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Effects of poverty in america
Effects of poverty in america
Effects of poverty in america
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After reading “The Gospel of Wealth” by Andrew Carnegie it is clear that Carnegie feels that wealthy people have a duty and purpose to provide for their community and help those less fortunate than them, however he also believes there are very specific ways this should be accomplished. Carnegie was one of the wealthiest men in U.S history. He was dedicated to the steel industry but at 65 he changed his life around completely and decided to devote the rest of his life to helping other people. He donated 5 million dollars to the New York public library and did many other things to help people with their education. He encourages people to follow his example in his piece “The Gospel of Wealth” and explains that the goal of the wealthy should be …show more content…
I agree that as someone wealthier it is a good act to use the money you don’t need and really work to benefit your community is a big way. I also agree that it is better to really commit yourself to these acts during your lifetime rather than simply leaving money after you die to charity simply because you “can’t take it with you”. However I do not believe that it is a wealthy person’s duty to do so and I do not agree with the condescending tone used by Carnegie to discuss poorer people. Carnegie claims that it is the duty of the rich to “consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is so called upon to administer, and strictly bond as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community.” While it is nice for a wealthy person to want to donate money to help others, they have also worked very hard, in many cases, for the money they now have. I do not agree with the fact that any extra money needs to be used to help others and that leaving money for next generations or anything like that is looked down upon. Carnegie also says, “the man of wealth thus becoming the mere agent and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to service his superior wisdom,, experience and ability to administer, doing for them better than they would for for themselves.” I do not at all agree with the way Carnegie describes the poor in this quote. First of all, just because someone does not have as much money, it does not mean they are not educated and it certainly doesn’t mean that they don’t work as hard or aren’t as capable as the wealthy man. Using the word superior to talk about the wealthy man versus the poorer man is very condescending and it makes it seem like because of the difference in income, the wealthy man is better and above the poorer man. This is an unfair and incorrect judgement to
He explained that they had the responsibility to be philanthropic and donate their wealth to benefit society while they are living. If the wealthy keep their riches until they are dead, then it simply implies that the deceased would have wanted to bring the money with them if it were possible. Carnegie also explained that family members should not leave each other inheritances. By leaving them with a large amount of money, it gives family members no motivation to work hard; becoming lackadaisical. He wrote how one should contribute to society through charity, by donating towards a physical cause; and not by giving money to a homeless person.
"…admitting what is called philanthropy, when adopted as a profession, to be often useful by its energetic impulse to society at large, it is perilous to the individual whose ruling passion, in one exclusive channel, it thus becomes. It ruins, or is fearfully apt to ruin, the heart, the rich juices of which God never meant should be pressed violently out and distilled into alcoholic liquor by an unnatural process, but should render life sweet, bland, and gently beneficent, and insensibly influence over other hearts and other lives to the same blessed end." (348)
A Few Keys to All Success by Jim Muncy, published in 2002 explains that there are 7 universal keys to success that we can relate to everyday life. Discernment, Optimism, Responsibility, Initiative, Perseverance, Purpose, Sacrifice. Each one represents how we grow and teaches us how to have a high quality of life. From reading this book I am confident because I know being normal means being average and what we do can change how we act significantly. Also we can’t let the world hold us back from greatness. There will be negativity, there will be those who lack enthusiasm but you can’t let them interfere in what you have in store. And these keys will help you get to that point in your life. Discernment; Judge the seed by the harvest. The first
...ve up the fortunes they have built themselves. It is an admirable idea to give your money to help promote a thriving community. Carnegie states that he is against charity and believes that those in need should be taught how to improve their own lives. To fund these institutes and corporations a form of charity must be given. Wealthy citizens give their excess money to a few to disperse of in a way they see fit to help the race. Most Americans are not willing to give up such a large sum of money as noble and respectable of an idea as it is. I think that Carnegie’s plan, in theory, would work and would be best for the race. I do not think it is practical because most would rather spoil their own family with inheritance than give it away to help people unknown to them. Carnegie’s idea of fair is equal opportunities for everyone to help themselves and the race.
