On a Middle Class of Wealth and Fame

WE ALL WANT to be rich and famous, right? At least, isn't that what we're supposed to want?  And, push come to shove, fame and wealth might just be the most sought after commodities in the world. At least in the united states of america. Survey says! 

In america, we certainly seek wealth and fame more than we seek education or enlightenment, correct? The fact that these two (wealth and fame) are always mentioned in the same breath, linked together, makes you wonder; why?

Between the two, wealth is the want you want, buddy. Trust me. Fame is worth what it brings, a wise man once said, recognition from a lot of strangers. For the most part, fame turns out to be a lot of trouble. Almost every celeberity who once sought fame frantically eventually comes to hate being famous. paparazzi, rude strangers get old.

People want attention. Man is a social animal, and recognition from others brings a sense of well being, fulfilling a psychological need. but money brings survival, material survival, as well as, of course, social status, another psychological need.

Few people every hate being rich, although most people who are eventually learn to understand that if they are happy, it isn't mostly because of the money, and if they are unhappy, the money usually can't solve the problem.

Neither money nor fame is a zero sum game. Whether you have much or little, what you have is not taking anything away from what toher people have. Contrary to what a lotta left wingers think, if you have two billion dollars, that two billion dollars is not something that anyone else would have, if you  didn't, and it isn't something you took away from anyone, who should have it now instead of you.

You made it, You created it. Whether you keep it, or redistribute it, and the morality and efficacy of those choices, is entirely another question.

Likewise, we can all be famous, if we want to, just like we can all be wealthy. But we must ask ourselves whether that is what we really want? How much attention from strangers does anyone want? Are we advocating a "middle class of fame" here? Being known by many, but not by too many?

Redistribution of fame, perhaps? Ten thousand members of the Britney Spears fan club will now be transferred to joe blow. The wealthy always say, don't take mine away, create your own! You can do it! I did!  And of course they are quite correct. Maybe we should let britney keep her fans, and make our own.