Capitalism and Money

During 2nd year of my college, I was hooked on to playing age of empires. There was an interesting game - Defend the wonder. One team was to defend the wonder and the other to raze it to the ground. My team was assigned to the task of defending the wonder. We were doing very well. We were defeating our enemy who was advancing towards the wonder and also moving forward into their kingdom. The opposite team had a great tactician called SKR. He realized that there was no point in fighting a losing battle. So he fled the battleground, secretly marched his suicide bombers towards the wonder and razed it to the ground. When I thought that we were going to win the match, I was shocked to see the message "You have been DEFEATED". Huh, it's not possible! I thought. I reminded myself that the objective was not to defeat the enemy and show your might. It was to defend the wonder!

The above example may not be very apt but it captures the essence. You might say that capitalism, free market is our best chance. But look beyond it. The essence of today's capitalism is to make money. It does not say that its motive is to bring the best in us, and money is just a reward for the best you have on offer. Your objective is not your ability but to make money.

Vivekananda once said "If money help a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better."

The sooner we realize the evil side of money the better. Or else we shall live to many more credit crises, great depressions and license rajs.

That's it for now. Thanks for your patience in reading.