Money, money, money

How much is enough?  When it comes to wealth, it seems the answer is: it is never enough.  Why is it that the more a person has the more they want?  Greed is a handy answer and I have probably used it, but I think it is much more complicated than that.  Money/wealth is power, either real power or the sense of power over ones environment.  And maybe that is the real driver.  If one has enough money they can control everything from their own life experiences to laws passed by the government.  Oh yeah, there is lots of things included in that range, but it all seems to me the objective is the same.  We want to ensure that we never have to worry about anything material, that our children and their children will never want for anything, that we can go where we want, how we want and when we want.  We want to protect ourselves and the ones we love from want, fear and sickness. 

But how much money does it take to “control our environment” like this?  In reality, we can never control everything.  People get sick, have accidents, markets crash, kids run away and things go bad sometimes.  And money ends up consuming us with more and more concern about keeping it and keeping reality and things that want to take away our wealth at bay.  Maslow talked about the human ”hierarchy of needs”  1. Physiological, 2. Safety, 3. Love/belonging, 4. Esteem, 5. Self-actualization, in that order.    So many people with lots of money find themselves stuck in the first two levels and striving for the third and missing.  Their obsession with what they have and wanting to keep what they have ends up getting between them and feeling loved and a part of something.  Those that are lucky to have family and friends who really love and accept them for more than just their wealth are a lucky few who then strive to be valued for their success or contributions and a very few may reach self-actualization.  You could certainly argue that money can buy the first two and an illusion of the third, but not the last two and may actually hamper your ability to reach self-actualization.  Just giving money to some charity, no matter how worthy doesn’t get you there, and if the only reason you are doing it is to be well regarded, as a tax haven or other self interest, then you missed it from the start. 

But money does begat more money.  When you reach a certain level of wealth, things start being free to you, especially if you are well known.  Discounts for large purchases, the use of cash versus credit special offers for favored customers and then there are the tax laws.  The top tax rate from WW II until the early 60’s was 91%, when it was changed to 70%, then to 50% in 1978 and kept getting lower until 1986 when it went to 28% for the wealthiest Americans.  And as we saw last year, the wealthy have so many havens and exceptions, they really pay less than 20% in income taxes.  I am not going to argue here if that is right or wrong, but the tax laws are drafted by and for the wealthy.  It’s a fact, not an opinion.  There are really two sets of rules for the wealthy and for the rest of Americans in much of the world of commerce.  Yes, I know they pay a large percentage of the taxes taken, but that is because they are so stinking rich that even 15% of their income is a large number.  And anyone who thinks the “no new taxes” push has anything to do with the middle class is not paying attention.  The rules favor the rich, they write the rules and they don’t want to pay any more for bridges, roads, education, technology, etc unless it is for their own kids.  And the shrinking of the middle class and growth of the lowest economic levels doesn’t bother them a bit.  I am not saying they are uncaring or that they don’t give to charitable entities, quite the contrary, they give more dollars to churches, charities and non-profits than everyone else.  They are giving to things that mean something to them personally.  It might be their college, the cancer foundation named for their lost loved one or even a local church they used to attend. 
As a matter of fact, they are much more informed of the work of those they contribute to than most of us are.  But the stuff that has to be paid for by taxes, not so much.

I see a fear in the wealthy.  A fear of losing it all.  Maybe that is what drove them to be so successful (unless daddy gave it to them).  Maybe it is the fear of being one of “us” that drives them to work hard, amass more and more wealth, when they really have everything they could possibly want.  They fear the lack of control of their environment will result in disaster.  This is level 2 according to Maslow.  They are afraid someone will take it away from them be it the taxman, the poor, the immigrants, lawyers, whoever.  So, though they are rich in money and things, they are poor in terms of what we know really is important which is peace.  OK, not going to the hippy/no war place, I mean they have no peace in their lives and minds because worrying about your net worth is hard.  It keeps you up at nights, gives you ulcers, makes you jumpy.  I think it is a sickness, this desire for more and more wealth.  Like an addiction you can never truly feed and for which there is never enough.  Does that mean, I feel sorry for the wealthy, maybe a little.  Do I envy them?  Not a bit.  I have my basic needs met, I feel as safe as you can in tornado alley, I feel loved and valued and I am working on that last level, not there yet.  Do I wish I had more money to take care of emergencies, sure but it doesn’t keep me up at night and I wouldn’t trade where I am with where the wealthy are.  And regardless of the tax rates, political party in control and government spending, they will always be wealthy and running the government.  So to be at peace, I need to be at peace with that.

