America's Economy “We are becoming a society in which the poor tend to stay poor, no matter how hard they work;” (Document A), to countless Americans this sounds like a rigid caste society, the polar opposite of America. Yet, a considerable amount of Americans firmly assert this is the reality of America today. In reality, the economy works relatively the same as it did half a century ago, however, people today are not working as diligently nor as much. The economy, as well as the opportunity of social mobility, is still truly alive but the work ethic needed to achieve it is dead. When compared to other nations of similar advancements and innovation, America is always the country where anybody, even immigrants, can make it. While the United
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Despite setbacks and recessions of recent years, the United States economy has bounced back increasing job opportunities as well as salaries. Unemployment rates, often used as indicators of the job markets condition, have reached lows such as “ 4.9% and 2.5% among college graduates” (Document D). Also surprising to most Americans is the rising “real” incomes, which means those after taxes and transfers. The “real” incomes of America's lowest class have already risen 49% since 1979, with the middle class’s not far behind having risen 40%. (Document …show more content…
Well, then why are some not prospering? As best said by W. Michael Cox and Richard Alm, America is a land of “equality of opportunity, not equality of results.”(Document B). In the current state of America,
everything necessary to thrive is out there, the options, the openings, the offices the only thing missing is offering individuals. As a capitalist society, America rewards those individuals motivated to get ahead and those unmotivated simply will not get ahead. Due to various factors, mainly technology, America along with the whole world has cultivated a lazy and privileged culture. Those behind today are not there because of lack of talent but rather lack of willingness to work.
Although the economy is currently thriving, the work ethic is diminishing along with other woes such as dwindling investments in fields like energy exploration as well as staggering productivity growth. People are working less hours and not as diligently during such hours, “taking stuff off warehouse and store shelves, but not to be replaced by workers making more stuff.” (Document E). How sad it is that consumer goods are being purchased only to not have any more goods to replenish the
Despite setbacks and recessions of recent years, the United States economy has bounced back increasing job opportunities as well as salaries. Unemployment rates, often used as indicators of the job markets condition, have reached lows such as “ 4.9% and 2.5% among college graduates” (Document D). Also surprising to most Americans is the rising “real” incomes, which means those after taxes and transfers. The “real” incomes of America's lowest class have already risen 49% since 1979, with the middle class’s not far behind having risen 40%. (Document …show more content…
Well, then why are some not prospering? As best said by W. Michael Cox and Richard Alm, America is a land of “equality of opportunity, not equality of results.”(Document B). In the current state of America,
everything necessary to thrive is out there, the options, the openings, the offices the only thing missing is offering individuals. As a capitalist society, America rewards those individuals motivated to get ahead and those unmotivated simply will not get ahead. Due to various factors, mainly technology, America along with the whole world has cultivated a lazy and privileged culture. Those behind today are not there because of lack of talent but rather lack of willingness to work.
Although the economy is currently thriving, the work ethic is diminishing along with other woes such as dwindling investments in fields like energy exploration as well as staggering productivity growth. People are working less hours and not as diligently during such hours, “taking stuff off warehouse and store shelves, but not to be replaced by workers making more stuff.” (Document E). How sad it is that consumer goods are being purchased only to not have any more goods to replenish the