3 ms·

Do you love money so much that, like the Sackler family, you would kill millions to have more of it? I hope not!

teekert 3y ago
In the words of Rand: "So you think that money is the root of all evil? . . . 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?" I recognize all people as my equals, money enables trade between equals, value for value. To kill equals for money feels like staining the very idea of money.
- joelfried 3y ago
  I hope you are able to keep that idea in your head should you ever be in a situation where the damage caused by increasing your money is sufficiently abstracted away from your actions. History has shown us that many folks do not have that ability. The family I chose -- who helped start the opioid epidemic and caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands[1] are far from alone as people whose desire to make money caused significant and irreparable harm. [1] https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html
- JohnFen 3y ago
  > money enables trade between equals, value for value. True. Money also enables people to be unequal and is a tool for some people to oppress or take advantage of other people. Money itself is value-neutral, it seems to me. It deserves neither love nor hate.
  - teekert 3y ago
    Are knifes neutral because they can cut bread and kill? No, everybody loves knifes. Ok, perhaps love is a bit of a strong word, but people enjoy knifes and they are generally considered a thing for good.

In the words of Rand: "So you think that money is the root of all evil? . . . 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?" I recognize all people as my equals, money enables trade between equals, value for value. To kill equals for money feels like staining the very idea of money.

joelfried 3y ago
I hope you are able to keep that idea in your head should you ever be in a situation where the damage caused by increasing your money is sufficiently abstracted away from your actions. History has shown us that many folks do not have that ability. The family I chose -- who helped start the opioid epidemic and caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands[1] are far from alone as people whose desire to make money caused significant and irreparable harm. [1] https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html
JohnFen 3y ago
> money enables trade between equals, value for value. True. Money also enables people to be unequal and is a tool for some people to oppress or take advantage of other people. Money itself is value-neutral, it seems to me. It deserves neither love nor hate.
- teekert 3y ago
  Are knifes neutral because they can cut bread and kill? No, everybody loves knifes. Ok, perhaps love is a bit of a strong word, but people enjoy knifes and they are generally considered a thing for good.