Benjamin Franklin once said “If you are talented and work hard, you can achieve financial success.” It is rational to argue that this is not necessarily true. It is also perfectly reasonable to say “Absolutely, work hard and you can achieve the ‘American Dream’!” Our viewpoints on this issue are typically shaped by how we were raised and our personal experiences. The following podcast challenges Benjamin Franklin’s position, claiming that it does not reflect the realities of poverty in the United States today. Listen to the podcast, think critically, and form your own viewpoint.
Follow the link below to listen to the podcast online.
http://www.radiolab.org/story/radiolab-presents-media-busted-americas-poverty-myths/
– What did you find striking/interesting about the podcast?
– Can you relate to the idea of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps?” How so?
– How does the textbook define “negative liberty” and “positive liberty”? Which type of liberty appeals more to you as an individual?
– Did this podcast shift your viewpoint on the myths of poverty in the U.S.? If so, in what ways? If not, which components of the discussion of poverty still ring true for you?