America - The Land of Greed or Generosity?
In “The Great Dictator” Charlie Chaplin said “In this world there is room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls.” What is greed? Greed is an excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth. As a citizen of the United States, many have heard of the term the “American Dream”. James Truslow Adams, in his book “The Epic of America”, which was written in 1931, stated that the American dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (Adams p.214-215). It’s according to this dream that many people acquire this goal of becoming successful at all cost in America. At all cost, meaning they would do anything to gain success. The U.S even though it is based on opportunity has fallen to greed. The U.S citizens have fallen to greed because of selfish desires, wanting to maximize profit, and a strong fixation towards self-growth.
Selfish desires have developed into a social norm in the United States. The U.S as of now is based on capitalism. Capitalism correlates around an economic and
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political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state. Based on the ideals of capitalism the rich acquire more wealth and the poor remain poor. Even though the inequality of capitalism is apparent, the government has protected the rich and has made it harder for the less fortunate. “In recent decades, developments in technology, finance, and international trade have generated new waves and forms of insecurity for leading capitalist economies, making life increasingly unequal and chancier for not only the lower and working classes, but much of the middle class as well.”(Muller) Capitalism encourages competition, which is where a monopoly is set in place. Competition is also apparent when it comes to self-desire. For one to acquire top market one has to dispose of competition. Companies such as Apple, Walmart and Microsoft are prime examples of monopolies that have monopolized the market. Apple is well known when it comes to technology and has been the head of the industry for years. The greed of the company remains apparent though. “According to a teardown report from research firm IHS, the components and manufacturing cost of a 16GB iPhone 6s cost Apple $236. The device is selling for $649 and the iPhone 6s Plus is $749 in the U.S. without a contract with a wireless carrier.” They receive a 69% profit. Many communities have established anti-Walmart. Stephen L Halebsky calls it “Small Towns and Big Businesses”. (Halebsky pp 1315-1317) Walmart is trying to establish themselves into smaller towns to get rid of any business in sight even though Forbes reported that the Walton family is worth $149 billon. One can say materialism is also apparent in selfish-desires. Materialism is a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort are of great importance. Materialism fuels self-desire due to the evolution of technology and the importance of money. The feeling of wanting possessions has been instilled into Americans to fill any void (see fig. 1). Data shows that materialism is rising: Crimmins study trends from the late 1960s among American high school seniors and college freshpersons on four private values: (1) materialism, (2) family life, (3) personal serf-fulfillment, and (4) personal dedication to the public interest. They find that private materialism has risen sharply, family life slightly, and both personal self-fulfillment and serving the public interest have either declined slightly or hardly changed, depending on the specific question Data shows that post industrialization, young individual’s goals are to own two cars and a big house. Many did not care about serving the public. It shows that people as consumers tend to buy more and worry about others less. All these factors are selfish desires that citizens of the U.S acquired that leads to greed. The American Dream applied an unhealthy fixation on maximizing profit through greed. Entrepreneurs are often known to do anything to maximize profit, no matter the consequences. A business is an organization that provides goods or service to the consumers. One may work for an organization for pay. Companies tend to take advantage of the necessity of jobs in the U.S. Companies are required to pay minimum wage to citizens which cost $8.25 per hour. Companies tend to try to lessen payroll through outsourcing overseas causing a significant amount of job loss. “Growing U.S. trade deficit with China cost 3.2 million jobs between 2001 and 2013, with job losses in every state.”(Kimball, Will, Scott) Manufacturing companies such as Nike continue to maximize profit by outsourcing.” Nike pays contracted Indonesian peasant girls an average of 82 cents a day to manufacture running shoes that cost $5.60 to make, Nike then sells the shoes for $150.”