If money goes before,

All things do lie open.

— Shakespeare,
The Merry Wives of Windsor

Oh yes, just flash the cash and see how everything opens: eyes, mouth, arms, hands, legs, opportunities, all things do open. But things change too. Money has always been a great motivator, a stimulant, a turn on. Pay a man extra and he’ll be more willing to work harder, in most cases. That’s why employers give salary increases and bonuses. Offer someone wads of cash and see how willing they are to be your friend.

Win the lottery and see how quickly everything changes, sometimes for the good, but at times for the bad, for even though money changes everything, it’s not always for the positive and may bring out the worst in people.

Money also brings out the best or the very worst and shows the true character of the individual. There’s this joke about this man who asked this lady, “Would you go to bed with me for US$50,000?” She smiled and said, “Well, I’d certainly give it a thought.”

Then he asked her, “Would you go to bed with me for J$5,000?” She snapped back, “Certainly not, what type of woman do you think that I am?” He then calmly replied, “Oh, we know what type of woman you are, now we’re just haggling over the price.”

Okay, it’s an old joke that you may have heard before, but the point is, the lure and the love of money often change people and bring out their true character, or lack of it thereof.

But money does change people, and that’s why the Jamaican term, “Yu get rich and switch” is often expressed when someone comes into money. It also emboldens people, making them say, “I will kick yu and pay yu.” In other words, I can do anything that I want to you and pay you afterwards. Everyone has their price, I suppose.

It’s not new, but it’s often quite accurate, for money does change people, as we’ll find out after these comments about what I wrote regarding ‘Suicide watch’.

Tony,

A friend of mine saw this man commit suicide by driving his car straight into the path of an oncoming vehicle, killing himself and the other driver. He had spoken about committing suicide to his friends before and made good on his promise. For me the topic is scary yet informative. I haven’t a clue as to how the Government alone can deal with this problem, so let’s start with the schools. They need more guidance counsellors plus the family and community should also play a more active role to stem this deadly act.

Paulette

Teerob,

Quite a powerful article, but why is there such a marked increase in suicides? Is it that stress levels have increased, are people trying to keep up with the Joneses but cannot manage, or are they emotionally stressed from failed relationships? And why do they all seem to hear voices in their heads, is it demonic? I have no answers, but the scenario is both baffling and scary.

Sharon

They say that money is the root of all evil, which is an often misquoted quote, for the real saying is, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” We can quibble about that, but what I will add is, “The lack of money is the root of all evil,” or “Getting too much money quickly can lead to great evil.”

Whichever way you spin it, money is the common denominator, and it seems as if it touches and exhibits some sort of change. Or is it that people change toward them? The cold, hard truth is, cold, hard cash does change how people view other people.

Your attitude towards a poor man is definitely different than it is towards a wealthy man.

“Hey bwoy get away from me.” As opposed to, “Yes Sir, Mr Brown, will do, Sir.”

When a woman meets a man, she immediately, consciously or subconsciously assesses his means, his wealth or lack of it, and makes a judgement call in her mind. If she goes out on a date with him and discovers that he doesn’t really have much to offer, chances are he won’t get a second date with her. But if, during that first date, it’s established that he has money — maybe by the car that he picked her up in, or the house that he owns — then her option for the future with him will be positive, for money changes everything.

It changes how people treat each other and what they will tolerate. There’s this report about this famous female superstar singer who left her then boyfriend because he cheated on her. This was before she became big and famous. And yet, she’s now married to a wealthy superstar music mogul who has cheated on her numerous times, yet she remains with him.

Closer home I know women who are married to wealthy men who cheat on them repeatedly and shamelessly, yet they remain in the relationship. Why? I guess money changes everything and I figure it’s easier to leave a poor man than a rich man. Money makes people turn a blind eye, money makes people forgive transgressions, money changes views and attitudes.

Is it a case of financial forgiveness or convenient morality, expediency? We may never know the answer, but what we do know is that money changes everything. A woman will profess undying love for her man, but as soon as his situation changes, so does her love, and she’s out the door. Did the marriage vows say, ‘Until death do us part’, or did it say, ‘Until debt do us part?’

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen that happen, but I guess that people leave for other reasons too. I heard this very sad story about this man who was in a car accident and lost an arm and a leg. Well, his wife promptly left him. Again, what about the vows that implore, ‘Through sickness and health, better or worse?’ Do those vows really mean anything, or are they merely hollow recitations that couples say at the altar? But I digress.

When it comes to paternity, the sociologists have revealed that in many cases the baby mother will choose the ‘father’ who is more financially stable than choose any of her other possible impregnators. I can’t say that I blame her, for survival is essential, but the point is, it’s money or lack of it that determines her decision.

So, if she had any doubt about who the real baby daddy is, she simply chooses the guy who has more financial clout. A while back when I wrote about mistresses, I pointed out that a poll was taken in the USA that asked various women what would they prefer: to be the mistress of a wealthy sports superstar or the wife of a man with a medium to low paying job? Most of the women chose to be the mistress of the sports superstar and that’s because money changes everything, including attitude and principles.

And speaking of sports, there has been so much talk about some of our own athletes who have switched allegiance and chose to compete for Turkey. That’s no bull in Istanbul, and money not only makes the mare run, but also our athletes.

As much as it pains me to see them switch allegiance and represent another country, I can understand why, for what Turkey is offering is not chicken feed. Imagine, being given US$500,000 just to switch allegiance, with lots more to come afterwards.

It’s very difficult to say no to that, and as Marlon Brando in
The Godfather movie said, “Make them an offer they can’t refuse.”

How many of you would turn down an offer like that? “Say what, US$500,000 to run and jump for Turkey? I’ll switch to get rich.”

This also applies to our cricketers who opt to play T20 cricket in foreign countries instead of playing for the West Indies. The cash inflow is great and it’s also less stressful playing the shorter version of the game rather than sweltering for five-day Test matches in the hot sun.

So patriotism takes a back seat, for the dash for cash takes the forefront and changes the outlook for the game. They say that money can’t buy happiness, but some will say that they’d rather be rich and miserable.

Ironically, there have been so many instances of people winning the lottery and ending up being very unhappy and even suicidal, for money changes everything, but not always for the good.

They also say that money can’t buy life, which is true to some extent, for even wealthy people get sick and die. But money can get you better health care and even a great health insurance plan. So in a roundabout way, money can impact the quality and preservation of life.

‘Money does not change people, it unmasks them.’

‘Money changes everything as often as it changes hands.’

‘Money changes everything, including people’s behaviour, motivation and mindset.’

‘People change after getting money.’

So as you can see from those quotes from erudite persons, I’m on the right track. Money is vital for our existence, well-being, survival and contentment, but it does change people and that’s a fact. But do not judge a poor man who has no money until you have spent countless days without food to eat. That may change your attitude.

More time.

seido1yard@gmail.com

Footnote: I submitted this column on the evening before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa which, by all reports, is the strongest hurricane to ever make a direct hit on our beautiful Jamaica. The destruction is anticipated to be widespread with huge losses all around. I really prayed that by some miracle we would be spared the full wrath of the system, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking and faith. We have been through so many serious hurricanes, from Charlie, Gilbert and other smaller ones that did so much damage, and now Melissa. But as a people we are resilient and will survive. It’s our turn to be on world news now.