RE: Slightly extended (was Re: [Futurework] David Ricardo, Cavema n Trade vs. Modern Trade

[Harry Pollard]

Ray,   It is probably easier to be happy. fulfilled, realize your potential, accept community responsibility, be a good parent, become historically significant, if your belly is full rather than empty.   "Income" in the sense of money (which is the way it is sensed) gets in the way of thinking. In  fact, as soon as money enters the equation, thinking often exits. A favorite question to seniors is "Who works for money?"   Everyone in the class raises a hand. So I say:   "Then why do you get rid of it as soon as you get it." (Soon, they will realize they get rid of it before they get it!)   What they work for is food, clothing and shelter. When the basics are dealt with, perhaps then they'll devote some time to the arts - such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and of course, Britney Spears.   But, before that, they have got to eat.   Harry   ******************************************** Henry George School of Social Science of Los Angeles Box 655  Tujunga  CA  91042 Tel: 818 352-4141  --  Fax: 818 353-2242 http://haledward.home.comcast.net ********************************************     From: Ray Evans Harrell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 9:23 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Slightly extended (was Re: [Futurework] David Ricardo, Cavema n Trade vs. Modern Trade Does more income equal Happiness, fulfillment, realization of human potential, community responsibility, good parenting, historical significance?     How many of the Di Medicis would you have remembered if it wasn't for Benvenuto Cellini and the other artists who did things in exchange for their wealth?   Was the importance of Verdi that he was a rich man?   How about J.P. Morgan who was said NOT to have been a rich man when he died?    How many ultimately insignificant rich people do you know who just graze and then die?    There are more poor people but I don't think significance is any more in the wealthy ULTIMATELY in terms of importance to the nation, development of the environment, etc. than in the other classes.   It would be an interesting per capita study to find out how much money the nation puts into the wealthy compared to how much intellectual, artistic and otherwise value they get back.   Where did Soros come from?    Where are all of these productive Russians coming from?     Instead the wealthy gives us Elizabeth II and George II.    Wealth is overrated in my opinion and a very poor determiner of value unless you are speaking of widgets or mineral exploitation.   Just my opinion.   Ray Evans Harrell