LETTER: What’s more valuable: profits or the planet? | Saltwire – SaltWire Network

It is claimed that F. Scott Fitzgerald once told Ernest Hemingway that the rich are different from the rest of us.

Hemingway is said to have replied that They have more money, and some people think that Hemingway believed that was the only difference.

Whatever these two American authors may have had in mind, I can state with conviction that the rich are different from us in much more than their wealth. Having a lot of money does something to your mind; attitudes, feelings, ways of looking at the world, etc.

Now, Ive seen some strange things in my time, but one of the strangest Ive seen in the few days was an article in the Financial Post, a newspaper that caters to those who prefer money to almost everything else. Its by a fellow by the name of Ron Wallace.

Ive never met Ron, but Im willing to believe hes a debonair fellow in lots of ways his hair neatly combed, his suit just that little bit too tight as demanded by current fashion, probably plays a good game of golf, or poker, or something you know the sort of thing.

My problem with this Ron is that he thinks we shouldnt do anything about global warming if it could be detrimental to Industry, including, if you please, the fossil-fuel industry.

To my financially nave mind, this sounds like Lets not do anything about global warming if China and Russia dont do it first.

As I say, Rons probably more attuned to matters financial than I am; I just try to live on my pension, avoiding big-ticket items like suits that are too tight.

As a matter of fact I did once have a suit, and it was too tight, although it wasnt even close to being in fashion in the mid-eighties. I was overweight; still am actually.

Back to money.

Having a lot of it rots the brain. Being able to buy whatever you want, just because you want it, sets up an insatiable appetite for more. We used to call these people misers, but thats no doubt politically incorrect today, so I wont even suggest that the Financial Posts clientele are m*s*rs.

They just think money is better than other things.

What worries me, when I reflect on it, is that there are people who think financial profit is more important than physical survival.

We know that were perilously close to missing our chance to save Planet Earth, but rich people are worrying about what itll do to their dividends. We know the answer to that one too: your dividends will die with you. They wont be worth the paper theyre

printed on.

The fact that some countries are dragging their feet on cutting carbon emissions is no reason to just say Shaggit! and stop trying.

Ed HealyMarystown

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LETTER: What's more valuable: profits or the planet? | Saltwire - SaltWire Network