Chase the money, but at what cost?
So, I’m not close to being a billionaire. Or even a millionaire. However, I’d like to make a lot of money in the future. Wouldn’t we all? But is there a limit to how much money someone should be allowed to make? Should there be?
Someone I know made the argument that one can’t be an ethical billionaire. In other words, someone can’t reach a net worth of one billion dollars without doing some shady stuff along the way. Now, I do think it’s possible to be rich and be a virtuous person. However, most of the people at the top of the financial mountain aren’t exactly the best people alive. I’m not in a position to judge anyone, but it’s no secret that billionaires can engage in unethical practices: from dodging taxes to extorting their employees. Billionaires often make their wealth through owning shares in large corporations, corporations which make profits through exploiting workers and natural resources.
Now, I’m not aiming to be a billionaire. Several million dollars will do for me. Maybe fifty million. But some people want to be super rich. They want mansions, sports cars, private jets and the like. Is there anything wrong with wanting these things? I don’t think so. Having a McLaren would be awesome. Staying in five-star hotels? Sweet! If you’re willing to work for a billion dollars, then by all means, go for it. Personally, I don’t think there should be a limit to how much money people make, so long as they do it ethically and legally. Unfortunately, lots of billionaires…don’t.
The issue lies when people see wealth as an end in itself. People can become so greedy, so money-hungry, that they forget about others. They only focus on chasing more money, instead of being grateful for what they already have and using their resources to help those in need. Helping people, looking out for each other, is what makes us human. Once people forget that, they become less human.
So, I don’t have a problem with billionaires. I have a problem with people struggling to put food on the table. I have a problem with public funds being embezzled. I have a problem with families not being able to afford to send their children to school. If you are financially well-off, that is a privilege that not many have. Those who have more should help those who don’t have enough.