The love of money Part I

Scriptures say that the love of money, and not having money itself, is the beginning of all evil. This lesson has become obvious for all to see from the political corruption of leadership in Malaysia. Where there is greed; hate will also prevail! Therefore, we are today the favourite whipping boy of the world in terms of this culture of kleptocracy; thanks to the Americans and their Justice Department (DOJ) case.

But, somehow we do not yet feel any shame at all. Why? “Belum malu lagikah?”

Needs versus wants

As a grandfather of two, I tell all my five children that there are only two lessons I want to teach each of the grandchildren. The first is to know the difference between the two words; needs and wants. What is a need? It is basic necessity for life and living; and I would add, to live a simple and basic good quality of life anywhere in the world. To live that experience, knowing what is not a need is most essential. Essential needs have high value.

A want is a human desire for amenities and facilities that are not considered essential for basic survival but are instead wanted or desired, for comforts or improvements in quality of life. That agenda drives our acquisitive ways of life. Therefore while water is a basic need, ice-cold drinking water, or warm water for showers is a want and more than just a need. Grandeur in buildings is a want; not need.

If our grandchildren do not understand and know the difference between needs and wants; we have moderated the next generation of spoilt kids or grandkids. Nevertheless, fathers will always be held responsible for such failures in teaching. And consequently, the per capita income needed for such a quality of life for every human is unsustainable within current global resources.

Abraham Maslow made famous one motivation theory for appreciating our hierarchy of basic needs. Maslow\’s (1943, 1954) hierarchy of needs in psychology comprising a five tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.

Understanding the word ‘No’

My second wish and desire within our larger family is that all grandchildren learn and understand the word, ‘No’. Only the parents, from a much younger age, and grandparents, at an older age, can really teach them the word ‘No’. Schools are often too late for this primary lesson.

At some point in their lives; it becomes even too late for the community to teach this word; if they did not learn it at home. It will then translate to indiscipline in society; requiring then guns, prisons, and policing.

I actually received a YouTube video with someone teaching the needs for Vitamin N. I thought it was very good and it related to the word, ‘No’ as the vitamin N. How then do children learn the word ‘No’, and also maybe learn to abuse it rather early in life.

Our two-year old grandchild has already learnt to say ‘No’ to his parents. We were together in the US recently to visit his great grandma in Wisconsin and I soon realised that he uses the word ‘No’ towards his parents’ instructions when he disagrees with them. Is that maturity or indiscretion?

While it is good, right, and important that he learns to say ‘No’, when he disagrees, because our generation of Merdeka celebrants did not learn to say ‘No’ at all; even when we needed it so much; but, the word ‘No’ in reverse also ensures pushing limits in the case of two-year-olds.

Therefore, my goal now is in working with his parents to help ensure he also learns the word ‘Yes’ when his parents give clear and straightforward instructions. That has been my mini-lectures to this young man; that he must learn to say ‘Yes’ before he can learn to say ‘No’. I pray that we succeed before it is too late.

Our global problem today

The world’s greatest problem today in global development of nation-states is greed of crony capitalism models; without any limits. Therefore I have a friend who has proposed Moral Capitalism as an alternative.

The inability of Capitalists to say ‘No’ is greed. Of course, today in China and Russia, similar models of greed capitalism rules just like it does anywhere and everywhere else in liberal democracies. Establishing moral limits is our only way forward.

But then, we also have the slippery steep slope; all this dirty crony capital in hands of a small few is today defining the content and quality of moral leadership globally. Corruption and crony capitalism reigns and we the ordinary citizens appear to have no say about the direction of each of our Titanic-like ship called the nation-state.

When we finally become aware of the nature of our real problem and the complete consequential disenfranchisement from mainstream development and participation; we get angry and react; and vote Brexit. Or, we vote for Donald Trump or Rodrigo Duterte, as the case may be.

Next week: The love of money Part II