Today, as in the Gilded Age, we live in a world where a morality of personal responsibility rubs shoulders with a culture of greed and of flagrant social irresponsibility. Now as then, business has shed its collective responsibility for employees - just as government has for its citizens.

Summary

The quote suggests that the present time shares similarities with the Gilded Age, a period in American history known for the stark inequality and corruption of the late 19th century. It implies that both eras feature a moral dichotomy between individual responsibility and a culture driven by greed and lack of social accountability. Similar to the past, businesses in the contemporary world have abandoned their collective responsibility towards employees, while governments have neglected their obligations towards citizens, highlighting a parallel in the erosion of social and ethical values.

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