It’s all about money…but we already knew that

I ran across an article that just bothered me today. Here it is:

Potential candidates hoping to hit is big in Las Vegas

It is just a regular political piece about potential presidential candidates hoping to find big donors that will contribute to their upcoming bid to be the next leader of the world’s largest economy.

It bothered me, not because I don’t think this kind of things happens, but because it doesn’t seem to bother anyone else. It doesn’t seem to be a big deal that we have millionaires kissing up to millionaires so that they will donate and help them get elected. It doesn’t bother people that the only way to win an election for the highest office in this country is to spend more money than the vast majority of the world will ever see in their lifetime. It is not a big deal that instead of speaking to the masses, they speak to the few who will get them airtime on TV, radio, and build a stronger web presence so that we will vote for them…or at least so that we will vote against the person that they are running against.

It is not about right or wrong, it is not even really about what their stance is on the issues for the most part. It is about money and who can get it. Money will get you more ads, more people to pay to make phone calls to likely voters, more mailers sent out…etc.

The candidates are trying to prove that they are not as bad as the guy across the aisle from them, so you should vote for them. They are trying to make you think that they will do exactly what you think is right when they get into office. You need to feel connected to the candidate, so they will go on talk shows and have heart felt commercials that show them as regular people.

All of this costs money, lots of money, more money than you would think it would take considering all the advances in technology that have connected people all over the world.

It bothers me that without money, you can’t get elected. Those who don’t have the backing might be the right person for the job, but you will never hear their voice. They can’t buy their way onto the stage for the debate.

It bothers me, it might not bother you. I don’t know what I am going to do about it, I’m not sure that there is anything I can do about it. I just felt like I wanted to share.

‘The grass is always greener’ and other lies we believe

A few years ago I was walking through the airport on my way to my gate and I stopped at the gift shop. I usually bring a book to read but this time I didn’t so I walked up to the book section. I found one that immediately grabbed my attention. It was about a concept that I had never really thought about. What if we really did get all the things we wanted when we wanted them? Would that make us happy? The conclusion the writer came up with was no. The joy we find in life is from the things we go through every day that we didn’t think we were going to go through. I was going to buy the book, but it was a hardback copy and it was over priced (as everything is at the airport) so I just told myself I would buy it when I got home. I didn’t buy it. I have been looking for it ever since. The problem is that I don’t remember the name!

The reason I am bringing this story up right now is because of a discussion I had yesterday. On twitter a question was posed: “When I get what I want, will I want what I’ve got?”

My response to that was, “No. People want what they don’t have, the hunt is where the thrill exists.” I guess the problem with this is that I was not talking about myself, I was talking about people in general.

It made me stop and take a look at myself. Do I think that the grass is really greener on the other side of the fence? Am I only interested in the “hunt” and not on actually getting what I say I want. The conclusion I came to is sometimes. It freaked me out to think that I might be part of the group that is more interested in chasing things than in actually getting what I want, so I decided do some soul searching and some research.

According to everything I could find online it takes an income of $75,000 per year right now to be happy. I found multiple articles and studies that said this was the magic number and here is one of the articles: “How Much Money Makes You Happy?”

I don’t make $75,000 per year currently. At no point in my life have I made $75,000 per year up to this point. I am a happy guy. I really am happy. One of the things I found out in my research is that people stress about money a lot! I have seen that in the lives of friends and family. I am not really one to stress about money. I don’t need stuff. There is no bigger, better, nicer thing that I am saving my money to get. I am not running up credit cards so I can out-do my neighbors. That is just not who I am. I’m not saying that I am somehow the only person who is not materialistic and consumed with stuff. I know a lot of people who are less worried with what they have than they are in how much they can help someone else.

This all made me realize a few things. First off, there are a lot of people consumed with themselves and their own stuff. If the research that was done is correct than wow…we are really all about things in America today. I guess I knew that, but hadn’t thought about it in a while.

Another thing it made me realize is that there is so much more in life than just me and my stuff. When we get our eyes off of us and onto how we can make a difference we can change lives. There are people who change lives every day. People who do a lot more than me…and probably more than you too. I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty for having stuff. If you make over $75,000 then that is awesome for you!

My only question is will you help someone else or will you keep it just for you and yours? I find that helping people with what I have been given is way more rewarding and brings me more happiness than spending it on myself. I know I can’t be alone in that.

I know a guy who gives more than he takes. You may or may not agree with everything he says or exactly how he does what he does…but he helps people that others ignore. Take a second and consider helping him help others. If not him, find someone or something you believe in and make a difference. We can change the world for the better. We just have to get our eyes off of ourselves.

Go to http://www.theoneinc.org/ or click the picture below.