In his essay, Loeb has interviewed a group of financially well off students at Fairfield University, USA. Most of these students see college education as a tool that would enable them to make a lot of money in their professional lives. None of them believe in helping those less fortunate than them, nor do they approve of those who do try to help the underprivileged. One cannot, however, blame them entirely for such an attitude. American culture, more so than any other culture, has given rise to individualism to such an extent that everyone seems to be influenced by it.
             Students that Loeb interviewed had different considerations that led them to believe in an apparently callous ideology. Quite a few believed that their parents had worked very hard to pay college tuitions and thus they were willing to share their future incomes with their parents alone (Loeb 243). Some thought that the underprivileged were just not trying hard enough to make money (Loeb 243). One of them even suggested that education could improve the conditions of the poor but it was not his responsibility (Loeb 243). Most seemed to believe inequalities would continue to exist inevitably but did not think they could, or would want to contribute to the benefit of society.
             Loeb gives some statistics that show an increasing trend in the number of students who consider financial success as a college goal (Loeb 244). Capitalism has indeed contributed to such changes. It has widened income gaps between people to such a degree that the mere fear of being not able to earn enough has led many to ignore the needs of others. People have unconsciously become more and more self-centered.
             In a country like Pakistan, not only are class lines stronger, economic problems such as unemployment are also prevalent. Thus students in elitist institutions here are more aware of the edge they have over other students in terms of future incomes. Those who are not able to get into an ...