AIBU in thinking most people value freedom over money?

[Treesofwood]

Or maybe I am wrong. We are all giving up lots of our freedoms for the greater good (to save lives) at the moment. And my instinct is that freedom is more important than money. But maybe money actually buys freedom (of choice)
So, IABU People actually value money than freedom
IANBU people value freedom more than money.

I voted YANBU, freedom over money for me. But I do think money often buys freedom.

I don’t understand. You say we are giving up freedom to save lives, but then your question is freedom or money. Shouldn’t it be freedom or saving lives?

Anyone with a job gives up a huge amount of freedom for money. And most people would choose a job over wandering around freely living off what they could find. So YABU.

@VirginiaWolverine

Anyone with a job gives up a huge amount of freedom for money. And most people would choose a job over wandering around freely living off what they could find. So YABU.

Maybe somewhere in between tho would be nice

Health, wealth and happiness!

Health is top of the tree, if you don't have it you have nothing.

Wealth, as long as the basics are met then great, wealth does buy happiness.

Happiness, people are social beings, laughing with friends, old fashioned sing song doesn't cost anything.

People need company of others.

@ReeseWitherfork

I voted YANBU, freedom over money for me. But I do think money often buys freedom.

Agree

Virginiawolverine that is very true. So if you have a job then you must value money over freedom.

Freedom is obviously more important, but money can buy you a hell of a lot of freedom.
It's like saying you'd rather be healthy than rich. Money can often pay for better healthcare. Especially in certain countries that don't have free healthcare (and even here where it's at breaking point).

Florencex We are told that we are effectuving killing people by not giving up the freedoms that we currently are. I'm saying you could give up money and save lives too. But there's no compulsion to do that. Well there is for PAYE, but I'm talking about the billions in off shore accounts that are literally doing nothing other than making rich people richer. No one would actually make the suggestion of removing people's excess wealth for the greater good. Except Robin Hood. He might.

I think it depends on your circumstances. If you look at Maslows hierarchy of needs , your focus will be food and accommodation if you don't have it. It fully depends what your situation is.

I have lived a somewhat feast or famine (not literally at thise ends of the scale obviously in a first world country) and my perspective has changed accordingly.

I don't prioritise money as an objective thing over peoples lives or freedom but if I don't have the money to feed my children then of course it takes precedence.

I agree fully though money gives the freedom to choose in this society. There is a concept in economics of asset community ownership (it has a pithier name which i can't remember ) where the crux is that the more assets you have the more settled you feel in a community so the more ownership you take of it leading to more interest in keeping the rest of the community safe and pleasant.

Obviously there are always outliers.

YABU It's not that simple is it?

Without money, the only freedom I'd have is the freedom to live under any bridge i choose. I think the same is true of most people.

Money buys freedom. You can’t have true freedom without money. I would worry more if I couldn’t keep a roof over our heads or put food on the table. Long walks, and spending time with family and friends is great, and free, but you’re not going to enjoy that freedom if you have financial worries. I’ve never subscribed to the mantra ‘ money isn’t everything’, because mostly it is.

The people who choose freedom over money are the lucky few who have always had, and most likely always will have adequate access to money. Not necessarily rich, but certainly not people who've ever sat with no money, nothing in the cupboards and an electric meter that's about to reach the end of the emergency credit, trying to work out how their going to feed the kids.

Money buys some freedom. It's a universal trading system. If there was no money then you'd likely have to hunt your own food as there would be no market to potter down to. It's not a perfect system.

But you're point about working because people value money is unfair. I dont want to work. But I don't want to squat in a field with a baby to raise. If everyone took that approach there would be no healthcare system. So working to pay tax to make sure there is a good over my child's head and a hospital bed and medicine should she ever need is a worthwhile price.

Personally, I don't really buy much because getting new stuff doesnt really interest me.

I'm working for a senior position so I can pay off my mortgage which buys freedom. Then I can choose to quit my 'career' and take a lower paid job that a care about. Or balance my career with voluntary work or work full time, earn loads and buy a fancier home or lots of holidays.

I'm not working for fun, I'm working because it's the lesser evil and to eventually buy my way out of the system.

The people who choose freedom over money are the lucky few who have always had, and most likely always will have adequate access to money.

Perhaps. For me it was about thinking of the most extreme scenarios here though.

Lock me up but give me access to endless money
Vs
Take away all money but allow me to live my life as I needed to

I chose the latter because I’d like to think I’d become resourceful.

Haven't voted as it depends totally what you mean.

If you are translating 'freedom' as 'there being no rules or boundaries', I don't think I want to live in that society.

You talk about giving up freedoms at the moment, but that is about following some rules for a few months to help save lives, I don't count that as 'giving up freedom' in the same way as people living in a communist state have their freedom taken away (or never know freedom).

@Shinyletsbebadguys 's post explains it well.

I also agree with everyone saying that money buys you choices, which gives you a lot more 'freedom'.

There is no freedom whatsoever in poverty I’m afraid. No agency, no choice.

Freedom over money. It goes without saying

Try having no money and see how free you are. Poverty is the opposite of freedom. It is horrible and limiting and hugely stressful.

I guess really there is no true freedom then? We just believe we are free within the parameters we are given?

Shiny are the assets you speak of assets things like property that you rent to others? I know people who genuinely think they are doing people a favour by letting their properties out to them. When in fact they are being paid a lot of money. So the person letting has to work say 120 hours to pay the rent.
So literally giving up their freedom to benefit someone else who is already in a priveliged position and is free to hunt, fish, to do what they please.
So the person who owns the asset has an interest in further investing in the community as they can get more people to work many hours and have to give them the money.