Andrew Carnegie and his philanthropy made him a hero because he helped more people than harm in the long run, by this I mean he helped other countries. He also sets a great example to everyone that helping others or someone is not something you need to wait to do when you are no longer living. If someone needed help and even a stable person had the choice to help but until they are no longer alive has little meaning. Perhaps it would be too late when the person isn’t around anymore. Its about what someone can do to help when they are around, it is about what a person can do in the time of need even if it is not much but a little of anything can go a long way. In (Doc C) there is a list of amounts of money that Carnegie has donated to various places which in total he has donated well over $271m but aside from that his corporation is giving out about $100m a year, most of it to education (Doc C)
The Millionaire Next Door written by William Danko and Thomas J. Stanley illustrates the misconception of high luxury spenders in wealthy neighborhoods are considered wealthy. This clarifies that American’s who drive expensive cars, and live in lavish homes are not millionaires and financially independent. The authors show the typical millionaire are one that is frugal, and disciplined. Their cars are used, and their suits were purchased at a discount. As we read the book from cover to cover are misconceptions start to fade. The typical millionaire is very frugal in all endeavors and finds the best discounts possible. A budget is implemented daily, monthly, and annually for a typical millionaire. They live by the budget and are goal oriented. Living well below their means is crucial for a millionaire, and discovering ways to allocate time and money more efficiently. The typical millionaire next door is different than the majority of America presumes. Let’s first off mention what it is not. The typical millionaire is surprisingly not the individual with the lavish house worth a million dollars, owning multiple expensive cars, a boat, expensive clothes, and ultimately living lavishly. The individual is frugal and often looks for discounts for consumable goods. The book illustrates the typical millionaire in one simple word: frugal. It is shocking to believe that this is true, but it does make sense. To achieve financial independence is inherently more satisfying and important than accumulating wealth. According to the book the majority of these millionaires portray characteristics of being sacrificial, disciplined, persistent and frugal. In the book it states, “Being frugal is the cornerstone of wealth-building. Yet far too often th...
On the other hand, Carnegie understands that there exists inequality, but he believes that the superior can cooperate with the inferior to gain equality. In fact, it the document he clarifies, “There remains…only one mode of using great fortunes…in this we have the true antidote for the temporary unequal distribution of wealth, the reconciliation of the rich and the poor−a reign of harmony” (Carnegie, 54). Carnegie does not particularly consider inequality a problem. He understands that in order for wealthy to facilitate the lives of the poor, there must be inequality to establish status, but he also discerns that by helping the poor they are given a chance to reach equality. In fact, Carnegie says, “Individualism will
Andrew Carnegie’s article published, December 1889 in the New York American Review called “The Gospel of Wealth”, gave much to be contemplated. The central idea of his article was that a man was wealthy for one of two reasons. He was either selected by Gods will to be so rich (an idea similar to “the divine rights of kings”) or because of ones “natural talents”, stemming from the “survival-of-the-fittest…theories of English philosopher Herbert Spencer and Yale professor William Graham Sumner.” (The American Pageant, 15th edition, Vol.2) He believed that with this wealth came a moral obligation to spend such money on “public purposes, from which the masses reap benefit.” (The Gospel of Wealth, New York Carnegie Corporation, New York)
Erika’s sweet sixteen is today, and her parents bought her a brand new car. She pulls into the school’s parking lot and flaunts about how her parents not only got her a car, but also a trip to Italy. People start to walk away, even some of her best friends. As the day goes on, her friends have not talked to her since morning. Fed up, Erika asks them what is wrong. Kristie, one of her friends, tells her how they cannot stand listening to her talk about her ostentatious gifts anymore. When Erika gets home from school, her mom asks her what is wrong. It is then she realizes what her friends were trying to say and tells her mother she does not want the car anymore. Her mother, astounded, asks why not and gets a reply of money cannot buy friends, nor can it buy happiness. According to “Does Money Buy Happiness,” by Don Peck and Ross Douthat, they disagree with the connection between money and happiness.
