Manifesto by Fritz Jacoby
At Pomfret we are all athletes to some extend. We all participate in a team sport. Are we not as a team only as good as our weakest link? Isn’t a team measured by the balance and over all performance? I believe it is, and I believe this concept applies to society as well.
America is a first world country. It is a, if not the superpower on this planet. America is the eagle that flies freely, the definition of a capitalist democracy. Its higher education is prestigious and respected by any standard. America stands for opportunity, righteousness, and freedom.
We live by these themes, and we praise them. But America also has the attitude of every one for them selves. We have let our society split apart, and we don’t even notice that not far from this beautiful campus, there are people, kids our age, starving on the streets. 98 homeless people between the ages of 14 and 21 were interviewed. Half of those interviewed had been arrested, 25 percent considered suicide, 70 percent moved at least twice in the last year and 8 percent traded sexual favors for a place to sleep. [1]They have nothing. The majority of citizens are considerate below the 2013 poverty line.
“We’re risking a new underclass,” said Timothy Smeeding, director of the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
“Young, less-educated adults, mainly men, can’t support their children and form stable families because they are jobless,” he added. [2]
How is that representative of America? Do we want that to be what represents America?
While the wealth is concentrated in the top 2 percent, and some people blame the poor people for not having jobs. How can you blame someone for not having a job if they haven’t had any of the opportunities that you have? They didn’t go to Prep school, most likely they went to a bad public school. The public high school system only graduates 77%, while countries like Germany, Japan, and GB graduate over 90%. [3] College education is expensive, more then double it was only ten years ago.
Most people do not have the money to set up their children with the opportunity to succeed.
The weakest link is getting weaker; does this not bring down America over all?
In this room we are cultural capital wise the top 2%. Some of us are considerate the upper class, even though we have not worked for it, we are. It’s common for humans not to bother themselves with other people’s problems, but why should we not?
It’s hard to put our selves in the shoes of the other 98%, and think about the divide that has happened in our society. It leaves me uneasy to speak learn and hear about the troubles that are everyday life for a lot of Americans, because I would hate that to be my life. I hope it leaves you with a cold shiver as well.
If it does, then think about how the American system is encouraging this split.
Coming from Germany, a country where there is a bottom line I can see the benefits. Even though it costs more for the upper class, it stops you from walking down the street and seeing someone lay in a cardboard bed at negative 15 degrees. It strengthens the base of which capitalism can blossom.
I believe that there is a right political system, for different situations. In our current state, we need to build a stronger base. We need to strengthen the weak link to benefit all of us.
I challenge you to question the sole efficiency of a capitalist system to all of American society?
Think back to FDR’s new deal. Think about the situation and the way he utilized parts of the socialist system to be able to really benefit from capitalism.
Think outside the hammered down ideal capitalist system, socialism should be the base that we can take of off.
I would hate to see no change. I would lose my hope that we can build that base for the eagle of capitalism to land and take of off.
I believe that I’m not the only one who is dissatisfied with the situation today.
Even if I don’t suffer from this issue, think about this from the other side. What if you had no place to sleep, would you think different about my idea?
If our weakest link is strong and stable, we can progress as a society and as human beings. Stand up for those who are not as fortunate now.
Thank you.
[1] http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Young-and-homeless-for-Christmas-5059802.php
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/us/14census.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&
[3] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/education-olympics-how-do_n_1707968.html