In America, we have a problem.

Our problem is that we believe that money solves all problems. We think the more we make the happier we will be. The more money we give to the poor the better off they will be, the more money we give to government the healthier it will be, or the more money we give to schools the smarter the students will be. It is just not true.

Wealthy people commit suicide just like poor people do. Wealthy people rack up credit card debt and spend frivolously just like poor people do. Wealthy governments starve their people just like poor governments do and wealthy schools still have dumb children just like poor schools have brilliant children.

So what is the real problem? For me, it is a sense of purpose. People commit suicide because they don’t have a reason to live. People rack up debt because they are lost and fill the void with stuff. Wealthy governments and poor governments spend and spend because it is more popular to say “Yes” than “No.” And wealthy schools have failing children for the same reason poor schools have smart ones. Intelligence has nothing to do with economics.

If you look at the world around us, we see the Euro tanking and we see Europe failing. In order to save Europe, we offer bailouts. In America, the government strongly encouraged easy lending laws, so that the poor could have homes. The result was — well, you’re living in it so I don’t need to tell you. To save America, we offered bailouts.  Why?  Because in America we think that money solves all problems — but it doesn’t. Europe and America are still failing despite all the bailouts.

So, if money isn’t really the answer, then what is? Why talk about money at all? The reason is that money is a part of the answer, but the complete answer is harder to define.  As a country, as a person, as a family — the answer lies in our vision. What do we want to be as a country, as a family, or as a person? If you want to become a wealthy nation, a wealthy family, and/or a wealthy person, you must start with a vision. Where are we right now? Where do we need to go? How do we get there? Money will be a part of the answer, but, more importantly, family with be the deciding factor.

The fact is, as a nation, we are being split apart. If we aren’t careful, our country will break apart in our lifetime and our parents may be the last generation to live and die in the America we know today.

The fight that defines America today is class warfare.

Those of us that do not make $1 million a year or $250,000 a year are attempting to punish those that do. Yet, we lose sight of what is real. We live in a country that lets us pursue the chance to be happy. Whoever defined money as happiness has lied to you.

So, I encourage you to go fight for the things that make you happy. If you embrace those parts of your life, you will find yourself wealthy one day.

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