Getting Philisophcal [View all]
There is a post in Latest News about a Titanic Toursit sub missing. I started to comment on it there but it turned into a rant about the consequences of money. I'll paste it below. Sorry for the long post. I've had a couple drinks this morning (rough nightmares) and am feeling philosophical.
I read that was the cost of the Titanic expedition. Even if I had the money, I could think of better things to do. $250k would fund a great college scholarship at $4000k a year for a community college police officer or RN program named for my Dad & Mom. A good start to a small endowment and a legacy of helping people gain opportunity.
I've always thought if I win a $100m lottery, I'd buy a Bentley (my dream car). The wood interior and quality workmanship are unmatched. I'd probably find some classic cars from my past too. I'd build a new house, about 3800 sq feet, but custom, designed for me ($1m-$2m). I'd hire an architect to design it.
But what about the other $97m? I'd start a foundation. Grants, donations to the food bank, scholarships. Maybe an affordable housing development for workers. There is so much you can do to make the world a better place.
How much is enough?
I enjoy nice things... but there comes a time when enough is enough. I've accumulated "stuff" over the years. It's like work, though. You reach a point where the quality overcomes the quantity. When I was working it became obvious later that the money wasn't as important as the time. I don't fault rich people for achieving wealth. I do fault them for what they do with it after they get it.
That kind of describes my evolution from Republican to Democrat. I used to be focused on "stuff." How much could I get? While I've learned to appreciate quality, though, I've also learned quantity doesn't really matter anymore. You learn to realize that people matter as much as belongings. Instead of focusing so much on yourself, you recognize others.
It's about becoming a member of society. A member of humanity. It just FEELS BETTER.
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