LAD #17

Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth:
Being at one point the worlds richest man, Andrew Carnegie understood the importance of finance and administering to your wealth. In the beginning of this piece he starts by noting that one of the problems of this time period is how wealth is looked upon and used in our society. He questions why it is possible for only a few select members of society to feel the rewards of these riches. However Carnegie understands the drive and competitive nature that creates this idea. This process he laments is actually just a part of life; what can be changed in reality is how wealth is used. Carnegie then notes the three manners in which wealth can be disposed; these three being: leaving it for inheritance, spending during your lifetime, and lastly delivering it to the public for its uses. In Carnegie's opinion, the first creates a type of aristocratic society, which is not the most benificial society. Instead one should leave enough wealth for the family to get by, but not to be spoiled, so they too can achieve their wealth in a substantial way. The second spoils the wealthy and forces a materialistic life without any real meaning on those who achieve this level of wealth. Lastly the method he emphasizes as the most effective way to dispose wealth would be to give to the community. This way one is using your own profits to benifits those around you and through this means and this means only, is an entire community benifited by the wealth that is accumulated by one person.