Monetary addiction - Revision history

Fractalguy: /* Monetary Addiction */

2025-12-23T15:42:24Z

Monetary Addiction

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:42, 23 December 2025
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	[[Capitalism]]'s relentless [[incentives]] to pursue [[money]], growth, and materialism, has caused a new outbreak of one the oldest forms of [[addiction]]--monetary [[addiction]]. It is easy to spot a victim of monetary [[addiction]]. The size of their portfolio is a key outward indicator. For those without sound financial strategies, the size of their [[wikipedia:Hoarding\|hoard]] or their debt will let you know.<blockquote>''"Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we cannot satisfy the rich."'' -Anonymous</blockquote>Billionaires are the ones whose [[addiction]] runs deepest. The amount of [[cognitive dissonance]] they must have to deal with when they make move after move that reduces the [[quality of life]] for their workers, and bribe [[Politics\|politicians]] to make [[life]] worse for all of us, just to feed their [[addiction]]. This is why depression is so prevalent in the rich, even though it's more prevalent in the poor for different reasons that should be obvious. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7891298/][https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/157/2/98/90059] The system of unequal, exploitative [[capitalism]] that [[Incentives\|incentivizes]] [[work]] and profits over [[happiness]] doesn't really work for anyone.		[[Capitalism]]'s relentless [[incentives]] to pursue [[money]], growth, and materialism, has caused a new outbreak of one the oldest forms of [[addiction]]--monetary [[addiction]]. It is easy to spot a victim of monetary [[addiction]]. The size of their portfolio is a key outward indicator. For those without sound financial strategies, the size of their [[wikipedia:Hoarding\|hoard]] or their debt will let you know.<blockquote>''"Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we cannot satisfy the rich."'' -Anonymous</blockquote>Billionaires are the ones whose [[addiction]] runs deepest. The amount of [[cognitive dissonance]] they must have to deal with when they make move after move that reduces the [[quality of life]] for their workers, and bribe [[Politics\|politicians]] to make [[life]] worse for all of us, just to feed their [[addiction]]. This is why depression is so prevalent in the rich, even though it's more prevalent in the poor for different reasons that should be obvious. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7891298/][https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/157/2/98/90059] The system of unequal, exploitative [[capitalism]] that [[Incentives\|incentivizes]] [[work]] and profits over [[happiness]] doesn't really work for anyone.
	[[File:Maslow-greeds-versus-needs.jpg\|none\|thumb\|650x650px\|Once you get to self-actualization, stop climbing and start helping others.]]		[[File:Maslow-greeds-versus-needs.jpg\|none\|thumb\|650x650px\|Once you get to self-actualization, stop climbing and start helping others.]]
			[[File:Youre-in-the-trolley-problem.jpeg\|right\|frameless\|400x400px]]
	The [[addiction]] model for income inequality offers a way to change the conversation about [[wealth]], [[power]], and [[happiness]]. If people start to feel sorry for the rich instead of the combination of [[Bootlicking\|worship]], [[hate]], and [[jealousy]] that they currently get, the [[social norms]] around ostentatious [[wealth]] will begin to change. Nobody wants to be pitied.		The [[addiction]] model for income inequality offers a way to change the conversation about [[wealth]], [[power]], and [[happiness]]. If people start to feel sorry for the rich instead of the combination of [[Bootlicking\|worship]], [[hate]], and [[jealousy]] that they currently get, the [[social norms]] around ostentatious [[wealth]] will begin to change. Nobody wants to be pitied.

Fractalguy at 15:00, 30 November 2025

2025-11-30T15:00:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 30 November 2025
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	== Money : Success :: Pleasure : Flourishing ==		== Money : Success :: Pleasure : Flourishing ==
			[[File:Consumerism-barely-touched-your-object-empty-soul.jpeg\|right\|frameless\|350x350px]]
	Using the [https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-analogies-and-comparisons-why-removed-what-replaced-them old school SAT analogies and comparisons] format, we see the [[connection]] between [[money]] and [[happiness]] more clearly.		Using the [https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-analogies-and-comparisons-why-removed-what-replaced-them old school SAT analogies and comparisons] format, we see the [[connection]] between [[money]] and [[happiness]] more clearly.

