Capitalism is taking away the empathy of the American people
By Christina Fazio
Comment Staff
Growing up in a society where one is taught and encouraged to rise above all obstacles in the pursuit of becoming the best of the best, it is hard to think anyone could possibly emerge and still have regard for anyone but themselves.
The capitalist society we currently live in is breeding a nation of individuals who are solely driven toward personal success and make decisions based upon personal benefits.
While there is nothing wrong about being a hard worker, or one who is goal-oriented, there is however a disconcerting statement made when we begin to strive toward individual superiority and abandon the idea of working toward success for society.
We live in a time where the notion of doing what’s best for yourself, even if it is at the cost of your neighbor, has become a creed of the nation.
We are surrounded by people who grumble at the sight of taxes being taken from their paycheck, and hear them constantly complaining about how their tax dollars are being wasted at the benefit of someone else.
I fail to recognize the problem with contributing the excess means we have to aid those who go without.
The people you find gawking at their pay stubs are those who fail to empathize with those who struggle, and refuse to fathom the thought of going without.
Although it may be difficult to imagine, there are successful societies that exist where education at all levels is free for it’s citizens. The members of these countries have placed a greater value on having an educated society over allowing the rich to get richer.
Meanwhile, many people are so quick to jump on the anti-immigration or refugee bandwagon, and go through great lengths to defend their land, jobs and other means of wealth, simply because they cannot empathize with the struggles of today’s world, and refuse to imagine if it were them in their position.
It should be more than mildly troubling to learn that the United States has plenty of food for everyone in the country, yet just a few years ago 49 million Americans reported insecure access to food.
The government is shoveling out funds to fight wars on foreign lands, while we have major social problems beckoning for our attention right in our backyard.
We live in a society where there is a constant struggle imposed by ongoing injustices. In my eyes, it is a crime to deny someone access to education due to their inability to pay.
It is immoral to deprive the people of free health care, knowing there are people out there afraid to seek medical treatment due to it’s unreasonable costs. It is a crime to deprive the homeless of homes, we know very well this country has.
We are living in a nation thriving off subduing the oppressed, and it is within our hands we can decide to participate in the internal competition of striving toward individual success, or revolt toward reform.
Christina Fazio is a Comment opinion writer. Email her at cfazio@student.bridgew.edu.
