[Opinion] Sample – Wealth Gap

Some people believe that the best way to produce a happier society is to ensure that there are only small differences between the richest and the poorest members. to what extent do you agree or disagree?

Disagree – while on paper this is a beneficial viewpoint, yet the gnarly reality is how this is going to be executed and implemented 

Wealth will have to be re-distributed, from the rich, corporations and governmental funding into pockets of the less fortunate. => depriving many of the lifestyle they worked hard for, also destabilizing the economy as well as governments. These organization will collapse without enough funding. 

Alternatives should be established: A better welfare system – including free or heavily subsidized health care, education as well as social support from the government to those who really need it could be more effective in lowering the poverty line while keeping the rest of society intact. Furthermore, another leading cause of unhappiness, especially in developed countries, is the poor work-life balance that many face. Instead of working the regular 9 to 5, many Japanese have to work overtime because of the heavy workload from companies. This trend sadly is increasingly being seen in many Asian countries such as Korea or China, where it is now the norm to spend two thirds of your time working, leading to depression and anxiety. As a result, companies should be prohibited from exploiting their employees, and a fairer wage should be paid so that staff can enjoy time off with their family. 

It is believed that in order to develop a happy society, the wealth gap between the rich and the poor should be bridged. In my opinion, I disagree with the above statement. 

Admittedly, it is understandable why some may feel that eliminating this difference would bring benefits. They generally argue that it might be able to quench the unrest and instability that many governments are facing around the world, especially as we are going through another economic depression after the Covid Pandemic. However, the opposite is true when the gnarly reality of wealth re-distribution takes place. In order to close this gap, money has to be taken from the rich, as well as corporations and governmental funding. This is not only immoral because it is depriving many of the lifestyle they worked hard for, but also detrimental to the stability of companies and governments around the world. 

Instead, I strongly believe that in order to create a more ideal society, alternative approaches should be taken into consideration. The first is that of a better welfare system. While currently successfully implemented in countries such as Finland, free or heavily subsidized health care and education is not universal. With a free education, as well as government housing, Finnish citizens enjoy a less stressful life, positively contributing to the overall happiness of the country. Another approach would be a better work-life balance. In countries such as Korea or Japan, the depression as well as suicide rates are skyrocketting, and this is mainly attributed to the poor work-life balance and the hustle culture passed on by previous generations. While there is nothing wrong with working hard to be better off financially, trading away one’s mental health and physical well-being is a negative aspect that should be addressed. 

In conclusion, while some may think that the best way to ensure happiness in society is through abolishing the existing hierarchy of the rich and the poor, I would argue that other methods are more viable and appropriate in achieving it.