Money in Our Society Essay

In addition to new freedoms arrives the idea that one can make as much money as he or she desires. If those methods were to include educational scholarships or a job, money is always available. Dana Gioia’s “Money” poem makes the statement, “Money breeds money” (69). In the minds of the America

In the book Money and Class in America written by Lewis Lapham, the way Americans look at money is exposed. It compares other nations view on monetary value against that of the Americans. It is a fact that we place more value on money than anything else. This book illustrates the corruptness of the “American Dream” as it focuses money as the “currency of the soul” and through the dream, men remain free to rise or fall. Their life is the product of the effort and the decisions put forth by them.

Growing up in a family where both my parents came from poor immigrant backgrounds always made financial success a priority and when there was no need to be frugal, my parents did seem happier. But did money buy my parents’ happiness or did money lead to their happiness? Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener attempt to answer that question in their excerpt “Can Money Buy Happiness,” where they claim that “[m]oney can be a help in attaining psychological wealth, but it should be considered in the bigger picture of what makes people general genuinely rich (Biswas-Diener 161). Although not explicitly defined by Diener and Biswas-Diener, “psychological wealth” is the overall measure of happiness, beyond just fiscal affluence, including positive ties with other individuals and joyful temperaments (Biswas-Diener 168). By extending Biswas-Diener and Diener’s idea of “psychological wealth” to include the perception of what wealth is and what wealth consists of beyond monetary success, such as achievements or fulfillment, there exist a copious number of ways to view wealth. One can be rich in more than finances and happiness is dependent upon the perception of wealth due to money being one of several paths, including deliberate effort and being positive, to “psychological wealth” which leads to happiness.

Does money control today's society? The Younger family is an African American family in Chicago in the 1950s. The family lives in a small and ratty one window apartment. They are an “average” family who receives the proceeds from a $10,000 life insurance policy from the death of Walter Lee Sr. Everyone in the family has their own idea of what they want to do with the money, if it was up to one of them. The author's story setting is in the apartment surrounded by various conflicts, conversations and actions of the characters. The story line is only a couple of days, but in that time the author is able to show how poverty can have a negative effect on the Younger family.

The “Money as Debt” was created by Paul Grignon in 2006. It is the most fascinating video I have ever seen. Moreover, I am just amazed how much I have learned in just 47 minutes. This video describes how basic banking system works and answers the question where the money comes from.

In American society, wealth has played a particularly significant role in shaping the culture and standards set for our country. With every dilemma that has occurred, money was been an underlying deciding factor in the end. John.F.Kennedy makes this very clear in his statement on lowering the prices of steel, all the way Jennifer Price's take on people being obsessed with a money, even Scott Russell’s article on the status quo Americans believe determines one's happiness and success. All of these passages tie together to show just how money influences our very own society.

The excerpt from “On the Want of Money” by William Hazlitt is an outcry to humanity in response to the realities of a world that revolves around currency. Hazlitt implores his audience through his rhetoric to reflect on what they deem to be important, and to realize that their desires can be the very thing restraining them from attaining their ambitions. Through the use of irony, hypothetical examples, and figurative language William Hazlitt warns of the dangerous paths the pursuit of money can lead to, and the ultimate demise of anyone who takes these paths.

The funding of political campaigns and lobbying is one area where the freedom of “speech” should defiantly be restricted. In the 2000s, a series of court cases that culminated in Citizens United v. FEC have destroyed the ability of the American people to properly regulate election spending. As a result of this, the government has become massively corrupt, the government is now even less accountable to the American people, and the country has been greatly destabilized. Of course, these problems all can be fixed in order to create a better America.

Author William Hazlitt in his essay “On the Want of Money” describes his feelings on the topic of money. Hazlitt employs stylistic devices to illustrate the deception and illusions that come with having or working for money. He explains that money is sought for by everyone, yet few have it, and the ones who do, usually do not enjoy it because they are worried about losing it. Through lengthy syntax, scholarly diction, and repetition, Hazlitt creates a negative mood for the reader to discover the raw truth about money and the horrible things that it can do to people.

In his book, “Money and Class in America,” Lewis Lapham states, “The ardor of the American faith in money easily surpasses the intensity achieved by other societies in other times and places.” This notion is the reoccurring theme in Lapham’s book. America is so taken with the idea that without money your achievements do not mean as much as they would if they came with a large sum of cash. We as a society value money over more important qualities such as knowledge or integrity.

The human characteristics of greed and materialism are a disguise that provide an ephemeral distraction, which over time, creates dissatisfaction. If asked what a person’s overarching life’s objective is, most would answer to be happy and loved. Yet, the misconception that happiness and money are interchangeable is still widely felt.

In today’s materialistic world, the phrase that ‘money can’t buy happiness’ is tending to be proved hence otherwise. Social research and surveys have shown results based on an individuals income, health and the political scenario which is dominant in his or her region. It is quite obvious that the gap between the privileged and the not so is growing into a great divide giving rise to different class and status, thus defining ones social circle. It should therefore be understood how an individuals economic status affects their personal happiness throughout all aspects of life. Many tend to refer to this age-old quote especially when they tend to belong to sector of people who can’t afford the modern day luxuries of life. What they do not

According to Michael Sandel there are only a few things that money cannot buy. He claims that in the past three decades it has been a quite transition, from a market economy to a market society. Market economy leads the society towards an organized path whereas, the market society puts everything up for sale, such as luxury prison cell where you can pay for a better, quitter and equipped place to pass your sentenced period, education cash incentive for getting good grades or reading books, private military which can be contracted by governments and sent to war, wealthy people can hire top ranking solicitors to decrease their sentenced time or to get away from charge whereas a poor man has to rely on government paid advocates and so on. this can be worrying for the society as it teaches the wrong lesson, putting price on everything brings a huge gap between the people, while everybody lives, shop, study and play in different places. Money shapes inequality all over the world i,e debt in china. (The Open University, 2017)

Everyone wants to live a happy life. Even those people that hate everything about everyone. The trick is how to get that wanted happiness. Is money a way to achieve this happiness? People, philosophers, professors, and ordinary, everyday people have been pondering this age-old question about the relationship between money and happiness and if money can buy happiness for a very long time. Much research and many surveys have been asked and performed by excited researchers and agog economists. A lot of experiments and presentations galore were rendered by inquisitive University professors and intrigued university undergraduates to provide useful data. As it turns out, money can and will buy happiness for everyone that spends it at the right time and on the right things.

Money is a precious thing and it can become challenging to not spend it immediately after getting it. It is crucial that this does not happen. There is no denying that money is an important part of society. The world revolves around money and without it, one? would not be able to function. In everyday life the average household will spend one hundred and sixty dollars daily. It is safe to say that money is an resource used daily. It is a tool that can be used to connect with other people or buy anything a person could want or need. Yet it is easy to spend money without realizing how much is really being spent. With only a few simple tips it will become much easier to save money instead of spending it on frivolous things. One’s hard-earned dollar should be saved, and simple tips such as using cash instead of cards, saving small change and only purchasing what one really needs are a few of many ways of doing this. The power of money can easily be abused and it is very important to make sure that a person is well informed on ways to save and spend money wisely.