John C. Bogle Study Questions: Read Both The One-Page Articl

John C Bogle Study Questionsnote Read Both The One Page Article By Mi

Read both the one page article by Michael Smerconish about Bogle and the Bogle commencement address entitled “Enough.”

1. What is the name and type business of the company that Bogle founded?

2. What did Bogle think about the Wall Street Banking and investment industries?

3. What stages did Bogle say that the nation’s economy had passed through over the past two centuries? According to Bogle, what is the current stage and does it add to or subtract from the value created by our productive businesses?

4. How much money did Bogle say was being drained out of the productive US economy by these industries in: 2007 ____________ and then in 2008____________?

5. What did Bogle say is the likely percentage of S&P annual profits generated by the finance sector? How does that compare to the energy, health care, manufacturing, and information technology sectors?

6. Does Bogle suggest that the US economy is healthy and making things that the world will buy or simply trading pieces of paper, swapping stocks and bonds back and forth?

7. Does Bogle seem to agree with Keynes that the financial markets are like a casino? What does the word, “croupier†mean?

8. Analyze Emily Dickinson’s poem “After great pain, a formal feeling comes” (line 372). What is the poem describing about emotional or physical pain and recovery?

9. Examine Dickinson’s poem “Much Madness is divinest Sense” (line 620). How does this poem challenge societal norms and perceptions of madness and sanity?

10. Discuss the themes of Dickinson’s poem “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain” (line 340). How does it portray mental disturbance and the experience of overwhelming emotion?

11. What insights do Dickinson’s poems “We grow accustomed to the dark” and “I Died for Beauty but Was Scarce” offer about human resilience and death?

12. Analyze the poem “I heard a Fly buzz - when I died” (line 591). What does this poem suggest about the moment of death and the mundane versus the profound?

13. Explore Dickinson’s portrayal of spirituality and daily life in “Some keep the Sabbath going to Church” (line 236) and “The brain is wider than the sky.” How do these poems reflect her views on religion, imagination, and the mind?

14. Summarize Langston Hughes’ poem “Dream Deferred.” What are the implications of delaying or giving up on dreams?

15. Discuss the significance of Hughes’ poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” How does it evoke African heritage and resilience?

16. What message does Hughes’ poem “Mother To Son” convey about perseverance in the face of hardship?

17. Examine Hughes’ poem “I, Too” as a statement of racial equality and pride. How does it challenge discrimination?

18. How does Hughes’ “My People” celebrate the beauty and strength of his community?

19. In “Theme for English B,” the narrator reflects on identity and connection with his instructor and community. How does Hughes explore race and individuality in this poem?

20. Reflect on the overall message of John C. Bogle’s address “Enough” regarding the role of values, ethics, and purpose in business and life. How can this perspective influence your future career decisions?

Paper For Above instruction

John C. Bogle’s insights into the financial industry and its impact on the overall economy are profound and serve as an important reflection for future business leaders. His critique of the financial sector underscores a crucial distinction between productive enterprise and speculative trading that often detracts from genuine economic growth. Bogle founded The Vanguard Group, an investment management firm renowned for pioneering low-cost index funds. These funds democratized investing by reducing costs and allowing ordinary investors to participate in the market’s gains fairly. Bogle’s stance on Wall Street was deeply critical; he believed that the industry had shifted from facilitating real business growth to primarily enriching itself through fees, excessive trading, and complex derivatives, often at the expense of the productive economy. His commentary warns that the financial economy, which has migrated from agriculture and manufacturing to a service, and now predominantly a financial economy, often subtracts value from the real economy.

According to Bogle, the US economy has passed through several stages: from an agricultural base to manufacturing, then to a service economy, and latterly to a focus on financial markets. Currently, he suggests we are in the midst of a financialized economy where trading pieces of paper—stocks, bonds, derivatives—becomes an end in itself, undermining the value creation of productive businesses. Bogle quantifies the drain of resources, citing that in 2007, approximately $500 billion was being extracted from the economy by financial activities, and this increased in 2008. A large portion of S&P profits—around 27%—are generated by the financial sector, surpassing energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology sectors combined. This concentration reveals that a significant share of corporate earnings now derives from financial enterprises rather than tangible goods and services.

