- What is the distinction that Reading 4.3 makes between owners and employees? Give an example of each.
The distinction reading 4. makes owners & employees would be mainly how owners profit off their employees and how the employees rely heavily on their wages. An example of this would be, an owner of a restaurant would only have to pop in & out to occasionally to make sure things are running smoothly, but can really sit back and have their money being made for them while the servers and cooks prepare and serve to sell the food. Whereas the server, would rely on their service to people, and generally the morals of their customers to leave a good tip, in order to continue living off wages.
- How do you understand the quote by Adam Smith on pg. 28? What is it saying about labor?
The quote by Adam Smith is translating to me as him measuring the value and success of a business by how their employees are ran rather than the profit being made. Smith is saying that the labor aspect of a business is very important.
- What are your thoughts on the main argument of Reading 4.4 that class is NOT an identity?
My thoughts on class NOT being an identity would be that I agree. Your financial state should not define you as an individual person with your own personality or thoughts. It is just a system used to keep people separate and deem the high incomers more power.
- How do you understand the argument Reading 4.4. makes when stating that “class structures are built around a close form of dependency”? What is this close form of dependency, and can you think of an example?
The argument “class structures are built around a close form of dependency” means to me that it is a system based on everybody needing one another to keep a successful business. For example, an owner of a restaurant needs chefs and waiters, as it is impossible to cook and serve customers otherwise. But, the waiters and chefs also need people like restaurant owners, because they need a job of their own. Most business rely on another variable in order to keep it running smoothly.
