Relationship between the Individual and Society - Essay Example

An interesting topic of debate is whether society comes first or the individual comes first. Three important theories discussing this include the social contract theory, the organic theory, and the group mind theory. The social contract theory holds that “society is an artificial structure to meet up people's demands” (KKHSOU, 2011). The organic theory suggests that society is an organism comprising interdependent individuals. According to the group mind theory, the ideal self of man is realized through society since man is a social animal; “humankind is not simply an existent in the natural world; it is moreover a subjectively social existent, a unity of individual and species, of individual and society” (Defu, n.d.).

I believe that everyone in society should work from a certain age to a certain age. Major changes were made in the welfare legislation in the US in 1996 as a result of which cash payments to millions of poor Americans were eliminated and millions of others were required to support their families and themselves by finding employment (Ehrenreich, 2012, p. 245). This was a popular change in the law that caused a radical shift in the lifestyle of Americans, pushing more people to work and contribute to the development of society.

“[A] good economic system…should fully employ available labor and other resources in turning out useful goods and services” (Sweezy, 1943). The government should seek the public’s opinion through voting to establish the minimum age at which an individual can start working as well as the maximum age at which an individual can work. There should be proper laws and regulations to ensure that these age limits are not violated. The government also assumes the responsibility to provide those that fall out of the stipulated age range with all the necessities and benefits, whether they are children or older adults.

The government bears the ultimate responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient jobs in the economy for everyone. This can be achieved by periodically conducting surveys on a national level to find out the number of people who are capable of working but are jobless. The government should initiate new programs to cater to the employment needs of these jobless people. I believe that it is never the shortage of funds that lead to unemployment in society; rather, it is the mismanagement of funds that causes unemployment. An example of such mismanagement of funds is the fact that “spending for corporate welfare programs outweighs spending for low-income programs by more than three to one: $167 billion to $51.7 billion” (CPS News, 2011). Read More