My name is Gid and I...like...to...make...money!

Not just some money, LOTS of it! I want to have money to burn, money to roll in, and money to throw out the window of my limousine.

I was raised thinking there was something wrong with that. As I grow older I'm realizing that: 1) it is human nature; 2) it can be a good thing when it's done right; and 3) that listening to the lies of those who taught me that wanting to be wealthy was some kind of moral defect have held me back long enough, and that I need to press on.

Now, don't get me wrong, I have an ethos. And I won't operate outside of that. I wouldn't, for instance, set up in the poor part of town and charge double for goods simply because I could. But I also wouldn't limit my possibilities very much.

See, if I make money, I spend money. If I spend money, somebody else makes money. If they make money, they employ more people. More people make more money, and we all get happy. Not because of the money, mind you, but because having enough money to relieve us from the day to day worries of the impoverished liberates us to pursue leisure activities, and we can enjoy time doing things that have a more lasting meaning for us.

I have had enough with "Democrats" (I use quotes because I am speaking not of true Democrats, who have my respect, but of those who've hijacked the party, who do not) demanding that I shouldn't have a right to the fruits of my labor. Of "Democrats" demanding it is noble to give the lowest wage earners a pay raise and force a pay cut on the higher wage earners, who have given time, money and effort to get where they are, only to sacrifice it to the slothful and the slovenly at the whim of Uncle Sam.

Think my assessment is a bit harsh? Show me one individual with a bachelor's degree, no criminal record, and no history of mental illness who is making minimum wage (except in an area where they've voluntarily chosen to do so), and I MIGHT back off of it a bit. I am saying "might", because if an individual with NO college degree can consistently make above minimum wage, even in a tight job market, I'm fairly certain that someone with a bachelor's degree can do the same.

I want to help the poor; I believe it is a moral obligation. But I'm less and less of the opinion that entitlements accomplish that, and more of the opinion that we need to give them the MEANS to get out of poverty, not simply hand them a check. The VAST majority of individuals I know who are poor in America frequent paycheck cashing places and rent to own stores. Shall I tell you about the young man working 20 hours a week work study at minimum wage who has an $1800 laptop and about $2000 more than I do per semester in student aid (he lives at home; I, on the other hand, have 5 children to care for), and purchased a Nintendo Wii when he said he couldn't afford to pay for his certification exams? Or of the family who used their son's SSI to rent to own big screen TV's, surround sound entertainment centers, and drugs? Entitlements aren't helping these people; in case of the young college student, he has no desire to get a job because he's making more money NOT working than he could make working!

Yes, I want to make money. But I want to EARN it, not get it handed to me on a silver platter. Believe me, the world will be better for it.