Rat Race

515 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effect of Consumerism in Society

Ah, “the rat race”. A term used so often to describe the frantic way of

living people are in to gain success. It’s also something our economy thrives off of. You wouldn’t think so, but it’s true. That’s why I chose it to be my essay topic. It’s that need to get to work in the morning to spend yet another day kissing butt and working like a dog so maybe just maybe you’ll be able to have enough money to live on. Until of course you’re on your way home and see the cutest little thing in the store window and that little voice in your head says, “oh darling it’s simply perfect, you’ve just got to have it”. That voice gets everyone into trouble doesn’t it?

The picture on the cover of this report describes “the rat race” perfectly. Our world is a never-ending cycle of earning and spending. (I’m sorry if I offend the smart ones who actually SAVE money). Our economy prospers from stupid spending. Eighty-dollar jeans here, one hundred and fifty dollar sneakers there. Things that were thought of as luxuries before have now become necessities. Cell phone, beepers, these are now things people need rather than would like to have.

Economic status is now based superficially. “Oh look they have a Rolex and a suit and a cell phone, they must be rich”! In case no one noticed, everyone and there mother has a cell phone these day whether they can afford it or not, the suit is probably a cheap knock of some famous designer and the “Rolex” is probably one of those “ten dollar ten dollar” deals. But since people look at us by what we have more than anything else, we feel the need to buy more things. So we earn money to buy things we don’t need just so we have the appearance of being well off. That’s everyone’s goal these days, to be well of. But you know what it’s good that people are this dumb. Know why? Our economy wouldn’t be able to live without it.

In the picture, you see the rats(a.k.a. us) running through a maze (a.k.a. Life) you see the sign saying “Happiness is just around the corner”. No matter where the rats are happiness is just around the corner. But to get to “happiness” what has to be done? Well first you’ve got to work harder.

Show More
Related

  • Leaving The Iron Lung Summary

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    To read a story that deals with this theme makes us realize that it is not everyone that can accomplish what they really want in their

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Class In America By Gregory Mantsios

    580 Words  | 2 Pages

    and it manifests itself in a multitude of cultural and social ways.” The author discussed the problems that occur from economic and social classes. The purpose of this argument is to debate on what kind of people will be successful in life. Everyone has a shot at being successful, and that they do with it is

    Read More

  • What Does The Bell Jar Mean In The Great Gatsby

    698 Words  | 2 Pages

    Money, money, money, money, money. People just care about the Benjamins, the moolah, the cash, the dough— but is it really essential to the human existence, or does society just accept the systematic oppression that comes with the dog-eat-dog nature of our economic system since it benefits the people on top? Monetary gains are all well and good; however, when does it commence to overtake our lives and when does it become our end goal? Instead of relying on money for food, shelter and our overall well-being, society views it as a tool that gives them power over other people, thus putting one’s economic status on a pedestal and making life a difficult competition. So yes, it is a dog-eat-dog world, but that’s not exactly a healthy perspective

    Read More

  • Theme Of Confronting Inequality By Paul Krugman

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Confronting Inequality” by Paul Krugman opens our eyes to the fact that, in America, we are becoming more and more unequal based on our standing in society. Our standing in society is directly related to the amount of money that we make and what class our parents were in while we were growing up. However, being judged based on parents’ status is not justifiable. America is full of injustice when it comes to the social structure of it’s’ citizens. The majority of America used to belong to the middle class, now there is less middle class and a widening gap between the high class and the low class of people.

    Read More

  • The Increase in Crimes to Achieve the American Dream

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...at the American culture places economic success at the pinnacle of social desirability, without listing legitimate ways for attaining the desired goal (Merton 672-682). Today, the American Dream no longer reflects the dream Adams had, but instead, the idea that one can only call themselves truly successful if they have become rich, regardless of the way they got there. The American Dream does not guarantee happiness, but rather the pursuit of it, but with the media strongly persuading people that money guarantees happiness, people are encouraged to do whatever it takes, even it means disregarding their morals, so that they achieve ‘success.’ The inability to achieve this goal often leads people to destructive, and ultimately life-threatening criminal behavior as their feelings of anxiety and frustration over this vision of the “American Dream” get the best of them.

