Contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. Those who pursue wealth fall into temptation, harmful desires, ruin and destruction; for the love of money is the root of all evil (The New American Bible, 1 Tim 1.6-10). This excerpt from the bible still holds true today. Some people in their effort to become wealthy will do anything to achieve wealth. The society today still equals wealth with power. Wealth in itself is not evil.t is the love of it that is evil. The love of money is what leads to corruption, embezzlement, human trafficking, drug smuggling, gambling, robbery and other social vices. Dashiell Hammett moral message about the relentless pursuit of wealth is that the relentless …show more content…
pursuit of wealth is the root of all evil. Hammett’s message is still very relevant today because the society has not morally progressed since the 1920’s, instead they got smarter about it. The character of people’s attitude toward wealth is best summed up by the attitude of Sam Spade and Miles Archer toward money. Miss Brigid tells Spade that the story she had given them was just a story she made up, therefore is no truth to it. Sam Spade gives her the answer that reflects how important the money was for them, and not her situation. He tells her, “we didn’t exactly believe your story, we believed your two hundred dollars” (Hammett 33). Even though Spade tries to justify the reason why they accepted her money by saying, “I mean that you paid us more than if you had been telling the truth, and enough more to make it right” (Hammett 33). This attitude toward money is still prevalent in today’s society. The lies and story people say today might not be the one they tell other people, instead, it is one they tell themselves. I am going to play the lottery and win the power ball. Some people lie to themselves because they do not consider the fact that the overall odds of winning $2 in the lottery is 1 in 38.2 and the odd decreases as the price increases. Some people keep lying to themselves and they keep playing and they get mad when they can get the house they fantasized about. Their action can be seen as greedy. Greed destroys any hope people have for contented lives, yet they cannot give up the chase. They are driven by uncontrollable yearnings that eat away at their humanity and contaminate relationships (The Maltese Falcon Handout). One of the proof that the society has not morally progresses when it comes to money from the 1920’s is the fact the Grand Prize of lotteries keeps increasing every year because more people are playing and more people are trying their luckier star more than once. Another proof that the society has not morally progressed when it comes to money is the rise in human trafficking, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and fraud. The fight against human trafficking and drug trafficking has actually yielded some success. But the human trafficking and drug trafficking industry, which are much related is still grossing in billings of dollars. Humans are still being trafficked like never before and now human trafficking is now being modernized through the use of brothels. Drug trafficking on the other hand, is becoming epidemic. The illegal drug business is now bigger and complicated like never before also. There are more people who depend on the success of these industries. Even politicians that were elected for the good of the people are sometimes involved in these illegal ventures. The involvement of some bad apples in the Drug Enforcement Agency cannot be overlooked because they are paid more by the kingpins than they are paid in their noble job. Furthermore, the attitude of those that lived in the 1920’s is still prevalent today too.
The 1920’s period was a time people were chasing wealth by buying stocks. They invested their money in the bank because the economy was booming and investing in the bank was an easy route to wealth. We have to note that the period of the 1920’s was not an information age as today. There were no computers. The prediction of the economy of how the economy was going to be were not supported with enough evidence because the information was limited during that period. So is there a difference between the attitude of those who were pursuing wealth during the 1920’s and the society of today? The answer is no. The difference between 20th century and the 21st century is that the 21st century is an information age. Information is unlimited. The 21st century is a computer age century. The difference is that our society today got smarter with their money. People look at the stock market before putting their money into it or take their money when there is speculations that the stock is falling. People are still investing their money just like the 1920’s and the government of today is closely watching the banks so they don’t plunge the country into a depression like the 1929 …show more content…
depression. Besides, the democracy of The United States is also being threatened by the wealthy who spend large amount of money supporting political candidates running for office. In the recent debates, the issue of big spending on campaign has been one that both major party candidates has been accused of, and some candidates who has been accused of receiving money from big money donors has been characterized as those that will be puppet to their big money donors instead of championing the cause of the masses. The effect of Super-Pac on the primary elections is very evident as the candidates that has spent more are now poised to be the front runners for both parties. So it turn out that money can change the way people vote even though democracy is supposed to be power to the people. Nevertheless, if one should argue that today’s society has progressed morally when it comes to money from the 1920’s they might have a valid point.
