Ruhika, Week 9 - Money is Power
What is power? Most people imagine CEOs and politicians, but for the longest time it was the monarchs. Queens, kings, dutches, and princes held global influence in international affairs, government policies, and ruling over their nation. Arguably, the most famous royals were the British living in Buckingham Palace. Now, in the twenty-first century, the monarchy has been abolished, inspired by egalitarianism and anti-class views. On paper, they are just figureheads. They can’t pass laws, declare wars, or even veto a tax increase on tea (we all know how that could end up). And yet, the monarchy is the largest cultural export from Britain. Their faces and titles are sold on merchandise from Buckingham Palace itself. I was gifted earrings with their motif imprinted on them.
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| What the Earrings Looked Like |
Their influence stems from their massive amounts of generational wealth. The Queen’s funeral garnered an audience filled with world leaders and millions of viewers. That is not just grief on display. It was a representation of Britain’s historical and cultural capital, built from royal money.
The British royal family is just an example of how money is the most powerful thing in the world, and for those who do not have it, they are equally disadvantaged. Our world is divided by financial inequality. The dynamic is visible in almost any situation. Students who grow up with financial security are able to invest more into their education, afford college, and expand their network. People who don’t have that same stability do not always have the luxury to be able to do all of that. No matter the talent or drive one has, money is needed to move up in this world.
If you simply multiply this dynamic by thousands, you get the reality of the world. Money sets the rules to how the world works. If you have money, you can buy, sorry I mean, donate your way into an Ivy League or bankroll your political campaigns. You have connections, platforms, and networks to amplify your voice.
Back to the royals, they do not have control over laws but they have control over the people. They might not be the ones signing off on laws, but they have the ability to shape the narratives around what is going on and advocate for certain social issues, showcasing their “soft” power.
Our systems right now prioritize wealth over potential. Unless the systems undergo radical change, money will continue to define who gets to sit at the table, who gets to speak, and who is listened to.
Hi Ruhika,
ReplyDeleteThe title of your blog really caught my attention because of the immense truth it holds! You are absolutely right, money is the base and foundation of everything in our society, especially living in a “high end area” such as the bay area! Taking the British royal family as your primary example was definitely interesting to read about as they are basically the highest class! I couldn’t agree more financial inequality has divided us up further into classes such as lower, middle and upper class from the very beginning. The topic of your blog reminded me of Great Gatsby and how wealth plays a role in every aspect of our lives.
Hi Ruhika, first of all, those earrings are stunningly beautiful! I found your blog to be so eye-catching! I totally agree with the idea of how people that grew up with financial security are able to have more opportunities for social mobility. While those that do not have the financial abilities for those opportunities will miss out on many chances for socioeconomic growth. I loved how you used the example of “donating” to colleges as an example of how wealth matters. I have always wondered if people on social media that have an outstanding academic profile are truly smart or just simply more well off. The prestigious programs they have participated in across the world, the extensive amount of competitions they have joined, and passion projects they have started.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruhika,
ReplyDeleteI side with you on many of these claims that you make about money and its true value. I mostly agree with the lasting statement, that the high value of money will continue to make it one of, if not the main, source of power in the world. I slightly disagree that everyone who grows up financially secure will be set up, since some people end up wasting their wealth from a lack of financial literacy; likewise, it is the same situation for people who do not have good finances but some make it out of those troubling situations. Great blog!
Hello Ruhika, I would like to shed some light on a quote from your blog,“money is needed to move up in this world. ”. This begs up to consider why the world is contingent on this lie, this mental figment, this hallucinated construct that controls every aspect of our society. It seeps into our every thought and makes every other society seem barbaric, this is especially thought-provoking and analogous to McCarthyism and are current syllabus we are learning. This is also finally an idea that is being questioned, like it has been again and again in history. The working class is trying to revolt, but they always forget that they have the power. Remember, Money is not power, you are; never give it up.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruhika,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog! The way you tied the British monarchy’s influence to their generational wealth was such an interesting perspective. I liked how you pointed out that even without actual power, they still have the ability to shape narratives and have cultural influence.
Your point about financial inequality also really stood out to me. The example of donating to college stood out; I agree that it’s such a frustrating reality. Overall, you did a great job showing how money affects everything, from education to who gets a voice in society. Great blog!
Hi Ruhika! I completely agree with your statement on how money impacts individual power. I’d also like to raise another point about cultural values shaping our definition of wealth. For centuries, land was considered someone’s most valuable possession. Since monarchs ruled over and controlled the most land in their kingdom, they had the most wealth and thus power. This was demonstrated by European powers establishing colonies outside of their continent, each attempting to gain more land than the others. Now, in modern times, we associate money with wealth—resulting in billionaires having significant amounts of power.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruhika! Your blog reminds me of the quote by P.T Barnum: “Money is a terrible master, but an excellent servant.” I wholeheartedly agree that the systems put in place that prioritize money and money-making above everything else are in no way sustainable for society, and that the rich will continuously hoard wealth. You ended your blog post with a call to action—yet, I’m afraid that call might fall onto deaf ears.
ReplyDeleteIsn’t it hypocritical to own a Tesla while denouncing Elon Musk? Isn’t it harmful to buy from H&M or SHIEN after reading about the horrors of fast fashion and the abuse of outsourced laborers? Isn’t it downright confusing to condemn the usage of AI as a tool to exploit others, harm the environment, and to ruin the world of art, and still pursue a job in AI development? At the end of the day, big brands and corporations dominate our lives; we’re dependent on large corporations and continuously give our money to the hand that feeds us. It feels so ironic, so dystopian, and so depressing to continuously call out and express feelings against the rich who act in their best interests and still ultimately use their products—it’s a vicious, never-ending cycle.