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	== Consumerism and Hoarding ==		== Consumerism and Hoarding ==
	[[File:~~Consumerism~~-~~barely~~-~~touched~~-~~your~~-~~object~~-~~empty-soul~~.~~jpeg~~\|right\|frameless\|350x350px]]		[[File:Buying-is-the-purse-killer-dune.png\|right\|frameless\|350x350px]]
	[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding_disorder Hoarding] is a uniquely modern phenomenon where the compulsion to accumulate possessions reaches debilitating levels.<blockquote>''"If you aren't in love with late-[[capitalism]], why are you letting it store all its stuff at your place?"'' -[[wikipedia:Jennifer_Michael_Hecht\|Jennifer Michael Hecht]]</blockquote>Hoarding of [[money]] is an affliction of the [[wealthy]] that so warps their [[perspective]] that many are able to justify profiting from mass [[suffering]] if it feeds their [[addiction]].<blockquote>''"I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too."'' -[[wikipedia:Steve_Martin\|Steve Martin]]</blockquote>A [[happy]] [[life]] requires all of the stuff you need to be comfortable, and some stuff to have fun with. But beyond that any additional accumulation promises [[wikipedia:Diminishing_returns\|diminishing returns]].[[File:Food-and-cheer-and-song-jrr-tolkien.jpg\|thumb\|The only [[Jordan Peterson\|dragons to slay]] are billionaires]]Creating personal strategies to counter the materialistic urge is a [[necessary prerequisite]] to finding [[happiness]] in a [[capitalist]] [[society]]. Especially when the entire [[economy]] acts as a [[propaganda]] machine to try and make you buy more.		[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding_disorder Hoarding] is a uniquely modern phenomenon where the compulsion to accumulate possessions reaches debilitating levels.<blockquote>''"If you aren't in love with late-[[capitalism]], why are you letting it store all its stuff at your place?"'' -[[wikipedia:Jennifer_Michael_Hecht\|Jennifer Michael Hecht]]</blockquote>Hoarding of [[money]] is an affliction of the [[wealthy]] that so warps their [[perspective]] that many are able to justify profiting from mass [[suffering]] if it feeds their [[addiction]].<blockquote>''"I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too."'' -[[wikipedia:Steve_Martin\|Steve Martin]]</blockquote>A [[happy]] [[life]] requires all of the stuff you need to be comfortable, and some stuff to have fun with. But beyond that any additional accumulation promises [[wikipedia:Diminishing_returns\|diminishing returns]].[[File:Food-and-cheer-and-song-jrr-tolkien.jpg\|thumb\|The only [[Jordan Peterson\|dragons to slay]] are billionaires]]Creating personal strategies to counter the materialistic urge is a [[necessary prerequisite]] to finding [[happiness]] in a [[capitalist]] [[society]]. Especially when the entire [[economy]] acts as a [[propaganda]] machine to try and make you buy more.

Fractalguy: /* Money : Success :: Pleasure : Flourishing */

2025-11-30T05:21:56Z

Money : Success :: Pleasure : Flourishing

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:21, 30 November 2025
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	== Consumerism and Hoarding ==		== Consumerism and Hoarding ==
	[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding_disorder Hoarding] is a uniquely modern phenomenon where the compulsion to accumulate possessions reaches debilitating levels.<blockquote>''"If you aren't in love with late-[[capitalism]], why are you letting it store all its stuff at your place?"'' -[[wikipedia:Jennifer_Michael_Hecht\|Jennifer Michael Hecht]]</blockquote>~~[[File:Food-and-cheer-and-song-jrr-tolkien.jpg\|thumb\|The only [[Jordan Peterson\|dragons to slay]] are billionaires]]~~Hoarding of [[money]] is an affliction of the [[wealthy]] that so warps their [[perspective]] that many are able to justify profiting from mass [[suffering]] if it feeds their [[addiction]].<blockquote>''"I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too."'' -[[wikipedia:Steve_Martin\|Steve Martin]]</blockquote>A [[happy]] [[life]] requires all of the stuff you need to be comfortable, and some stuff to have fun with. But beyond that any additional accumulation promises [[wikipedia:Diminishing_returns\|diminishing returns]].		[[File:Consumerism-barely-touched-your-object-empty-soul.jpeg\|right\|frameless\|350x350px]]
			[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding_disorder Hoarding] is a uniquely modern phenomenon where the compulsion to accumulate possessions reaches debilitating levels.<blockquote>''"If you aren't in love with late-[[capitalism]], why are you letting it store all its stuff at your place?"'' -[[wikipedia:Jennifer_Michael_Hecht\|Jennifer Michael Hecht]]</blockquote>Hoarding of [[money]] is an affliction of the [[wealthy]] that so warps their [[perspective]] that many are able to justify profiting from mass [[suffering]] if it feeds their [[addiction]].<blockquote>''"I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too."'' -[[wikipedia:Steve_Martin\|Steve Martin]]</blockquote>A [[happy]] [[life]] requires all of the stuff you need to be comfortable, and some stuff to have fun with. But beyond that any additional accumulation promises [[wikipedia:Diminishing_returns\|diminishing returns]].[[File:Food-and-cheer-and-song-jrr-tolkien.jpg\|thumb\|The only [[Jordan Peterson\|dragons to slay]] are billionaires]]Creating personal strategies to counter the materialistic urge is a [[necessary prerequisite]] to finding [[happiness]] in a [[capitalist]] [[society]]. Especially when the entire [[economy]] acts as a [[propaganda]] machine to try and make you buy more.
	Creating personal strategies to counter the materialistic urge is a [[necessary prerequisite]] to finding [[happiness]] in a [[capitalist]] [[society]]. Especially when the entire [[economy]] acts as a [[propaganda]] machine to try and make you buy more.

