[MrBill]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'W')ealth is the product of man’s capacity to think.

[heroineworshipper]

It comes from billions of Chinese turning common sand & petroleum into gadgets & more complex things. Everyone else slices that labor into finer & finer pieces, resells it, loans it, barters it.

[MrBill]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('heroineworshipper', 'I')t comes from billions of Chinese turning common sand & petroleum into gadgets & more complex things. Everyone else slices that labor into finer & finer pieces, resells it, loans it, barters it.

[vision-master]

$$ Wealth comes from using others labor and or thier money.

[MrBill]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', '$')$ Wealth comes from using others labor and or thier money.

[MrBean]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBean', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', '
')Sie koennen nicht Ihrem sonnenuntergang geniessen ohne etwas im magen; einem dach ueber kopf; und sicherheit fuer Ihre kinder. Alles muess in ordnung, dann gibts frieden und freiheit. Armut ist nicht befriedigung! Wir haben alle verantwortung. Fuer uns, fuer unsere familie, und fuer Die das haben weniger.

[skeptik]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', '
')
And wealth, knowledge, technology and civilization itself can flow in reverse. We can all choose to follow Zimbabwe back into the Stone Age. Boy, will that ever teach us. You betcha!

[MrBill]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('skeptik', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', '
')
And wealth, knowledge, technology and civilization itself can flow in reverse. We can all choose to follow Zimbabwe back into the Stone Age. Boy, will that ever teach us. You betcha!

[MrBean]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', '
')It is our mistake to look at History in years or decades. In proper perspective it is measured in centuries and millennia. Bob Mugabe and his goons would not even deserve a historical footnote in the greater scheme of things. However, if we collectively mismanage our post peak oil future then for sure we will not be remembered kindly.

[phaster]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBean', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', '
')Sie koennen nicht Ihrem sonnenuntergang geniessen ohne etwas im magen; einem dach ueber kopf; und sicherheit fuer Ihre kinder. Alles muess in ordnung, dann gibts frieden und freiheit. Armut ist nicht befriedigung! Wir haben alle verantwortung. Fuer uns, fuer unsere familie, und fuer Die das haben weniger.

[MrBean]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('phaster', '
')I'm an agnostic and can't quite believe that large segments of society such as the evangelicals here in the USA, the Wahabi Movement in the middle east, etc., have such a blind faith that "God" provides kinda like the magic tooth fairy.

If there is a "God" I find it hard to also believe that "he/she" would play favorites and bless one culture or social/economic group over another. Therefore I'd have to agree that it does matter to try and improve our own lot, and help others out in this life, keeping in mind that we only have one planet, with limited resources. Perhaps, those individuals with deeply religious inclinations might consider the time we have on this earths as a sort of test of sorts to see what we do (Matthew 25:14-30 - The Parable of the Talents).

[phaster]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBean', '
')
IMHO "evangelicals" are pseudofundies, they lack real faith and worship Mammon like the rest of the nations of greed and selfishness. Real fundamentalists like Amish have faith - and they are doing fine and are the most PO prepared population in USA.

[Quinny]

So we can safely assume wealth doesn't come from God!

[MrBill]

I could care less how Amish, Hutterites, Mennonites or anyone else chooses to live. That is their right is a free society. But it goes without saying that they lived under religious persecution for their beliefs until they moved to democratic countries that supported religious rights and freedoms. Those rights and freedoms are not free. They come at a price. And they carry obligations. It is no accident that those countries just happen to be countries founded by European Christian nations whose Constitutions both reflect their Christian beliefs and faith in God, but made sure that minorities had the same rights as well. We live in a free, secular society mainly because of those religious beliefs. The abolishment of slavery and universal sufferage are just an enlightened extension of those beliefs. The difference between being a true Christian and Christian dogma. The Amish are just getting a free ride off society. Their own fortunes will rise and fall along with those of their hosts.

[Ayame]

A long time ago in a place not so far away a people called the aztecs discovered a lovely golden coloured metal that they could easily make into many lovely decorative pieces of art. They thought it was very pretty. Then one day men on horses with guns turned up and stole all of the golden metal and then these men got on their ships and went home back home where they became stinking rich.

The end.

[SuperTico]

I wanted to reply to this WITHOUT reading others comments. Only the question and here is my answer:

I've been loaded down with cashola, sporting a Rolex, and driving in a 450 Benz.
I've been broke azz and almost lost my house while climbing beams and welding 80-90 hours a week.

The richest man I know ilves in a house in Chachagua Costa Rica.
He has 7 children.
2 are carpenters.
One is a salvage guy-mechanic
One daughter is qualifying as a red cross EMT
One is an architect.
2 are in college ( which I am paying for)
There are 5 grandkids.
He has.. ya ready ? ... 12 people living in his house.
His house is maybe 700 square feet.
He has no windows, Only doors.
No hot water.
The bathroom and kitchen are outside.
His family are honest, God fearing, hard working and fairly well educated.
He has never owned a car or TV.
He has about 30 acres of cropland mixed with forest to support this family.
He is the happiest man I know
That makes him incredibly " wealthy"

I'm trying to get there but I was the P.Ofd , miserable a_hole with 600 grand in my checking account and changed cars because I was bored by the color.
A TRUE CAPITALIST !

Now I'm getting cured of my " affluenza"......

[ReverseEngineer]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SuperTico', 'I') wanted to reply to this WITHOUT reading others comments. Only the question and here is my answer:

I've been loaded down with cashola, sporting a Rolex, and driving in a 450 Benz.
I've been broke azz and almost lost my house while climbing beams and welding 80-90 hours a week.

The richest man I know ilves in a house in Chachagua Costa Rica.
He has 7 children.
2 are carpenters.
One is a salvage guy-mechanic
One daughter is qualifying as a red cross EMT
One is an architect.
2 are in college ( which I am paying for)
There are 5 grandkids.
He has.. ya ready ? ... 12 people living in his house.
His house is maybe 700 square feet.
He has no windows, Only doors.
No hot water.
The bathroom and kitchen are outside.
His family are honest, God fearing, hard working and fairly well educated.
He has never owned a car or TV.
He has about 30 acres of cropland mixed with forest to support this family.
He is the happiest man I know
That makes him incredibly " wealthy"

I'm trying to get there but I was the P.Ofd , miserable a_hole with 600 grand in my checking account and changed cars because I was bored by the color.
A TRUE CAPITALIST !

Now I'm getting cured of my " affluenza"......