Money

[the lurkist]

And accountants are devil spawn...

[TradMike]

What do you get if you cross a sorceress with a millionaire? A very witch person.

[cliftongifford]

Money is needed for Tivo, Samsung TVs, internet access, and cable.

and taxes...

[toad857]

it also answers the much more profound question of why the world is a terrible place for many people who live in it.

money didn't do that; people did.

[Boonda]

dhuff, just out of curiousity, what would you prefer we use? I agree with michael that money is the most efficient way to barter/trade goods, and I also agree with toad that people are the one's who let their greed get in the way to create the evil stigma around money. It's all about balancing the material things in one's life. Now that I've said that I need to go catch my flight to the Red so I can indulge in climbing and spend a shit ton of money on climbing gear.

[Crankmas]

The Templar Knights are credited with starting so-called Branch Banking, folks headed to the Holy Land were easy prey for bandits along the route, the Templars would issue a chit for the money deposited and it could be withdrawn along the way. This was one of many sources they used to amass quite a bit of wealth, the Kings of France and England, who were seemingly constantly at war grew envious of the knights' wealth. On Friday the 13th the King of France had his soldiers attack the Templars and under torture they confessed to heresey and many were burned alive. The ones who could escape scattered and to this day many of the practices of the Freemasons remain secretive. so... " money won't buy everything its true, but what it won't buy I can't use.. I want money, thats what I want...

[Lateralus]

Bag Balm ain't free yo. How you spose we going to make our hands soft and supple w/o some bling bling in the ching ching?

[kato]

and taxes...

Bingo. We could probably get by on the barter system without too much trouble, but money makes it much easier to levy taxes.

[cliftongifford]

You can't own anything outright without the government getting their share. I a farm here in KY and don't owe a dime on it, and every year I write a check to the government just so I can keep my property and my home... I don't mind paying a fair tax, but taxes today are hardly fair.

[dhuff]

I just think if personal gain was not the motive behind most of our actions, the need for money would be eliminated completely. If we change the motive driving our actions from self-preservation to helping our brothers, everyone will have everything they need. I wouldn't have to trade 'my' stuff for 'your' stuff. It's just stuff, objects. What I would love to see in the future is a world where everyone shares everything that we need, and we live with nothing but a deep appreciation for the fact that we exist and have the opportunity to experience this wonderful place. And this isn't just some childish wishful thinking like I know a lot of people are going to take it. There is no reason why everyone can't embrace that mindset, other than their own conscious choice not to do so. I just know life has been much more fulfilling for me since I stopped thinking that I can 'own' material stuff. And if the trend continues as it has been going, the fulfillment will never stop growing.