John D. Rockefeller's Monopolization Of The Oil Industry

At birth, some people are more prepared than others to go far in life. This is often due to “the economic status of one’s parents, the models of success available while growing up, and the educational opportunities along the way (Reich),” but there are successful people that were not given everything they needed to succeed. They had to earn success by competing. Though many have achieved success through competition, others still do not like competition’s role in society. In the past few decades, some people have tried to eliminate competition in society, but competition should be encouraged because it creates a society of people striving for success and has led to progress in both efficiency and productivity.
In American society, competitiveness
Survival of the fittest is an example of competition, and there are those that disagree with “Survival of the Fittest” because it is used to describe a dreadful time in American history and does not take into account how not everyone has equal opportunity in America. John D. Rockefeller was one of these robber barons, and he used “Survival of the Fittest” to justify his monopolization of the oil industry. “Social scientists have long understood that one’s economic status in society is not a function of one’s moral worth. It depends largely on the economic status of one’s parents, the models of success available while growing up, and the educational opportunities along the way” (Reich). Reich and others like him make a great argument against competition, but he does not account for those who achieved success without those things. People such as Oprah Winfrey were born into poor households. Oprah competed for high grades and scholarships in high school that allowed her to thrive in one of the most competitive industries in America-
Some pups are unable to reach adulthood and become dogs because they die a few days after birth. The pups who die are the ones who are not competitive enough to fight for food. The others drink all the milk from the mother, leaving the pup who waits without nutrients. While competition is the natural way for animals, is our ability to cooperate as humans what sets us apart from other organisms? No. Wolves work together in packs to hunt large prey, but even inside the pack, there is competition and a hierarchy. The alpha male is in charge, and gets to eat first. The other males want to be the alpha, and will fight the current one until the strongest is determined. This is the same way a company works for humans: everyone is working for the greater goal of being a successful company, but everyone wants to move up in the company to make more money, just how the wolves want to eat first.
Competition should be encouraged in society because it allows us to progress and become more productive and efficient individuals. While some may disagree with it, competition will not stop. It is involved in every aspect of society and has helped us achieve things that were never thought possible. Competition motivates us and makes us strive for success. “These qualities have led American Society to greater societal achievements in productivity than found in less competitive societies”