Hi all,

I'm going through a bit of a turnaround in my views about having money. Someone suggested to me that if we have a huge amount of money we can direct it to where we want it to go in life, e.g for worthwhile social causes, or to put on folk festivals or start up a music venue for all different types of music to counteract blatant commercialism, or to help out the local school, or help research into aids, or whatever your real inner needs reflect.

When I think about people like Kerry Packer, a media magnate in Oz, (probably small fry on the international money stakes, but huge by comparison over here) who has multi-million dollar houses, cars, boats, etc etc and the only time I have heard of him doing anything for others was when he bought a U-beaut (contraction of Oz saying "you little beauty!" e.g. the best of something, or what you say if your horse comes in at great odds, i.e. a congratulatory remark) heart resuscitation machine for mobile intensive care units.

He only bought it because he nearly lost his life with a heart attack and one of those machines would have definitely made a difference to the procedures. He only bought one, as far as I know, for his local ambulance/hospital service, rather than one for each service in the state or the country - even though the cost would have peanuts compared to what he earns.

So, if its a choice between someone having the money who will spend it only on selfish wants, and someone like me having the money and using it with a social conscience, then I'd rather it came to someone like me. It's a matter of some contribution to control over the state of the world.

My 2c worth. (If I invest my 2c how long will it take to grow into a million dollars?)

Helen