The Industrial Revolution: Opposing Viewpoints

 These are two chapters from a book.

The first essay, by Henry George, shows that he believes wealth is not being distributed fairly among people. He opposes the fact that wealth should remain within a small group. He claims that those in the top economic class get their money unfairly, that they create a monopoly, a practice which he believes will only harm society. He believes it is everyone's duty to fix this.

The second essay disagrees with the first viewpoint. Andrew Carnegie believes that it is everyone's own duty to gain wealth, and also that not everyone can become wealthy. He does not see this as a negative. He does not think people should be given aid they themselves did not work for, and that everyone has to achieve success on their own.

Rugged Indivisualism: proof of success

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1334

The idea of the individual helping himself/herself has always been a crucial American characteristic and it is that uniqueness that has allowed us to become one of the superpowers of the world.

If I Were A Carpenter: Twenty Years of Habitat For Humanity

Summary:  Frye Gaillard describes the life of community effort and the touching stories they inspire of those who can helping those who can't.

Usage: Conveys a beneficial aspect towards the community responsibility towards the improvement of social mobility.

Gaillard, Frye. If I Were A Carpenter: Twenty Years of Habitat For Humanity. 
     Winston-Salem, NC: John F. Blair, 1996. Print. 

The Myth Of Bootstrapping: Time Magazine

http://ideas.time.com/2012/09/07/the-myth-of-bootstrapping/

Michelle Obama spoke about how the lives of both her father and President Obama’s grandmother showed that even if one starts out with little money, hard work and effort can lead to better lives for the next generation.  Republican Senator Marco Rubio shared the details of his family’s immigration to the United States from Cuba and Democrat Elizabeth Warren talked about her rise from poverty and hardship to a professorship at Harvard Law School.  They all either bootstrapped themselves up the economic ladder or benefitted from the bootstrapping of their parents and grandparents.

NPR: Things that factor into achieving higher social mobility

.http://www.npr.org/2013/03/07/173733691/social-mobility-is-the-american-dream-slipping-away

So you can't rise to the top with factory jobs anymore.  This is the 21st century so you need jobs that are high in math and you have to be good with technology.  Something that can help you is connections which is a big part of rising or falling with social mobility.  Also, a good way to rise is for both members in a family household (not one) need income to achieve upward mobility

Satirical cartoon on Social Mobility

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/09/27/facts-about-class-poverty-and-downward-mobility/

The poeple are going to the government and saying "hey we need to fix this" and Gov't is saying well hey it's not our fault you're poor (while they're filfthy rich) showing that it's their problem too.  Social Mobility should be a group effort.

The source is mainly Liberals and moderates providing our own take on current events, and trying to keep people informed.

The Onion: American Dream Now An Out-Of-Court Settlement

http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-american-dream-now-an-outofcourt-settlement,34972/

 “The idea that anyone in America, no matter who they are or where they came from, can make their way to the top is still very much alive, whether it involves filing a suit for harassment, negligence resulting in injury or death, or mistreatment at the hands of an employer or service provider. " (Sarcasm)