money and class in america Essay example - 708 Words

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 â€Å"American Dream† as it focuses money as the â€Å"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. To start off, money in the U.S. is perceived as the currency of the soul. It makes the world go round. Lapham writes, â€Å"They had been so ‘deflected by the pursuit of money’ that they could turn ‘in no other direction.’. In my opinion, Americans†¦show more content†¦He quit smoking and chewing tobacco just to save up those extra few dollars. Although he was in illegal activities, such as selling alcohol which in that time was illeg al, he was a â€Å"thug†. He made sure that no matter what he was doing, he accomplished his goal of having money. In the original dream, all the hard work you had to put forth to achieve your goal was like a lesson learned. However, in our century’s corrupted dream, all the struggles are worth it as long as you make it to the riches and the high standards of life. The whole act itself revolves completely out of money. It is more important to showcase items and mount them on walls then to show intelligence, faith and families. It is sad to say, but in our American Dream, the corrupted one that is, greenbacks are worth more than one’s honor. Other nations look upon the American devotion as sterile cupidity and insanity. In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby, Daisy and Tom are an excellent example of the importance of being wealthy. Lapham expresses his opinion on Americans as Philistinism. Americans base their success on property and luxuries. Without that, they are not tr uly happy or satisfied with what they did in their life period. If the goal of becoming rich is achieved, everything might not be so great after all. The circle of people associated with you are just there for the luxury. Take the Gatsby as an example. No one went to his funeral, not even Daisy. She was to blame for his death, andShow MoreRelatedClass Inequality And The American Class1407 Words   |  6 Pagesto â€Å"Class in America- 2009† makes some good points why Americans hate the word class. Class is a word to classify a group of people to a certain social status. Americans do not like to be put in a category based off of their money. Gregory Mantsios the author, explains how we view ourselves. For example, most American citizens identify themselves with work. Mantsios gives other reasons, and a solution to fix the American class labeling. Mantsios made some really good points about how Americas viewRead MoreEssay about The Extinction of the American Middle Class1349 Words   |  6 Pagesgroup in America is facing extinction. We are talking of course about the American middle class. In 1971 the American middle class population was 36% higher than the population of the lower class. However, today the middle class population is now only 22% higher than the lower class (McDill). This is only a 14% drop spread over 44 years. The major issue here is that while the middle class shrinks, the upper and lower classes are growing. Financial experts believe that soon the middle class will becomeRead MoreAmerica s Income And Wealth Inequality987 Words   |  4 PagesToday in America, income and wealth inequality has continued to grow at an unsettling pace. The rich continue to get richer, while the number of people categorized as lower class grows exponentially. As Joseph Stiglitz has explained, many theories that are seen as strongly Republican, such as the trickle-down effect, has caused the rich to take money from the poor, and as a result the lower cl ass grows and the middle class disintegrates. The top 1 percent of America’s households currently holds 30Read MoreLifeboat Ethics Essay583 Words   |  3 Pagespeople in then America will also drown. We must convince them if we wish to save at least part of the world form environmental ruin(page 765). Why should I help the poor countries? Why should I let the immigrants in? I see no reason for helping someone that is not an American. These non Americans are taking my hard-working money that they did not earn. I am tired of the United States of America giving my money to the poor countries. The government is giving these people my money for which I workedRead MoreAmerican Dreams : The American Dream1187 Words   |  5 Pagesto America. The American dream is what makes America wonderful. The American dream has been categorized as an equal opportunity to attain success through hard work. The end result of the American dream for the universal people is for that character and t heir loved ones to be living contentedly for the rest of their lives. However, this is not the same apparition that every individual has of the American dream. The American dream differs from many different social classes of people in America. ComparingRead MoreUnited States Six Economic Social Classes1450 Words   |  6 Pagessocial class. A social class is any person or group of people with the same educational, social or economical status. Social class can be broken down into many different categories such as race, age, gender, economic status, educational status and many more. Social class can be measured in many different ways such as financial status, family values, appearance, and demeanor. In America there are six main economical social classes which are the: Very poor, Poor, Working class, Middle class, UpperRead MoreRole Of Social Class In The Great Gatsby1050 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States of America was thrown into a tumultuous journey; a journey of wealth, powe r, and greed. As opportunities for success and power arose, America evolved into a nation known for its ingenuity and freedom. However, as investment and entrepreneurship opened streams of currency across the country, the newfound recipients of self-made wealth found themselves outcasts among the rich, exiled for their lack of history. Furthermore, the divide between the upper-class and lower-class grew exponentiallyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1704 Words   |  7 PagesClass structure of the 1920s was based on popularity and how well off people were compared to those around them. F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates class structure in the book The Great Gatsby through the different characters in different social classes. Fitzgerald gives settings that correspond with the social classes of the characters to better illustrate what environment he placed each character in. The Buchanan’s, Gatsby, and the Wilsons are examples of the different conflicting social cla sses FitzgeraldRead MoreThe Link between Money and Success in America Essay1082 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican culture usually references money and success synonymously. Nearly everyone who has grown up in America has probably, at one time or another, thought I wish I had that much money! Similarly, the public usually perceives those with money as the most successful, happy, and powerful. Americans usually limit the term Money, to simple monetary units; however, money encompasses more than simplistic pieces of metal and paper, cash in the bank, or credit. Money includes anything that you canRead MoreSocial Stratification1747 Words   |  7 Pageshow the inequality of valued resources impacts America as a whole, and how the recent financial meltdown has made stratification worse in America. Stratification can be defined as a structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in a society. (Witt, 2010) In simpler terms, stratification is the social inequality in groups of people divided by wealth, power, and rewards in society. The upper class stereotypically receives rare resources, has more