During the Progressive Era, multiple transformational movements took root (1890's to 1920's).
Out of all the issues that muckrakers focused on during this time period, I feel that farming monopolies, environmental protection, and women's rights the most pressing issues today. Although, these "monopolies" started early in these transformational movements, time has not done much to solve these issues. With companies such as Monsanto, their power easily destroys any other businesses that try to make a mark. Large farming companies make huge amounts of money, but fail to pay their workers a decent wage or to include any reasonable health benefits. With money comes power, and with power comes greed. Needless to say, farming is an incredibly large part of any economy, but it is in the U.S. that a particularly huge gap between worker and owner lay. These issues are very important as they continue to make the lives of laborers harder, and the economy more uneven.
Out of all the issues that muckrakers focused on during this time period, I feel that farming monopolies, environmental protection, and women's rights the most pressing issues today. Although, these "monopolies" started early in these transformational movements, time has not done much to solve these issues. With companies such as Monsanto, their power easily destroys any other businesses that try to make a mark. Large farming companies make huge amounts of money, but fail to pay their workers a decent wage or to include any reasonable health benefits. With money comes power, and with power comes greed. Needless to say, farming is an incredibly large part of any economy, but it is in the U.S. that a particularly huge gap between worker and owner lay. These issues are very important as they continue to make the lives of laborers harder, and the economy more uneven.
Another important issue which still occurs today includes environmental protection. With a change in production particularity in the 1890's, global emissions soared, and continue to do so today. Although the population now has become increasingly more aware, the health of the earth has dwindled down. Many national parks have been installed, and laws to reduce emissions have been passed, but huge and effective attempts at saving the earth have yet to appear. This issue is especially important since humans and creatures alike on this planet have nowhere else to live as of now. I find that making an effort to protect the planet is the least we can do.
Finally, another major issue that has lasted since transformational movements which took root in the 1890's is women's rights. Today, women still have to bear an incredibly unjust average wage gap of 21% percent to men. This is just one example of how women continue to be unequal to men, regardless of other efforts to change this. In order for these issues to be resolved, women must be seen as equal to men, and that is a change that will hopefully change with time.