    Read More

  • Ethnographic Essay: The Boston Common Park

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...rceived to have more wealth received special treatment in the weekend event I chose to attend, which is a clear indication of the disparities existing in terms of wealth distribution nationally and globally. The level of interaction for those present was based on perception of individual social status. People were more inclined to freely interact with individuals from a similar social status rather than a person from a different social status. While some had ascribed status, other presented achieved stratification status. However, the difference emerging from this scenario is that a small number of individuals are given opportunities to amass wealth within a short time while the rest linger in their glory. In return, the cultural response to this difference is to elevate those who have amassed wealth at the expense of those in middle and low-class income bracket.

    Read More

  • People Like Us : Social Class

    711 Words  | 2 Pages

    Living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, our culture has naturally valued prestige and luxuries. We admire fancy items and often judge other individuals by the clothes they wear, the car they drive, and the schools that they attend. The “American Dream” serves as a motivational factor for people; believing that hard work and dedication can bring “success” to ones’ life. Although this is partially true, it is difficult for individuals in the middle class and lower class.

    Read More

  • Social Inequality Regarding Class

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    "What has happened in America is that achievement is so important that everyone wants everyone else to know what they have done. . . And in case you don't know, they want to tell you with a lethal combination of houses, cars and diamonds. (Fabrikant 2005))" Inequality in the United States is changing, and for the worse. People who are not wealthy are now competing to have the "status" of wealthy, which causes the wealthy to literally get wealthier while the middle class and upper middle class are going increasingly in debt trying to keep up with the wealthy.

    Read More

  • The American Dream

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... shining, his golden opportunity…the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him…”(qtd.in The American Dream). A person who “manages” to achieve his or her version of the American Dream is often said to be “living the dream”. However this concept has been subjected to great criticism because some people that the social structure of the U.S. prevents such an idealistic goal for everyone. May critics often allude to various examples of inequality rooted in class, race, ethnicity, and religion, which suggests that the American Dream is not attainable to everyone. The principles of the American Dream are too idealistic. Everyone has dreams and goals, but the American Dream is one that is infinite and endless. It is very difficult to live the dream when so much of it is obscured by the government.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Low Class In America By Gregory Mantsios

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    People from lower classes try to achieve success but tend to struggle depending upon their foundation. The problem that people don’t want see is that we all want to become successful, and have the capability to do so but are just restricted by the lack of income.

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Capitalism In The Great Depression

    1547 Words  | 4 Pages

    The poor gets poorer, and the rich gets richer. Economically speaking, this is the truth about Capitalism. Numerous people agree that this inequality shows the greedy nature of humankind. The author of the source displays a capitalist perspective that encompasses an individualist approach towards an “un-ideal” economic system. The source articulates a prominent idea that capitalism is far from perfect. The reality is, as long as capitalism exists, there are always those people who are too poor or too rich in the system. We do not need elitists in our society but that is exactly what capitalists are. In this society, people are in clash with those who “have” and those who “have not”, which creates conflict and competition. Throughout

    Read More

  • Dreams Deferred in William Faulkner´s The Sound and the Fury and Sandra Sineros The House on Mango Street

    582 Words  | 2 Pages

    A common American drive is to live a perfect, stereotypical white picket fence life: to be married and have three kids, a dog, to live in the suburbs and make good money. Decades ago this dream was much more achievable, someone could come from nothing and make a life for his or herself; although, today, this dream is much more alluded to rather than obtained. With America’s economy in p...

    Read More

  • Social Stratification Essay

    2053 Words  | 5 Pages

    Social stratification is a system that societies use to rank members into organized and functioning groups. The way that the United States stratifies its members is by a class system. Upper, middle, and lower class are determined by the amount of money individuals have available to them for spending. Social class in America is a huge determinant of an individual’s quality of life. Education and training, or better yet the access to these, are what governs the amount of opportunity an individual has to make money and move up in social class. Often, social class can predetermine one’s fate before he or she has the chance to. Ambition means little when “class-based discrimination

    Read More

  • Social Stratification: What Is Social Stratification?

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    People with more money don’t have to worry about saving since they don’t have to ration their expenses. They also can afford nicer things and go out and travel more than others who have less money. According to , people in the upper class live in high end neighborhoods, send their kids to private schools, take part in big name clubs, and drive nice cars. There are two ways that these people obtain this level of wealth. One way, is by being born into a family that has always had money. And the other way is through hard work and

    Read More

  • Money Is The Key To Success

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    Almost everybody hopes to be rich. Society believes that only the social status can define the kind of person you are. Majority of

    Read More

More about Rat Race

Open Document