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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s contract. You sign today, win 3 play-off game and your bonus is \u2026.., but if we win the championship your bonus is this \u2026\u2026\u2026 They weren\u2019t 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\u2019t think so. They weren\u2019t promised a salary bonus, new house or luxury car. They weren\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is it to take, take, take, trash, trash, trash and leave it to others to pick up when you\u2019re gone? Or is it to take, take, take, give, give, give, and support, support, support others so that when you\u2019re gone, the Town, State, Country and World you live in continues & thrives. Is that your legacy. I\u2019ve mentioned this conversation before. The one I had with a taxpayer who couldn\u2019t understand why he needed to vote to increase his taxes to build a new school in his district. His argument was \u201cI went to a one room schoolhouse, only had this, didn\u2019t have that, and I came out ok\u201d. My only response was this; \u201cmy parents didn\u2019t 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\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m all about making money, having a good life and enjoying good things. Maybe my outlook on those good things isn\u2019t as grandiose as others. Typically, people in general say how important the little things in life are. How it doesn\u2019t 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\u2019t be working full-time, giving a younger person a chance to work. I\u2019d still volunteer my time and efforts where I could. Maybe that\u2019s 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\u2019s operation at Nemours or to replenish a low blood supply. Maybe that\u2019s my purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t get me wrong, I don\u2019t think we should distribute wealth in some willy nilly way. I also don\u2019t 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\u2019s American!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe then everyone can find their greater purpose!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"