Captain Of Industry Analysis

he Guilded Age produced some of the richest men in American History, and although many used similar tactics to reach that wealth some had very different views about it. Their outlook on wealth, tactics used, and damage caused in the pursuit of that wealth is really what causes some of these Captains of Industry to also be labeled as Robber Barrons. Their influence and legacy is still relevant today, and it continues to impact our daily lives in ways we may not be aware of.

The line between Captain of Industry and Robber Barron is very thin, and due to the similar tactics used none of the Titans of Business from this time are completely clean. But some were arguably better than others. One of the earliest of these was Jason Gould, who bought …show more content…
While he agreed with the notion that talent and superior wisdom was required to gain such wealth, what one did with it was a far greater indication of how enlightened or elevated a human being you were. To begin with, he felt living modestly and without extravagant displays of wealth was the ideal, and once the needs of the family and educating the sons was covered all other wealth was to be considered excess. (Carnegie) In his view, it was a duty for such excess to be looked at as more of a trust fund that he must tend to, and see it is used to have the greatest impact on the community and society itself. In his words, “The man of wealth thus becoming the mere agent and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer, doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves.” Following this philosophy, Carnegie became one of the greatest philanthropists in history. His contributions to the arts, sciences, education and world peace include Carnegie Hall, Carnegie- Mellon University, the Hague Palace of Peace, more than 2000 public libraries, and dozens of endowments, foundations, trusts, relief funds, and institutions that to this day assist with scientific research, colleges and schools, teachers, injured steelworkers, …show more content…
Many of the ways of doing business have continued, and have become the accepted and expected way of doing business. Although faceless corporations have now taken the place of individuals, they continue to use many of the underhanded tactics of that time. The trend to monopolize critic goods and services is seen in every major utility across the country. When the Government stepped in and broke up the telephone monopoly, businesses reacted by shifting more to the old railroad tactic of gentleman agreements to carve out territories and not cross over to directly compete with each other. Where this tactic failed with the railroads, it continues to succeed to this day. During recent testimony before the US Senate on the Time-Warner/Comcast merger, representatives openly referenced the agreement between the two to not cross territories and compete. (Cohen) Though outwardly a free market, there are no choices for power company, cable provider, or internet in most areas, and powerful lobbyist in state and federal government spend millions each year to ensure that continues. Like the robber barons, today's corporations use their money and influence to change and write laws that are beneficial to them and prevent regulations from being passed that could stop them. This includes lobbyists at state & local levels getting laws passed banning cities and

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