Not even close, money is just another in a long line of things that people go to evil lengths to obtain. Like any commodity we value it can be good or evil depending upon the intentions of people pursuing it. I am very tired of letting people off the hook by saying the (fill in the blank) drove me to do some heinous act against others.

Money is merely a medium of exchange that only has value if people collectively agree it does. It is a tool for commerce that can be used to benefit or harm humanity depending upon its user. Just as a hammer or gun can be useful and good if properly applied.

People are the root of evil in how they decide to use the various tools available to us. A person who will lie, cheat, steal, and kill to obtain money is the root of the evil being perpetrated. They have decided that to gain enough money to be happy they must circumvent good in favor of evil means to obtain an amount of money that will 'solve' their problems.

One could argue that wealthy and famous people seem to get ruined by having so much money. I see people who made money a focal point and when they gained a large amount were let down that it is merely a commodity it is not the formula for happiness or peace. Take people like Donald Trump who have devoted a lifetime to making the deal and gaining more and more money. With that terrible rug on his head and the amount of evil around him as people vie for more and more money I say its a lifetime wasted. Look at reality shows like Survivor where a cash prize at the end causes mayhem and dirty dealing. Is the money the cause or the desire to obtain it driving the actions of people? The key being once they obtain it does the evil stop or do they find its was an illusion to think lots of money would solve problems with the person?

The fact is people let money become more important than integrity, honor, or general goodness and then try to absolve themselves claiming 'the money made me do it.' Sorry, the fact is people and their actions are the source of evil. They can claim some outside force has driven them to such actions but the individual chooses and takes such actions not some piece of paper or coin. Money like anything else we value is nothing more than an object that is without good or evil. The actions taken to obtain such things by people are where the evil or good occurs.

Learn more about this author, T. M. Beeker.
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