oh great America: Capitalism

Jacara Gillard
10/27/08
History

The Bullshit of Capitalism & other “cool” stuff

It is most commonly said that in America we are free. What many of us fail to realize is that we live in a very structured “planned out lifestyle” Which doesn’t exactly prove how “free” we are. One important aspect of this very free nation is the invisible hand. The “invisible hand” is some type of force that pushes us in to doing things that we don’t actually notice. Take schooling for example, most people have been in school since they were 5 and probably won’t be getting out until they are in their 20’s. When we leave college we almost immediately jump straight in to the job market. It isn’t really a choice that we make on our own. life after school is basically planned out and if you don’t follow the status quo of the job market, say “bye bye” to a good life. This ladies and gentlemen is an ongoing example of the great, the powerful and the mighty force we now know as the invisible hand. Moving on, something we are all involved with. A very important aspect of Capitalism is the great nature of buying crap then selling crap. Here in the land of the greedy and the home of the money, we all to well believe in the right to buy sell. Honestly that’s a rich mans game. The rich, as we know it, tend to be on the top. They make the products, sell the products, invest and in turn make all the profit. But I do wonder if they realize that they take the credit from hard working people and that if these hard working and probably poor people chose to stop working, the lovely profit they adore so much may very well begin to crumble. But that won’t happen cause the poor people need money and the rich need money, so this very, very fair way of living most likely wont change. (Sound’s nice doesn’t it?) Now don’t get me wrong, even though this sounds like a really crappy way of the AWOL, its actually how most American’s get by. Yes, I like ipods and yes I’m willing to pay the 150$ for a few scraps of metal and some plastic. But if people didn’t buy products then no one would make products then the people who work in the factories putting these gadgets and gismos together wont have a job and the AWOL as we know it may cease to exist…scary huh? Here in our great county the rich get richer and the poor get poorer by giving their money to the rich, why? They have no choice if they want to survive the lovely aspects of capitalism. Isn’t life so swell?

Short Essay w/ pics

Jacara Gillard
10/7/08
History

When you think about the American Way of Life many things can come to mind, Often politics, race or jobs. My family when asked spoke about how everyone’s perception of the American Way of Life (AWOL) can be different depending on where they are headed or how they see life in general. The core, of AWOL that both my mother and father agree on is money. All of USA and everyone’s AWOL revolves around money, whether its bills, allowance, and car note payment of college tuition. “It’s what separates Americans” a local dog walker mentioned when asked what an important aspect of American life is. When he spoke about he nodded vigorously when I explained that I agree, he continued to say that even though money can be a burden to our country it is needed more than it is supplied. When I asked middle aged woman walked her bike she disagreed with my opinion that money runs the country. She argued that the next generations of children run the country. She explained how the youth of America needs to step up and take action, and that USA needs to look out for its children not its “dough”. This shows that its not a specific AWOL that American’s live but one that differs completely depending on who you are.