HOW TO KICK THE WORRY

you get it back. They just borrow it for awhile and give it back to
you. And they also pay you interest on it. They pay you money for
using it. The kid says, “How clever.”
And then you give him the blockbuster. He says, “Yeah, but
what do they pay kids?” And you give him the good news, “The
same rate as they pay adults. Now you can start acting big.
Because now, number one, you are a lender instead of a borrower,
and you’re getting paid as much as adults. Even if you’re ten they
pay you the same percentage.” The kid says, “Wow.”
Now then, you also have to teach kids how to be happy
taxpayers. Kids become taxpayers as soon as they spend money.
They go down to the local store and spend fifty cents. The
shopkeeper wants what else? Three more cents. The kid says, “It
says fifty cents here.” The shopkeeper says, “It’s fifty three cents,
you have to give me three more cents.” The kid says, “Well, what’s
that for, who gets that money?” Now at age ten he’s a taxpayer.
Three cents he has to cough up, out of his hard-earned money. He
earned it - it’s his. The shopkeeper says, “You have to give me three
cents, it’s taxes.” And the little kid says, “I’m only ten.” It doesn’t
matter. At ten you become a taxpayer.
Teach kids how to be happy taxpayers and what the three
cents is for. Otherwise they will be confused. So you teach them
what the three cents is for, “See the sidewalks and the streets,
everybody can’t make their portion of the street, they don’t have the
equipment. So what we do is we all gather up this money from all
of us and we pay somebody to pave these streets and these
sidewalks. So you have something to ride your bicycle on and you
can go places.” And the kid says, “Well, that makes sense, here’s
my three cents. I’ll make my contribution.” It’s part of the care and
feeding of the goose that lays the golden eggs. And you also teach
kids, “See the police car going by – you own that. It’s yours. And
the guy in it is one of your servants. He’s called a public servant.
So at age ten you have some servants. They’re taking care, keeping
the bullies away. When you get in trouble, give a call.” Once kids
understand, once people understand where the money goes, what
it’s for, then you make the happy contribution, divide up your
money gladly instead of reluctantly. Then you can change a lot of
this inner turmoil and you get more excited about participating,
doing your part, learning skills, and growing. So that you become