Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Common Good

First of all, I would like to say I agree with Newsweek's Robert J. Samuelson when he said "We face a choice between a society where people accept modest sacrifices for a common good or a more contentious society where group selfishly protect their own benefits". The article defined the 'Common Good' as consisting "primarily of having the social systems, institutions, and environments on which we all depend work in a manner that benefits all people."

Unfortunatley, due to peoples' protection of their own benefits, it is hard to have social systems and institutions that benefit all people.  When everyone has the mentality of "only the strong survive" and "survival of the fittest", it leaves people on a very unbalanced playing field.  Today, people are almost adopting a Machiavellian attitude.  

In order to achieve the common good, the cooperative efforts of people is necessary.  However, such a feat seems unattainable in the state of the world today.  The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.    Values have gone out the window and money has taken priority.  Frankly, if one has money, they are keeping it, if one does not, well good luck.  I, personally do not think that a 'Common Good' will ever be completely attainable.


1 comment:

  1. WOW I ALREADY POSTED A WHOLE COMMENT AND MY COMPUTER DECIDED NOT TO POST THEM. THAT IS ANNOYING.
    Basically in my previous post i was explaining how i agree with your position taken on 'common good' because there is not really good reason to take a positive viewpoint on the subject. Just the fact that no one can do anything for anyone else but themselves, (contributing to the Machiavellian attitude), shows that a pessimistic view on 'the common good' is not such a terrible one. With the economy and sky rocketing debt being as ridiculous as it is right now, there is no really for now especially for people to do good for others when they are struggling to stay up to par with their pasts. Don't expect any common good anytime soon because no one is getting any nicer under America's current circumstances. *Survival of the fittest"*

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