(Derber pp 64) Charles Derber calls it “global musical chairs”. Many companies with influence use this method: “Corporations able to hire cheap labor around the world and can threaten to leave a community unless workers submit to lower pay or local government agree to various incentives to keep companies from pulling up stakes”(Derber pp 63). Colleges are also maximizing profits. In college sports, student athletes are partaking in dangerous sports, but they feel mistreated. The NCAA made $989 million in 2014, yet athletes are not tended to. Even though the NCAA receives so much profit, the NCAA bans student athletes from receiving funds from sponsors. NCAA has done everything to increase profit and little to help student athletes. If a student athlete take funds from outside parties that can affect the whole school. The consequences have instilled fear into the students. Arian Foster, a former running back for the University of Tennessee said "I really didn't have any money. I had to either pay the rent or buy some food. I remember the feeling, like, `Man, be careful,' but there's nothing wrong with it. You're not going to convince me that there is something wrong with it." The NCAA makes students believe they are doing wrong, but all they are trying to do is live. Arian Foster said” I feel like I shouldn't have to run from the NCAA anymore. They're like these big bullies. I'm not scared of them.” College publishing companies are also taking advantage of student necessities. College textbooks are on the rise and increasing faster than tuition (see fig. 2). Many of these publishing companies are barely changing the content in the books, but are making supposed new additions to charge a higher price. In an article from Pediatrics they describe the increase perfectly: Once just a weighty tome, the college textbook has evolved into a package including text, colorful supplements and software. But those bells and whistles, which critics and many students call unnecessary, are the main reason textbook prices are rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, according to a new government report. The Government Accountability Office, in a study officially being released today, finds the average student spends nearly $900 on textbooks and supplies, or 26% of tuition and fees per year at typical public four-year colleges. (2005) The greed for maximizing profits changes the way businesses approach situations. They have resorted to going around the need of others to increase profit. U.S citizen’s strong fixation towards self-growth brings upon greed. Money in today’s society ensures power, so everyone strives for it. Once they acquire the power they do anything to maintain it and increase as an individual. For example, Martin Shkreli an entrepreneur who specializes in healthcare businesses and also the founder of Turing Pharmaceuticals AG took advantage. He obtained the license for a pill called Daraprim. Daraprim is used to fight against infections that harm the the body, eyes and brain. Daraprim, primarily used by HIV patients took a 5,455% price increase. The price of Daraprim went from $13 to $750 per tablet. Yes he receives backlash for greed, but he feels no shame. Martin Shkreli said “If there was a company that was selling an Aston Martin at the price of a bicycle, and we buy that company and we ask to charge Toyota prices, I don't think that that should be a crime.” That mindset remains apparent in the U.S. Fear remains instilled in U.S citizens mind. As citizens, many fear that they will not improve as individuals and financially. U.S citizens consistently save and are not into giving. In a survey done with 1,700 participants by Bettermet.com, 47% of American in 2014 set New Year resolutions related to self-fulfillment. Saving money seems essential in the U.S since money makes the world go round. In the survey 39% wants to save money, 29% wants to pay off debts and 12% wants to invest. The U.S is status obsessed. People tend to want more than they actually need and remain unsatisfied. Citizens tend to believe that the higher one’s income the higher one feels: In 1986 the Roper polling organization asked Americans how much income they would need to fulfill all their dreams.
The answer was $50,000. By 1994 the "dreams-fulfilling" level of income had doubled, from $50,000 to $102,000. Upscaling had definitely taken hold. Of course, $102,000 is not everyone's dream. In a consumption system premised on differences, dreams will also differ. And predictably, the higher one's income, the more one must have to feel fulfilled. Those making more than $50,000 said they would need $200,000 for total fulfillment, while lower-income people calculated that they would need only about $88,000 a year.
