is sustaining the economy more important than building wealth on social status?
107577
Middle class baby, that is what has made America great.  For ex., Mexico has a relatively small middle class, and an even smaller upper class.  However, the upper class runs everything, and exploits thier employees ($2.40/day avg wage), not to mention the corrupt government.  You need a strong middle class to sustain an economy, and to keep a check on government power.
1013305
Money is not important to the economy - money IS the economy!  Unless you live in a cannibalistic tribe that uses bones for money, then bones are your economy.
617506
Not at all.  In order to spur economic growth it is best to give tax cuts to the poor.  They will spend it all which enlarges the econmy.  Giving tax cuts to the rich does not do this.
226816
The social welfare system provides health and education to everyone, producing a healthy and talented workforce.  One of the key factors to a good economy is making use of all the population's talent and giving everyone a chance to realize their potential so they can contribute.  It's very hard for a person to contribute to society when they are sick, in poverty or uneducated.
1041997
You do have a point but to get money you must have a brain. You could have had that guy with money if you had used your brain. You can get free health care or family assistant health care if you use your brain. Don't stereotype middle age low income mothers we do have brains that can get us a SUGAR DADDY that can take care of our needs or we are motivated enough to get a better job to take care of the family. So money is not important it's what you use to get it.
903188
well, society needs money to function..if everything was free people wouldn't be able to moniter their greediness and no one would do any work. we'd all be couch potatoes 24/7..but there'd be nothing to watch because there'd be no tv shows or movies because no one would be working at all!\na person needs money to survive, and if you don't want to become homeless. And of course you need money if you want to buy luxurious things, but in reality that's not a necessity. You should have enough money to get food and clothes and everything, splurging if you feel so inclined...but then you should also give back some money if you have enough..to the starving kids in africa!
919186
No. When it comes to money, there is never enough.\n\nRemember, whichever way the economy goes, the best possession to have is a loaded FDIC bank account. Plasma TVs and loud stereos don't hold a candle to savings accounts when the electric bill gets turned off.\n\nAlways save a percentage of your earnings for you and your future. And invest a portion into income generators (real estate, stocks, or your own business.) Good luck and may you prosper.
596373
I don't think you need an underclass for society to operate. A country like Sweden for example provides a reasonable level of education for all it's citizens. They as a result don't have much of an underclass and they are very prosperous.\n\nIt's obvious there are people with a vested interest in maintaining and underclass to provide cheap labor.\n\nThey have a lot of people fooled.
931951
Not for me.  Yes--money is important.  I definitely would NOT work a "normal" 8-5 job if I didn't need the money.  I would find something I love to do and work the hours that work for me.\n\nHowever, I have taken a cut in pay twice in my life because sometimes money isn't the most important thing. I am at work longer then I am at home sometimes and I see those people more then I see my own family.  If there is major conflict that can't be resolved..I'd rather be somewhere else.  Or in my case, I knew I wanted to get into a different field and I knew I'd have to start at the bottom so i took the demotion.  In my opinion, having a  good boss that i can get a long with, and doing a job I enjoy is more important then money sometimes.
1171830
People with a higher education degree are statistically predicted to make more money than those people with jsut a basic high school degree. This opens you up to more philanthropic oppurtunities which increases your impact on society and economics if you chooose to fund the right charities. \n\nI go to a large church in tennessee and we have a lot of well off people (ok rich people) who attend and regularly fun missions to the bahamas, mexico, panama, india, and china. THerefore, these people (mostly doctors and lawyers) fund regular missions increasing the number of those exposed to christianity. And socially, well having money is always the easiest way to be incited ot country clubs and social club in your community. I also know many families who are socially acitve in teh community jsut by getting involved in local humanitarian efforts and clubs such as rotary and civitan. Thier higher education allow them to work less for more money giving them more time to enjoy themselves.
731274
It would be nice to have material wealth & have no worries about paying the bills, keeping a roof overhead & food on the table.\nHowever, money & possessions do not equal love & ultimately give no comfort.\nI'd be much happier in the long run loving & being loved, rich or poor.
269920
Saving enough money to cover your expenses when you can no longer work.  Generating enough income to cover your expenses while having some left over for an emergency not covered by insurance.  \n\nFirst and foremost, you are truly rich when you are living the life you love today.
205291
I'm no expert but I did a degree in Business and have read a lot of international development literature...\n\nFirst I would ask if financial wealth is the important thing - and if so, when is a country seen as wealthy? If you look at GDP this doesn't show the distribution of wealth very well.\n\nMany richer countries have progressed up the ladder from mainly primary to secondary to tertiary to mainly service jobs. Now in the UK for example, the banking area is well known and a lot of money comes out of this service industry, whereas before many people were employed in coal mining or manufacturing.\n\nIn other countries they may rely more on agriculture and mining and use their land in this way. What I would say is that it's probably a long road between relying mainly on land for your income and relying on knowledge services for your income. Many rich countries including England, France, and the USA progressed through the different stages by exploting human labour of other people (slavery, and colonisation for example), but now want to deny countries such as China their desire to attack human rights in the name of creating wealth.    \n\nIf I was a small country, I'd find my biggest asset, make the most of it and try to become self-sufficient. I would work first on infrastructure, primary health, primary education, stopping internal conflict, and increasing awareness of diseases if I was susceptible to that. I would look at building long term diplomatic relations with neighbouring states, and make decisions about who I want to ally with strategically.\n\nThis could have been a one sentence answer but I felt like writing. Good luck!
885887
Capitalists would probably say yes, but with an unrestrained free market and no mechanism for wealth redistribution the rich tend to get richer and the poor get poorer.  It takes money to make money.
117487
It depends on what the work actually is. For me, if I enjoy the work, that is much more important than pay and benefits. I do want a salary that will allow me to provide for my family, and a little more for saving and "fun money", but I'm not looking to get rich from work. More is better, but it is not as important to me as the actual work is.
1070776
The government can control the economy, providing stability and a sense of certainty that would lead to a rise in economic activity. The economy can then sustain a steady growth
567587
I don't think so. Money is out there to be made, it's how bad you want to make it, and how hard you want to work. You will never get rich working for someone else. Don't get me wrong college does a great job of helping you becoming well rounded, and will help you climb a certain social ladder. You can not teach initiative and desire, and that's what you need to become successful.