Carnegie, the Selfish Philanthropist - 1126 Words

Andrew Carnegie, The Selfish Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, born on November 25, 1835, was a Scottish philanthropist who was one of the richest men in America in the 1900 s. I completely agree with Carnegie s opinion of how the rich should donate their money toward the good of mankind before they die, but disagree with his actions toward his workers . He started working in a cotton mill making $1.20 a week only to upgrade to $2.20 working as a messenger boy. He eventually taught himself telegraphy and worked as Thomas A. Scott s assistant for $35 a month. He moved on to investing, with the help from his â€Å"mentor† Scott, in the Woodruff Sleeping Car Company and several small iron mills and factories. He was so successful that he was†¦show more content†¦This also prevents the family member or the heirs of the inheritance to be spoiled. Carnegie had a great point for doing this. For some strange reason, Carnegie cut the wages of his steel workers while at the same time putting money toward public programs that would benefit mankind. He even stated that he could put more use of that money than the workers ever could, which is ridiculously egotistical and rude. By not giving his workers a fair wage, he was hurting the economy. Our economy is based off of consumers spending their money. In my honest opinion, I think Carnegie is a selfish attention seeking mastermind. He seems very sensitive to what other people think of him. Don t get me wrong, he sounds like a nice, caring, and independent man. His intentions though, are outweighed by the means and basis for his profit: unfair and underpaid labor. The money that he made from his steel factory was ironically against his â€Å"giving† attitude that he was trying to generate. I think that after he realized that he would never have to worry about his financial situation ever again, he focused on becoming a public figure and cared about the public opinion of himself. An example to prove this would be how he reacted to the steel str ikes. While he was visiting Scotland, his next in command (Henry Clay Frick) replaced all of the strikers with immigrants. This action is said to have caused the death of 10 men. Carnegie took theShow MoreRelatedAndrew Carnegie on the Gospel of Wealth1250 Words   |  5 PagesAndrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland in 1835. His father, Will, was a weaver and a follower of Chartism, a popular movement of the British working class that called for the masses to vote and to run for Parliament in order to help improve conditions for workers. The exposure to such political beliefs and his familys poverty made a lasting impression on young Andrew and played a significannot role in his life after his family immigrated to the United States in 1848. Andrew Carnegie amassedRead MoreIndustrial Revolution Essay1000 Words   |  4 PagesNo person will make a great business who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit. (Carnegie) One of the major characteristics that define the success of this Golden age was that of the onset of the multitude of inventions that played a major role in the reformation of agriculture and lifestyle.The transformation of the United States into an industrial nation took place largely after the Civil War and on the Britsih model. Although the Industrial Revolution brought many positive inventionsRead MoreLife, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness1900 Words   |  8 Pagesbetween the wealthy and those facing poverty was ever growing, which makes one question, what should be done, if anything at all? This was a major problem during the time and was the topic of many debates. Figures like William Graham Sumner, Andrew Carnegi e, Henry Demarest Lloyd, and Henry George had all proposed their ideas of the situation at hand. In Sumner’s, What Social Classes Owe to Each Other, 1883, he argues that nothing should be for the poor because the way things are is how they shouldRead MoreEssay on Booker T. Washington2149 Words   |  9 Pagesshould not be selfish and should lead by example. After graduation in 1875, he returned home to Malden to teach school for both black children and adults. It was at this time where Washington was recognized as an eloquent speaker and leader in the black community. In 1878 he left Malden to attend Wayland Seminary in Washington D.C. In 1879 Armstrong asked him to return to Hampton as a teacher. In May of 1881, General Armstrong received a request from a group of philanthropists to suggestRead MoreAn Assessment of the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Nigerian Society: the Examples of Banking and Communication Industries18990 Words   |  76 Pagesmajor community reforms. Andrews Carnegie preached and financed the free public library. Julius Rosenwald fathered the country farm agent system and adopted the infant 4-H CLUBS. Carnegie was already retired from business and one of the world’s richest men. Rosenwald who had recently bought a near bankrupt mail order firm called Sear Roebuck and Company, was only beginning to build both his business and fortune. The two held basically different philosophies. Carnegie believed that the sole purposeRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesis Larry.†39 Because narcissists often want to gain the admiration of others and receive affirmation of their superiority, they tend to â€Å"talk down† to those who threaten them, treating others as if they were inferior. Narcissists also tend to be selfish and exploitive and believe others exist for their benefit.40 Their bosses rate them as less effective at their jobs than others, particularly when it comes to helping people.41 Subsequent research using data compiled over 100 years has shown that