I am on the precipice of one and don't want that to turn me into a disengaged normies, lib, or chud. I know that a local DSA chapter was financially backed by a person of incredible means, so I wonder what keeps such people left wing or at least SocDem.
Um... having fucking principles? Like... I don't know, recognizing that communism is necessary for the continuation of humanity rather than barbarism and climate apocalypse?
I don't mean to be flippant, but I guess I do. If you know about the shit that we as leftists know about, you have learned about exploitation and class dynamics. With full awareness of these things, then if you're dipping out toward the right, you know what the fuck you're doing, you're a traitor. And knowing that, and still drifting off on greedy ass winds in a rightward direction because of your material interests... then fuck you, you were never a leftist. You may still sell your labor maybe you even make a killing with it as an aristocrat. But aristocracy in capitalism is being a class traitor. They are among the ghouls that those of us who are committed to human liberation speak of when we talk about having a place on a wall or in a pit.
Yes, I know. I'm just being idealist. Everything comes down to only class interest, and we are all of us victims of material circumstance. No, that's vulgar. If you were ever on the left because you had a human heart, you can't ever turn right and without knowing your position is: "screw y'all, I'm going for MINE."
Take the job. Get as much as you can. But whatever excess you have, and you'll know what is excess if you're honest with yourself, then don't waste it on personal enrichment. "Invest" it in revolutionary potential, organizations, direct aid, whatever. Enjoy your life, but know that if you have any power to effect change with or through your wealth, if you consider yourself leftist, if you consider yourself human you take the opportunity to help others.