Does money equal happiness?

Written by Frank R | 03 April 2009
Posted in SOMM Blogs - Life Experiences

An age old question that has probably been asked since the dawn of currency, can money buy happiness? Most people will say no, but let's dive into the concepts behind the question. Money does make the world go around and without it, we'll be back to bartering (I'll give you two chickens for a box of cigars). I will even argue that money is so entrenched into modern society that like the subtraction of computing technology, the world would come to a standstill. Money has its advantages and disadvantages, more so than any other modern convenience.

Let's break it down a bit. Money can buy a product from a merchant half a world away (let's see you barter a chicken for a Nintendo Wii from that distance). With money, you can open a credit account and spend future money right now (unlike counting chickens before they hatch). Those are just a couple examples of the many advantages of money, but what about the cons?

Money is the root of all evil (I thought religious zealots were, go figure) and with it comes the actual expression of a lot disjointed human emotions from an otherwise sane person. You have the greed, murder, lust, hate, jealousy and other embitter emotions displayed when money comes into the picture. There's even the impact of the lost of basic human necessities if you don't have enough or any money. It's hard to explain to a child why their empty belly can't be filled when they see others happily gorging on food piled to the skies above. This all leads to one question, does money equal happiness?

The question is not a simple yes or no. The question's answer depends on a person's definition of happiness and with that definition, volumes of variables. What makes me happy may or may not include things that must be purchased. Intertwined into the society's core beliefs is that material, a dash of faith, human connection and set goals equals happiness. You can disagree with me on that equation but if you look between the lines I pretty much summed up human existence. Now if the question were can money buy love, I think in modern constraints the answer is yes. Be honest with yourself, most love or the idea of love is found at the first time someone meets another person; the love at first sight concept. It takes money for a person to look "good" in the society definition of what a makes a person look good. Unless we take a vow to become a world of nudists, the concept of love at first sight is highly depended on money and a side of natural "beauty". If I were to drive up to an event with a car that cost me over 100k, I suddenly look better. If I drive up to that same event with a car that looks two miles away from a junkyard, most women will hardly notice I'm there. You get the picture.

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written by Dreamwriter, April 07, 2009

What I'm claiming is that money (wealth) can and does cause someone to overlook their natural wants in another person as a mate. For some people, money has taken the place of the "child bearing hips and broad shoulders" considerations.

With that said wealth, you could also alter other's perception of you, physically, mentally and socially.

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written by MizAcid, April 07, 2009

before money, does nature/instinct still come to play? or are you equating money to what child bearing hips and broad shoulders used to be?

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written by Logan, April 06, 2009

Money can buy you love not the love you want.

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