A penny saved may be a penny earned, just as a penny spent may begin to better the world. Andrew Carnegie, a man known for his wealth, certainly knew the value of a dollar. His successful business ventures in the railroad industry, steel business, and in communications earned him his multimillion-dollar fortune. Much the opposite of greedy, Carnegie made sure he had what he needed to live a comfortable life, and put what remained of his fortune toward assistance for the general public and the betterment of their communities. He stressed the idea that generosity is superior to arrogance. Carnegie believes that for the wealthy to be generous to their community, rather than live an ostentatious lifestyle proves that they are truly rich in wealth and in heart. He also emphasized that money is most powerful in the hands of the earner, and not anyone else. In his retirement, Carnegie not only spent a great deal of time enriching his life by giving back; but also often wrote about business, money, and his stance on the importance of world peace. His essay “Wealth” presents what he believes are three common ways in which the wealthy typically distribute their money throughout their life and after death. Throughout his essay “Wealth”, Andrew Carnegie appeals to logos as he defines “rich” as having a great deal of wealth not only in materialistic terms, but also in leading an active philanthropic lifestyle. He solidifies this definition in his appeals to ethos and pathos with an emphasis on the rewards of philanthropy to the mind and body.
The short story, "The Rich Brother," by Tobias Wolff represents the same concept that everyday people all over the world encounter. This portrays how having siblings can be an enormous part of a persons life. The rivalry between siblings is often very competitive, but at the same time similar to magnets. When they are not connected it may seem they are independent and whole, but when examined closely it is obvious they are really relying on each other to function properly. Although Pete and Donald's life are separate and completely different, they are in fact very dependent on each other.
The idea of generating wealth for your own or your family’s interests can be traced back to Adam Smith’s ideology of the baker, which essentially states that an individual does not produce goods for your purpose but for their own which then is beneficial to your interests. Copious individuals and corporations within our society have generated wealth by producing goods and services, but those who have great prosperity have established foundations that are beneficial to the collective good. These affluent corporations began based on the founder’s own self-interest-which was most likely to become rich and purchase whatever they desired- but afterwards benefiting the common good. An example of a foundation that benefits the community would be the Ford Foundation, which is directed towards advancing human welfare and taking their own profits from the automobile industry and donating it to organizations with the common goal of reducing poverty. The Ford Foundation is amongst the top five most charitable foundations in the world with a total benefaction of $11.2 billion. Another example of a foundation founded on self-interests would be the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is essentially engaged on providing education and knowledge about technology. This foundation is founded by Bill Gates, the wealthiest man in the world, from his own self-interests he has turned a once small business into a
A problem America is experiencing is the economic growth, it is a problem because the wealth growth is only affecting the rich. It is as simple as this, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Robert Reich points this out in his text, Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer. This has been a problem recurring since the industrial revolution, because of the labor groups being stuck in that position. Also, the mergers, and lawyers cycle around their money through lawsuits, and takeovers. Reich uses metaphors in his text about the fall of economy, and he uses boats. There are three boats that are being represented by different economic standing. The reason why Americans are having such troubling economic standings
Firstly, it’s acceptable for there to be rich people in this world because there is a possibility that some kind-hearted rich person would donate a generous segment of their wealth to those suffering from poverty. An example of this type of rare, generous person would be John Laing, a faithful Christian who faced many troubles trying to bring his father’s business forward; however it resulted in heavy loss at the beginning because of his desperate need to succeed and achieve a lot. After eventually succeeding in bringing his business forward and being one of the most richest and successful business men in his community and beyond, John Laing donated nearly all of his money to charity. However donating most of his money to charity did not decrease his ambitiousness, helping others motivated John to start larger projects and earn more money, because the more money he earns the more money he can be able to donate to help the poor. Another Christian role model aspect in John’s personality is that he also doesn’t brag about his billion dollar donations, for example he anonymously provided money for the “London Bible College” to be begun and be established. Therefore people like John Laing have proved to the world it is possible for a human to be spiritually and physically rich.
Philanthropy is powerful because everyone can be affected by the love for mankind, this can change the world for better. Philanthropy is not the practice of self importance and putting yourself above others. Philanthropy and its power of changing the world is about donating to charity your time, belongings, or even sharing kind words or advice in an effort to better others. It is about giving to others less fortunate, and caring about other humans. Whether you know them or not, helping others and caring for the welfare of those less fortunate can change the world. One person can change the life of someone else's by one simple act of charity or kindness. Bill Gates is a wonderful example, due to his material advantages, he can give his belongings to others to help them, rather than keeping all his success to himself. Over his lifetime Mr. Gates donated $27