Eugene Debs: Fortunate vs. Wretched
on Tuesday, October 18, 2016Eugene V. Debs Money Quote saying our economic system allows the wealthy to grow richer while hard-working Americans make just enough to survive. Eugene V. Debs said:
“I am opposing a social order in which it is possible for one man who does absolutely nothing that is useful to amass a fortune of hundreds of millions of dollars, while millions of men and women who work all the days of their lives secure barely enough for a wretched existence” — Eugene V. Debs
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In this quote, Eugene V. Debs seems to be strongly criticizing the inequities and unfairness of a capitalist system that allows extreme wealth accumulation without work at the top, while many hard-working people struggle in poverty at the bottom. Some key points:
- He references one man being able to amass a huge fortune of “hundreds of millions of dollars” without “doing absolutely nothing that is useful”. This implies criticism of inheriting or profiting enormously from wealth generated by others.
- In contrast, Debs notes that “millions” who labor constantly only “secure barely enough for a wretched existence”, capturing the precarious livelihoods of many low-wage workers despite their diligent toil.
- The quote conveys Debs’ view that an economic system permitting such vast disparities between those who contribute nothing yet become enormously rich versus those who contribute greatly through work yet still live in hardship is inherently unjust and worthy of opposition.
Overall, Eugene V. Debs appears to be denouncing the inequalities and unfair distribution of wealth under capitalism that rewards idleness at the top while not providing economic security for hardworking people at the bottom through no fault of their own. He advocates for a more equitable system where diligent work translates to a decent standard of living.