|
I used to be disgusted by materialism and greed, when I was in college, but my first job out of school washed my naivete away. It paid well but it was awful, and not because I had a bad boss (I had two, one good and one bad) but also because we were treated horribly by clients. They didn't respect us or our work at all. Why? Because they had money. No other reason. The fact that my job there was better than what 90% of people have (good pay and shitty conditions, when the norm is low pay and shitty conditions) made it clear that, unfortunately, money matters a fucking lot. If you don't have it, you can end up in jobs like that. So yeah, getting at least comfortable is a high priority for me and pretty much everyone else in this lost generation. Besides, long-term career mentoring is gone in most companies and no one listens to a smart person with good ideas unless he's rich, so what is there to expect from work other than a swing at owning one's life? Excessive greed is idiotic, like a mental illness. We'd call a guy with 300 cats insane, and not want kids around someone who has a different sexual partner every day, but someone who works 100 hours per week to chase inordinate amounts of money he doesn't need is lauded as a hero. That, I'll agree, is a pathology. On the other hand, moderate greed is (very unfortunately) a survival trait in this morally crippled, creatively desolate, fiercely individualistic world. That said, though I want to be rich, it's mainly because of the positive things I could do for the world, not what I would take from it. I can't ever see why I would want a private jet. If I had the money, I'd rather invest it in something that can make others' lives better-- maglev transport, green energy-- than fly around in absurdly ridiculous comfort as opposed to the merely ridiculous comfort of international first class. Besides, I'll probably marry my current girlfriend-- she's quite awesome-- so I have no interest in the "party" culture or impressing women, and I'm too abrasive to have a shot in politics, so what exactly would I need to be a billionaire for? |