Initially, Community Wealth would have come in the form of natural resources. Rivers, trees, animals, mountains, and minerals. Those would have been harnessed, understood, domesticated, controlled and built into the wealth we have today.
Norway has a Sovereign Wealth Fund that was built off the countries Oil & Gas assets. Gradually it had diversified away and this Oil has been turned into a fund that owns a number of different types of businesses. This means the Government of Norway is gradually less reliant on hand-to-mouth income tax. There is even talk of whether to completely exit investments in Fossil Fuels because of Climate Change. Instead of using the assets for the current generation, the Fund becomes something that has custodians.
Value compounds. The same amount of effort, or skill, applied to a bigger amount of capital leads to a significantly bigger effect. That is why the biggest determinants of success are still (1) the country you are born in, (2) the natural skills you inherit, (3) the wealth of your parents, and (4) the community of which you are a part. Real wealth is built across generations. Real wealth requires time. A generation to build the foundations. A generation to build the walls. A generation to build the roof. Then when you are living in a house, it is important to remember that the things you can do, are a result of what has come before.
If we switch from an Ownership Mindset, to a Custodial Mindset, the approach changes. You can think of wealth as fruit-bearing trees. We inherit an orchard. The aim is to leave more or healthier trees than we found. We can live off the fruit, but if we cut down the trees, the next generation has a right to feel miffed.
The real secret of positive Capitalism isn't profit. It is reinvestment. It is Endurance, Resilience, and Creativity. It is building wealth through taking profits and putting them back rather than spending them. Instead of building big exclusive piles of fruit that rot, it is the careful use of what you need while being a good custodian for the rest.
The real secret of positive Capitalism isn't profit. It is reinvestment. It is Endurance, Resilience, and Creativity. It is building wealth through taking profits and putting them back rather than spending them. Instead of building big exclusive piles of fruit that rot, it is the careful use of what you need while being a good custodian for the rest.
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