	[[Social media]] has accelerated the trend towards consumerism. Legacy [[media]] celebrated the [[wikipedia:Lifestyles_of_the_Rich_and_Famous\|Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous]], but [[social media]] celebrates the ''Lifestyles of Your Peers who are Richer and Having More Fun Than You''. The pressure to [[wikipedia:Keeping_up_with_the_Joneses\|keep up with the Joneses]] is so much higher when you don't just compare yourself to the people in your neighborhood; now it's a steady [[Newsfeed\|stream]] of the richest people in the richest neighborhoods in the world, all showing off for you.		[[Social media]] has accelerated the trend towards consumerism. Legacy [[media]] celebrated the [[wikipedia:Lifestyles_of_the_Rich_and_Famous\|Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous]], but [[social media]] celebrates the ''Lifestyles of Your Peers who are Richer and Having More Fun Than You''. The pressure to [[wikipedia:Keeping_up_with_the_Joneses\|keep up with the Joneses]] is so much higher when you don't just compare yourself to the people in your neighborhood; now it's a steady [[Newsfeed\|stream]] of the richest people in the richest neighborhoods in the world, all showing off for you.

Fractalguy: /* All Billionaires Are Bad */

2025-11-30T04:31:49Z

All Billionaires Are Bad

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:31, 30 November 2025
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	There is no [[economic]] benefit to these concentrations of [[wealth]]. Any business you can start with ten billion dollars you can start with one billion and the pooled investments of other venture capitalists. You'll just need to spread the rewards out a bit more rather than keeping it all for yourself. Boo-hoo. [[Society]] benefits, not just you.		There is no [[economic]] benefit to these concentrations of [[wealth]]. Any business you can start with ten billion dollars you can start with one billion and the pooled investments of other venture capitalists. You'll just need to spread the rewards out a bit more rather than keeping it all for yourself. Boo-hoo. [[Society]] benefits, not just you.
			[[File:Hate-every-billionaire-i-see-bourgeuois-z.jpeg\|right\|frameless\|300x300px]]
	In the "[[wikipedia:Good_old_days\|good old days]]" the top marginal [[tax]] rates were as high as 94%, representing an effective upper limit on income, if not [[wealth]].[https://www.econlib.org/how-did-we-get-good-growth-in-the-1950s-despite-high-marginal-tax-rates/] While loopholes and [[wikipedia:Capital_gains_tax\|capital gains]] meant that few people actually paid the full amount, it did reflect an [[economic]] ethos that people should only be allowed to accumulate so much [[wealth]] and [[power]] in order for [[society]] to be [[Freedom\|free]] and [[Equality\|equitable]].		In the "[[wikipedia:Good_old_days\|good old days]]" the top marginal [[tax]] rates were as high as 94%, representing an effective upper limit on income, if not [[wealth]].[https://www.econlib.org/how-did-we-get-good-growth-in-the-1950s-despite-high-marginal-tax-rates/] While loopholes and [[wikipedia:Capital_gains_tax\|capital gains]] meant that few people actually paid the full amount, it did reflect an [[economic]] ethos that people should only be allowed to accumulate so much [[wealth]] and [[power]] in order for [[society]] to be [[Freedom\|free]] and [[Equality\|equitable]].

