On a long-term level, wealth- or trappings of wealth- do not a moral person make; nor does a lack of wealth indicate a lack of character. Some people get wealthy through fraud and quick schemes, which indicate a lack of character; some get wealthy through inheritance, which makes no specific bearing upon character; some through hard work and innovation, which generally indicates a strong character. Likewise, some people are poor due to lack of character; but others are poor because of lack of circumstances, or lack of interest. (Personally, I like to think that I’m poor because of lack of interest; but I fear that I’m poor due to lack of character.)
Since one can’t immediately assign percentages to such things (42% of all rich people are frauds, but 27% are hard workers!) it’s wrong to make a long-term judgement upon a person based upon wealth.
Conversely, though, we all have schemata by which we make immediate opinion judgements; and while I try to believe that one’s wealth is not necessarily an indication of character, I’m a lot more comfortable walking alone on a dark city street in an up-scale neighborhood than in a poor neighborhood.
Not from a single snap shot. But if someone shows a pattern of moving from dead end job to dead end job that certainly shows something.
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Of course. And they should get credit for behavior that leads them to be successful. Some groups of people have ideals and ethics that promote success.
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This is true in some cases. The first example that comes to mind is a jewish diamond exchange in New York City. One guy comes in with a couple hundred thousand dollars in diamons and negotiates a price with another man. Once they agree on a price they shake hands and the other guy takes to the diamonds and delivers the cash at a later date. They save a lot of money on lawyers and legal documents this way. However the Chinese, Jews, and Indians open businesses that cater to those outside their community.
MGibson…Didn’t say they didn’t cater to others besides themselves. Wouldn’t exactly be in their best interests to refuse customers. But they do have a habit of taking their business to each other and I see nothing wrong with that either. What was implied is that they possess some character trait that makes them more successful than certain other ethnic groups, the ethnic group I believe implied here is the African American. And I say this is bunk and is often used as an argument against what many people see as the failure of the African American community to thrive. (I personally know of several who will tell you that in their opinion they are thriving compared to 35 years ago.)
I’m also to stupid obviously to worry about where I’m walking if I find myself in that position. I’ve walked right through “lower income” neighborhoods to get where I needed to go without a second thought. Actually I think I’d feel more uncomfortable stranded in a fancy upscale neighborhood than a poor one. I wouldn’t want to be seen as threat to them with my broken down 10 year old car. Come to think of it I live in one of those “lower income” neighborhoods, no wonder I don’t feel afraid. My daughter’s current boy that likes her lives in a big fancy house on the lake. He says we live in the “white ghetto”. She didn’t like the comment of course. She told him she didn’t need him to save her from her terrible environment, she’d do that herself. Last night when he called she told me to answer and say she wasn’t home. That’s my girl!
I was the one that brought up that some ethnic groups seem to have traits that lead to success and others do not. I used Jews, the Chinese, and Indians as a few examples of such groups but I didn’t say a thing about any group that might be less successful.
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You might feel more confortable but I doubt you’d be safer. So far as I know more violent crimes occur in lower income areas then the higher income areas.
The question in this thread was “Is wealth and indicator of character?” Not “Does being wealthy show good character?” There’s a difference and I don’t think this thread was meant to be a indictment of the poor and lionization of the rich.
Marc
I think wealth, be it the building of it or the successful maintenance of it, shows a characteristic, or a set of characteristics. It does not speak of character one way or the other.
I think the main question is: Which is the cause and which is the symptom?
I mean, some people might becomes rich because they’re really driven (or as I like to call it, crazy). Others, because of a smile and a kiss from lady luck.
And are they the same person when they become rich?
The people that scare me, are the ones who love money more than life.
Stating that children do not rise above their born station in life is also subject to interpretation. If you are talking economic station then that may very often be true. I think perhaps there was a time when quite a few did, like in the 50’s, 60s and somewhat in the 70’s. After the economic crisis of the 30’s a lot of people had nowhere to go but up. I know that my mother and siblings did better economically than their parents, just as an example. It is most probably a bit harder these days, especially without an education. That is generally the key to improving your station in life. (Of course not in all instances)