Be self-sufficient

Re: “A new narrative needed on getting rich”, (Opinion, Jan 17).

The article “A new narrative needed on getting rich” does a major disservice to the readers and the message is a major contributor to the issues surrounding wealth. By stressing that the solution is to simply get more money and that money is the major factor of self-worth and social validation only perpetuates the wealth gap.

There is another way to be “wealthy” and this ideal was heavily promoted by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great.

That is self-sufficiency! Spending less is another avenue to increase wealth — but sufficiency was not even mentioned. If you had a garden and easily raised 80% of your food, used solar power for generating your own energy (and selling the excess), had your own water source or well-how much would you really need to make to meet your needs? If you bought practical and economic items with regards to vehicles and clothing instead of striving for luxury items-again how much would you need to earn?

When you consider that most of the luxury consumer items are not from Thailand, keeping consumerism focused on the local level would also boost the economy and income of the population.

So how about listening to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great King Rama IX and creating a Sufficiency Economy, instead of a Capitalism Economy. DARIUS HOBER