Questioning Assumptions

Don’t let your assumptions stop you from looking further.  It is so easy, natural really, to look at people and their behaviors and say either to ourselves, or out loud, “well I wouldn’t have done that, I would have……..”  You can finish the sentence.  I can hear myself, “I would have made better choices, or seen that coming, or have been more (or less) …...”  But would we have if we had the same life experiences and resources of that other person.  Please, no responses about liberal relativism or humanistic psycho-babble.

 I have looked at both extremes and I use the example of winning the lottery. (Now I don’t play the lottery because “I make better choices of how I spend my money”-See how easy it is).  But if I suddenly had millions of dollars would I make the same choices I do now.  First thing I would have to do is start working with lawyers and accountants and worrying about all that money.  I would have to start screening calls, mail, emails from people wanting some of it.  I would need more security, a bigger house in a gated community, private investigators to look into any scams/claims on the money.  Machine guns on the roof top?   The money and how to deal with and protect it would be my life.  Oh no, I am different, that wouldn’t be me. 

I don’t know, I think I would have to give away all of it as soon as possible, or better yet, don’t play the lottery (done).  And I like to think that I am a well-grounded person with simple tastes with no need to surround myself with things, and yet……  What would I really do?  How would I change, and how could I not change is some ways?  Maybe not my value system but my behavior and life experiences would and that would change me in some ways, maybe good as well as bad.  But my point is that there is no way, even at nearly 60 that I can guarantee that I would make the same choices.  And if you put yourself in a family without money, higher education, stability or positive role models, the potential difference is even more extreme between who I am now and who I would be in that life of limitation.  I am not asking you to excuse the bad behaviors of others who have made choices you don’t approve of, not at all.  But I am asking you to be less shocked when those behaviors happen and to understand that they may have a different viewpoint based on their life experiences.

What really matters?

What really matters? When tragedy strikes, we ask ourselves this question and almost always come up with the same answers; family, friends and the life to enjoy them with. Anyone who says anything material instead of this are sad folks indeed. But when life is going well and everyone we love is well, we tend to put our energy into our work, our things and our future plans. It takes a shock to bring us back to what is really important. All we know for sure is “the now.” Our next vacation, next motorcycle trip, retirement, etc., is not even real until it happens. But we spend a lot of time living in the future, or living in our idealized past. Again, they are illusions, not real. The past is an illusion, as researchers have found that even those with vivid memories of the past are often wrong and their brains have mixed memories or enhanced them with things as we want to remember them. And as great is Facebook for keeping touch, remember to pick up a phone or arrange to meet that friend or family member when possible. Give lots of hugs when you see them, as they can be taken away with no warning, or you could be. Love life and laugh often.

What Ever Happened to Gray?

I remember when I was taught to look into all aspects of something before coming to a hard conclusion.  That the words “always” and “never” were rarely correct.  That we should “walk a mile in another person’s shoes” before making a judgment about them and remember “judge not, lest ye be judged from Sunday school?  In science classes we were taught to look behind actions for reasons, not just take what we were told.  I was led to believe this questioning and striving to understand things was what made our country the engine of growth and invention. 

But things have changed.  Now I am right and you are wrong (or the other way around in your mind).  And I don’t want to read or hear anything that might change my mind.  The rightees only watch FOX and the lefties only watch MSNBC.  Opposing opinions are called names and shouted down.  No one seems to want to learn something new that may be outside their current world view.  And now it is capitalism that is the engine, unbridled capitalism with no government control and limits.  Everyone crows about their freedoms but not their responsibilities.  People on both sides stand on the Constitution and the intent of the Founding Fathers, but few do any objective research or even know what the constitution says.  And what about that pesky Bill of Rights?  It is part of the Founding Fathers intent to protect the rights of citizens and was drafted at the same general time, why don’t we talk about that.

