"You're taxed when you earn. You're taxed when you spend. You're taxed when you save. You're taxed when you die." "Why do people let the government do that to them?" "Thg_rich dortt," said rich dad with a smile. "The poor and the midjeclass do. I'll_bet you that I_earn more than your"dad,~yet he pays more in taxes." "HowcaiTlEat be?" I asked. As a 9-year-old boy, that made no sense to me. "Why would someone let the gov- ernment do that to them?" Rich dad sat there in silence. I guess he wanted me to listen instead of jabber away at the mouth. Finally, I calmed down. I did not like what I had heard. I knew my dad complained constantly about paying so much in taxes, but really did nothing about it. Was that life pushing him around? Rich dad rocked slowly and silently in his chair, just looking at me. "Ready to learn?" he asked. I nodded my head slowly. "As I said, there is a lot to learn. Learning how to have money work for you is a lifetime study. Most people go to college for four years, and their education ends. I already know that my study of money will continue over my life- time, simply because the more I find out, the more I find out I need to know. Most people never study the subject. They go to work, get their paycheck, balance their check- books, and that's it. On top of that, they wonder why they have money problems. Then, they think that more money will solve the problem. Few realize that it's their lack of fi- nancial education that is the problem." "So my dad has tax problems because he doesn't un- derstand money?" I asked, confused. "Look," said rich dad. "Taxes are just one small section on learning how to have money work for you. Today, I just wanted to find out if you still have the passion to learn about money. Most people don't. They want to go to school, learn a profession, have fun at their work, and earn lots of money. One day they wake up with big money problems, and then they can't stop working. That's the price of only knowing how to work for money instead of studying how to have money work for you. So do you still have the passion to learn?" asked rich dad. I nodded my head. "Good," said rich dad. "Now get back to work. This time, I will pay you nothing." "What?" I asked in amazement. "You heard me. Nothing. You will work the same three hours every Saturday, but this time you will not be paid 10 cents per hour. You said you wanted to learn to not work for money, so I'm not going to pay you anything." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "I've already had this conversation with Mike. He's al- ready working, dusting and stacking canned goods for free. You'd better hurry and get back there." "That's not fair," I shouted. "You've got to pay some- thing." "You said you wanted to learn. If you don't learn this now, you'll grow up to be like the two women and the older man sitting in my living room, working for money and hoping I don't fire them.