After watching an interview with David Korten, author of "When Corporations Rule the World," http://www.pcdf.org/corprule/corporat.htm I began to wonder what most people think of when they see the term, "wealth." What is it to you?

I think of it as a broader term than just being the "quest for money." Wealth can also mean having more than adequate material things, such as luxury homes, designer clothing, Mercedes cars, etc. Interestingly, here is what Wikipedia says about it:

quote:

The concept of wealth is of great importance in economics, especially development economics, yet the meaning of wealth is not straightforward and there is no universally agreed-upon definition.

I think of wealth as being the acquisition and possession of material things.
Of course metaphorical extension to the acquisition of non-material things, "spiritual wealth" if you like, is perfectly possible.

Being wealthy is having the ability to crush all opposition.

Proofreader, remind me NOT to have you behind me at a traffic light!

Since the "states" of the USA number forty-six, plus four commonwealths, there must have been a specific intent of those four non-states that made them choose such an appellation.

Wealth is having everything you need and everything you want, and never having to worry that the money is going to run out. Of course, wealth may also mean a plenitude of intangibles having nothing to do with money or things, such as a wealth of knowledge, or a wealth of friends.

Wordmatic

Chris Rock on being rich versus being wealthy: "Shaquille O'Neal is rich; the white man who signs his paycheck is wealthy.

quote:

Being wealthy is having the ability to crush all opposition.

This is merely a comment I'd heard on the subject.
If I were wealthy, I would be kind, benevolent, philanthorpic and caring to all the decadent lower classes groveling at my feet for the crumbs off my table.

Wealth is embedded value.

Create a work of art, invent a new technology, discover a new idea or a new land...

All of those are wealth.

Very important implications -- It is the key to "going Galt." (I trust this erudite group is familiar with the concept: the productive parts of society go on strike when taxes grow too punitive.)

The productive man can continue to create wealth in the deferred sense, storing up value but not "realizing" it in a way that can be taken from him.

There's a downside for those who are wealthy.
Since their gold is the goal of crooks stealthy.
Every con and his honey
Is after their money
And cons' games may not leave them too healthy.

Yes, which is why so many cultures-in-diaspora (think Greeks and Armenians, overseas Chinese, and Jews) value learning. So much harder to steal, so much more portable than land...

quote:

Wealth is having everything you need and everything you want, and never having to worry that the money is going to run out.

Not sure I agree. You can lose your wealth, too, as happened in 1929.

Ah, but it is wealth while you have it. When it's gone, well, it's "unwealth," I guess.

WM

All that ample wealth really gives you is choices. The more wealth, the more choices. It's the choices you take and the way you use those choices that determines your happiness and life worth.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Richard English,

Richard, you say the wisest things.

Thank you, Stella. Posting corrected for minor typo.

quote:

The productive man can continue to create wealth in the deferred sense, storing up value but not "realizing" it in a way that can be taken from him.

Sounds downright biblical. Good points, though. Thanks,RA.