Do you live your life by your principles?

I'd say that pretty much accurately sums up the world, yeah. If we're talking *wealthy *wealth and not just 'acquiring' a monthly paycheck.

Depends what your definition of wealthy wealth is, ultimately. I know plenty of people who've made a decent wedge of cash by doing nothing but positive things - designers, artists, producers, musicians, actors, what have you. It's rarer to find that in the business world, but it's not impossible - in fact, there's almost an argument against it, since business is defined not only by clout, but by reputation - I personally would never work with someone who had an ethically dodgy past.

It's true that some of the richest people are also some of the most ethically reprehensible. But it's not a given in all situations, and I think some people are prone to using the disagreeableness of someone like Fred Goodwin (or whichever rich scumbag happens to be the whipping boy at the time) as an excuse for their own inability to create wealth.

There's nothing negative about having money, whether you earned it or your family earned it or whatever. Money is neutral, it only becomes good or bad when we use it for good or bad. I intend on being as rich as I possibly can be, not because I'm greedy, but because I want to be sure my parents are comfortable, that my sister's kid has the things she needs, that I pay back the love that was given to me growing up.

Look, if you happen to be rich, it's a good idea to be grateful for it, if you happen to be blessed that way. But it's also a good idea for those of us who grew up dirt poor (me for example) to do our best not to be pissy at those who have been lucky enough to have families who were able to provide for them.

Having said that, posh upper middle class boys can fuck off. Braying red-cheeked, horse-faced, over-privileged cunts. But that aside, I stand by everything I said. :D