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Editor's note: Today, we welcome a special guest, our friend and master speculator Doug Casey. While we consider Doug a national treasure, there's no doubt he is one of the most controversial figures in the industry. That's why we always enjoy sharing his thoughts with readers. Read on for his latest...
A Few Radical Ideas About WealthBy
Friday, September 9, 2011
Now that more than 45 million Americans receive food stamps ... and over half receive more in government benefits than they pay in taxes, it's clear things have gone horribly wrong in this country's attitude toward wealth.
I've spent a considerable amount of time thinking about wealth. Over the years, I've developed some radical ideas on wealth. You may find them valuable.
Mind you, these ideas weren't radical 200 years ago... But they are considered radical now. That's why it's important to keep them in mind. In the financial crisis I see coming, the right ideas might mean your life.
First, recognize that wealth is a high moral good.
Don't feel guilty about having it or about wanting more.
If you've already accumulated and deployed enough capital to allow you to jump off the golden treadmill, congratulations: chances are high that you are an exceptional human being. I say that because the moral value of being wealthy is underrated. I don't mean that in a Calvinistic way, in that Calvin believed Yahweh rewarded the righteous by making them rich. But I do believe that productive people – people who work hard to provide goods and services for others – definitely tend to be wealthier than unproductive people. They deserve to be.
And since we don't live in a malevolent universe, people generally get what they deserve. So, yes, wealth is definitely one indicator of moral excellence.
Sure, some wealthy people got that way by lying, cheating, and stealing. But they're exceptions. It's much easier to become wealthy if (in addition to having virtues like diligence, competence, and judgment) you are known to be truthful and honest. Those who automatically think ill of the rich are, at best, paranoid fools. Put it this way: Rich people may lack some virtues, but they definitely have at least a few that made them rich. Poor people, on the other hand, will certainly lack some virtues, and they'll definitely have some vices that kept them poor.
I'm a fan of some aspects of Gurdjieff, the late-19th to mid-20th century Russian mystic, who was also a merchant adventurer at some points in his colorful life. He said that anyone who successfully employed at least 20 other people must be considered at least partially enlightened and a type of guru. That viewpoint always resonated with me. Self-made wealthy people may not be saints or mystics or intellectuals or even especially thoughtful or moral. But they've proven they're better than the average bear in at least one important way: they can create and conserve wealth. And they've thereby eased everyone's path to further accomplishments.
Second, figure out your purpose in having money.
Sure, money makes life easier. And it's nice how it enables you to assist people you like with material things. But I strongly suggest that you not take too short a view on this matter.
Accelerating advances in medical science are not only lengthening human life expectancy, but new developments now in the works have the potential to vastly improve your capability and health, as well.
Is it possible to live to age 200, with all the wealth, knowledge, and wisdom that implies, while maintaining the body of a 30-year-old? Not yet. But the prospect is on the horizon. It will, however, be available only to those who can afford it.
Ray Kurzweil makes a case that the Singularity is near, and I buy his reasoning. It would be tragic indeed if anyone frittered away his wealth, thinking he wouldn't live very long, and then succumbed to a self-fulfilling prophecy, not because of medical difficulties, but because of financial difficulties.
Third, don't give your money to charity.
Entirely apart from showing a lack of both imagination and foresight, it's a complete waste of good money, pure and simple. Contrary to popular opinion, it rarely does any good. It often does great harm. Here's an interview I gave on this subject.
The whole concept of charitable giving is corrupt and desperately in need of a complete rethinking.
Fourth, if you do care about posterity (who knows, you might be reincarnated), and on the chance you don't make it to the Singularity, carefully consider how to dispose of your estate.
For one thing, there's no reason to automatically leave anything to your children – unless they deserve it. The notion that someone should inherit just because he shares your genes is flawed and thoughtless. The example of Marcus Aurelius leaving the Roman Empire to his worthless son, Commodus, should be instructive. Wealth should be left to someone who is most capable of increasing it – at least if you want to benefit humanity in general. And, yes, I'm quite aware that humanity in general may deserve absolutely nothing.
At a minimum, consider that memes are far more important than genes. It's wiser, therefore, to leave your wealth only to individuals (related to you or not) who will carry forth values you hold dear and are worthy of the wealth. If nothing else, make sure you disinherit the government.
Also consider that dividing wealth dissipates it and generally makes it less useful. If you have $1 million, you could leave $1,000 to each of 1,000 people. But apart from the fact that it's unlikely anyone knows 1,000 worthy people, that much money is only enough for a modest vacation or a few baubles.
The larger the pool of capital, the more ways it can be used, the more creative power it has, and the more likely it will be conserved and used creatively. I favor the Roman system, in which one could adopt children of any age – but always after you could see what their character was. You might want to do that if your own kids don't make the grade.
The bottom line is, if you want serious money, you have to get serious about money. You need to understand these fundamentals and never forget them. Don't let all the garbage reported in the financial media you read, see or hear confuse you about what money really is. Don't consume more than you make: save! Don't spend: invest!
Again, these are radical ideas in today's America, where bailouts and handouts are desired and expected. But these are timeless rules of wealth... and they always will be.
Regards,
Doug Casey
Further Reading:
Doug Casey is one of the best "ranters" in the business. Take a recent interview he gave on insider trading and the SEC: "The SEC is concerned with the enforcement of a set of stupid, counterproductive, expensive, completely unnecessary, and destructive laws." Read his full argument here: Conversations with Casey: Doug Casey on Insider Trading.
Doug is one of the best investors we know. You can keep up with his latest ideas every week for free by signing up to receive Conversations With Casey here.
Market NotesTHE EURO BREAKS COMPRESSION... TO THE DOWNSIDE The European debt crisis isn't just taking the euro lower in terms of gold... it's also resolving the troubled currency's "compressed" situation... to the downside.
Last month, we highlighted the euro's "compressed" state... a situation where an asset's normal day-to-day volatility gradually dries up and the highs and lows move closer together.
While we don't place much stock in conventional chart-reading at DailyWealth, we've seen too many explosive moves follow "compressed" situations over the years not to take notice of them. These low-volatility periods are often the calm before a storm.
As you can see from today's chart, the calm, compressed state of the euro has ended. After frustrating bulls and bears alike with five months of choppy sideways trading, the euro has broken major support levels... and reached its lowest low since July. The famous Turtle Traders would call this move a "downside breakout." We'll call it the start of a downtrend... and just another reason to take Chris Weber up on the "Greatest Currency Trade of the Millennium."
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