His money is my money: modern slavery

Summary — “His money is my money: modern slavery” (Psychax, Dr. Orion Taban)

Core argument

Dr. Orion Taban argues that claiming entitlement to a partner’s earnings (“his money is my money”) is both morally and practically wrong. He grounds this in the idea that money represents the transfigured labor and time of a person’s body. Therefore, asserting a right to another person’s money is, in his view, equivalent to claiming their labor — and by extension their bodily use and freedom — which he likens to a form of modern slavery.

Just as modern society rejects the idea that one person is entitled to another’s body, we should reject the idea that a partner is entitled to someone’s resources simply because of a sexual or romantic relationship.

Key points and reasoning

• Money as disembodied labor: earnings are an abstraction of time and bodily effort; claiming another’s money is comparable to claiming their labor/body.
• Money buys freedom: financial resources enable practical freedom (for example, the ability to leave a bad job or an abusive relationship).
• “Fuck-you money”: possessing enough private wealth to leave unacceptable situations; removing someone’s money reduces their practical freedom and makes them easier to control.
• Historical and political context: civil liberties, capitalism, and private property are linked; private property is presented as underpinning individual freedom.
• Moral conclusion: entitlement to another’s money is unjust and should be resisted in the same way we resist entitlement to another’s body.

Practical lifestyle takeaways

• Resist narratives that claim entitlement to a partner’s income; view finances and earnings as tied to individual autonomy.
• Prioritize financial independence to protect personal freedom and bargaining power within relationships.
• Stay aware of how control of money can be used to coerce or limit another person’s choices and recognize financial power dynamics.

Calls to action (from the speaker)

• Reflect on the ideas presented and comment.
• Share the episode and explore the speaker’s other offerings.

Notable speaker, products and links

• Speaker/channel: Dr. Orion Taban — Psychax (Better Living Through Psychology).
• Books and works mentioned:
  • The Value of Others — nonfiction on an economic model of relationships.
  • Starry Night — a psychological novel about Vincent van Gogh (available as ebook, audiobook, paperback).
• Community and services:
  • The Captain’s Quarters — private bimonthly group consultations.
  • Free weekly newsletter and paid one-on-one consultations via his website (links are provided in the video description).