Progress and Poverty by Henry George - Book Report/Review Example

 Progress and Poverty by Henry George In this book, Henry George attempts to trace and explain the reasons behind the increased rate of poverty among Americans during his era, the 1800’s. He had observed the wide gap between the few wealthy Americans, who could afford to live in abundance, and the poor ones, who struggled to survive. He therefore, offers solutions, which he thinks might help change this situation in America. He identifies the central cause of this problem, which is important in the course of rectification of the situation.

Henry George blames the evils in society as a cause of poverty. These evils, he thought would eventually stop progress in society, and lead us back to barbarism. Injustice was the main cause of poverty in society, according to Henry George. The solution he offers is for the society to do away with injustice and unequal distribution of wealth. This was a reform, which he considered was socially, economically, and politically inclusive (1). Injustices in society resulted in denial of rights of people, including land rights.

This is a case of lack of liberty, and lack of justice, which he regarded as the natural law. Denting people their land rights results in a curse on the material gains, according to Henry James (2). The material gains acquired in unjust ways result in more evils in society, as these have no blessings. This, he considered disrespectful to the creator of humans. James blames industrialization for poverty in society, as only the few wealthy factory owners got rich, while exploiting the labourers.

He also noted that advanced technology and knowledge have all served the wealthy few in society. All these, he believed were the creator’s resources, which the few powerful individuals in society have misappropriated and equated them with impunity. However, he believed that, if human beings practice justice, respect liberty, then the dangers poverty pose to society will diminish, as justice and liberty are enemies of poverty. This article is significant today, as the same situation of widening gap between the haves and have-nots persists even today.

Therefore, people can learn from George’s opinions how we can achieve a just nation and a just world.Question 1 Political rights only are ineffective in ensuring equality of all people in both the economic and social context. The lower class people in an economy are the most disadvantaged. Wealth leads to good standards of living. On the other hand, wealthy is directly proportional to power. The more powerful a person is, the wealthier they become. The lower class people are poor therefore, have less wealth or none at all.

The lack of considerable wealth enhances their helplessness. Even though these are entitled to political rights, these rights are not capable of making them powerful to the extent of influencing wealth.Question 2 Henry George explains land as an important resource, on which people rely on for survival. Therefore, when some people are denied their land rights, only a few will own land. These will exploit the landless, while the landless will rely on them for food, wages, and general survival. This increases the wealth of landowners, and increases the poverty of those without land.

This is why some people are wealthy, while others are poor in society today.Question 3 Wealth is not a measure of success. However, this depends on the means through which this wealth was acquired. George thought that most wealthy people acquired wealth through unfair means, and at the expense of the poor. Their wealth therefore, does not qualify as success. On the other hand, Carnegie believed that the wealthy people were obliged to return their wealth back to society, from where they made it.

These two share the sentiment that wealth can only be used as a measure of success if it was acquired through just means, and if it influences the society positively.