'Fool!' Said God to the Rich Man

'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman.' The title of a one-point, though nonetheless important dystopian novel by the legendary Harlan Ellison. I say 'legendary' because I could never much get into his actual writing - although he has avid followers. And so I only know him from 'legend' and from the fact that pretty much every reference to his name all across the internet says that he is 'the legendary Harlan Ellison...' Fair enough.

Oh, and from the covers of his books, which belonged to someone in the house but not me, and were pretty amazing I always thought.

"Repent, Harlequin!"
Some of the early published books
had Mondrian-influenced cover art

Ellison tried to have a Hollywood film called 'In Time' injuncted because his suit claimed it stole from his original work - and I agree with him. Not sure what happened to the suit but the movie was released and has some decent visual aspects.

The problem with the basic premise as a skeleton for a story is that it is pathetic: in some proposed dystopian world, it is a crime to be late. As well it should be too.

(I just thought I'd add that because it kind of fitted here, as droll humour). Actually I'm not all that pedantic when it comes to being on time although I suppose we all like others to make our schedule! 

Anyway, I think it's in one of the Epistles attributed to 'James' - which appears to be dedicated to a discussion on wealth and trade and the selfish tendencies of the rich ('it is the rich man who drags you into court, it is the rich who oppress you') - where you will find these rather poetic words: 'So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.'

In the Gospel of Luke 12:20 it even has God saying to a rich man 'Fool! this night your soul is demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'

God is calling the rich man a fool.

Interesting.

What's in your bag?
aka - why should someone know you?
And, who should know you?

But you see you have to go a bit beyond the seemingly obvious, and realize that these old texts were composed by extraordinarily learned and schooled minds - this is not all as simple as 'oh, this was written by poor people jealous of the wealthy.'

You see the significant point that is continuously made in contrast above the negating ones (points), is itself a very pragmatic and even one might say a matter of actual material 'relational' construction and value: 'store up in a purse that will not decay.'

So the concept of 'the greater' compared with 'the lesser' still applies, and there is of course, something about why - that is, the motivation behind wealth-seeking behaviours - that is discussed. The case is made that there is a difference between those whose behaviour seeks wealth or is in pursuit of wealth, and those whose attitude creates wealth. And the conclusion is made that the attitude is categorically more significant than the calculation of or enumerating of someone's temporary material possessions.

And this is of immense importance, in fact.

Next article, we do the 'John' practical workshops for the modern intellectual wealthy mindset. Not for everyone, of course.