Comprehension. What Is a Middle Westerner?

What Is a Middle Westerner?

Do you remember the traits of a Middle Westerner? Match numbers and letters.

Characteristics

a) hardly ever doubting
the Tightness of his/her
actions or words

b) having the skill to do
what is necessary and
working hard to
achieve it

c) valuing everything in
terms of money

d) distrusting foreigners
and outsiders

e) believing strongly in
modern machines and
techniques

f) valuing money and
possessions highly and
spending money in
order to attract attention
and prove one's high
social position

g) concerned with
practical use, i.e. "Does
it work?"

h) easily satisfied by answers that make sense

58 AMERICA IN CLOSE-UP

7. Comprehension

"Just Like the Rest of Us, Only More So"

After reading the text, try to find the missing words first without looking at the list below. Then complete the task by choosing the right phrase from the list.

For many Americans, California is the ultimate expression of l^T It is not just a state but a "& and embodies America's "& For some people it is the place to find or spend "Й" New religions, living arrangements and forms of entertainment can be attributed to California's ■$" Being wealthier, more easily satisfied and more optimistic than the ordinary American, Californians arc ■& Americans. Being more self-indulgent, enjoying more privacy and being more mobile, Californians have developed a greater -fr Californians have always been in the forefront of political "&, because they do not fit into hard and fast ideological categories.

sense of freedom state of mind

quintessential tolerant social climate

fortunes frontier spirit

manifest destiny trend-setting

Discussion

1. Compare the characterizations of Middle
Westerners, New Englanders and
Californians. In order to find out for yourself
whether they are merely stereotypes or if
there is some truth in them, ask Americans
you know to comment on the authors'
descriptions.

2. Show how each of the authors relates
regional traits to national characteristics.

3. Can you trace any definable traits in the
regions of your own country?

4 The U.S. Есотюту

part A Background Information

FREE ENTERPRISE: THEORETICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

U.S. ECONOMIC PROFILE

HIGH LIVING STANDARD

The American economy is described as a free enterprise system, which allows private business the freedom to operate for profit with minimum government interference and regulation. The theoretical foundation of the American economic system was provided by Adam Smith, the eighteenth-century Scottish philos­opher whose economic ideas of "laissez faire" (leave it alone) had a strong influence on the development of capitalism. Smith argued that when indi­viduals, motivated by self-interest, are allowed to pursue profit freely, the result is good for all of society. The more people manufacture and trade, the greater the competition. Competition benefits society by allowing the con­sumer to seek the best product at the lowest price. Thus, market forces, which Smith termed "the invisible hand," control the efficient allocation of goods while each participant in the market is seeking his or her own self-interest.

These ideas were compatible with the high value America's Founding Fathers placed on individual liberty. Freedom from economic control seemed an extension of freedom from control of religion, speech, and the press.

Throughout the nineteenth century, market forces in America operated with a minimum of government intervention. Since the 1930s, American capitalism has undergone substantial change. Although private enterprise still flourishes, government regulation now exists in many areas of business ranging from product safety to labor conditions.

Political conservatives frequently complain of too much government regu­lation. Liberals, on the other hand, are generally more willing to accept government's role in business and the economy.

Americans on both sides of the political spectrum generally support "free" private enterprise, and there is no serious political debate focusing on alternate economic systems.

The country's reliance on private initiative and enterprise has produced impressive growth. The United States today is a leading economic power, with a high standard of living and enormous productivity in industry and agriculture.

The United States is one of the most affluent nations in the world. The average annual income for American families in 1985 was $27,700, and 60 percent of all families and individuals are in the middle-income or high-income ranks. Although the generalization can be made that America is an affluent society, in 1985 about 14 percent of the population (11.4 percent White, 31.3 percent Black, and 29 percent Hispanic) lived below the official poverty level, which was then $10,989 for a family of four.

Smith, Adam (1723-90): author of The Wealth of Nations

60 AMERICA IN CLOSE-UP

WORLD'S LEADING PRODUCER

The U.S. remains the world's leading producer of goods and services, although its margin of superiority is diminishing as other countries become more competitive in the world market.

The U.S.A. - The World's Leading Economic Power Share (%) of World Gross National Product (GNP)

FED. REP. GERMANY

⁸ JAPAN

1960

Industrial and technological production is high. The United States is the world's leading producer of electrical energy, aluminum, copper, sulphur, and paper, and one of the top producers of natural gas and automobiles. No other nation exports as much high technology as the United States.

Technological advancement has accelerated changes in American agriculture. Farming is highly mechanized and commercialized. In productive terms, the achievements of this sector of the economy are extraordinary. U.S. farmers produce enough food for domestic consumption and still supply 15 percent of the world's food needs.

U.S. Agricultural Production as a Proportion of World Production in 1982/83 (in %)

О" Э" 3" (5 О" Э"

Production

Wheat

Corn

Soy Beans Cotton Tobacco Vegetable Fats

Э

Exports

Wheat

Corn

Soy Beans Cotton Tobacco Vegetable Fats

FOREIGN TRADE

DECLINING GROWTH RATES

Besides agricultural products, principal goods in America's export trade are machinery, automotive products, aircraft, and chemicals. The leading U.S. imports are petroleum products, foods and beverages, machinery, and iron and steel products. The United States is the world's largest importer and exporter. Despite its huge domestic production, the U.S. economy depends heavily on foreign imports. Until recently, the United States consistently exported more goods than it imported. However, since 1971, the U.S. has been operating under a trade imbalance, importing more goods than it exports.

While the profile of the modern U.S. economy shows the U.S. to be a formidable economic power, the strength of the U.S. economy in the last 15 to 20 years has waned. Within the past two decades, the U.S. has slipped from a better than 3 percent per year increase in productivity to an annual increase of below 1 percent. Declining growth rates are a major concern.

THE U.S. ECONOMY 61

U.S. Productivity: The Lead Diminishes

Comparison of some branches of industry with Japan

AUTOMOBILES

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