Some people in our society are more generous towards the poor. More people in the society donate more money towards humanitarian service. Big companies and firms are helping in tackling hunger and diseases in poorer countries. While these are some examples that portrays how different today’s society is from the 1920’s, however, we should realize that these companies actually gross in a profit ten times more than they give out as charity and also sometimes they get a tax break for it. Goldman Sachs as an example, boost of having donated more than one billion dollar in philanthropic initiatives, but at the same time, according to Matt Taibbi of the RollingStone, there has been some financial crisis here in the United States that some financial expert has attributed to the activities of Goldman Sachs (Taibbi). One might also argue that the pursuit of money is not bad, after all, according to Theologian, Philip Goodchild, money is the means by which all goods are obtained, all investments are made, all conduct is regulated, all welfare is achieved, and all charity is given. Whatever one cares about, one must value money first as the means toward all ends involving cooperation with others. Money is the measure of prices and a means of payment
(Goodchild). Looking at the effect of the pursuit of wealth in the United States alone is a microscopic view of its effect. All the ugliness in the world can be attributed to people’s attachment to money, and the power it comes with. The unequal distribution of the world’s wealth and the drive to acquire all the world’s natural resources and money, plus the lust for power has led to a world of wars, paranoia, distrust and so forth. When we look at the things happening around the world today, we can see the effect of the relentless pursuit of wealth around the world. Corruption and embezzlement are the order of the day in most African countries. Not long ago, some African countries were under dictatorship who were in charge of the country’s economy. After the people in those countries revolted and succeeded in bringing those dictatorship government down, the price of those revolutions are still not yielding much hope as the people has expected. The democratic representatives the people of those countries have elected are mostly the same people who worked for those dictatorship rulers who were tumbled out of power. The new representatives now have the access to the nation’s wealth and all they see is a democratic way to enrich their pockets like never before. While some might argue that religion is the major factor that lead to the instability in those countries I will argue that the economy is the major factor of the instability in those countries. If everyone in those countries is really contempt with what they have, conflict will not be easily arose in those countries. If the people were contempt with what they have, they will not even think of revolting against their dictatorial government. Moreover, today’s society spend more than any other society that had lived before now. According to finance expert, James Grant, Americans has a problem with spending. We owe more than we can easily repay. We spend too much and borrow too much. Worse, we promise too much. We conjure dollar bills by the trillions—pull them right out of thin air. The national debt of the country is $13,903,107,629,266 and counting (Grant). Mia Waldron of Mount Holyoke college writes, “The so called American dream is not a measure of the quality of one’s character, instead, it is the measure of the value of material goods one accumulates” (Waldron). Almost everyone in The United States wants to live the American dream even if it means debt.
Through the eyes of the prosperous, a lack of wealth indicates a fault in character, while their own success is the product of self-control. Paul Buchheit, who analyzed seven different psychological studies in his article titled “Ways the Poor Are More Ethical Than the Rich,” found that “ample evidence exists to show a correlation between wealth and unethical behavior, ...wealth and a lack of empathy for others, and…wealth and unproductiveness” (Buchheit). The relationship between wealth and poor character implies that when people become rich, they start caring more about maintaining their money supply and less about the well-being of others. As wealth increases, generosity, integrity, modesty, and other positive characteristics diminish. Paul Buchheit also noted that “low-income Americans spend a much higher percentage of their income on genuine charitable giving, [with] about two-thirds of ‘charitable’ donations from the rich go[ing] to their foundations and alma maters” (Buchheit). This proves that the wealthy are generally self-absorbed because a large proportion of them, despite having an abundance of money, refrain from devoting it to those in need. When donations are made, it’s only for their own personal benefit. Because the wealthy are programmed to be self-centered, they fail to serve others with their money and instead serve
The 1920s were a time of leisure and carelessness. The Great War had ended in 1918 and everyone was eager to return to some semblance of normalcy. The end of the war and the horrors and atrocities that it resulted in now faced millions of people. Easily obtainable credit and rapidly rising stock prices prompted many to invest, resulting in big payoffs and newfound wealth for many. However, overproduction and inflated stock prices increased by corrupt industrialists culminat...
Novelists such as Willa Cather and F. Scott Fitzgerald used themes of desire of wealth as a fundamental element to motivate their characters. In their novels, the theme is reflected by the rich Americans who primal desire is to obtain more and more wealth. These characters are so infatuated with and blinded by money that they no longer regard the more noble qualities of life. In each of their works, these authors present intricate, self-conscious characters that desire wealth in order to attain their dreams. In reality, wealth cannot buy people, ideas or even time.
The Gilded Age was a time period of rampant development in the American Economy with a policy that minimized the intervention of the government in economic matters. In the late 1800’s starting with railroads, small businesses evolved to the point where the nation’s economy was monopolized by wealthy industrialists and financiers.1 With all this control in the hands of few wealthy individuals critics began to point out several inequalities among Americans.
