Those espousing a simpler way of life have often reminded us that we can’t eat money. There are many stories about native Americans being perplexed by the obsession of the newly arrived Europeans with gold. More recently this meme has found favor with environmentalists, who worry that corporate interests will destroy the earth’s ability to provide healthy food. This idea is even put forward by modern-day survivalists who had previously advised people to invest in gold, fearing that traditional currency would be useless when society eventually fails. Some of them now argue that gold will be as useless as currency in the coming apocalypse, precisely because you can’t eat gold. It is better to have a reliable store of food, or the means of producing it, they say, than gold. But why are we so obsessed with money in the first place? For anyone who has ever struggled to come up with enough money to buy food, or to pay the rent, the answer is obvious: money provides us with a modicum of security. We may not be able to eat money, but money can usually buy us food. Having a surplus of money gives us the peace of mind to not worry about the unexpected expenses of life. While there is nothing wrong with saving for a rainy day, the question is whether we have the right attitude about money. – Christopher Simon
