There is a spectrum to how a country’s economic system is run, and on one end is capitalism and on the other is socialism. Both are equally good and equally bad, and therefore moderation is the perfect combination of the two. As of today, America stands too close to the capitalist end of the spectrum, and thus there are many economic inequalities, in that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and pull the less poor down with them. In the example of Flint, Michigan in Michael Moore’s film Roger and Me, when the many workers laid off when the GM factory relocated suddenly became unemployed. Another example of capitalism gone too far is in Mark Dowie’s article “Pinto Madness,” when Ford’s lobbyists made it virtually impossible for lawmakers to make safety regulations on cars. Thus, with more socialism, so that the two are in moderation, there is a chance that all Americans can be truly happy. Capitalism and socialism are two extremes of a spectrum on which all countries fall; there are good and bad parts to both, and therefore a balance must be struck, as proved by extreme examples of capitalism in “Pinto Madness” and Roger and Me.
While every country falls along a spectrum between capitalism and socialism, America falls close to the capitalist end. This is because in America, most property is privately owned, and Americans value pursuit of personal profit and competition and consumer choice (Macionis 2016: 197). Of course, while there are publically owned things
Today, everybody is seeking success. Success comes from different factors. Some of those factors are individual which can be decided by people, such as dedicating ten thousand hours of practice or having a growth mindset. But some of those factors cannot be controlled. Those factors cannot be decided by the people, or predicted by them in anyway. The Other Wes Moore is a story about two boys with similar backgrounds and similar situations, growing up in similar neighborhoods. .Wes Moore offers his readers a clear insights into how success can be affected by both individual and uncontrollable factors such as culture legacy, growth, fixed mindset, and meaning of life.
This documentary is written, directed and produced by Michael Moore and is about the social repercussions of capitalism as well as corporate and government issues that conflict with the basic needs of people and their families. Moore takes a liberal humanistic look at the consequences of General Motors closing down several auto plants in Flint, Michigan in the late 1980's and what can happen when a city is almost completely reliant on a single industry that shuts down or moves away. Moore also looks at the failure of Flint city officials to reverse the effects of the closures with trends like Auto World which had little effect (Moore, 1989).
Socialism in America has progressed substantially and is not bettering The United States. Socialism is a political theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. In much lighter terms socialism is where a government owns and runs everything in the country to, in theory, better the nation for the people. To increase the growth and help the economy in America the people need to learn what socialism is, learn why socialism does not benefit America, limit the federal government’s power, and look at statistics of the poor people in America.
Socialism in the United States tends to keep itself hidden and rarely show. Although it is something huge according to Scholars like Louis Hartz’s , David Montogmery, E.L. Godkin and Werner Sombart. David Montogomery says “ the American form of Socialism has centered on control of the workplace rather than creating a
This is yet another example of the incredible ignorance of society. Many countries such as China, Cuba and Vietnam continue to practice socialism. Socialism can be an attractive option to many people – even Americans – because it eliminates the division in society that is created by the typical class system. Every person is considered equal, and each is entitled to the two distinct kinds of property: personal and public. The state collectively owns all public property, such as factories, but production is controlled by the workers. All profits are pooled and distributed amongst the public based on the principle of individual contribution. Anti-discrimination laws are passed when needed, and every citizen is permitted freedom of religion, marriage and of work; equal and free education and healthcare is provided by taxation. This system looks great on paper, but crumbles when implemented in real life because human nature does not allow for equality. In some ways, yes, humans have a desire to be treated equally; but when equality is taken too far, people are left feeling stripped of individuality. This causes a rebellion against the system, and it falls beneath the
The book “The Other Wes Moore” and the movie “Crash” have similar themes. Both movie and the book give a series of issues and life lessons. Some relatable and non-relatable. A common theme that shows throughout the movie and the book is Nature vs Nurture. Nature, meaning behavior is determined by our genetics and what a person’s inherited. Nurture meaning behavior is a learning factor and experience from outside factors. Some examples may be parents, friends, media, and sometimes self-taught. In the book “The other Wes Moore” Wes the author and Wes Moore, both had moments were nature vs nurture was involved. As well as in the movie “Crash” with Anthony and Cameron. Although both movie and the book participate in this theme nature vs
Today we can see many links between capitalism and socialism. Our government today is run on progressivism/ socialist ideals. President Barack Obama has several plans and ideas to help the poor by giving them the money of the rich people, and supplying them with health care (obamacare) and so on. Progressives wanted to help people, they wanted to help the poor, this was not morally wrong but many other people saw that this was hurting our economy. Our government is socialist/ progressive because they want to have government control over other money and they want to have the ability to decide where that money goes. But you can’t just do that. If those people earned their wealth they should have every right
In his article "Confronting Inequality" Paul Krugman is asserting the fact of high socioeconomic inequality in the United States, while demonstrating its consequences and the variety of statistic evidences upon it. He is depicting modern American society where we have a huge gap between economic elite and lower-and middle-income classes. There is a time for ''a Great Moderation" reforms that will bring a socioeconomic equality.
