"Wealth" 1889 Andrew Carnegie

 “In the commercial world similar causes have produced similar results, and the race is benefited thereby. The poor enjoy what the rich could not afford. What were the luxuries have become the necessaries of life. The laborer has now more comforts than the landlord had a few generations ago.”

Andrew Carnegie when writing this essay was trying to have those people then understand the societies need help from the rich. The money given by the rich to the poor needed to have a certain direction and the wealthy needed to make sure that the money they were distributing should go exactly where it was needed. The money distributed should reach the communities in a way that would benefit those who should be receiving it; the government should not be involved, as they were not to be trusted. Carnegie believed in taxing the rich when they died, in order to benefit the poor, instead of it being left to their heirs who already were wealthy, they should use it to better the communities. The quote is simply saying that back then there was a boom in the society, that allowed the poor to enjoy as much as what the rich could, that the things that were once a luxury became a necessity. Generations have changed there for so had comfort levels, and now laborers where prospering.

I can relate this quote to society today, then the economy seemed to be well, in today’s economy things are very complex. The rich are still the ones with the power and all the wealth, and unlike then they do not share with the communities. There for the poor can barely afford the necessities, never mind being able to obtain any luxuries. There is very little comfort and the labors remain such. There has been a shift, where the wealth is obtain by very few in this American society. The essay, talks about distribution, maybe that should be implemented in today’s society and, not saying it would fix the problem, but maybe it can bring about some change.  

Abraham Lincoln: The Gettysburg Address (1863)

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war; testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate --- we can not consecrate --- we can not hallow --- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here … that we here highly resolve that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of Freedom --- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

President Abraham Lincoln is addressing the nation in this speech, during the Civil War, expressing the battle of the soldiers. He is asking the nation that they should remember everything that has been done, to claim freedom. The President is preaching that these young men have given their lives for the nation. He mentions the Declaration of Independence, with the regards of equality, that all men are created equal in the new nation. Lincoln with this speech is explaining that the war was for freedom, which would bring equality, as he mentions towards the end, that government of the people should be by the people, for the people and that it would always be as such.

I choose this quote because it seems that every president, and its government starts off the right way, they use the Declaration of Independence as there lead into equality and all men are created equal, yet somehow it falls under rather quickly giving the advantage to few rather that to the people of the nation. I do like the fact that he asks the nation to remember those fallen soldiers, which should always be mentioned, because they have given their lives to defend this nation, just as recent years, even without reasonable cause. It’s just sad to see that government does not follow that simple order Lincoln spoke about at the end, the government of people those rightfully chosen, by the people, for the people the nation. If they would think about the benefit of the whole nation rather that a portion, the nation would be a better place.

Henry David Thoreau: "Civil Disobedience" (1848)

“For my own part, I should not like to think that I ever rely on the protection of the State. But, if I deny the authority of the State when in presents its tax-bill, it will soon take and waste all my property, and so harass me and my children without end. This is hard. This makes it impossible for a man to live honestly, and at the same time comfortably, in outward respect.”

I believe that Henry David Thoreau is stating that he can without a doubt say that he cannot ever rely on the protection of the State, but that if he was ever to wrong the State it being by tax-bill or in any sort of way they will punish you. In other words government is quick to punish those who break the law, yet take too long to bring help to the citizens and that is if they even get to bring the help at all. When referring to the tax-bill, he states that they will harass him, and if he was not to be around the State will go as far as harassing his children. There for stating that how is anyone suppose to live an honest life, while still being comfortable and have respect.

I choose this quote, because in a way it still rings as true in society today. Government will quickly judge those who break the law, at times without even giving the individual the right to defend themselves. Yet they don’t react with the same sense of urgency when a citizen is in need of help. To the extent of children being harassed can also be applied to society today, there are exceptions, but there are circumstances where family member will be bothered on behalf of another individual. It does make it impossible for a man to live honestly, and at the same time comfortably, in outward respect. There is always a contradiction with both, one wants to live honestly and with respect, yet the laws, those unfortunate individuals, lead those with comfortable life to question themselves, and at time feel ashamed of their comfort ability. In this society this will always be true, there will always be those who live comfortable and honest and feel as if they are leaving the rest of the society, but they will try to help the rest. As there will be those who live comfortable and be proud they achieved that status, believing that the rest of the population is able to do the same thing.