The role of money in societies and cultures is an interesting topic and as you point out money is not related to productivity or work. In the US there is NO relationship of money to work. CEO make millions for doing very little work, even intellectual, while janitors make next to nothing.

Churches and evangelists obtain billions for little or no "work" beyond promising a great afterlife. Way out of proportion to what they produce.

Nations provide protection and the financial structure from which money is derived. They deserve something from that.

And my point that there is no basic difference between churches and nations except on which part of existence they exert influence seems to stand up, at least to me. That was stimulated by your posts, and I thank you for it.

Arf