Bogle questions whether the US economy is healthy, asserting that it appears to be more engaged in trading financial instruments than producing goods that meet genuine demand worldwide. His poetic critique aligns with Keynesian skepticism; he likens the financial markets to a casino, with the word “croupier” referring to the dealer or operator of a gambling table. This metaphor reflects how markets often resemble gambling—focused on speculation rather than investment in productive enterprise. The role of the “croupier” becomes a symbol of the financial industry’s focus on profit rather than societal value.

Emily Dickinson’s poetry complements the themes of pain, madness, resilience, and existential reflection. Her poem “After great pain, a formal feeling comes” describes the numbness and emotional detachment that follow intense suffering. The imagery of nerves, hearts, and feet as mechanical and ceremonial underscores a state of emotional paralysis. Similarly, “Much Madness is divinest Sense” challenges societal perceptions, suggesting that societal norms often label as madness what may be true wisdom. The poem encourages individual discernment and questions conventional standards of sanity.

Her poem “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain” vividly captures the chaos of mental breakdown—a procession of mourners, a sense of structural collapse within the mind. Dickinson explores inner suffering and the breakdown of reason with striking imagery. In “We grow accustomed to the dark,” Dickinson portrays human resilience—learning to adapt to unseen or difficult circumstances, whether literal darkness or metaphorical mental darkness. Her poems reveal that humans possess an incredible capacity to endure and adapt, although often at a cost.

Her poem “I Died for Beauty but Was Scarce” contrasts the pursuit of truth and beauty with mortality, indicating that these pursuits are fleeting in the face of death. The mundane imagery of a fly buzzing during her death emphasizes the transient nature of life and the often-unnoticed moments of significance. Dickinson’s poetry frequently emphasizes the profound in the mundane, the spiritual in everyday life, and the resilience of the human spirit amidst suffering and mortality.

Langston Hughes’ poems further explore themes of deferred dreams, resilience, racial identity, and cultural pride. In “Dream Deferred,” Hughes asks what happens when aspirations are delayed or suppressed. The vivid images of drying up, rotting, crusting, or exploding depict the destructive potential of unfulfilled dreams. This poem powerfully implores readers to pursue their aspirations without delay. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” evokes African heritage, resilience, and deep-rooted strength through imagery of ancient rivers, symbolizing the enduring spirit of Black identity.

“Mother To Son” emphasizes perseverance—life is like climbing a staircase with tacks, splinters, and torn-up boards. Despite hardships, the speaker urges her son not to give up, signifying hope and resilience. Hughes’ “I, Too” is a bold declaration of racial equality, challenging discrimination and asserting that Black Americans are integral to America’s identity. Similarly, “My People” celebrates the beauty and strength of African American community and heritage. “Theme for English B” reflects on racial identity and unity, emphasizing that despite differences, people are interconnected within the American fabric.

Overall, Bogle’s “Enough” advocates for a mindful approach to wealth—emphasizing that genuine success is about having enough, not endless accumulation. His philosophical stance urges future business leaders to uphold ethics, serve society, and prioritize the greater good over greed and short-term profits. Dickinson’s poetry profoundly examines human emotion, resilience, and perceptions of mortality and madness, while Hughes’ poetry champions racial pride and perseverance. Both poet’s works remind us of the importance of inner strength, authenticity, and serving a higher purpose, themes that resonate with Bogle’s call for integrity and purpose in business.

References

• Bogle, J. C. (2007). “Enough”: Commencement address at Georgetown University.
• Hughes, L. (1926). The Negro Speaks of Rivers. Nation.
• Hughes, L. (1930). Mother to Son. Poets.org.
• Hughes, L. (1951). I, Too. Poetry Foundation.
• Hughes, L. (1926). Dream Deferred. Poetry Foundation.
• Dickinson, E. (1896). Selected Poems.
• Dickinson, E. (1892). I felt a Funeral, in my Brain. Poetry Foundation.
• Dickinson, E. (1891). We grow accustomed to the dark. Poetry Foundation.
• Dickinson, E. (1890). I Died for Beauty but Was Scarce. Poetry Foundation.
• Dickinson, E. (1891). The brain is wider than the sky. Poetry Foundation.