Rich

by Perry McCarney

Created on: September 27, 2008   Last Updated: April 02, 2010

The belief that if you are born intelligent you can make yourself rich if you wish, merely demonstrates a lack of understanding of intelligence; or wealth-generating techniques for that matter. Yes, you may be able to become rich through invention, but far more often it's a matter of manipulating others. That requires social skills more than intelligence.

In fact, intelligence is likely to get in the way, as it is hard to not realize you are doing evil if you are sufficiently intelligent. Those with an average intelligence can readily believe their actions acceptable, on the basis of conforming to the apparent standards of society; those with above average intelligence are far more likely to recognize such actions as ethically reprehensible.

From the intelligence quotient (IQ) tests I have taken during my life, mine rates somewhere between 136 and 142. I readily admit that that is not genius level, but is generally considered within the top five percent of people. The average these days seems to be accepted as 100, although when I was an adolescent it was my belief that it was 110. I don't have the statistics to verify that, maybe I was mistaken; then again the world's population has doubled since my childhood. And the reality is that most intelligent people have fewer children than those with lower IQs. Recognition of economic realities and social disharmony is naturally more apparent to the more intelligent. Although some with a higher IQ will have more children because they do recognize this disparity.

In the past civilizations have risen and fallen in their local geographical areas. We now have a global civilization that effectively includes even the indigenous cultures that would, quite understandably, prefer to be separate from it. Anyone with even a modicum of intelligence might be able to perceive that the far more likely when, rather than if, of our global civilization's fall, will result in humanity, as the specialized species it is, becoming extinct. Joining the multitude of other species we are already killing off with our stupidity; whether that stupidity is driven by greed, desire for power over others or short-sightedness.

Our civilization is dominated by an economic system based on growth rather than sustainability. An economic system that evolved during the period of empire building and colonialism of a Europe that perceived the rest of the world as savages to be ignored or conquered, rather than having any rights to the lands they occupied. The economic system of Europe prior to this was based on sustainability; their technological superiority gave them the ability to conquer and expand, setting the trend for a belief in economic growth.

The world is a limited area, but still we are afflicted by those who dominate our societies insisting that economic growth can continue. Most of the environmental problems we face are due to the rapid growth of the world's human population, a growth encouraged by capitalist economic policy so as to stimulate economic growth. According to economic attitudes, it is "cheaper" to pollute our environment while manufacturing goods and services, rather than attempt to minimize our harmful effects. Modifications to this are limited, provided by legal constraints implemented by politicians only because of public demand, and often bypassed to produce employment in economically deprived regions.

Being born wealthy gives you two options. You can spend your life enjoying hedonistic pleasures, without concern for the future. This may well be the most logical option, because all said and done, human civilization is far more likely doomed than not. Saving us from ourselves is an unlikely possibility, even if all politicians suddenly became altruistic.

Alternatively, you can make use of the wealth, and the influence and power having it provides in our society, to at least attempt to improve the way things are. You are gifted with the ability to do so from the start. You do not need to dominate and manipulate and harm others to first accrue the wealth that can let you influence the world and strive towards a society that lives with nature in harmony, rather than one that destroys it. We are manufacturing our own species suicide; the rich have more influence than the intelligent, so it is better to be born rich in this world so that, just maybe, you can do something about it. You can always seek the advice of the intelligent, sadly the intelligent have far less chance of obtaining the assistance of the wealthy.

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