nist or socialist system would not work in America The blend of capitalism with some socialist ideals leads to a truly prosperous society. The description of capitalism in The Jungle and “The Gospel of Wealth” are polar opposites. In The Jungle, the horrors of capitalism are exaggerated and its promise is non-existent. For example, Sinclair describes capitalism as a system that is “ relentless, remorseless … and cruel” and if someone tried to get in its way, it would “cut his throat and watch him gasp for life” (Sinclair 41). A character like Andrew Carnegie does not exist. There is not one single character that was impoverished and made it in the capitalist system. However, in “The Gospel of Wealth a person like Jurgis is scoffed at. He implies that anyone can climb out of poverty. He makes it seem like there are no faults with the capitalist system and everything is wrong with the socialist system. With both authors exaggerating their claims, the truth lies somewhere in between. Thus, a society that accentuates both systems strengths and minimizes its failures will be a prosperous one. In modern America, there is the necessary blend of capitalist and socialist ideals that leads to a prosperous society. Our basic economic system is still capitalist, but there are some elements of socialism. It harder businesses blatantly exploit their workers, consumers or competitors in America, because of government regulation. Even though exploitation still exists, it is on a much smaller scale and not as extreme. Exploitation on the same scale as in The Jungle, now mainly exists overseas. Laws now allow collective bargaining, which gives unions and in turn workers power. Another element of socialism in American society is the minimum wage law, as well as overtime laws. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and Welfare are all socialist ideals that have infiltrated our capitalist society. Our unev...
