A Gemini's Life

I'm having a hard time reconciling my moral beliefs with my practical drive to make money and establish a financially stable future. Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic. Or maybe not...

I've discovered that I really like making money. I like not having to worry about a bill being paid. I like being able to buy things and go on vacations. I like having a nice house with nice furniture. I like having money and don't feel ashamed of that. But I don't just think of myself in regards to make more money. Hopefully we will have children too. I want a financially stable future for my children. I want to send them to good schools and have nice clothes and be involved in any sports or extra-curriculars they choose. And chances are, we will have girls, which means paying for weddings. And then, beyond that, I want to have a financially stable retirement. All of this is A LOT of money.

So, if you had the means to invest in the stock market in a company that is nothing short of scandalous, would you do it? But what if you could make thousands and thousands of dollars? What if there is a potential of making tens of thousands?

So that's where the dilemma is: whether or not to invest in BP Oil. Seems crazy, right? Rick is convinced we need to do this. And he makes some good points. Think of it - this oil company isn't going anywhere. This issue will eventually be resolved and they'll go back to business as usual. Stock in these companies has plumetted, and will continue to go down for a little while. If someone were to purchase the stock at these lows prices, they could make a lot of money when it goes back up. And it will go back up.

But is buying stock in this company, now infamous  for corporate irresponsibility, does that condone their actions? Does that make you a part of the problem? Or am I foolish to pass up on the opportunity to make a boat load of cash. My husband feels it would most certainly be foolish to pass up the opportunity. He has no problem giving money to a company such as this, because in the end he is making money off of them. But I just have such issues with corporate greed. I truly believe that corporate greed has led to so many of the major problem sour nation faces. Health care... corporate greed. Oil spills and air pollution... corporate greed.

I believe in social responsibility. Not hand outs or bail outs, but social responsibility. I guess sometimes I can be a hypocrite. I do drive an SUV and I use far more saran wrap and ziplock bags than should be allowed.

Balance out supporting corporate greed and a financially secure future. Honestly my conscious says don't invest. But here is a bigger twist than just a financially secure future... What if means not just sending a child or two to college, but actually having said children in the first place? Let's face it, infertility is expensive. Not that we would let purchasing or not purchasing the stock make a difference in whether or not we proceed with whatever various procedures lay ahead of us; it would though make it a lot easier. Especially if we end up having to adopt in order to be parents.

Sigh. Maybe I am thinking about it all too much and too hard.