd ever met. They had an exchange student from Mexico stay with them during her senior year of high school, and while she was with them, something happened to the mexican peso (devalued or something) and her family could no longer afford to send her to college back home. The host family decided that if she wanted to, she could live with them and attend college and they would pay for her living expenses and tuition. And she did! They did this like it was nothing to them (monetarily I mean). I was amazed!
So I think it really depends on the character of the people. Money can corrupt....but it can also just be money.

 

[JesusWalks78]

I think it depends on the people. I've known people who were rich and absolutely empty and shallow, like the OP describes. I also know people who were rich and as generous as the day is long. For example, some family friends in high school (a couple with two children, one adopted from India) were literally millionaires. They had a large house, a wine cellar and hot tub IN the house, and had a Porsche from the 1960s. Sounds annoying, right? They were literally the nicest family I'd ever met. They had an exchange student from Mexico stay with them during her senior year of high school, and while she was with them, something happened to the mexican peso (devalued or something) and her family could no longer afford to send her to college back home. The host family decided that if she wanted to, she could live with them and attend college and they would pay for her living expenses and tuition. And she did! They did this like it was nothing to them (monetarily I mean). I was amazed!
So I think it really depends on the character of the people. Money can corrupt....but it can also just be money.

Thats beautiful, I try to be like that family....as a matter of fact I am making my very first adoption of a 12 year old girl on Saturday...the first of many I hope.

That family is definately using wealth as God intended....thats why they will continue to be blessed becasue God repays many times over.

 

[mahalia]

Do you feel that money is a corrupting factor in people's lives?

most certainly... or, rather "can be a corrupting factor" instead of "is a corrupting factor". i think it's more the materialism than the money, but then again, materialism can be caused by excess wealth. i know some extremely rich people who are wonderful, friendly and put hteir wealth to good use. then i know of others who are soooo materialistic, judgemental and have this air of superiority about them, and i despise that...

for me, society is placing increasing importance on wealth and less on humanity.

 

[Stinker]

Wealth is also the most powerful anesthetic in the world. It's effects on people are incredible. How do you suppose these power brokers got to the point that they think that patriotism is insignificant compared to profit? It is one small step at a time until they are no longer able to see, hear, or understand.

Ever think that we could be around more and more money and over time not be affected? It may come to the point that we no longer hear people's cries of sufferring resulting from our efforts to meet our profit margin.

 

[The Nihilist]

Stinker, what do you mean by patriotism?

 

[rambot]

It may come to the point that we no longer hear people's cries of sufferring resulting from our efforts to meet our profit margin.

This was meant to be sadly, and bitterly ironic right?

 

[mahalia]

i just thought i shoud post this - it's inspired by another thread about an AIDS vaccine...

okay, i don't know if any of you have ever heard of colonial silver, but it's a silver extract that is supposed to be able to cure a mirriad of diseases and conditions, like leukemia, the common cold, epilepsy and even considerably lessen the effect of the HI-virus on the human body.
now, you're probably wondering why such a wonder-cure isn't saving million of lives?
because pharmaceutical companies know that colonial silver would make many of them bankrupt and they will do anything to keep it off the market.

and so, the desire for money ends up preventing millions of people from enjoying full health.

 

[Garnet2727]

i just thought i shoud post this - it's inspired by another thread about an AIDS vaccine...

okay, i don't know if any of you have ever heard of colonial silver, but it's a silver extract that is supposed to be able to cure a mirriad of diseases and conditions, like leukemia, the common cold, epilepsy and even considerably lessen the effect of the HI-virus on the human body.
now, you're probably wondering why such a wonder-cure isn't saving million of lives?
because pharmaceutical companies know that colonial silver would make many of them bankrupt and they will do anything to keep it off the market.

and so, the desire for money ends up preventing millions of people from enjoying full health.

Do you mean collodial silver? If so, no conspiracy there. The stuff does not live up to all the claims.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/silverad.html

Besides, if you really believe in that stuff, you can still buy it as a food supplement. But watch out...it may do nasty things to your skin if you use to much.

 

[mahalia]

the articles that i read said collonial??? oh well.

funny had htis weird experience at work (i hate work right now) yesterday... this manager was tuning me and i said, "well y'know, you're not exactly the friendliest person, ii've never seen you smile" (and that is true) and she said... "so? i smile to my customers! i don't need to smile at you or any other customers, you don't pay me to smile at you!"

i was thinking, my girl, if you only do things when you're oaid for it then your priorities are horribly wrong. of course i didn't say htat (don't have a death wish... i think the second most scary thing in life is an angry pregnant woman)

and waiters actually get into horrible fights because, "ma'am, he's stealing my customers! i need my tips!"

 

[Vylo]

Money corrupts. But many resist that corruption. The founder of the company I work for was a great man, and his children were good people too. I won't comment on how things went from there .

 

[ChrisCountryGirl]

It's how people use their wealth. From my research, the money more people EARN, the LESS they give and help others. I find that sad.