Final answer:
The two sides of the American attitude about money are its conceptual role as a means to an end for exchanging goods and services as articulated by Ambrose Bierce, and its practical role as a replacement for barter and facilitating trades without the need for a double coincidence of wants. Additionally, financial capital in the U.S. comes from both private and public savings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two sides of the American attitude about money can be seen in its conceptual and practical applications. On a conceptual level, money is not an end in itself; it's a tool for exchanging goods or services, a perspective highlighted by Ambrose Bierce who described money as a "blessing that is of no advantage to us excepting when we part with it." Bierce’s view reflects a recognition that money's intrinsic value is limited and primarily lays in its transactional capability.
In a practical sense, money's role in facilitating trade in an advanced economy is crucial, replacing the inefficient barter system and the challenge of finding a double coincidence of wants. Without money, the likelihood of two parties holding exactly what the other desires is slim, especially in a modern economy with a complex division of labor and myriad specialized services and products.
Additionally, the U.S. economy relies on two main sources for financial capital: private savings from within the economy and public savings.