In America, most of our parents at a very early age that we should be grateful for what we have. Even with these teachings Americans are finding it hard to do just that. American Capitalism is built off of the concept that anybody can buy property, open a practice/start a business, and profit off of it. One thing that both “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck teach us is that the system of American capitalism isn’t perfect. Both of these books show both sides of capitalism, those who make it and those who don’t. In both books the rich are ignoring the bad things they inflict on the poor because it makes them richer and more powerful. As Rick Danko said, “As time goes on we get closer to that
Roger & Me is a documentary film chronicling the workings of one of the world’s largest corporations, General Motors, as it nearly turns its hometown of Flint, Michigan, into a ghost town. In his quest to discover why GM's management and board of directors would do such a thing, filmmaker Michael Moore, a Flint native, attempts to meet the chairman, Roger Smith, and invite him out for a few beers up in Flint to "talk things over." Moore is the son of a Flint autoworker and a whole family of autoworkers. Roger & Me examines how Moore's hometown of Flint is affected when General Motors closes down a series of factories in order to set up production in Mexico. The town is devastated, economically and spiritually,
This is because there is government involvement in the United States, and so it is not a purely capitalist economy. The government involves itself in the economy by subsidies, laws governing minimum wage, health insurance, etc. Consumers have to pay taxes to the government. Changes by government measures not only include the costs for the government but also by what ever measures consumers and workers take. The US government doesn’t own all the means of production, private ownesip of property is essential for capitalism. A lot of economic decisions and the marketplace as a key role in economic outcomes. Not all economic decisions are private because the government does interfere in the economy in a lot of ways. In pure capitalism, the United States post office would be compleytely privatized, government welfare wouldn’t exist, public schools wouldn’t exist, and there would be no better business beaurau to protect
As citizens of the United States, we are members of the leading capitalist economy in the world. Our production and distribution is mostly done privately and we operate in a “profit” or “market” system. The capitalist system has been a target for criticism throughout the last three hundred years and is being discussed now more than ever due to the recent recession and financial crisis (Shaw and Barry n.d., 1). Its effects,
The United States of America was once renowned for and demarcated by the size and successfulness of its middle class. Currently, America faces a shrinking middle class and a new rising oligarchy that is creating the largest wealth disparity in eighty years. Robert B. Reich wrote Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few, for the sole purpose of exposing the reasons why the wealthy get wealthier and poor get poorer. Reich contends that the free market vs government debate serves as a means of distraction, covering up the real issues of the top one percent reaping economic gains. Reich states in the book that the “free market” is a myth that prevents us from examining the rule changes and questioning who they serve. Reich further states “it is no accident that those with disproportionate influence over these rules, who are the largest beneficiaries of how the rules have been designed and adapted, are also among the most passionate supporters of the “free market” and the most ardent advocates of the relative superiority of the market over the government.”
In seeking to highlight the key differences between socialism and capitalism, it would be prudent to first offer a concise definition of the two terms. Capitalism in the words of Brinkerhoff, White, Ortega, and Weitz (2007) "is the economic system in which most wealth (land, capital, and labor) is private property, to be used by its owners to maximize their own gain." As the authors in this case further point out, this particular economic system is largely founded on competition. Socialism on the other hand is defined as "an economic structure in which productive tools are owned and managed by the workers and used for the collective good" (Brinkerhoff et al., 2007). From the definitions, it is clear that unlike capitalism, socialism favors a situation whereby there is deliberate control as well as planning of economic activities on behalf of the entire community. In the case of capitalism, no attempt is made to have economic activities controlled from a central point on behalf of the community. Here, enterprises are allowed to compete in the supply of goods and services as they seek to rake in monetary returns. The key
The current issues of Capitalism in America is a grave concern to Americans. There is even a declared democratic socialist running for the Democrat nomination right now and garnering a lot of support. Specific issues this candidate is discussing that are facing Americans are issues of income inequality where the top .01 percent makes an average of 27 million per household whereas the bottom 90 percent makes an average of 31,000 a year, free college, and relations with harmful countries. This could all be related to the ideas of Karl Marx in the communist manifesto like a class struggle, or whom should own means of production, or relations with horrid countries.