Winona LaDuke
LaDuke supports the creation and passage of a constitutional amendment in which, in
order for a bill to be passed, the effects on the next seven generations of citizens are considered.
She has realized the deterioration of the biological environment and the rise of climate change
and believes that the people have followed a “path to technology” that has created a damaged
society and planet. In the United States, rather than protecting the common good and the
environment, laws and public policy have been negatively impacted by greedy corporation
interests to maximize production and profit. LaDuke sees “the rights to use and enjoy air, water,
and sunlight” as being inalienable and essential to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as
rights defined in the Declaration of Independence. For this reason, she implores the choice of a
“spiritual path” (similar to the lifestyle of the Natives) that will reduce waste, benefit the
environment, and preserve the commons and rights of all, not the rights of corporations and the
“economically privileged.” Society needs to be based on survival and non-wasteful habits rather
than on conquest and waste. This can be done, in her opinion, with the addition of an amendment
that looks to seven generations in the future to make sure their rights as citizens are not impaired.
William Sumner
Sumner can best be described as a Social Darwinist, applying the beliefs of evolution and
natural selection to justify the wealth of the rich and the poverty of the working class. His essay
“What Social Classes Owe to Each Other” shows that the rich and poor owe each other nothing
and neither should have the burden of helping the other. Sumner writes to combat the
humanitarians that believe the rich have a duty to serve the needs of the poor. Rather than be a
champion for the poor, Sumner sees fit for the poor to just die off because they are the weak.
Furthermore, the rich have no obligation to provide or care for the poor in any way because the
poor are poor due to the fact that they have never tried to be successful; therefore, the poor do
not deserve to be the responsibility of the wealthier classes. The poor become “irritated and feel
almost insulted” when they are asked to apply themselves and work to be successful; while they
believe in the pursuit of happiness, they also feel entitled to get it (337). He believes that social
programs should be eliminated to give responsibility back to the poor. Due to social reformers,
the liberty of average Americans, who Sumner refers to as the “Forgotten Man” (338) is lessened
since they are forced to the fund programs that aid the socially and economically weak that
should be forced to fend for themselves and provide their own support. While he believes in
equal chance, unequal results will always be produced; therefore, Sumner advocates letting the
rich live as they are and for the poor to live as they choose.