Teddy Roosevelt was Vice President of the United States when President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, leaving Roosevelt as the youngest U.S. President ever. Politically it was a time of progressivism and change, but like all past affairs, things can get lost or interpreted differently by different people. It’s not just about Roosevelt, it 's about the people responsible for shaping America during the time of his presidency. This is evident in the two excerpts, “Prosperity” by Nell Irvin Painter in her political history Standing at Armageddon and Kolko’s “Roosevelt as Reformer”, from his political history Triumph of Conservatism. Although they are both political histories of the time during Roosevelt’s presidency, they have sharply contrasting components, such as a use of
The 1920’s was a period of extremely economic growth and personal wealth. America was a striving nation and the American people had the potential to access products never manufactured before. Automobile were being made on an assembly line and were priced so that not just the rich had access to these vehicles, as well as, payment plans were made which gave the American people to purchase over time if they couldn't pay it all up front. Women during the First World War went to work in place of the men who went off to fight. When the men return the women did not give up their positions in the work force. Women being giving the responsibility outside the home gave them a more independent mindset, including the change of women's wardrobe, mainly in the shortening of their skirts.
The 1920s for the United States was a time of change. New changes politically, socially, and economically had impacted the American society in several ways, both good and bad. The changes had led to positive things for the US, including a growing economy, new technology, and more rights for women. On the downside, the new changes in the US had caused racial competition and tension over labor and other opportunities that had been created in the US.
The 1920s were a time of leisure and carelessness. The Great War had ended in 1918 and everyone was eager to return to some semblance of normalcy. The end of the war and the horrors and atrocities that it resulted in now faced millions of people. This caused a backlash against traditional values and morals as people began to denounce the complex for a return to simplicity and minimalism. Easily obtainable credit and rapidly rising stock prices prompted many to invest, resulting in big payoffs and newfound wealth for many. However, overproduction and inflated stock prices increased by corrupt industrialists culminated until the inevitable collapse of the stock market in 1929.
The decade following the Reconstruction Era in American history is brilliantly and descriptively named; the Gilded Age was coated with superficial prosperity which buried its hardships that laid within its core. The rise of big business grabbed American’s attention---whether it was in a positive or negative notion--- and the United State’s focus on minorities declined. Women in the Gilded Age were continuous victims to inequality in contrast to their male counterparts, and the opportunity to pursue their own economic quickly turned into another element of inequality between the genders. On the other hand, the general working class quickly were slaves to big business and the new factory system. Working conditions and wages were unbearable,
During the Gilded Age, “living conditions in the cities were often deplorable, with thousands of families forced to reside in slums that were breeding grounds for typhoid, smallpox, cholera, tuberculosis, and other diseases that swept through the cities on a regular basis.” (“Industrial Revolution”). Poverty and homelessness was not uncommon at the time. The political corruption at the time did not help with this issue either. Political machines governed cities, exploiting the desperate immigrants and gaining their loyalty to stay in power. Starting life anew was difficult and near impossible. Urban life was deplorable during the Gilded Age as demonstrated by the urban slum life, political corruption and difficult life.
Kailey Durnez History 132 Dr. Liles During the gilded age it was a time when individual freedom and governmental regulations meant differently from those of upper and middle class to working class. The differences these social classes faced were mainly due to the wealthy of the people. Upper and middle class consisted of wealthy doctors and lawyers as the working class consisted of factory workers who could barely put food on the table. The upper and middle class believed in social Darwinism, as the working class had denied social Darwinism.
Armando Martinez 4/19/2014. The Gilded Age consisted of many new technological advancements, such as the railroad. The Gilded Age is a time period where technology started increasing, and many more jobs opened up. Also, since there were more jobs, the American wages were even higher than in Europe, which caused many immigrants to migrate to the United States.
The name The Gilded Age given to America by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner does not fit the time period. The words Gilded in essence means golden but the Gilded Age (1870-1900) was not that. The Gilded Age had success, like the economic boom and the formation of labor unions, but the weaknesses of that era were far greater than those accomplishments, like the ill prepared government, the unequal distribution of wages and the racial discrimination held against the Chinese, African Americans and the Indians.
During the 19th century, America was going through an important transition. The nation was dealing with the aftermath of the civil war and the following reconstruction of the South. The Reconstruction period was the precursor to the period deemed the “Gilded Age”. The nation saw economic growth and the creation of the mass market. The rise of industrialization and transition to urban living were some of the defining moments of this period. However, the most defining idea of the Gilded Age is Reform: Social, Political, and economic. The Gilded Age was plagued with the problems that, the reconstruction period failed to solve. During the Gilded Age, social, political, and economic reform movements were gaining ground. Blacks and other minorities (immigrants) were still facing discrimination. Blacks in particular were still facing discrimination and lack of rights despite being free United States citizens.
The 1920s were a time of change for the people of America, and they began with a boom. This boom was initially caused by the combination of America’s inherent rich natural resources and the First World War, and was further propelled by the lack of regulation on business as promoted by the Republican government and by new, different, improved methods of operation in business and industry. Though the boom would never have occurred without the initial causes, the boom would never have had such a profound impact on all aspects of economics and society as it did if it had not been for the revolution in industry and its effect on the state of mind of the American population. The main reason for the boom in the 1920s was the confidence and new attitudes of the population, which both caused and were caused by the boom, and which thereby sustained the boom.