“money Isn’t Important to Me” ~ Really?

When someone says, “Money isn’t important to me”, or “I don’t do it for the money”, you know they have no money. People who have earned their money and created wealth understand the importance of money. They would never say that money is not important. People who have inherited wealth and live off someone else’s hard work often don’t understand money – they might know how to spend it but not how to make it. Money is what pays for our food, clothing, transport, education, medical care and housing – how could it not be important?

I talked with a man who told me that money is unimportant to him. I asked him who paid for the medical assistance he receives, the clean environment he enjoys, the fire trucks and ambulances and police that will arrive at his door within minutes should he dial 911… He replied that the government paid for it. I reminded him that the government got its money from producers and creators of value wealth in the form of exorbitant taxes. The government does not create wealth. Money is the barometer by which creators measure the value they produce. In a purely capitalist society, we are paid in direct proportion to the value we create. The amount of money earned by a union member has very little to do with the value created by that person. (Try using an airline with unionized employees and see how bad the service is.)

In today’s society, we need to remember what money is all about. Often, the people who are the most greedy and lazy are the same ones that profess disinterest in money. The mystics and academics, bureaucrats and second-handers have successfully foisted their collectivist philosophy on many people who cannot or do not choose to think for themselves. The best description of money and capitalism I have found is in the “Money Speech”, written by Ayn Rand. Here’s an excerpt: "So you think that money is the root of all evil?" said Francisco d'Anconia. "Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?” To read the entire speech online (it’s from Atlas Shrugged), click here: http://www.CapMag.com/article.asp?ID=1826

I wear a small, gold dollar sign on my lapel. It reminds me of my core philosophies of Freedom and Responsibility. I refuse to trade my freedom and dignity by violating my values, and money buys that freedom. I create wealth by creating value. The amount of freedom I enjoy is directly proportionate to my production, innovation, and creativity. I am solely responsible for my life and lifestyle. I will not steal from others or ride on the backs of others. The dollar sign inspires and motivates me, by reminding me how fortunate I am to be in a position to create any amount of value I wish, in a free country. The only limits I face are self-imposed.

Recently, I heard on the radio about a woman in Canada who needed a knee operation. She was on an eighteen-month waiting list. Her physician advised her that the only effective painkiller would cause her to become addicted to it. She had to become a drug addict for eighteen months in order to cope with the acute pain in her knee. After her operation, she went into a drug rehabilitation center for six days. The operation would have cost her $25,000. Tell HER that money is not important.

I encourage people to read Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”. It will set you free. I started the DollarMakers Joint Venture Forum to help people around the world to become financially free.