The Failure of Democracy in America is Due to Greed and Corruption

The foundation of the United States is freedom of the pursuit of happiness, which means different things to each of us. The "American Dream" of the middle class usually means having a home and a family. Then, there are some who are driven to accumulate wealth, create businesses that serve needs in the community, discover the next revolutionary technology or medicine, develop their talents in the arts or help others through volunteer programs.

Ideally, government subsidies help those who have been victims of circumstance, whether through mental or physical handicaps, illness or emotional trauma. Aside from this small population, a democracy should assure that all working citizens have the opportunity to live the "American Dream" through fair wages and business practices. This is where we fail.

We all must see that we are losing our middle class, as most families cannot afford to own a home and wages are not enough to support a family, even when both parents work. The rise of the single population and one-parent home makes it clear that what is considered a fair wage is really "unfair."

Not all wealthy people are greedy, but, actually, having extreme amounts of money is greedy. Once we have reached a certain number of zeroes in the bank account, there is no need for more. Those who continue to pursue greater wealth are no longer pursuing the "American Dream" or security, they are seeking power. This power creates an unfair advantage over those with less power, rather less money.

For instance, the family that owns a certain discount chain pays their employees an unfair wage, thus passing along the savings to their customers by a few cents on each item. While this family accumulates gross amounts of wealth, their employees live at the poverty level. Better for the community would be for the family to make less profits and pay their employees a higher, fair wage. How much more money do these people need?