Can Money Buy Happiness?
Amanda Buchner
Mrs. Mellor
AP English
January 24, 2015
Does Money Really Bring Happiness? John Locke once stated that all men have the right to life, liberty, and property. The author of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin, changed this statement to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People have the constitutional right to be joyful and therefore strive for it, but what is it that really brings people glee? Many people believe that the answer to this question is simply money. They think that the more money they have, the happier they will be, but is this necessarily true? Can a 2 by 6 inch bill really be all it takes to bring delight? Although money can buy materials and experiences that can bring fleeting happiness, it cannot bring lasting joy.
What makes you happy? To answer this question, some may respond by saying a new car or a bigger house but none of this will bring them lasting happiness. This is a difficult question to answer because in many cases, people don’t even know what will make them satisfied, really satisfied. There is a circulating idea of consumerism, the thought that consuming more is advantageous to the buyer. People are misled by strategic subliminal advertising techniques to believe that useless gadgets will make them a better person or improve them in a variety of ways. The media no longer sells a product but instead an idea that the item will cause some sort of change. For example, according to the media, when buying makeup you are not just buying mascara, you are buying the captivating smokey eyed look of Angelina Jolie or the sultry smile of Kim Kardashian. This illogical thought process
brings on unnecessary spending with the false pretense that the possessions will bring joy.
“They have blurred the differences between necessities and luxuries.” explains Michelle
Singletary in her book Spend Well, Live Rich. When we buy what we need we are satisfied, otherwise we
Mrs. Mellor
AP English
January 24, 2015
Does Money Really Bring Happiness? John Locke once stated that all men have the right to life, liberty, and property. The author of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin, changed this statement to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People have the constitutional right to be joyful and therefore strive for it, but what is it that really brings people glee? Many people believe that the answer to this question is simply money. They think that the more money they have, the happier they will be, but is this necessarily true? Can a 2 by 6 inch bill really be all it takes to bring delight? Although money can buy materials and experiences that can bring fleeting happiness, it cannot bring lasting joy.
What makes you happy? To answer this question, some may respond by saying a new car or a bigger house but none of this will bring them lasting happiness. This is a difficult question to answer because in many cases, people don’t even know what will make them satisfied, really satisfied. There is a circulating idea of consumerism, the thought that consuming more is advantageous to the buyer. People are misled by strategic subliminal advertising techniques to believe that useless gadgets will make them a better person or improve them in a variety of ways. The media no longer sells a product but instead an idea that the item will cause some sort of change. For example, according to the media, when buying makeup you are not just buying mascara, you are buying the captivating smokey eyed look of Angelina Jolie or the sultry smile of Kim Kardashian. This illogical thought process
brings on unnecessary spending with the false pretense that the possessions will bring joy.
“They have blurred the differences between necessities and luxuries.” explains Michelle
Singletary in her book Spend Well, Live Rich. When we buy what we need we are satisfied, otherwise we