Honesty
The Cost of Persuing a Dream...
"Greed is Good" and "Junk Mortgages Under the Microscope"
Greed is good and Junk Mortgages Under the Microscope both emphasize how companies have let their desire for money and success get in the way of their honesty. They are willing to cheat others for their own benefit. In his speech Greed is Good, Gordon Gekko asserts, "Greed, in all of its forms--greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge-- has marked the upward surge of mankind" (Gekko). He conveys this to point out that Greed and cheating for personal benefit has almost become a way of life in the business world. In the end, they feel as if dishonesty pays off. Also, in "Junk Mortgages Under the Microscope" by Allan Sloan, when the American Dream became the main goal of Goldman Sachs all honesty was lost. Goldman Sachs was being Greedy because they were cheating people into purchasing houses they couldn't afford so that they could receive more money. Sloan states, "not everyone will be able to pay back the banks for high-dollar loans" (Sloan). This is proof that they cheated their way to the top through power and the money they received from cheating. In both of these cases people were willing to sacrifice their morals (in this case honesty) to chase after their dreams and be successful.
"The Great Gatsby", "Inside Jobs" and "Harvard Cheating Scandal"
In the book The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald the character Daisy was one of the most dishonest of all. Daisy truly loved Gatsby but wouldn't be with him because she was greedy and wanted a perfectly flawless life full of fortune. Fitzgerald depicts "She vanished into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby- nothing" (Fitzgerald 149). Daisy was dishonest to everyone by staying with Tom because she still loved Gatsby. She only stayed with Tom out of greed and self benefit. In the documentary "Inside job" companies such as AIG and Goldman Sachs both had dreams of fortune and were willing to do anything to achieve this dream. These companies were scamming people to benefit themselves and make more money. lastly, in the article "Harvard Cheating Scandal: How to Respond to Academic Dishonesty on the Rise", Ericka and Nicholas Christakis report on how cheating has not only become a problem at Harvard, but all across the globe. Christakis claims, "Nowadays, we seem to live in a culture of lies" (Christakis). Over 100 student cheated on a final exam at Harvard University because they wanted to be successful. They wanted their all of their dreams and goals to be possible in the future so they resorted to put their honesty aside to be successful. It is because people always want what's best for themselves that they are willing to go to any extent and risk whatever they can to get it.
Works Cited
- Christakis, Erika. "Harvard Cheating Scandal." Ideas Harvard Cheating Scandal Is Academic Dishonesty on the Rise Comments. N.p., 4 Sept. 2012. Web. 07 Jan. 2014.
-Ferguson, Charles. "Inside Job - Movie Website for the Documentary Film." Sony Pictures Classic. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2014.
-Gekko, Gordon. "American Rhetoric: Movie Speech: Wall Street - Gordon Gekko Addresses Teldar Shareholders - Greed Is Good." American Rhetoric: Movie Speech: Wall Street - Gordon Gekko Addresses Teldar Shareholders - Greed Is Good. N.p., 1987. Web. 06 Jan. 2014.
- Sloan, Allan. "Junk Mortgages under the Microscope." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 16 Oct. 2007. Web. 05 Jan. 2014.
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