Our Dollar, who art in Heaven

Marc talks about money in light of the stock market upheavals this week.  Gets me to thinking about our pursuit of money, ostensibly, through practical application, to support health and happiness, both of which are frequently the first casualties in the life-long race for it.

(I say this thinking of the fact that I spend 40+ hours per week at work when I'd rather be at home, which I couldn't afford if I didn't work.)

My comment on his post ended up being something I wanted to share here:

Money is the only viable global religion. Money talks any language and is so non-partisan as to be seen as welcoming compared to other, more retributive, gods. It is the one great, silent, ubiquitous beast that envelops the world with its influence.

When something significant happens at a financial arterial junction, the ramifications can't help but be felt on a national or global scale. Currencies are as varied as the peoples of the Earth, but money (never to be confused with currency) is the same the world over. A prick in her arm will be felt by the foot.

Therefore, much as money really is tangibly meaningless, we have all ascribed such importance to it that it is not.

If we could barter in health and happiness and apply some physical manifestation to be used as its currency, would that then replace money as a means of trade; be exchanged side-by-side with money; or do little more than degrade the inherent value of two things to which a physical measurement cannot be applied, nor should be?

Which reminds me, I have a couple of lotto tickets tucked into the sun visor of my truck that I ought to check the numbers on!

Comments

[Linda]

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world ... is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." - Lester Bangs

(I never said I was totally into reality. I just like the quote. And try to live it.)

[Alvis]

I'd go so far as to say that money elects our government officials and makes our laws.

[Mark]

And let's not even get started about money and religion. Which is funny, because one of the best quotes about money is from a religious text. The Bible, to be exact. 1 Timothy 6:10 reads (in KJV): For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Churches the world over have managed to botch that one pretty badly.

I love that Lester Bangs quote, Linda.

Simon, that was a nicely written piece.

[Moksha Gren]

It is many a morning that I lie in bed wishing I could find some viable contribution to society that didn't involve me getting up and leaving my wife and daughter.

I really think the current state of affairs was inevitable once we abstracted wealth. Measure wealth in cattle...and there is an upper limit of how much you can have...or at least it gets increasingly difficult to manage all that wealth. So, someone could easily say, "yeah, I'd like to have more cattle...but where would I put them?" Money on the other hand is limitless. You can always have more, dream of more, strive for more. This abstraction of wealth gave free reign to the inherent greed in humanity and we haven't been quite the same since.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating a return to perishable concrete wealth. I'm just saying once you could quickly exchange cattle wealth for non-perishable money which could be exchanged for bread instead of trading the cattle directly for bread...the stock market was pre-ordained.

[Linda]

Sorry, dollars bore me, I'm changing the subject. Beautiful banner. It's priceless.
And that pic of you up there in the hat...
It's hawt.

[cheyne]

I have no money, and I'd rather have sleep. The very sound of the word 'stock market' makes me need sleep.
I'm glad I don't have alot of money, because if I did I'd be responsible for not giving it to starving people.
I also wouldn't enjoy good food so much, and I would probably get awfully fat.
Me too, I like the pic in the hat. Nice banner.