Why is it OK for your government to do things if they are of your party, then wrong if the other party is in office, even if the behavior is the same?  It used to be that we knew that few things were black or white, but that there were variables, shades of gray and possibilities.  Now, it seems many are absolutists that see us who see “gray” as wishy washy or without principles. 

Maybe the problem is social media.  Most of my friends know I am a progressive who normally votes democratic, but until facebook and blogs, I didn’t “rub their faces in it” so they could just ignore it.  Now they seem to get angry, just like the politicians getting angry at each other for holding beliefs they always held.  We used to disagree, but respect the opinions of others.  Now we consider them unpatriotic, delusional or brainwashed by their respective media outlets.  Can’t we take a step back from the edge of total war over; guns, taxes, religion, political party, social programs, the role of government and on and on?  This is the worst I have seen our government in this regard and our social interactions with those of differing opinions is escalating as well.  It feels like our country is coming apart when there is no compromise, no real dialog and no attempt at understanding each other.  We need to look to the center and come back from the fringes. 

Riding Route 66 in 1918

1918 Road Trip

From Ethel Rowe’s Journal

1918 Road Trip by Walter E. Rowe, his wife Ethel and son, Ivan and  friend  Oz A. Pierce, his wife Minnie and child,  from near Hinton, Oklahoma.  On a pair of 1918 Harley Davidson J models with side cars.  Changes  From a journal kept by Ethel Rowe while on the trip. I have tried to transcribe it as best as possible but have made some minor changes to spelling but have tried to retain as much of the language and flow as possible from the original.  Looks like the distance was approximately 700 miles traveled by bike.

On Monday August 5^th 1918 we left Niles, Oklahoma and went through Hinton.  We stopped in El Reno and saw Nannie’s baby and then left there around 4:30 pm.  The wind and dirt was blowing a perfect gale.

We camped by the bank of the North Canadian River.  Slept  very well for the first night.  Started the next day about 8:30, August 6^th.  Came through Oklahoma City and Spencer.  Ate a very good  dinner at a restaurant in Jones City about 21 miles from Oklahoma City.  After dinner we came through Luther, Wellston and then Chandler.  About a mile out of Chandler, Walter had tire trouble.  We stopped and he worked on it until evening.  Oz went back to Chandler to get something for supper.  We had potato soup and watermelon and camped by a school house.  It was a lovely camping place.  Traveled about 60 miles that day. 

On Wednesday, Aug 7^th woke to a lovely morning.  We had fried potatoes, gravy, bread and coffee for breakfast.  They worked on Walter’s motorcycle for about 3 hours before starting.  Passed through Stroud, Depew and Bristow.  Roads were in very good shape.  Saw an oil well and in Bristow nearly all the women we saw were barefooted.  Bought our dinner in Kellyville.  Ate our dinner about 5 miles east.  We had bread, ham, pickles, gravy and cheese.  Drove through Sapulpa toward Tulsa.  On the outskirts of Tulsa had to stop and work on Walter’s motorcycle again.  Between Sapulpa and Tulsa were mainly oil fields.  Spent the night at a hotel in Tulsa.  Walter had to work on his motorcycle all day Thursday.  He had to get a new magneto and get a valve fixed.  Went outside town about five miles and spent the night in a vacant house.  Went back to Tulsa the next morning with the intent of shipping the motorcycle home and going home.  Oz and Minnie went ahead and after fixing the motorcycle we followed after them.  Caught up with them after about 2 hours.  Arrive at Miami, OK and spent the night at a campground west of Miami on Friday the 9^th.

Saturday Aug 10th morning we had breakfast and started out again.  Oz had to work on his motorcycle most of forenoon (late morning).  We camped at Spring River in Kansas for dinner.  The boys washed the motorcycles in the river.  I did some washing.  The children played in the river.  Headed on to Joplin, Mo.

Sunday Aug 11^th, we came on some awful rocky roads.  Ate our dinner in a shady place among the hills.  The boys shaved each other.  We had potatoes for breakfast.  We ate bacon, lemonade, bread and coffee for dinner.  Camped 8 miles east of Springfield, Mo. in a Beverage stand.  Slept well and dreamed of home.

