“That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and, hence, is just encouragement to industry and enterprise” Abraham Lincoln

The notion of a rich person is a weighted concept. Rich in this regard could be interpreted as material comfort and the ownership of possessions. The terms industry and enterprise promote the values of hard work and motivated planning that is likely to bring success. While Lincoln’s perspective relies on the existence and history of materially well-off individuals to be a role model for others, it should be acknowledged that in some cases, the desire and aims of the individual are formed in an environment that is not conduce to wealth creation and comfort seeking. In a broader sense, toon, this notion addresses social issues in which some nations become rich while others struggle to adopt.

The application of sound planning and goal setting could be seen as indispensable tools for wealth creation. Indeed, countless ‘self-help’ books recall the determination of various individuals who in some way ‘make it’ in the world. The crucial point here is that the environment and the network of people provide the setting in which one can succeed. The requirement to be industrious and apply innovative thinking acknowledges basic realities of Western economics. That is, realities of value creation and the non-existence of a ‘free lunch’ according to Milton Friedman. It is for this reason that various funding pathways exist to enable those who have innovative ideas to create value or solve existing problems. However, not every individual is adopted to entrepreneurial or business activity, and so the exhortation to work hard requires the general adult public to craft themselves into valuable ‘products’. Hence, not only does the individual have a reason to work hard based on the success of others, but he or she must work to sustain a relatively comfortable life.

The notion that industrious activity and focus automatically pays off may not apply in every situation. Indeed, an individual in a 3rd world nation may well desire to become rich or to sustain a comfortable life, but simply cannot work within the conditions of his or her country. Lincoln’s fundamental assertion here is one of opportunity and that it applies to everyone. However, the combination of wars, inflation, and political instability make this assertion inapplicable to all people. Instead, survival is a key goal in these situations. Hence, the encouragement to work and to plan in wealth creation should be seen as part of a continuum. At one extreme is wealth acquisition whereas the other extreme is survival. Recently, nations such as China and India typify this spectrum of survival. To advance their own economies, they rely on similar products that have presented opportunity to Western nations, namely that of oil. In the face of increasingly unsustainable consumption patterns, the promotion of equal opportunity should be viewed in a different paradigm.

To address this concept more broadly, societies become rich through the efforts of every individual who seek out their happiness in the various ways available to them. The example of Western consumption patterns, however, does not seem to be a viable goal for the world. Indeed, six planets would be need support such lifestyles of every human being. Moreover, the division of riches between nations is an aspect of geography as well as ethics. This means that although resources are continually used, world trade and IMF dealings would be better off redefining the real requirements for an equitable and ‘rich’ life.

It is clear, therefore, that opportunity is not equal to everyone to become rich. Thus the paradigm has shifted between survival and material comfort. All nations increasingly recognise this as the world opens up and accounts for the consumption and destiny of resources and talent.