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Survival of the fittest (502 Lloyd): it is the law of businesses from past to present. Within two very interesting excerpts from Andrew Carnegie's, Wealth and William Demarest Lloyds, Wealth Against Commonwealth, we as the reader get smacked in the face with two very different views. Although both writers have a common ground of money being the main issue, they differ on how it should or should not be administered from the rich to the poor. I believe both writers present us with good points, but the question left unanswered is, where do I position myself between the two? I agree with Carnegie's beliefs on distributing wealth, but I think most businesses fall under Lloyds argument of people not caring about the less fortunate. In the excerpt from Wealth, Carnegie's ideas are that of a kinder solution to aiding the poor.
Do not confuse the word kinder with donations, because he completely disagrees with hand out donations. His beliefs involve In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves. (458 Carnegie) Which in general means he will not give out donations to people who, he believes, are lazy. He in effort to help the less fortunate for example: would build a library where the poor could educate themselves. I very much agree with his way of thinking, because this is the only way to ensure his money is actually helping, not going toward a bottle of whiskey. But I believe Carnegie is being nave in his thinking that most wealthy people will donate their money to the less fortunate. Although it sounds like the right thing to do, I just dont think many businesses in the past or present care about doing the right thing.
On the other hand I believe Wealth Against Commonwealth is a more realistic example of what millionaires do with their money. In this except we read of the harsh reality businesses went through before there were governmental regulations. Lloyd shows us the cruel world that we live in, which we accept without thought. He shows us how businesses as well as wealthy people think. The principles of business -- to get the most and give the least. (504 Lloyd) This is how I believe not only rich people but all people think, whether they admit it or not. The fact of the matter is, rich people do not get rich by donating their money.
Per a factory owner I have the right to do anything to cheapen the labor I want to buy, even to destroying the family life of the people. (507 Lloyd) Although this quote sounds heartless, thats life and this is the way many people think. Basically we see how people do not care about anybody but themselves and the profits they make. This does not just apply to companies in the past; today we are just as competitive and selfish as described in Wealth Against Commonwealth. In the essay, Wealth, Carnegie asks and answers the question What is the proper mode of administering wealth after the laws upon which civilization is founded have thrown it into the hands of the few? (454 Carnegie) He gives us three different ways of administering wealth. The first is left to the families of the descendants (454 Carnegie). Although he disagrees with this act, I think this is what most people do because they do not want to give their money to a stranger.
Again fortifying Lloyds thinking when he describes people being selfish. Keeping money in the family leaves a more satisfying sense then the next two ways of distributing wealth. The second way to leave wealth, which he is strongly against, is leaving wealth at death for public uses. Carnegie says Men who leave vast sums in this way may fairly be thought men who would not have left it at all, The memories of such cannot he held in grateful remembrance, for there is no grace in their gifts. (456 Carnegie) In English he is saying men who leave money after their deaths, should be almost scolded because they probably would have taken it with them it they could. Once again I think he is being nave, in believing it is a responsibility for the wealthy to help the poor. He disagrees with this method of distributing money, but I really do not think he has any right to tell people how to distribute their money.
He should be grateful wealthy people donated money towards charities rather then just leaving it in their families like most people do. The last and only way Carnegie feels as though one should distribute his wealth is towards things such as libraries. I do agree with this but it is just not realistic for people with money to do. I think Carnegie is living in a fairy tale, because this is just not the way people use their money. Although harsh, I think most people rich or poor are not concerned with helping the less fortunate.
I think Lloyd is being realistic when describing big companies monopolistic ways. In Lloyds Wealth Against Commonwealth he describes all people in envy because they did not come up with a moneymaking idea first. This is why I so very much believe in Carnegie's theory of Survival of the fittest. I like the way Carnegie feels wealthy people should help the less fortunate, but I do not think he is being realistic in his arguments. He believes it is a responsibility for wealthy people to distribute their wealth. I feel Lloyd has the right idea of how most people think when he uses the phrase Survival of the fittest to describe business.
He sees the world for how people think and does not try to hide the truth. To position myself between both writers, I agree with Carnegie but believe what Lloyd is writing. Carnegie has good theories but they are not accurate in yesterday or todays world.
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Research essay sample on Comparing The Business Principles Of Carnegie And Lloyd