Monday Aug 12^th we started on our trip before breakfast.  Stopped at a little town to get gas.  I got out to get Ivan and fell on the sidewalk.  Continued on our way.  Some of the awfulest rocky roads that ever was.  We got off the road on a side road and traveled about 5 miles but had to come back.  The roads are all rock and hills.  Had a nice camping place.  Ivan is sick.

Tuesday the 13^th was a lovely morning.  Getting ready to start again.  Saw crops of red clover, tomatoes, corn and apples.  We traveled about 10 miles when Oz had wheel trouble.  He had to work on it, so Walter changed his tires.  They worked on the motorcycles about 3 hours.  We went on over more rocks and hills.  In places, the rocks were as large as buckets.  It kept the boys busy dodging rocks, hogs and cattle.  We stayed the night at a hotel in Van Buren, Mo.

Wednesday the 14^th we ate breakfast in the hotel.  I washed my bonnet.  We started out at about 9:00 AM.  We are still traveling over some awful roads.   Ate dinner by a creek.  It looks like it is going to rain.  The roads are now better, mostly gravel.  Camped by a school house and slept on the porch.

Thursday 15^th we started early.  Crossed the St Francis river.  Came through Greenville.  The roads are better.  We reached Poplar Bluff, Mo. at about 12:00.  Got our dinner and ate it just this side of the river.  Crossed the St Francis river again after dinner.  Sitting by the roadside fixing tires.  We have traveled among the rocks and hills from Springfield to Poplar Bluff, Mo.  It has taken us 4 ½ days, winding around the hills and over the rocks.  We are now in eastern Missouri.  We passed a 64A rice farm about one mile before Dudley.  The crops are fine.  A lovely country.  We came on through Dexter and Bloomfield, Mo. It had rained and the ground was wet so we slept on the porch of a country home.  The people are so sociable.  We enjoyed the eve so well.

Friday the 16^th we came through Advance, Mo.  Ate our breakfast about 3 miles outside of town.  A lovely morning.  We are stopped by the roadside.  Walter is pumping up his tire.  A one mule log wagon passed by us.  We have seen several one horse wagons.  We are now in Cape Girardeau.  It is a large place.  We had our dinner and went out of the city to eat it.  We had beef steak, potatoes, beans and coffee.  We are now sitting by the Mississippi River watching a steamboat pass.

Saturday 17^th we left Cape Girardeau and passed across the Mississippi River.  The roads are good and the crops are very good.  We passed by the National Cemetery, it is a lovely place.  Came to Mound City.  We went across the Ohio River on the steam ferry, The Leo.  Landed in Kentucky at about 5:00 PM. Had such a lovely ride over the graveled roads.  We see so many tobacco fields.  Passed through Paducah , Ky.  It is a large place but we went about 3 miles beyond to camp.  Have a nice camping place.  It is our first night in Ky. Some men came by and gave us tomatoes.

Sunday 18^th, another lovely morning.  Oz is working on his motorcycle.  We had fried potatoes, tomatoes, bacon and coffee for breakfast.  We did not get started until late.  We crossed the Tennessee River at the Altonis ferry.  We didn’t get to travel more than 30 miles on account of the motorcycle trouble.  It looks like rain.  We couldn’t find a house to stay at so we spent the night in an old barn.  Minnie the children and myself slept in a wagon.  Oz and Walter slept on the ground.  It poured down rain about half the night.

Monday 19^th we started at daylight before breakfast and traveled about 3 miles.  We crossed the Cumberland River.   Ate our breakfast on the banks of the Cumberland.  We didn’t get to travel very far until it was time for dinner.  We bought our dinner at a little town called Salem, Ky  and came outside of town about 4 miles to have dinner by a little creek.  Oz’s motorcycle wasn’t working very good so we only came about 3 miles before it began to rain.  We sheltered at a house until eve and it quit raining so hard, so we came back a little ways to another house and stayed there the night.

Tuesday 20^th it still looks rainy.  The boys are working on the motorcycles.  We came to a small town called Mexico, Ky.  The boys have decided to crate their motorcycles to ship home and finish the trip by train.  Going to start about 10:00 AM next morning.

Wednesday 21^st we had slept in a vacant house about a mile from town.  We walked through a corn field and weeks carrying our bedding and clothes to town where the boys crated the bikes for shipment home.