(Schor) The amount for one to feel “self-fulfillment” continues to grow each year. Many citizens feel entitled to improve themselves as individuals and care less about others. The U.S founded on generosity and opportunity has formed into a greedy nation. Citizens have the tendency to acquire thoughts that are selfish. Through capitalism, competition, and materialism these selfish desire become apparent. A nation that depends so much on currency continues to develop a mindset that maximizing profits is more important than individuals. U.S companies continue to outsource jobs while instilling fear not only into workers, but students as well. Through all the situations that transpire, only self-growth remains important. One will do anything to acquire power and grow as an individual. Anything, even if it means making other people’s lives difficult. As time progress one can continue to see the importance of self fulfilment. Citizens hope to grow as an individual and fear to remain lower than one’s ideal. Through the ideals that the American Dream has established, America remains a greedy nation.
... continuous injustice in financial prospect because the top dogs are too occupied with new ways of making money for themselves while the rest of America are focused on putting a roof over their heads or feeding the entire family. For few fortunate individuals, they will be able to accomplish their ultimate American Dream; however, most Americans will often shun away for the life time of financial progression. Like George Carlin, a comedian once said during his stand up show about the American Dream, “The owners in this country know the truth, it is called the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.” In reality, when the prospects of the American Dream is ignored by our society, dreams often become unfilled and expectations for superior life turn out to be a sham, an enduring nightmare for most people in the pursuit for their American dream.
The philosophy of the American Dream has been with Americans for centurie; James Truslow Adams says that, regardless of social class, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” (Adams). Although this vision has never fully encompassed the entirety of America, it has been generally a positive ambition that all Americans should look past their circumstances and rely on only themselves to succeed at life. However, American capitalism and Marxist ideas have contradicted the traditional dream. Materialism is a simple concept, but its definition has been skewed over time. At ...
In Candide, by Voltaire, Candide struggles through a world torn by constant bloodshed and crime. As he travels, he and other characters are deceived, injured, and abused by the world around him. Voltaire’s Candide reveals another side of human beings’ hearts as he portrays humanity’s hamartias as greed, lust, and religion.
The unwanted consequence of their careless pursuit of wealth and happiness was caused by the lofty hopes of the American Dream. Therefore, I believe that this term has led innumerable populations to suffer. ...
People from all around the world have dreamed of coming to America and building a successful life for themselves. The "American Dream" is the idea that, through hard work and perseverance, the sky is the limit in terms of financial success and a reliable future. While everyone has a different interpretation of the "American Dream," some people use it as an excuse to justify their own greed and selfish desires. Two respected works of modern American literature, The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman, give us insight into how the individual interpretation and pursuit of the "American Dream" can produce tragic results.
The Founding Fathers once preached that the American Dream entailed the right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” nothing more, nothing less (Declaration of Independence). For centuries, the American Dream meant having a good job, owning a house, having a nice family, and generally enjoying life the best way possible. As history progressed however, people started working toward achieving individualistic success by any means necessary. Go back to the 1930s in New York City one fine spring morning. A boy, Moss Hart, remembers that back then “wealth, rank, or an imposing name counted for nothing. The dream of the wonderful American consisted of having a decent chance to scale the walls and achieve what they wished” (Kamp 1). Now flash-forward a century into the year 2014. Today in America, success does not reflect how muc...
Through the course of change in the world- either through prosperity, capitalism or greed- people have lost focus with the real meaning of 'the American dream'. It is no longer the gamely aspirations of living life to the fullest, providing a better life for yourself and or others; instead, a pursuit for those materialistic aspects in life.
The American Dream provides Americans hope that if they work hard, they will eventually be successful, no matter how penniless the person. To understand the construction of this topic, there is a need to understand the circumstances involved. The Epic of America, The narrative in which the American Dream was constructed, was produced in the nineteen thirties. During this time, the Great Depression was at the height of destruction, and the new president Franklin D. Roosevelt created the “New Deal,” which inspired newly-found hope. In his Second Inaugural Address, he voiced his vision for the expanded role that the government would take in American's lives by stating, “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little” (Franklin D. Roosevelt). This began the facade of hope towards the impoverished folks attempting to achieve success. In reality the optimism and dedication given towards this dream is disproportional...
The Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture defined the American Dream as “the idea that the US is a place where everyone has the chance of becoming rich and successful.”But those principles have changed. It has become something that is further out of reach for most people without facing misfortune. It has been tainted by greed, power, anger, and jealously. J. G. Ballard said “the American Dream has run out of gas. The car has stopped. It no longer supplies the world with its images, its dreams, its fantasies. [It is] no more. It 's over. It supplies the world with its nightmares now: the Kennedy assassination, Watergate, Vietnam.” The American Dream has causes destruction. The American Dream is disillusionment.
Years ago, the United States of America was the prime example of prosperity and opportunity. In recent years, in the worst recession since the Great Depression, unemployment and interest rates have skyrocketed. The “American Dream” is an idea that was once a commonly accepted ideology in this country. It has since become only a fallacy. The “American Dream” is no longer an attainable idea, only a fantasy. The “American Dream” is not a true dream that will ever be equally attainable by everyone.
Kasser, Tim, and Richard M. Ryan. "A Dark Side of the American Dream: Correlates of Financial Success as a Central Life Aspiration.
America has been labeled "The land of opportunity," a place where it is possible to accomplish anything and everything. This state of mind is known as "The American Dream." The American Dream provides a sense of hope and faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and desires. This dream, however, originates from a desire for spiritual and material improvement. Unfortunately, the acquisition of material has been tied together with happiness in America. Although "The American Dream" can be thought of as a positive motivation, it often causes people to strive for material perfection, rather than a spiritual one. This has been a truth since the beginnings of America, such as the setting of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, which is an example of this set in the 20’s. The characters in this novel are too fixed on material things, losing sight of what is really important.
The American Dream was and always will be something that makes America great. It allows those with aspirations to make them come true. In America alone needs is a dream and the motivation to carry out that dream. Ambition is the driving force behind the American Dream. It allows any one that has an aspiration, a desire, a yearning, to carry out the individual dream. It knows no bounds of race, creed, gender or religion. It stands for something great, something that every one can strive towards. A dream can be a desire for something great. In America, the American Dream allows dreams to become realities. According to Webster's New World Dictionary, the American Dream is defined as "An American social ideal that' stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity". To live this dream is to succeed. It allows anyone, rich or poor to have the opportunity to succeed. It is the ability to come from nothing and become so me thing. To succeed at any thing you do, you must have patience and persistence. It requires hard work, persistence and a desire for something better. To have these qualities and the desire and ambition to carry the moutis part of the American Dream.
When the term ‘American Dream’ was first mentioned in 1931 by James Truslow Adams, he described it as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (Clark). When Adams mentioned the term, it had much more of an idealistic meaning, rather than the materialistic meaning it has in modern society. At the time of it’s mention, the dream meant that prosperity was available to everyone. In the beginning, the American Dream simply promised a country in which people had the chance to work their way up through their own labor and hard work (Kiger). Throughout history, the basis of the dream has always been the same for each individual person. It
Greed is so powerful in a person that it has the ability to destroy them, their friends, and family relationships. I have lived in the poorest country my first nine years, so when I was adopted, my mom gave me everything I ever wanted, everything I ever needed. However, using myself as an example, I was so mesmerized of the materialistic things that were available, that I stole. I took something that was not mine because I felt greedy. I felt like I needed that object for whatever reason. My mom tore my butt when I got home and I never thought of steeling because of my own selfish need of wanting. Not to mention how greed made me afraid. It made me afraid because I knew what I did was wrong. People are constantly being bombarded with images of things that we believe will make us happy and the selfish thoughts of greed makes us wanting more. For example, the iPhone 6 Plus came out September of 2015, now there is iPhone 7 which has new camera zoom, ear pods, and better quality. However, the week before it was released, everyone talked about wanting it because it’s the new “cool” thing. However, what people fail to understand is that the reason they want