Pound of Flesh

Building wealth has never driven my decision making or actions. Building to optimize processes, to model physical realities which lead to complex problem solutions, and creating stuff for the joy of the experience has dominated my thought and labor cycles throughout life, so far. It's hard to imagine that changing before I gasp my final breath. Profiteering just isn't part of any internal drive to achieve. Building to produce positive change, or to head off negative impacts of change has been my focus. Extracting pounds of flesh is just off-putting.

Ultimately, navigating this world without resorting to profiteering isn't about self-righteious asceticism (I've relished many worldly pleasures); it's simply a pragmatic, rational choice. Satisfaction realized from accomplishments and created assets of practical use rather than from mere piles of treasure are products derived from competence and concerted effort, balancing my ledger and leaving me owing nothing but more exercising of mind and hands.

Recent reports of the convicted felon in the White House turning immense profit via jinky cryptocurrency wheeling and dealing while millions of retailers of said crypto coin lost billions evokes mixed reactions. Aw too bad is the only sentiment I can muster for losers who foolishly bought into it, while totally disgusted that the leader of this nation was behind such seamy activities–activities only deepening the pit being dug by such nefarious actors. A pit this nation is inexorably rushing headlong into since it was conquered and seized for profit.