Fractalguy at 23:13, 5 September 2025

2025-09-05T23:13:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:13, 5 September 2025
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	Modern [[society]] provides so much [[abundance]] that it is easy to get [[addicted]] to the accumulation of [[money]] and things. This is especially true when all of the [[incentives]] of [[capitalism]] encourage this.<blockquote>''“Some people are so poor, all they have is money.” -''[https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/620707-some-people-are-so-poor-all-they-have-is-money Patrick Meagher]</blockquote>Monetary addiction can take many forms, depending on how much [[money]] you actually have. [[wikipedia:Consumerism\|Consumerism]], [[wikipedia:Hoarding_disorder\|hoarding]], [[wikipedia:Economic_materialism\|economic materialism]], and other related symptoms are all expressions of monetary addiction, even if the user feeds their [[addiction]] with debt instead of profit.		Modern [[society]] provides so much [[abundance]] that it is easy to get [[addicted]] to the accumulation of [[money]] and things. This is especially true when all of the [[incentives]] of [[capitalism]] encourage this.<blockquote>''“Some people are so poor, all they have is money.” -''[https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/620707-some-people-are-so-poor-all-they-have-is-money Patrick Meagher]</blockquote>Monetary addiction can take many forms, depending on how much [[money]] you actually have. [[wikipedia:Consumerism\|Consumerism]], [[wikipedia:Hoarding_disorder\|hoarding]], [[wikipedia:Economic_materialism\|economic materialism]], and other related symptoms are all expressions of monetary addiction, even if the user feeds their [[addiction]] with debt instead of profit.

	Using the [[addiction]] model is a better way to understand the behavior of [[billionaires]] and others who pursue [[power]], fame, and material [[wealth]], to the detriment of their personal [[relationships]], [[community]], and [[society]] at large.[[wikipedia:Hoarding_disorder\|Hoarding]] and rampant consumerism are how these [[Addiction\|addictions]] manifest among the working class.		Using the [[addiction]] model is a better way to understand the behavior of [[billionaires]] and others who pursue [[power]], fame, and material [[wealth]], to the detriment of their personal [[relationships]], [[community]], and [[society]] at large.[[wikipedia:Hoarding_disorder\|Hoarding]] and rampant consumerism are how these [[Addiction\|addictions]] manifest among the working class.

			Many people ask "why don't they just retire and hang out on their yachts all day?" Why doesn't a heroin [[Addiction\|addict]] just quit? Both the hardcore [[Drugs\|drug]] addict and the [[billionaire]] have let their [[Addiction\|addictions]] impoverish every other aspect of their lives, so that the next hit is the only thing they have to look forward to.

	== Money : Success :: Pleasure : Flourishing ==		== Money : Success :: Pleasure : Flourishing ==

Fractalguy at 22:33, 5 September 2025

2025-09-05T22:33:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:33, 5 September 2025
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	[[File:Materialistic-Hoarder-Stuff-Boxes-Junk.png\|thumb\|Everyone needs a few hundred boxes of crap]]		[[File:Materialistic-Hoarder-Stuff-Boxes-Junk.png\|thumb\|Everyone needs a few hundred boxes of crap]]
	Modern [[society]] provides so much abundance that it is easy to get [[addicted]] to the accumulation of [[money]] and things. This is especially true when all of the [[incentives]] of [[capitalism]] encourage this.<blockquote>''“Some people are so poor, all they have is money.” -''[https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/620707-some-people-are-so-poor-all-they-have-is-money Patrick Meagher]</blockquote>Monetary addiction can take many forms, depending on how much [[money]] you actually have. [[wikipedia:Consumerism\|Consumerism]], [[wikipedia:Hoarding_disorder\|hoarding]], [[wikipedia:Economic_materialism\|economic materialism]], and other related symptoms are all expressions of monetary addiction, even if the user feeds their [[addiction]] with debt instead of profit.		Modern [[society]] provides so much [[abundance]] that it is easy to get [[addicted]] to the accumulation of [[money]] and things. This is especially true when all of the [[incentives]] of [[capitalism]] encourage this.<blockquote>''“Some people are so poor, all they have is money.” -''[https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/620707-some-people-are-so-poor-all-they-have-is-money Patrick Meagher]</blockquote>Monetary addiction can take many forms, depending on how much [[money]] you actually have. [[wikipedia:Consumerism\|Consumerism]], [[wikipedia:Hoarding_disorder\|hoarding]], [[wikipedia:Economic_materialism\|economic materialism]], and other related symptoms are all expressions of monetary addiction, even if the user feeds their [[addiction]] with debt instead of profit.

