Money makes the world go round?

By Klaus Döring

“Money makes the world go round; however, happiness greases the axle.
Without this lubricant, life will seize.” – Paul Van Der MerweThe lyrics of ‘Money makes the world go round’ may be somewhat repetitive but … that the speed with which the money went around would affect the economy.

“People Make the World Go Round” is a song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, originally recorded by The Stylistics and released in 1972 through Avco Records as the final single from their self-titled debut studio album, The Stylistics (1971). It reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, No. 25 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and No. 6 on the Soul Singles chart in the United States.

Some people have money to burn! Every time I observe them, I feel that their money is going down their drain. Yes, “money talks”. The more money you have, the more you might become avaricious. Every time we have to dig deeper into our pockets, we might long to be like those people, who don’t see the difference between a 500- or 1,000-peso bill.

I am really not rich! I also wouldn’t hesitate to say that I would like to be so! Being rich means having wealth! Wealth is abundance, opulence, and affluence. Affluences become quickly influenced. Dyed-in-the-wool millionaires or even multi-millionaires lose their view of reality many times. They can’t even see the horizon, which could be the demarcation of their real estate. They don’t even recognize the wonderful flowers growing and blooming in their gardens.

Money calms down! Sure. No doubts at all! We all need an income to survive for our daily needs – and, maybe, a little bit more. Many of us struggle through life and work like slaves for a pitiful daily minimum wage. If you’re rich, you might be on the top. But believe me, once you are on top, you will have some unwelcome, mostly acceptable companions such as loneliness, so-called friends (!), parasites and freeloaders.

These companions will let you scream in pain, because you will start missing things you have expected from them: real friendship, love, care, comprehension, understanding, sympathy, appreciation. Remember such things? Miss such things?

Yes, money can give you a wonderful sleep, and you might stay in one of the most luxurious beds – but being awake, while your poorest neighbor sleeps better and more peacefully on the floor. There are many sayings about money. I like this one: Money can buy books but not brains. You might study a lot and get a lot of experiences; it’s just a pity, if you don’t use them at the right time for the right people in your surroundings.

Money can buy food but no appetite. Who reaps the benefits of it? A full to overflowing store room will never be satisfying, if sour free-loaders join your table and push away your real friends.

Our last earthly dress has no more pockets. The remembrance of how we acted and lived together with our fellow creatures will remain forever. With money, we might be able to let the devil dance. But money alone doesn’t make us happy. Money kills more people and friendships than a cudgel.

The more money, the more problems. The more money, the more we have to pay and the higher our bills become.

Money makes the world go round, the world goes round.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .