2026-06-29
OK it's not either/or, it's possible to have both or neither. But it's the emphasis that counts. After all, property is merely a means to an and, and represents control over the thing that is one's property. That control may (or may not) bring a measure of improved happiness (having one's brolly to hand when it's raining cats and dogs) or may not (having it to hand when the sun is shining benevolently upon us).
So do we want property or happiness?
One is control over the physical, the (mostly) inanimate, the stuff we cannot take with us when we pass on to the greater or lesser glory after doing our stint.
The other is the fleeting, the ephemeral, indeed the spiritual attitude of Nirvana that we may perhaps take with us when we pass, and as such is clearly the greatest prize attainable in this earthly realm.
Search engines tend to give priority to the rock band of the same name, which perhaps confirms our suspicions about search engines ...
So why this morning's homily on the topic?
It turns out to be foundational to the Declaration of Independent America.
(And was borrowed from an Englishman!)
