Has anybody ever thought about a 200 year plan?
I've been giving this a lot of thought, but there's still so much to work out. Many things in our society are inherited: our attitudes toward money, family, work, and religion among them. And even if you don't hold the same views as your parents, your views are still a product of your environment, if only as a reaction against it. If you're in poverty, you probably come from a long line of poor people. If you're a Christian, you probably come from a long line of Christians. If you work hard and EARN every penny you make, you probably come from a long line of hard workers.
Given all these things, is there any value in thinking beyond your own retirement? What can you do to set your descendants up for success 200 years from now?
Obviously, we have no idea what the world will be like in 200 years. And we have zero chance of ever meeting those descendants. In fact, even our grandchildren will be dead before that generation is born. So what are some ways we can influence the world of our descendants?
If I set up a trust and put all my money in it, and it grows for the next 200 years, could that be useful to them?
Could I start a religious movement?
Should I train my children how to train their children? Should I train my grandchildren how to train their grandchildren?
What sorts of things should I teach my children? Compassion, generosity, and forgiveness? Computer skills, budgeting skills, and how to wash the dishes? Should I teach them to save like mad and retire early? For that matter, should I save like mad and retire early?