The Death Of Horatio Alger Analysis

274 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social inequality in united states

Paul Krugman, in his article “The Death of Horatio Alger” suggests that social mobility among classes in the United States is becoming more difficult by the day. Krugman explains that the idea of the American Dream and moving from class to class was once semi easily attainable; but is now seemingly impossible. Although America is thought of as a classless society, the country has a whole is moving into a caste society run by the rich. To prove his point, Krugman explains that about forty years ago (thought to be because of the New Deal) the United States was mainly a middle class society with opportunities move up in the class rankings. In contrast, today's society leads americans to believe that income is a fluctuating thing; one year you

Show More
Related

  • An Analysis of The Book Class Matter: The College Dropout Boom

    1575 Words  | 4 Pages

    The book Class matter shows the importance of how much people should value and appreciate the importance of a classroom education. How much you dedicate yourself to school can help you gain enough knowledge to be successful in the future. Having good quality education in America seems to be the closest thing to a ticket to class mobility. The book was very interesting in explaining what social class really is in America, and the way it affects people's lives on how they live day to day. The different types of social class is what shapes our society. But I think this book is more for those people who aren’t that aware of social class, or for the ones who feel that we live in a society that is classless rather then the actually people who have realized the consequence that class really has on someone’s life. Many people can relate to what stories are told in the book if not, they know of a person that can relate to these stories. As a person that grew up in the lower class, I can definitely relate to most of the stories told in this book. From experience, there is a big difference in this country between the rich, middle class, and who are the poorest that we see daily. Even those in the so called working class have to make continuous sacrifices and live very differently from those positioned firmly in the middle class. Some people may have decent jobs but the bills and other expenses people may have make it harder on people than those who are in the same class but don’t have to necessarily go through the same thing as others. The chapters that I read in this book broaden what I said to a better more clear understanding.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Paul Krugman's 'Confronting Inequality'

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    The America I grew I up in almost had a equal middle class society ( Krugman 586). In this quote, Krugman is letting the reader know that the middle class society was once his life, and that he can connect with the middle class society. Then, in the next couple of sentences, Krugman goes on to say how he noticed it has changed. From this, it is obvious that Krugman has paid attention to what’s been going on in the middle class society, and that a member of the middle class society could take interest in his statements. A middle class reader would most likely believe what Krugman is saying due to the fact, he has been where the reader is once in his life.  Later on in the chapter, Krugman puts a little of himself in his writing by using the acronym “RDK (rich dumb kids).”  When he makes this statement, it is apparent that Krugman is being honest in his writing. Throughout the chapter, Krugman uses words like I, our, we.  Also, Krugman demonstrates that he actually has knowledge and has studied economics thoroughly. As much as I would like to see the United states give a bigger percentage of GDP to social spending beyond health care, it’s probably have to wait until liberals are stronger in the government and are using it to make people’s lives better and safer ( Krugman 598). It was clear that Krugman’s knowledge is in his writing, so the reader is more likely to trust what Krugman is saying.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Class In America-2009, By Gregory Mantsios

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    Growing up in The United States, people are given this idea of an American Dream. Almost every child is raised to believe they can become and do anything they want to do, if one works hard enough. However, a majority of people believe that there is a separation of class in American society. Gregory Mantsios author of “Class in America-2009” believes that Americans do not exchange thoughts about class division, although most of people are placed in their own set cluster of wealth. Also political officials are trying to get followers by trying to try to appeal to the bulk of the population, or the middle class, in order to get more supporters. An interesting myth that Mantsios makes in his essay is how Americans don’t have equal opportunities.

    Read More

  • Horatio Alger and the Gilded Age Dream

    1131 Words  | 3 Pages

    Horatio Alger was an author in the late nineteenth century; he wrote books to little boys on the American Dream. Alger’s books seemed to hark back to an older time when the American Dream was quite different than it was in his time. He subscribed to thoughts of morality, individualism and the competence; but keeps the contemporary idea of fruitfulness. Alger wrote many books to encourage young boys to be moral and work hard.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of Confronting Inequality By Paul Krugman

    745 Words  | 2 Pages

    We, as Americans, view inequality one way, while Krugman perceives it rhetorically. This rhetorical view represents his signal to us, stating the fact that our society changes continuously. “The America I grew up in was a [...] middle class society. Over the past generation,

    Read More

  • Examples Of Low Class In America By Gregory Mantsios

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    America has always seen as the symbolic ideal country of prosperity and equality. This is the reason why people come to America hoping to become successful, but in matter of fact we all have an equal plan field to be successful is not entirely true. For there are social boundaries that keep use limited based upon our own status. Whether we are born of a low class or of a high class the possibility of economic mobility in a sense are predetermined by two factors of social class and success together they both affecting one’s another opportunity of success. In order to achieve success, we must know that it is made up of two main concepts and they are fortune and position. But when a person is limited by their class prohibiting them to achieve success, the point of trying is meaningless. However, there is a way to break the construct that keep groups stuck in the lower-class and is through education. Education gives more opportunities for success to the individuals and since education is very important, culture and the government should focus more directly upon this to reach economic stability. Class standing directly affects economic success in America by limiting a person’s chance of success however; one can overcome by focusing more upon education and culture.

    Read More

  • Gregory Mantsios Class In America Analysis

    795 Words  | 2 Pages

    In "Class in America", Gregory Mantsios says that "when politicians and social commentators draw attention to the plight of the poor, they do so in a manner that obscures the class structure and denies any sense of exploitation." Based off our readings, class discussion and films, income inequality is known to be erased or ignore. Our society frowns upon the expression of income in our daily conversations, as it could be seen braggy or a complaint depending on your status of income. Because it's frowned upon to talk about, the topic of income inequality becomes erased or ignored. In addition, income inequality in America's class structure can affect people's ability to reach their American Dream.

