Gwyneth Co POSITION PAPER 30-1

The source presented considers that individuals are all naturally unique and unequal.

With this statement alone, it can be concluded that the author of this quote supports inequality

within a society. The source also expresses that if the state made any effort to intervene with the

lives of individuals, this intervention will result in an ineffective or unsuccessful society. With

the belief of inequality presented in the source, this is related to the ideology of a highly

influential economic philosopher named Adam Smith. Adam Smith believed in a laissez-faire

economy, in other words, very little government intervention in a society. Smith had a very

strong belief that if individuals pursued their own desires and rights economically and politically,

society would be at its best. The belief of a limited or no government intervention can be

presented in the source due to the fact that the author is stating the inevitability of inefficiency in

a state involved environment. Back to the first statement of the source, the concept behind

individuals being unequal can be related back to Darwins theory; the survival of the fittest. This

theory can be seen as being practiced in a capitalist society where every man is for themselves.

The more fit an individual is economically, politically, and socially, the higher you will rank in

society. Both Adam Smith and Darwin see the environment individuals live in as a competition.

They see individuals as having unique abilities to survive in a society. With government

intervention, the natural flow of society will be disrupted. However, if an individual is not very

successful in a competing with others, that individual would most likely be lucked out.

Furthermore, the source overall states that individuals are meant to exercise their own rights and

freedoms; even if it creates inequality within the society. Ideologies such as classical liberalism

can be seen in the source given due to the fact that the source believes a society being futile due

to government intervention. The source also demonstrates the belief of a society only being futile
Gwyneth Co POSITION PAPER 30-1

and inefficient if some form of government intervention is seen. This ideological perspective

reflected in the source should be embraced to a certain extent. Events such as The Great

Depression, The New Deal Programs, and the exploitation of others prove that giving individuals

too much freedom may lead to them abusing their right. The ideological perspective in the source

should only be seen and expressed to a certain extent.

An example as to why the source above should be embraced to a certain extent is the

Great Depression. Adam Smith and the author of the source both distinctively agree with very

little to no government intervention within a society. However, the viability of this ideology is

questioned through events such as The Great Depression. The Great Depression worsened due to

a lack of government activity in the society and the lack of control that was needed during that

time. Just after the French Revolution occurred, the practices of classical liberalism was very

popular. Classical liberalism is the belief that individuals should have the right to practice their

own rights and freedom within a society with a minimum of government involvement.

Individuals were seen as putting their own desires above anybody else. Individuals were

involved in the community economically, politically, and socially. Every single citizen had their

own voice and their own rights and they were not afraid to go above and beyond to get what they

want. The economy prospered, businesses and factories boomed and there was a small

percentage of unemployment in society. Everybody was working and everybody had someone to

work for. However, with this freedom presented some consequences. There was a huge wage gap

between the rich and the poor. If an individual was poor and unable to keep up with the fast

changes of society, they were often left behind to clean up their own mess. Citizens also abused

their economic freedom by not taking precautions on the items that they purchase. Evidently, the

stock market crashed and people suffered from a long period of economic depression. Economic
Gwyneth Co POSITION PAPER 30-1

inequality, high rates of unemployment, starvation, and the failings of no government

intervention was put into question. To a certain extent, an individual having their own freedom

can end up in them abusing this freedom. Inequality in the society does more damage than good

in the long run. No government intervention may also lead to an overall failure of a society. The

source given states that with government intervention, the lives of individuals can and will result

in an unsuccessful society. Nonetheless, in cases such as The Great Depression, a lack of

government hindrance is not in the best interests of society. In fact, government intervention was

the only thing that got them out of the economic depression in the first place.

The New Deal Programs that occurred during the peak of The Great Depression is an

example as to why the ideological perspective presented in the source above should only be

accepted to a certain extent. The NDPs are prime examples as to why government intervention

is often needed during extreme cases. After a long period of economic depression, the citizens of

the US wanted a new form of government that could help them get out of the depression. With

high unemployment rates and poverty everywhere, the ideology of classical liberalism did not

seem viable after a while. When the people elected Roosevelt as their new president, his initial

goal was to get people working. Through this, the flow of the economy would eventually

commence. In order for this to occur, a little government spending needed to occur. Thus,

Roosevelt spent some government money to provide for government projects. These projects

then turned into businesses and factories, then people would soon be employed. With

employment occurring, people could then spend their money and get the flow of money back

into the economy. An example of one of his NDPs was the Home Owners Loan Corporation

which initially helped people who have lost their homes by loaning them some money. This

activity of direct government intervention was criticized by some, but eventually, helped the
Gwyneth Co POSITION PAPER 30-1

economy to rise from their depression. Roosevelts actions contrasted with the capitalist point of

views, however, if it wasnt for what he did, the economy during that time wouldnt have

improved. The source above rejects the idea of government intervention due to its results of an

inefficient society. Yet, government intervention has made the society during that time become

more effective than it was. With a bit of a push from the government, the economy can prosper.

Though having the right to express your own desires and freedom in a society may be

accountable in some cases; individuals also have the right to strip away another persons

freedom. Another example as to why this source should only be embraced to a certain extent is

through the abuse of bourgeois amongst the proletariats. With classical liberalism emerging

through the society, so did the idea of private property and owning property. Bourgeois were

businessmen that owned factories and ran businesses. In order for these factories and businesses

to run freely, they needed someone to work under them. The people that they chose to work for

them were citizens who were financially unstable and needed to get their money elsewhere.

Businessmen chose the lower class to take advantage of since these people were desperate

enough to get some form of money; even if it means working under harsh conditions. Business

workers then found a way to keep their profit, but also trick the people to continue to work for

them. The bourgeois then decided to pay their workers less than what they would truly make. For

example, if a proletariat was making a hundred dollar worth of accessory, their boss would only

pay them with half, or maybe less than half, of what they should earn. During the time where

private industries were popular and a limited amount of government intervention occurred,

business workers committed multiple frauds just to earn more profit. This included abusing their

workers. Also, around this time, the income and wage gap between the poor and the rich was

crystal clear. Basically, if you were really rich, you were rich. But if you were very poor, you
Gwyneth Co POSITION PAPER 30-1

were very poor. The source above claims that individuals should naturally be unequal and

government intervention would disrupt this equilibrium. However, inequality just gives other the

permission to cheat their way into economics; such as the business workers during this time.

Social inequality also just gives people the right to exploit the poor. Which is why the source

above should only be embraced to a certain extent.

To conclude it all, The Great Depression, The New Deal Programs, and the exploitation

of business workers amongst their proletariats, inequality and a capitalist society may not be the

best fit for everybody. The Great Depression emphasizes on how too much individual freedom

can lead to individuals abusing their privilege. This event also signifies that individuals may be

naturally unequal, but inequality within a society can lead to a societys inevitability to fail. With

classical liberalism, individuals have the right and freedom to do what they want; but, this may

also include the idea of abusing others for the benefit of you. The New Deal Programs are

examples as to why a society that capitalist views have failed, will need some government help

in the long run. Government intervention is needed in order for an economy to prosper. Though

not all governments truly see what their citizens need, individuals may also be clouded by their

own beliefs and desires.