Where Ideologies Clash: Galbraith vs. Carnegie
Where Ideologies Clash: Galbraith vs. Carnegie
Wayne Eternicka
Nicolet Area Technical College
Where Ideologies Clash: Galbraith vs. Carnegie
All men are created equal – that is, unless you subscribe to Andrew Carnegies ideas put forth in the 1889 essay “The Gospel of Wealth.” Carnegie (2010) wrote that some people are “unworthy” while others are “the highest type of man, the best and most valuable of all that humanity has yet accomplished” (p. 395). Carnegie’s (2010) belief in social Darwinism and “survival of the fittest” (p. 393) seemed to convince him that because he had achieved wealth, he was the most fit or qualified to determine the best distribution for it. However, Carnegie’s ideas on wealth distribution do not address many societal problems, especially poverty. Poverty was better addressed by John Galbraith (2010), Harvard economics professor and John F. Kennedy advisor, who had differing views on wealth distribution (pp. 405-415). Because Galbraith had a more compassionate view toward all people, he would likely criticize Carnegie’s ideas on distribution of wealth and modify Carnegie’s investments in the public sector. Galbraith’s overall view was also more true to the gospel than Carnegie’s views as expressed in “The Gospel of Wealth.”
Galbraith’s (2010) more compassionate view can be seen by the focus of his essay “The Position of Poverty” which expresses his direct concern over poverty in America, his ideas on distribution of wealth, and his fundamental difference from Carnegie’s outlook (pp. 405-415). Galbraith aimed his attention straight at poverty. “It [poverty] cannot be excused,” and “It is not annoying but it is a disgrace” (Galbraith, 2010, p.415). Galbraith (2010) explains “People are poverty-stricken when their income…falls radically behind…the minimum necessary for decency” (p. 409). And it continues, “The provision of…a basic source of income [to maintain decency] must henceforth be the first and the strategic step in the attack on
Wayne Eternicka
Nicolet Area Technical College
Where Ideologies Clash: Galbraith vs. Carnegie
All men are created equal – that is, unless you subscribe to Andrew Carnegies ideas put forth in the 1889 essay “The Gospel of Wealth.” Carnegie (2010) wrote that some people are “unworthy” while others are “the highest type of man, the best and most valuable of all that humanity has yet accomplished” (p. 395). Carnegie’s (2010) belief in social Darwinism and “survival of the fittest” (p. 393) seemed to convince him that because he had achieved wealth, he was the most fit or qualified to determine the best distribution for it. However, Carnegie’s ideas on wealth distribution do not address many societal problems, especially poverty. Poverty was better addressed by John Galbraith (2010), Harvard economics professor and John F. Kennedy advisor, who had differing views on wealth distribution (pp. 405-415). Because Galbraith had a more compassionate view toward all people, he would likely criticize Carnegie’s ideas on distribution of wealth and modify Carnegie’s investments in the public sector. Galbraith’s overall view was also more true to the gospel than Carnegie’s views as expressed in “The Gospel of Wealth.”
Galbraith’s (2010) more compassionate view can be seen by the focus of his essay “The Position of Poverty” which expresses his direct concern over poverty in America, his ideas on distribution of wealth, and his fundamental difference from Carnegie’s outlook (pp. 405-415). Galbraith aimed his attention straight at poverty. “It [poverty] cannot be excused,” and “It is not annoying but it is a disgrace” (Galbraith, 2010, p.415). Galbraith (2010) explains “People are poverty-stricken when their income…falls radically behind…the minimum necessary for decency” (p. 409). And it continues, “The provision of…a basic source of income [to maintain decency] must henceforth be the first and the strategic step in the attack on
References: Carnegie, A. (2010). The gospel of wealth. In L. A. Jacobus (Ed.), A world of ideas: Essential readings for college writers (pp. 387-402). Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martin’s Galbraith, J. K. (2010). The position of poverty. In L. A. Jacobus (Ed.), A world of ideas: Essential readings for college writers (pp. 405-415). Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martin’s Jacobus, L.A. (2010). A world of ideas: Essential readings for college writers. Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martin’s Machiavelli, N. (2010). The qualities of the prince. In L. A. Jacobus (Ed.), A world of ideas: Essential readings for college writers (pp. 39-52). Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martin’s -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. 1Fact on the number of libraries Carnegie built is from an introduction to his essay by Jacobus. Carnegie ended his project in 1917, two years before his death.