Make up blog: Utopia

I really like More's take on silver and gold, which is really about money's role in society.  He is basically saying we create something out of nothing, WHICH WE DO! In today's times, what is money? It is a green piece of paper.  One’s ability to get as much of these green sheets of paper allows for that person to do a lot of things and have a lot of things. On the other end of the spectrum, those who cant obtain a lot of these green sheets of paper struggle bad.  They struggle to have even basic human necessities: food, water, clothing etc….  In Utopia, Moore points out that in comparison to iron gold and silver are not even that important so it makes no sense for such a value to be placed on the precious metals.  I like the passage, “In contrast, Nature, like a most indulgent mother, has placed the best things out in the open, like air, water, and the earth itself; but vain and unprofitable things she has hidden away in remote places.” (More 611)  This basically says that everything we need is out in the open and in abundance for everyone to have.  Man in his foolishness goes out and seeks things he doesn’t need and places value to things that don’t truly hold value.  Look at More’s comparison of gold and silver to iron. “ Anyone can see, for example, that iron is far superior to either; men could not live without iron.” (More 611)

         I also love how he talks about in Utopia they go out of their way to make gold appear meaningless.  They do not lock it up in a safe of volt and make it appear that the government is keeping it for themselves and away from the people and creating hysteria over gold.  Putting gold earrings on criminals is a really smart way of devaluing gold.  I also like how he said, if people see gold they pick it up and hand it to their children and the children treat it like a toy they eventually grow out of.

I believe in the free market and understand money and earning money from goods and services is a part of life, society couldn’t function other wise.  I do agree with More’s main theme that we have to constantly examine aspects of our culture to make sure they still work properly.  I think now we are living in a time where money is way to big a factor.  The cost of everything is going up yet people’s wages are staying the same.