			Using the [[addiction]] model is a better way to understand the behavior of [[billionaires]] and others who pursue [[power]], fame, and material [[wealth]], to the detriment of their personal [[relationships]], [[community]], and [[society]] at large.[[wikipedia:Hoarding_disorder\|Hoarding]] and rampant consumerism are how these [[Addiction\|addictions]] manifest among the working class.

	== Money : Success :: Pleasure : Flourishing ==		== Money : Success :: Pleasure : Flourishing ==

Fractalguy at 13:05, 1 September 2025

2025-09-01T13:05:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:05, 1 September 2025
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	[[wikipedia:Limitarianism_(ethical)\|Economic Limitarianism]] is the [[ethical]] theory that emphasizes putting limits on the amount of wealth one person can accumulate in order to keep the [[balance of power]].		[[wikipedia:Limitarianism_(ethical)\|Economic Limitarianism]] is the [[ethical]] theory that emphasizes putting limits on the amount of wealth one person can accumulate in order to keep the [[balance of power]].

			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBnn7hrrj2Y\|\|center\|Imagine there were no billionaires\|frame}}

	== All Their Platforms are Bad, Too ==		== All Their Platforms are Bad, Too ==

Fractalguy at 13:04, 1 September 2025

2025-09-01T13:04:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:04, 1 September 2025
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	If you are fortunate enough to own or invent something that everyone needs, you should be able to make yourself fabulously wealthy. You should not be able to make yourself into an [[wikipedia:Oligarchy\|oligarch]]. At some point the extra profits enabled by a [[Freedom\|free]] and stable [[society]] should be reinvested in that [[society]] to ensure it continues to provide the [[economic]] conditions [[necessary]] for that profitability.		If you are fortunate enough to own or invent something that everyone needs, you should be able to make yourself fabulously wealthy. You should not be able to make yourself into an [[wikipedia:Oligarchy\|oligarch]]. At some point the extra profits enabled by a [[Freedom\|free]] and stable [[society]] should be reinvested in that [[society]] to ensure it continues to provide the [[economic]] conditions [[necessary]] for that profitability.

			[[wikipedia:Limitarianism_(ethical)\|Economic Limitarianism]] is the [[ethical]] theory that emphasizes putting limits on the amount of wealth one person can accumulate in order to keep the [[balance of power]].

	== All Their Platforms are Bad, Too ==		== All Their Platforms are Bad, Too ==

Fractalguy: /* Consume These Videos */

2025-07-18T20:14:13Z

Consume These Videos

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:14, 18 July 2025
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	The Netflix documentary "Buy Now" does a great job of showing how Amazon employs complex [[algorithms]] to trick your [[brain]] into becoming [[addicted]] to impulse buying.		The Netflix documentary "Buy Now" does a great job of showing how Amazon employs complex [[algorithms]] to trick your [[brain]] into becoming [[addicted]] to impulse buying.
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVfZw_eqJW8\|\|center\|Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy - Official Trailer\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVfZw_eqJW8\|\|center\|Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy - Official Trailer\|frame}}

			== Music Celebrating Excess and Greed ==
			An unfortunate feature of [[capitalist]] popular [[culture]] is the [[feedback loop]] between artists that desire [[money]] and fame and the [[art]] they create that celebrates and reinforces this desire. Before it was possible to feed your monetary [[addiction]] by making [[music]], there were very few songs about getting rich from record deals, touring around the world, and having [[sex]] with groupies. That began to change in the stadium rock era that began with Woodstock and grew throughout the 70s.
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T204WpZSbLw\|\|center\|Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
			The 80s brought the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Gekko Gordon Gekko] "Greed is Good" [[ideology]] and pop materialism reflected this trend.
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p-lDYPR2P8\|\|center\|Madonna - Material Girl\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p-lDYPR2P8\|\|center\|Madonna - Material Girl\|frame}}
			<br>
			In the 90s we saw the ascendance of hip-hop [[culture]], which often seemed laser-focused on the topic of making [[money]] and having [[sex]] with groupies.
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c58ppLPJcQ\|\|center\|Puff Daddy - It's All About The Benjamins (Remix)\|frame}}

