The value of everyday workers

Upon reading Greg Mankiw’s Defending the One Percent, I was left feeling a bit confused. I totally get his point, some people come up with brilliant ideas, take big risks and build businesses that give jobs to others. It’s fair that they are rewarded for that. But at the same time, the way he talks about it feels too focused on numbers, money and how the system works on paper. But what about the people who work long hours, earn minimum wages and still help keep everything running smoothly? It felt like their efforts did not really matter in his world.

Then I watched the documentary "Glas", and it made me think deeper. Watching the glassblowers put so much care, skill and creativity into every piece, they were not just doing their job, they were pouring their soul into their craft. And then came the machines. Yes, they were fast and efficient but every piece they produced looked the same perfect but empty. It really made me wonder, are we losing something when we only care about profits and speed?

In a way, the documentary helped me see what Mankiw’s essay misses, the value of manual work, human touch and pride in one’s craftwork. These people might not be part of the top 1%, but their contributions are meaningful in ways that cannot be measured by GDP or income stats. They bring emotional and cultural richness that no machine or millionaire can replace.

To conclude, I don’t fully agree with Mankiw. Yes, the top achievers deserve recognition but we shouldn’t forget about the everyday workers who build, run and hold everything together. They may not be in the spotlight but they matter just as much.