I totally disagree with the message of Charles F Moreira to our youths ('The culprit is capitalism', May 14). Our youths should be taught the importance of money, the good in the greed to pursue it and the greatness of capitalism subject to certain qualifications as to how these objectives are pursued which I will state as I go along.

I agree with Johnny Long's statement in 'Try Cuba's way? No thanks' (May 14): "Anyone who abjures the importance of money and the greed to get it is either a hypocrite or an abjurer of life itself." I must add he could be also either be a dreamer or someone belaboring under complexes of unable to "make it".

Abundance of money frees us from the problems of not having it or having to tackle problems associated with the lack of it. We are then free to pursue arts, philosophy, knowledge and experience; heard of Maslow's theory about self actualisation that money helps?

Money isn't the root of all evil. It is our hearts that are evil when we use money that way. If our hearts are good due to proper understanding and knowledge, money and plenty of it enables us to do plenty of good.

For example, money gives us the power to do decent and good acts for others and ourselves. We feed and clothe our children and families. (We do not have to worry about the quota system on how it bars our bright children from realising their potential).

We can contribute to our favourite charities whether old folks or orphanages. We can afford to travel and understand different cultures so as to broaden the universality and relativism of our outlook and worldview. We can afford our own health care, live longer and become productive citizens.

This is the only one conformity we all should share: The love for money and the greed to make plenty of it in furtherance of enlightened capitalism. Beyond this, we should be non-conformist in all other aspects of outlook, opinions and lifestyle. The money made that is taxed by the capitalistic state should be appropriated to welfare, education and health of the citizenry.

We should teach our youth the importance of working hard to make and save money and not to spend time on useless and harmful activities like drugs and substance abuse. It is the lack of focus on the importance of money (rather than money or capitalism itself), lack of guidance, and idleness that make youths turn to these activities. The pivotal point here is that youths should be taught not to take for granted and fritter their parents' money but to make money themselves in proper and legal way.

Regarding the consumerist culture and the mindless conformity it engenders raised by the writer, we teach our youths that because money is important, they should be discerning and not part with it by reason of the blandishments of advertising industry.

And guidance from parents? Parents have no time to guide when they busily chase after money when they lack it, but if they have an abundance of it, they could slow down the chase and have more time to guide their children.

Which all boils down to money, the lack of which is really bad and the abundance of it is really good, and I just cannot understand how the writer can think otherwise. I recommend George Orwell's Keep the Aspidistra flying or see the movie (1997) for a different outlook.

To denigrate an ideology like capitalism by pointing out its excesses caused by the blind chase for money (by both state and citizenry) is to miss the point that it is not necessary for such a chase, when pursued, to be blind without distinction of right and wrong, without temperance and proportion; it also misses the point that it is money and the abundance of it that are necessary to ameliorate and mitigate these excesses.

Too often, the rejection of capitalism and money by some is a result of some serious complexes of rationalising on their part as to why they are not successful in getting rich which they subliminally covet for.

Elsewhere, why are so many children in Africa dying of malnutrition and sicknesses? It is because of the lack of efficient capitalism and money.

The ideas of Karl Marx ( Das Kapital ) may clash endlessly with those of Adam Smith ( Wealth of nations ) but what does human experience, with the onward march of civilisation, teach us?

Capitalism triumphs: The Soviet Union founded on socialist Marxist principles floundered - not by a single missile from Imperialist America but the blandishment of her capitalistic values. The other communist state China is, as we all know, well on the road to capitalism, the only difference being it is pursued at a slower pace. The Communist party of Malaysia also wound up.

The United States now forges ahead as the only superpower, which is largely due to its unbridled capitalism. Part of the money made is channelled into research grants and scientific research to extend the frontiers of knowledge (not to mention scholarships granted to take some of our brains away).

Gekko in Wallstreet got it right - money and greed are good. The pursuit of them must be focused without sacrifice of perspective and ethical judgment or else you will land in jail like that character!