Fractalguy: /* Consume These Videos */

2025-07-18T19:56:22Z

Consume These Videos

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 18 July 2025
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	<br>		<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij2rp9AdRnU\|\|center\|Why consumerism is ruining your life\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij2rp9AdRnU\|\|center\|Why consumerism is ruining your life\|frame}}
			<br>
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Koow0Q6EiXU\|\|center\|Why Japanese People Don't "Want" Things Anymore\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	The Netflix documentary "Buy Now" does a great job of showing how Amazon employs complex [[algorithms]] to trick your [[brain]] into becoming [[addicted]] to impulse buying.		The Netflix documentary "Buy Now" does a great job of showing how Amazon employs complex [[algorithms]] to trick your [[brain]] into becoming [[addicted]] to impulse buying.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:42, 23 December 2025
Line 33:		Line 33:
	[[Capitalism]]'s relentless [[incentives]] to pursue [[money]], growth, and materialism, has caused a new outbreak of one the oldest forms of [[addiction]]--monetary [[addiction]]. It is easy to spot a victim of monetary [[addiction]]. The size of their portfolio is a key outward indicator. For those without sound financial strategies, the size of their [[wikipedia:Hoarding\|hoard]] or their debt will let you know.<blockquote>''"Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we cannot satisfy the rich."'' -Anonymous</blockquote>Billionaires are the ones whose [[addiction]] runs deepest. The amount of [[cognitive dissonance]] they must have to deal with when they make move after move that reduces the [[quality of life]] for their workers, and bribe [[Politics\|politicians]] to make [[life]] worse for all of us, just to feed their [[addiction]]. This is why depression is so prevalent in the rich, even though it's more prevalent in the poor for different reasons that should be obvious. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7891298/][https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/157/2/98/90059] The system of unequal, exploitative [[capitalism]] that [[Incentives\|incentivizes]] [[work]] and profits over [[happiness]] doesn't really work for anyone.		[[Capitalism]]'s relentless [[incentives]] to pursue [[money]], growth, and materialism, has caused a new outbreak of one the oldest forms of [[addiction]]--monetary [[addiction]]. It is easy to spot a victim of monetary [[addiction]]. The size of their portfolio is a key outward indicator. For those without sound financial strategies, the size of their [[wikipedia:Hoarding\|hoard]] or their debt will let you know.<blockquote>''"Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we cannot satisfy the rich."'' -Anonymous</blockquote>Billionaires are the ones whose [[addiction]] runs deepest. The amount of [[cognitive dissonance]] they must have to deal with when they make move after move that reduces the [[quality of life]] for their workers, and bribe [[Politics\|politicians]] to make [[life]] worse for all of us, just to feed their [[addiction]]. This is why depression is so prevalent in the rich, even though it's more prevalent in the poor for different reasons that should be obvious. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7891298/][https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/157/2/98/90059] The system of unequal, exploitative [[capitalism]] that [[Incentives\|incentivizes]] [[work]] and profits over [[happiness]] doesn't really work for anyone.
	[[File:Maslow-greeds-versus-needs.jpg\|none\|thumb\|650x650px\|Once you get to self-actualization, stop climbing and start helping others.]]		[[File:Maslow-greeds-versus-needs.jpg\|none\|thumb\|650x650px\|Once you get to self-actualization, stop climbing and start helping others.]]
			[[File:Youre-in-the-trolley-problem.jpeg\|right\|frameless\|400x400px]]
	The [[addiction]] model for income inequality offers a way to change the conversation about [[wealth]], [[power]], and [[happiness]]. If people start to feel sorry for the rich instead of the combination of [[Bootlicking\|worship]], [[hate]], and [[jealousy]] that they currently get, the [[social norms]] around ostentatious [[wealth]] will begin to change. Nobody wants to be pitied.		The [[addiction]] model for income inequality offers a way to change the conversation about [[wealth]], [[power]], and [[happiness]]. If people start to feel sorry for the rich instead of the combination of [[Bootlicking\|worship]], [[hate]], and [[jealousy]] that they currently get, the [[social norms]] around ostentatious [[wealth]] will begin to change. Nobody wants to be pitied.