The Violent Capitalist Volunteer
Volunteerism in the United States is not a new concept. America has long recognized the importance of “a societal responsibility to join in, to give freely of one’s time to assist or aid others.” For example, Alexis de Tocqueville, in 1831, stated in his book, Democracy in America, that the U.S. was a “nation of joiners that regularly formed groups to meet or accomplish common goals.”(1)
What do volunteers do? Volunteers provide services to local schools and libraries, parks, senior citizen centers, police, ambulance and firefighting units. Statistically, for example, 80 % of the manpower needs of local fire departments in the U.S. are provided by volunteers.
The benefits of voluntarism are many. One study states that greater than 50 % of management in the public sector believe that volunteers provide substantial cost-savings and productivity gains to organizations. The Independent Sector, a prestigious coalition of philanthropic and charitable organizations, states that volunteering—among many other things—adds value to services, promotes social harmony, and creates public trust.(2)
What do volunteers do? Volunteers provide services to local schools and libraries, parks, senior citizen centers, police, ambulance and firefighting units. Statistically, for example, 80 % of the manpower needs of local fire departments in the U.S. are provided by volunteers.
The benefits of voluntarism are many. One study states that greater than 50 % of management in the public sector believe that volunteers provide substantial cost-savings and productivity gains to organizations. The Independent Sector, a prestigious coalition of philanthropic and charitable organizations, states that volunteering—among many other things—adds value to services, promotes social harmony, and creates public trust.(2)
The Capitalist America
America is a capitalist country. That's what America is known as all over the world. By definition, capitalism is "an economic, political and social system based on private ownership of property, business and industry, and directed towards making the greatest possible profits for successful organizations and people"(3). The question I would like to raise here is "what makes a capitalist people who are supposed to be thinking solely about individual gain and profit to be so highly involved in volunteer work? That's the question that came to my mind the moment Dr. Ameli told us about the vast involvement of American people in volunteer work. He said that 28 % of all Americans did volunteer work in 2007, a figure that showed considerable increase compared to the previous year.
The Violent America
Every day in America, guns claim 84 lives, and wound nearly 200; every year more than 30,000 people die – over 3,000 of them children and teens – and over 70,000 are injured. Firearm homicide is the leading cause of death for black men ages 15-34, and is the leading cause of death for all African-Americans 15-24. Homicide represents the second-leading cause of death for Hispanics between the ages of 15 and 24, 76% of which are firearm related.(4) Estimates of direct medical costs for firearm injuries range from $2.3 billion4 to $4 billion,(5) with additional annual indirect costs estimated at $19 billion.(6)
America is the sole high-income, industrialized country that has not responsibly addressed the problem of gun violence. The firearms death rate in the U.S. is eight times higher than in other high-income countries(7) and the rate among children under 15-years-old is nearly twelve times higher in the U.S. than in 25 other industrialized countries combined.(8)
America is the sole high-income, industrialized country that has not responsibly addressed the problem of gun violence. The firearms death rate in the U.S. is eight times higher than in other high-income countries(7) and the rate among children under 15-years-old is nearly twelve times higher in the U.S. than in 25 other industrialized countries combined.(8)
The Controversy
How is it that a capitalist country with such a high rate of violence also has the highest rate of volunteering? Is it not true that violent people are usually considered to be selfish and isolated, who don’t care about the other people? Isn’t the same said about capitalists? Does volunteerism have something to do with organization in a given society? Is volunteer work the product of an organized society and if so why isn’t the rate of volunteering in Europe as high as that of America, if we consider European societies as organized as America? Is volunteer work a product of a kind society? If so, why don’t we see as much involvement in volunteerism in Eastern societies including Iran? These are the questions that I would welcome any one who can help me find the answers to.
1. Tocqueville, A. (1945). Democracy in America. Edited by Phillips Bradley. Vol. 1. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopt, p. 198.
2. Independent Sector. Retrieved January 7, 2004 from http://www.independentsector.org/programs/research/gv01main.html
3. Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
4.Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (2005, most recent year available), available at: www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars.
5. American Academy of Pediatrics, Firearm-Related Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population, 105 PEDIATRICS 888 (2000).
6. Kizer KW et al., Hospitalization charges, costs, and income for firearm-related injuries at a university trauma center, 273 J. AM. MEDICAL ASS’N 1768 (June 14, 1995).
7. Ginsburg, JA et al., American College of Physicians, Firearm Injury Prevention, 128 ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 237 (1998).
8. Krug EG et al., Firearm-related deaths in the United States and 35 other high and upper-middle-income countries, 27 INT’L J. EPIDEMIOLOGY 214 (1998).
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rates of homicide, suicide and firearm-related death among children - 26 industrialized countries, 46 MORBIDITY MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 101 (Feb. 7, 1997).
2. Independent Sector. Retrieved January 7, 2004 from http://www.independentsector.org/programs/research/gv01main.html
3. Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
4.Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (2005, most recent year available), available at: www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars.
5. American Academy of Pediatrics, Firearm-Related Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population, 105 PEDIATRICS 888 (2000).
6. Kizer KW et al., Hospitalization charges, costs, and income for firearm-related injuries at a university trauma center, 273 J. AM. MEDICAL ASS’N 1768 (June 14, 1995).
7. Ginsburg, JA et al., American College of Physicians, Firearm Injury Prevention, 128 ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 237 (1998).
8. Krug EG et al., Firearm-related deaths in the United States and 35 other high and upper-middle-income countries, 27 INT’L J. EPIDEMIOLOGY 214 (1998).
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rates of homicide, suicide and firearm-related death among children - 26 industrialized countries, 46 MORBIDITY MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 101 (Feb. 7, 1997).
I guess the reason might be that Americans are less busy with their lives in the sense we seem to be.I mean they have less things to worry about in their personal lives,and this comes from capitalism and the welfare it brings in essence. Why shouldn't they help others if they don't have personal problems!
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