[–] moshi 1 point 3 points 4 points (+4|-1) ago
But poverty can give you happiness by helping you learn to be happy with few material goods. Possessing a lot of money is more likely to make you unhappy because you might begin to value your money/material goods too much, or you may begin to hunger for more and more.
[–] tryingthisout 0 points 7 points 7 points (+7|-0) ago
Bullshit. Not being able to afford emergencies, or quality housing, or healthy food, or free time, will far outweigh any philosophical benefits of being forced to go without.
Definitely. Basic needs need to be met first, and you may want to have a surplus to ensure that you will be okay in emergencies or to ensure that your family is comfortable, but beyond that buying luxuries won't contribute to true happiness. Short-term happiness, maybe. At least that's how I see it.
[–] xwwarriorx 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Money may not buy you happiness, but it sure has a way of buying you out of unhappiness.
[–] leahbettsisdead 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
$75kwill do the trick. http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2019628,00.htm
[–] pitenius 0 points 5 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago
Poverty is the natural state of man. You can be happy this way. I've seen it in the South Pacific -- few clothes, eating fish and fruit: life is what you make it.
Money is a contract into a social relationship. You have something other people esteem. You can negotiate with them. This can go well or it can go poorly. The trouble is not the money, but the relationship, the miscommunication of desires, deceit, disparate goals. But there's a dark side to this type of social contract: debt.
The debtor is craven and beholden to the esteem of others. If poverty is the natural state of man, debt is the mark of a slave.
English really needs an inclusive and exlcusive "we". I'm assuming you're an urban American.
Also, I can't think of a society in which the only goal is to be happy. I would say this desire for happiness is actually an oddly American phenomenon: the fruit-eating fishermen I referenced above felt man was born with three debts: heirs, learning and religious rituals. Until these were discharged, there could be no happiness.
[–] tryingthisout 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
Money alone won't buy you happiness, but it's damn hard to be happy if you don't have financial security, adequate shelter and food, enough sleep, etc.
[–] Vvswiftvv17 0 points 10 points 10 points (+10|-0) ago
"It sure makes things a lot easier"
-My Dad
[–] Subtenko 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
pretty much. I think overall the statement is more about intelligence..... which in a way money could buy intelligence, but its up to the person to better themselves. Again, nothing to do with financial status. Also now, it seems poor people are realllly angry, at least many of em.