The American Dream, the traditional social ideals of the United States of America, encouraged a variety of immigrants to embark on a journey to our very own nation. People have achieved equality, democracy, and material wealth as a result of their immigration. While the chances of prosperity are high, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney claims that the
growing income gap diminishes to opportunity for social mobility, especially for the poor. Though some may argue he is wrong, Gibney's conclusion of our society holds true today because the wealthy own a significant amount of power in society.
Firstly, the attitude the rich have towards others has remained constant throughout history. At the time of the American Industrial Revolution, captains of industry, such as Rockefeller and Vanderbilt, controlled much of the economy and society as a whole. All they wanted was to grow their business and profit as much as they can. That was their mindset. This resulted in very minimal pay to workers, dangerous working conditions, and a plenitude of protests. And worst of all, the poor continued to remain that way and these industrialists had no intention of helping them. Such an attitude prevents social mobility from taking place, and seeing as this persists even today with current millionaires, the chance of achieving the American Dream is near impossible. Even a psychological study of a monopoly game reveals that the winning (richer) player only cares about staying #1 while not worrying about the situation of his/her opponent. Since the wealthy instinctively act greedy and care about themselves, their attitudes alone have the ability to increase income gap since they tend not to help the poor.
Additionally, the widening income gap is further compounded by the influence the wealthy have in the politics and the economy. During the Gilded Age, the rich, usually corrupt, had their own mischievous ways of staying at the top of the social hierarchy. Through bribes, threats, and just their political power overall, these people literally "controlled" society. Boss Tweed, for instance, was one such man. Between 1868 and 1869 he led the Tweed Reign, a group of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city. This group was responsible for the construction of the NY court house, in one case. The actual construction cost $3 million, but the project cost tax payers $13 million. With that extra $10 million, Tweed was able to continue running Tammany Hall and influence the results of political elections in their favor. This action leaves the poor helpless as the resulting policies of the election will be in favor of the rich and big businesses rather than for funding social welfare.
Indeed, Gibney successfully recognizes that the 1% in America have an excess of power that they prevent social mobility from taking place. Seeing as people venture to the United States for the American Dream, their hopes will be crushing realizing that their wishes will not come true. Due to the personality of the wealthy and the influence they have in politics and the economy, working for the American Dream becomes inaccessible.
Firstly, the attitude the rich have towards others has remained constant throughout history. At the time of the American Industrial Revolution, captains of industry, such as Rockefeller and Vanderbilt, controlled much of the economy and society as a whole. All they wanted was to grow their business and profit as much as they can. That was their mindset. This resulted in very minimal pay to workers, dangerous working conditions, and a plenitude of protests. And worst of all, the poor continued to remain that way and these industrialists had no intention of helping them. Such an attitude prevents social mobility from taking place, and seeing as this persists even today with current millionaires, the chance of achieving the American Dream is near impossible. Even a psychological study of a monopoly game reveals that the winning (richer) player only cares about staying #1 while not worrying about the situation of his/her opponent. Since the wealthy instinctively act greedy and care about themselves, their attitudes alone have the ability to increase income gap since they tend not to help the poor.
Additionally, the widening income gap is further compounded by the influence the wealthy have in the politics and the economy. During the Gilded Age, the rich, usually corrupt, had their own mischievous ways of staying at the top of the social hierarchy. Through bribes, threats, and just their political power overall, these people literally "controlled" society. Boss Tweed, for instance, was one such man. Between 1868 and 1869 he led the Tweed Reign, a group of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city. This group was responsible for the construction of the NY court house, in one case. The actual construction cost $3 million, but the project cost tax payers $13 million. With that extra $10 million, Tweed was able to continue running Tammany Hall and influence the results of political elections in their favor. This action leaves the poor helpless as the resulting policies of the election will be in favor of the rich and big businesses rather than for funding social welfare.
Indeed, Gibney successfully recognizes that the 1% in America have an excess of power that they prevent social mobility from taking place. Seeing as people venture to the United States for the American Dream, their hopes will be crushing realizing that their wishes will not come true. Due to the personality of the wealthy and the influence they have in politics and the economy, working for the American Dream becomes inaccessible.
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