    Read More

  • Who Rules America: Wealth Distribution

    616 Words  | 2 Pages

    Let's take it back to the past in regards to wealth distribution in this country. The fact is that the economy boomed from the end of WWII into the 1970's. “Incomes grew rapidly and at roughly the same rate up and down the income ladder, roughly doubling in inflation-adjusted terms between the late 1940s and early 1970s” (CBPP). Through the 70's economic growth slowed, and the wealth gap widened. Middle-class families were now considered lower class. People relied on the government to help them out with welfare programs. The middle-class class was weakened and the gap grew and grew. There were periods of positive fluctuation, however the middle-class simply never regained it's status that was held in more prosperous times in the past.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of William Domhoff's Who Rules America

    1118 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Domhoff’s investigation into America’s ruling class is an eye-opening and poignant reading experience, even for enlightened individuals regarding the US social class system. His book, Who Rules America, exploits the fundamental failures in America’s governing bodies to provide adequate resources for class mobility and shared power. He identifies history, corporate and social hierarchy, money-driven politics, a two-party system, and a policy-making process orchestrated by American elites amongst a vast array of causes leading to an ultimate effect of class-domination theory pervading American society. In articulating his thesis and supporting assertions, Domhoff appeals rhetorically toward an audience with prior knowledge of America’s

    Read More

  • Mantsios Myth Analysis

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mantsios believes that Americans do not like to talk about the different classes, whether it is about the upper, middles or lower class. He outlines four myths that are widely held about class in the United States. Myth one the united states is fundamentally a classless society, myth two we are, essentially a middle class nation. Most Americans have achieved relative affluence in what is widely recognized as a consumer society. Myth three we are all getting richer. Each generation propels itself to greater economic well-being. And myth four, everyone has an equal chance to succeed. Requires no more than hard work sacrifice and perseverance (Mantsios).

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Confronting Inequality By Paul Krugman

    265 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the article, “Confronting Inequality” by Paul Krugman compares income inequality from the 1960s to the inequality that America society face today. Most commonly is seen the wealth gap between the rich and the poor are difference between their incomes. He gives the reason why he and America should care about the rising inequality. One of his arguments is the economic need to progress for lower or middle class families and the need for seeking more equal of income. Krugman has many quotes from people have a big impact on America help argue his point about inequality. “High inequality, which has turned us into a nation with a much weakened middle class, has a corrosive effect on social relations and politics, one that has become ever more

    Read More

  • The American Dream and Class Separation

    628 Words  | 2 Pages

    Class Separation lowers a person’s opportunity to achieve the American dream. As the separation between class increases, there is less possibility of achieving the American dream. Class separation has been around for a while. The higher class has higher prospect of achieving the American dream whereas the lower class does not. The separation between the class and its affect on achieving the American dream is demonstrated in the novel Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, a political cartoon, The Great GAPsby society, an article by David Cay Johnson, Richest Are Leaving even the Rich Far Behind and Shadowy Lines That Still Divide by Janny Scott. Even though some argue that the class separation does not affect the ability of achieving the American Dream, these articles clearly explain how it does.

    Read More

  • Importance Of The American Dream

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Henslin social, mobility is the movement of individuals, families and groups from one social position to another (Henslin, 2015, p 237-239). It can be viewed in terms of distribution of resources and power among the different social stratification and its effect on the people involved. Stratification is a ranking system for groups of people that continue unequal rewards and life chances in society. Through stratification, society categorizes people and distributes valued resources based upon these categories (Henslin, 2015,p190). The social status of a person is determined by his or her work how much money they have earned and how they move their way up the social class. Social mobility occurs whenever people move across social class boundaries, from one level to another. Mobility can be up or down on the social class ladder but the American Dream is only upward mobility on the social class ladder. The people in the United States are broken down into classes the rich people on top the poor people in the bottom and the middle class in the

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Class In America By Gregory Mantsios

    1572 Words  | 4 Pages

    Social and economic class is something we as Americans like to push into the back of our minds. Sometimes recognizing our class either socially or economically can almost be crippling. When individuals recognize class, limitations and judgment confront us. Instead, we should know it is important to recognize our class, but not let it define and limit us. In the essay, “Class in America”, Gregory Mantsios, founder and director of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education at the School of Professional Studies, brings to light the fact that Americans don’t talk about class and class mobility. He describes the classes in extremes, mainly focusing on the very sharp divide between the extremely wealthy and extremely poor. In contrast, George

    Read More

  • Social Mobility In The American Dream

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    I do not agree with this concept. Many people do not end up being on the same area of the social class ladder as their family is or once was. I believe that social mobility is the main reason as to why the American Dream is no longer available as it once was. There are three different types of social mobility: intergenerational mobility, structural mobility, and exchange mobility. Intergenerational mobility is defined as "the change that family members making in social class from one generation to the next" (Henslin, 237). An example of this would be if a child ended up being part of a different social class than that of their parent 's. Structural mobility is "the movement up of down the social class ladder that is due more to changes in the structure of society than to the actions of individuals" (Henslin, 237). Simply put, structural mobility means that even if an individual is hard working and very intelligent, they still may not end up moving up on the social class ladder. Structural mobility is a huge reason as to why the American Dream is not achievable for all Americans

    Read More

More about The Death Of Horatio Alger Analysis

Open Document