I should have written this post over Memorial Day, but hell I was relaxing and enjoying the extra day off like everyone else. I was also thinking of many other things and forgot to write. Then all the banter over politics and the wealthy snapped me back to reality.
I thought to myself why did so many Americans stand up to fight during WWII and in subsequent conflicts. Did they do it because there was some big pay day at the end of the war. Similar to a professional athlete’s contract. You sign today, win 3 play-off game and your bonus is ….., but if we win the championship your bonus is this ……… They weren’t told, if we stop the Germans from invading France & Britain, yow will get 30 days extra pay. If we push the Germans out of Poland and defeat Hitler, then you get an extra 6-month bonus. Nope don’t think so. They weren’t promised a salary bonus, new house or luxury car. They weren’t even promised that they would return home alive. But they did it. They did it because they believed in our constitution. They did it because they believed others should live free. They did it because they wanted to leave the world a better place than when they arrived.
So, what’s your purpose? Is your purpose to bring pleasure to people with your music, writing, speeches or art. Is it to help others solve problems or work through tough issues. Are you a counselor, lawyer, doctor, architect, designer? What do you care so deeply about?
Is it to take, take, take, trash, trash, trash and leave it to others to pick up when you’re gone? Or is it to take, take, take, give, give, give, and support, support, support others so that when you’re gone, the Town, State, Country and World you live in continues & thrives. Is that your legacy. I’ve mentioned this conversation before. The one I had with a taxpayer who couldn’t understand why he needed to vote to increase his taxes to build a new school in his district. His argument was “I went to a one room schoolhouse, only had this, didn’t have that, and I came out ok”. My only response was this; “my parents didn’t have a lot. They gave me everything & every opportunity they could, with what they had. I believed it was my responsibility to give my kids and those who may be making decisions for us in the future, the best tools and resources I could”.
I’m all about making money, having a good life and enjoying good things. Maybe my outlook on those good things isn’t as grandiose as others. Typically, people in general say how important the little things in life are. How it doesn’t matter how much money you have when you lose the things closets to you. I often wonder if folks can really live what they say. I wonder when is enough, enough. I have a house (2,000 sf) with a yard. The house could be a little bigger, maybe 300sf. I would like a pool, but I have beaches and water close by for now. We do have a vacation place near a pond, so I have water there. Everyone in my family is healthy. We are blessed. I mean if I had $10 million in the bank, all our debt would be paid. I probably wouldn’t be working full-time, giving a younger person a chance to work. I’d still volunteer my time and efforts where I could. Maybe that’s it. Ten Million dollars is the mark. No, make it $20 mill, just for some cushion. I know I would still be donating blood (O neg – 9 gallons and counting). It feels good to be called when they need whole blood for a child’s operation at Nemours or to replenish a low blood supply. Maybe that’s my purpose.
If we set the limit of $20 million dollars max (yea you could use something higher if you like, I think it would still work), then the remainder goes into a fund to pay for healthcare, schooling, help the homeless and feed the hungry. Our society would be healthier, happier, and we would be putting money back into the economy with our spending. Just looking at social security for now. Social Security tax is paid on the first $175,000 in income. Anyone making over $175K does not pay SS tax on that income. This country is losing millions of dollars in income, that could, and I venture to say would make the SS system solvent. Is Jeff Bezos’ purpose to take, take, take or should it be to take, give, take some more, give some more, then help set the country up for future success. Is Elon Musk’s purpose to take, take, take or should it be to take, give, take some more, give some more and set the country up for future success.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think we should distribute wealth in some willy nilly way. I also don’t mind those who have worked hard and made their fortune. I love those who have and still find ways to help others. I just think there is a bigger purpose in all of us that should be realized. Make your money, set yourself and your family up for success (generational wealth), but then help others. Find a purpose for what gifts and abilities you have been given. I compare it to the safety guidance we are given when flying in a plane; should the plane ever lose oxygen, please put on your mask first before helping a child or the person next to you. Make sure you are ok, then help others. That’s American!
Maybe it is me, but those who have made some of the greatest impacts on this world (Gandhi, Mother Theresa, MLK, Nelson Mandela) came from modest backgrounds. If most of the money in the country is held by the top 1% (estimated at $49.2 trillion, 30.8% of the nation’s total wealth), throw in the top 2% & 3% (for another $5 trillion give or take) for fun, you could do a shit load of good for all. So don’t get crazy when people suggest paying off student debt, paying for health care for all, feeding the hungry or housing the homeless. The money is there. Maybe we all should look at the purpose behind those who fought in WWII (who set this all in motion) and the 1% who continue to wear the uniform of this country and think about what it really means to be American.
Maybe then everyone can find their greater purpose!