Of course...it's a rhetorical question. I know the answer. In a strange way, I knew the answer before I ever considered the question. You see...I have always feared the influence money has on me. I don't know why, I've never had enough to base this opinion on. And don't get me wrong, I have always sought money, at least in some modest fashion. As well, I should say this is not an indictment of money or those who seek it. This is merely a reflection on my own "monetary neurosis". Money, much like firearms, is only a "thing". It has, obviously, no ability of it's own to perform either good or evil actions. I know this. I see money more as "activity", or things I can do with it...i.e. travel, learn, fish, feed, house, repair, etc. A verb,not a possession. It doesn't mean power to me. It doesn't have a "life" of it's own. It allows me to "do" things, not just "have" things, if that makes sense. I know this seems as if I am "splitting hairs", and like I just said it is my fiscal illness. Logically, it acquires health care, education, utilities, housing, clothing, existence...it provides the necessities. First. Or should. Next it can provide opportunities such as vacations, travel, jewelry, cars, houses, toys...you know, things. Primarily, this is the progression of thought people use as they seek to acquire money (how much) and then to plan how to use it (purpose). If you are just a bit more advanced in your planning you place a large amount of thought about when, and how, you will "retire" from working and enjoy the last ten or fifteen (or more) years doing as you wish. Some people base their entire career selection on this criteria. Suffice it to say...I am not one of these people.
Where am I going with this ? I'm part of a group of people that places great value on what we do (and where we live) for a living vs how much I can make. We truly care about what we do and how well we do it. That's not to say I'm not interested in my pay, just the opposite, but my main focus is the project and how well I do things. I guess I just want those "with money" to acknowledge what I do and "share" the pie without me having to gravel for it by tooting my own praises. Believe me, what I do and the product I produce is an easy thing to see...unless greed clouds your vision. One thing I have learned is that to acknowledge the efforts of others means to have to "back it up" with some level of compensation. Words are great but they won't pay for health care or college tuition so, often, neither comes along.
Now as a capitalist I will admit that every worker is responsible for their own financial well being. It is my downfall. Five children and some small mistakes have been my undoing. I guess I just expect that those who make their money from my work should share in the "windfall". My last project, which was a spectacular place to behold, took me two years plus to build, caused an incalculable toll on tools, vehicles (and body). In the end I received my wages plus approximately $10k in bonus, 401k contributions, and severance. It was my fault, I did not request or receive our agreements in writing. I have trouble doing this. The contractor (as opposed to the builder, me) was paid over $500k. The crew received even less than I did. Some time back I came to the conclusion that I was a much better builder than I was a business owner, but can't there be a middle ground ?
Many will, at this point, inquire if I would like some cheese to go with my "whine". I will answer YES!!! if cheese is a metaphor for $$$$. I guess what I am hoping for is some type of dialogue about how business compensates it's workers. The irony for me is that by the time I understood why and how I should negotiate my compensation for any given project, the national (and local) economy eliminated any and all opportunities to implement this newly found understanding. The next thing I knew three years have gone by and I'm finding myself too old (in the eyes of others) to secure even an interview. I lost out, on my last job application (a county job I was supremely qualified for) to a young man who hasn't been alive as long as I have been building. The hard part for me is that I feel better than I have in fifteen years. Go Figure....
