“And it was more or less as if we created a doom machine: In our search for wealth and for prosperity, we create a thing that’s going to destroy us.”

- Robert Monks, Corporate governance advisor

At what point do we stop destroying ourselves in pursuit of wealth? Or, at what point do we stop pursuing wealth because it’s destroying us?

I think we will stop once we redefine “us.”

Chris Rock once said that only the white man can make money off of pain, and to a great extent, that seems true: the majority of those with the greatest wealth and power have gotten these things through the exploitation and suffering of “others” - in this case, the non-white, non-male. It’s easier to let other people suffer if you don’t identify with them as fellow people. You can justify it to yourself if you buy into: “They can always say no.”

But the majority of the exploited don’t have a choice. It’s work for pennies or die.

If we redefine “us” as “all people,” and not as only whites/blacks/browns/yellows/reds, or Americans, or Christians/Muslims/Jews, or however else we like to separate ourselves by categorization, then maybe seeing other people suffer will finally strike all of us as being unacceptable for any reason, much less for the pursuit of wealth.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

I don’t mind paying more for organic or free trade or local because I know I’m supporting real people who have to make a living and support their families. I don’t need a Mercedes when a Toyota performs just as well (even better!). I don’t need a designer purse - or a designer anything - when a generic one will do. And people still seem to think I have style; some people still seem to like me. Isn’t it better to be liked for who I am as opposed to what I own?

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