Hi everybody,
John has posted, so you have the option to respond to his prompt if you want. Alternatively, you can respond to mine, which follows. There is no kiss-up extra credit for choosing mine, so go ahead and choose the one you prefer!
Okay, here goes...
Why is wealth so important to Americans, and what role should the government play in a capitalist society such as ours? (It may be helpful to consider the concepts of capitalism, democracy, and individualism that we discussed in class today.)
I think that wealth is so important to Americans because it allows us to feel important or powerful. Money can obviously allow you to do many things, and I think having that freedom and that choice to be able to do what you want makes people very attracted to money. Personally, I feel more free when I have a wallet full of money because I know that I could do things, even if I do not necessarily want to do them. Just having the choice makes money important. I think that government should have at least some role, even if fairly small, in our capitalist market. There is a growing gap between the wealthy and the poor, so when you a wealthy, you are really wealthy, and when you are poor, you are really poor. I think that this is a problem, and I think that a financial secure, middle class life could be made possible. I think that the government could maybe run a bank, as many banks were at risk of bankruptcy, and were bailed out by the government with billions of dollars, so the government should create one bank everyone uses. I think that running a bank or similar large business that everyone uses could give them extra money, and also stop the need for loans from the government. I do not think that the government should be the ones who produce and distribute goods or try to create an economically equal country, because that is communism and it only really works in theory. I think that the citizens of the US should vote on what they think the government could do to regulate wealth a little bit, but not control it.
ReplyDeleteI don't really agree with David. I believe that we are so consumed with the gaining and loss of wealth because with wealth we can buy STUFF. I remember in psych. class we were talking about how we get jobs to get stuff like a t.v or insurance for a car that we just got or maybe even stuff for other people. When we buy this stiff though we are giving money to big stores, like Wal-mart or Target. And they are buying these products that you buy from big privately owned companies like Coca-cola, Lays, Toshiba, Sony, or Johnson & Johnson. these companies are very well known businesses because we buy so many products from them. Like snacks from Coca-cola & Lays, technology from Toshiba & Sony, and we buy hygiene products from Johnson& Johnson. Sherman Anit-Trust Act stopped the formation of monopolies. This said that a specific company could not own more than about 50% of an industry. This is why you will always see more than one brand of hair products or doll in a general store like Wal-mart or Target. This i just one big example of how the government has control on our cooperation's. I feel that this is a good thing to have in our country because, it makes things more equal for every one and every business.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of hoping for kiss-up credit for replying to this post, but now it looks like I can't get any. Too bad. I have to agree with David on this topic. I do believe that wealth is so important to Americans because with money, people can buy things. These things can be material objects or services. There is a pleasureful feeling when you buy something that you desire. Everyone has desires. And with money, you can have those desires. With money comes power and freedom. Like David said, money allows people to have the freedom of choice to have get what you want. In this day and age, money is necessary for survival...well unless you're Bear Grylls and can live off the land. But really, money is needed for a comfortable life. Also, the government should tax people based on their yearly income. That money should then partly be given to people who are lower in the social class ladder. This way people in these lower social classes can have the money that they need. This helps them and is still capitalism. Capitalism is just freedom to go into business, make a profit, and own private property. So adjusting taxes is still capitalism, but with some distribution of wealth. And with what Shaniece said, the government put the Sherman Act to discourage monopolies. They wanted to encourage competition among businesses. This helps keep prices down because competitors can't make business agreements to set selling prices on goods. But their are government-allowed monopolies. For example, the US Postal Service and the MLB are legal monopolies. And to end this, I would just like to say I had to retype this because I accidentally left this site. So that was a huge pain.
ReplyDeletewealth is a large part of this country's culture in a way, because it is so influential in a capitalist society. capitalism is about buying and selling privately. privately is essentially, because this means you have the right to your own money. More often then not this means keeping the money you make. Which would lead to high wealth being a large goal for most people because it is the staple of success in this country.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David and Matt that wealth is very important to Americans in order to feel economically secure to afford a confortable or luxury lifestyle. Individual Americans that have a substantial amount of money, feel powerful and able to buy more expensive and a veriety of products or purchased activities. A lot of Mericans believe that with more money, comes more oppurtunity to buy or do things to advance or make their life easier. As Matt said that Capitalism is a good influence to have on our economy because it prevents a monopoly of only one big business owning every store branch, so instead stores compete to have lower or greater amount of choice of diverse products for consumers to buy. I also agree with David that our government should have a little bit of a influence on our capitalist economy to try and thin out the gap between poor, middle and upper class by assuring no monopolies and having efficient support for lower income individuals; with some methods as Matt said to tax people with a higher amount of income that have a greater amount of money and then distribute some of those taxes to the people who need the money in order to buy simple living appliances and confortable home. In conclusion the governamnet should have somewhat of an influence to ensure that one business in our capitalist economy does not overpower and knock out the other businesses.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the majority above me. Wealth makes people feel important and powerful in that we can buy stuff with it. The government should not have much control in the economy or distribution of wealth, or else it approaches a Communistic economy.
ReplyDeleteI agree that wealth is very powerful in our country. If you were look at most of the people in America with the most power, they also have a vast amount of the wealth too. In America, money is everything. Like Shaneice said, we can buy "stuff" with it. The ability to buy things makes people feel they can survive and fit in with everyone else. Money creates identities. People can be identified as poor, or wealthy, or middle class; this allows the government to be able to distribute money when welfare and scholarships come into the picture. Capitalism is a way of managing money so without money there would be no need for capitalism. Without capitalism we have no social structure. Everyone would be the same, and without differences financially, people's motivation would decrease since there would be no reward to working harder than others. I think the government does enough in our capitalist society. They provide the needy with the money that many others have, because everyone deserves the ability to use that money to maybe start a business or buy the things they need. Money is life in America. Without it you can't live and if you can't live, you can't live it the way you want.
ReplyDeleteWealth is so important to Americans because with wealth comes power and with power comes more respect. When you make good money you know more people and more people will be willing to listen/talk with you because you have money. All anyone cares about in America is power and money, that is what they strive for and most will do almost anything for it. I think it's ridiculous but sadly that is what American had become.
ReplyDeleteI think wealth is so important to Americans because everyone wants the American dream. Like a lot of people have said above, people want to live in luxury and be able to afford whatever they desire. Almost everyone in America values material things and have very materialistic views. Like Shaniece said, people want to buy stuff. I also agree with Kailey and a few other people above as well. I do think money brings power and respect. Because if you think about it, the most respected and powerful people in America are almost always extremely wealthy. I don't know anyone who wouldn't want to be respected, and having money is an easy way to earn respect from people. In a capitalist society such as ours, I don't think the government should have any part in privately owned businesses. Because that is the definition of capitalism; when industries are controlled privately for profit, not by the government. I think the government should be strictly responsible for law and order.
ReplyDeleteTHIS DISCUSSION IS NOW CLOSED. COMMENTS AFTER THIS POINT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT
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