1. How does a capitalist remain wealthy?

In a capitalist society, the wealthy are able to maintain and increase their wealth through M-C-M. M signifies obtaining capital/MONEY via investments. C is Commodity which is what the capitalist uses their money to purchase materials and labor in order to produce. M’ is Additional or more money, which are the profits made once products are sold at an increased price compared to the cost of labor and production of the good.

1. Means of Production: It is what efforts or labor put in to produce a good or service. For example, in a factory that produces home appliances there is equipment, tools, etc. Means of Production is what you need to produce a good or service. Labor is the most important factor and it’s what raises the value of a good. An example of Labor are the workers who are in the factory producing the appliances.

2. Value is what the worst is of a good or service. We can determine the value of a good based on its price. For example, we have been conditioned to associate a higher priced item with a higher value. If a pair of shoes has a higher price point then it must be of good value and quality.

3. Labor and value are related based on many things, but one that comes to mind is relationship between the amount of labor hours work by a person and what they are compensated. The value of the good or service is paid for at a higher rate than the rate of the labor of the person who produced the good or service.

4. I think labor is a workers physical efforts to produce a good or service, it’s the manual labor they apply anytime they are producing a good or service. Labor Power, on the other hand, is a workers ability to get the job done in order to produce the good or service. If you work for someone else and their company, you are giving up your labor power in exchange for a pay check. This is someone who has a 9 to 5, they clock in and clock out.

5. Surplus value is the value that is produced by workers over what they are compensated. In a capitalist society the worker is not compensated adequately based on the good or service that is being produced. If workers were compensated adequately then businesses and business owners may not make a profit.

1. A Repressive State Apparatus is how the government is able to control the people. It is done through the threat of violence. Althusser called it “repressive” because it is a form of control in which there are entities in place that force people to “follow” the rules. For example, these entities would be the police, the courts and prisons.  These entities are in place to instill fear upon people to not break the rules and end up in prison where you don’t have the freedom to move and do as you please (as long as it is within the parameters set by the government).

2. An Ideological State Apparatus are in place to prevent the change to the status quo. The Ideological State Apparatus’ are politics, mass media, and schools. The point of the Ideological State Apparatus is so no person doesn’t think about inequality or do anything to change it. An example of this would be electing a president. Essentially, we are choosing to vote for who we believe is the lesser “evil,” but in reality there isn’t too much of a difference.

• Politics: This is in place to maintain status quo by affording the people a choice. The people have a choice of which party they are “more” in line with, but nothing changes based on which party you choose.
• Mass Media: The media essentially puts out the many different brands who offer the same service or product and the people have the choice on which brand they go with. For example: Nike, Adidas, New Balance, ASICS, HOKA, etc. all offer running shoes but you have the option to choose which running shoe brand to purchase.
• Schools: This is the most powerful Ideological State Apparatus because it is mandatory that you attend school as a child. As a child in school, they are taught by a teacher to obey, raise their hand, not to talk out of turn, follow instructions, clean up after yourself, and ultimately how to submit to authority. As children are learning these things, they also learn that there are consequences when you don’t follow these rules. In school, the consequence is detention, suspension or expulsion, or a call/meeting with your parent. All of these things are to prepare a child to grow and fall in line with the rules and regulations once they are an adult. However, the consequence of not following the rules as an adult is a lot harsher and includes paying a large fine, community service or going to jail and it being a permanent thing that is listed on your record. School is the introduction to accept authority.

3. RSA is the government maintaining order in a society by use of threat or force (ex: laws, police, prisons, military. ISA are the systems that spread ideologies that reinforce the status quo.

4. Repressive Status Apparatus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf5vpzMIgyU

1. Describe how you understand ideology in YOUR OWN WORDS.

Ideology to me, is the beliefs and values that ultimately shape and help guide a person or persons on how they understand and navigate society, politics, and life in general. Not everyone will have the exact same ideology and that could be because of the groups we are around and what are exposed to in our life time. I believe that ideologies can make a big enough impact to influence our attitudes, how we behave and how we interpret the world around us. An example of an ideology would be being for or against abortion. Being for or against abortion can be dependent on many things, such as: your families religious beliefs, the town or city you grew up in and what your local officials might have to say about the topic.

2. How do you understand the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics? What seems to be the big difference? the dividing line? Give an example to back up your arguments. Hint: try to identify keywords (concepts) that play a big role in making someone consider themselves to be liberal or conservative. Then, explain in your own words what those keywords (concepts) mean.

• The difference between Conservative and Liberal are their ideologies and what and how the government should work for the people. For example, Conservatives believe that the government should have a more limited role in our society. Conservatives are also more in line with traditional marriages between a man and a women and are not usually supporters or advocates for the LGBTQ+ movement. However, on the other side, Liberals are supportive of government being involved and implementing welfare programs and equal opportunities in the education and healthcare systems. Liberals also support the freedoms for people to be able to choose who they marry (same sex, transgender etc). Liberals seem to be more open to change and ultimately the opportunity for equality across the board.

3. How do you understand Althusser’s definition of ideology? Paraphrase it in your own words. Given an example. Hint: you may have to watch the second video again, and find the few places where Althusser’s position is presented.

• How I understood Althusser’s definition of ideology is that there are a set of values in place to maintain and support the structures of powers that exist. An example that I thought about were laws, law enforcement and our justice system. These are things put in place to ultimately keep society/people “in place.” Having these elements promotes fear upon society to not do anything outside of this “box.” It is there to maintain order and structure.

1. Why do you think Souther racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order”? What special advantages was this choice of words going to give them?

In my opinion, I think the racist Southern politicians used the language “law and order” to give the perception that they would do the right thing for everyone. This was their way to make sense and justify their doings and this language also appealed to the people and brought them comfort.

2. Do you think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics? Give an example supporting your answer.

Yes, I do believe that the Southern Strategy is influencing American politics. An example of that is the difference of how someone of color is described when someone who is black commits a crime or dies as a result of a crime compared to someone who is white. I have noticed that blacks are usually described negatively and any negative involvement they might have had would be brought up versus someone who is white, they are described as “mentally ill” and their descriptions are softened.

1. The main explanation for why many people are getting sent to jail in the U.S today is deeply wrong because the War on Drugs was announced by President Ronald Reagan in 1982, however it wasn’t until a few years later that crack was introduced and rapidly spread throughout poor black neighborhoods in Los Angeles, which would eventually spread across the United States. Reagan’s administration hired staff specifically to “spread” the news and images that negatively depicted the black community as “crack whores,” crack babies,” and more that would later play a role in what led to black and brown people being convicted and sent to jail and much higher rates than their white counterparts who were also doing or selling drugs.

2. Why is it that racial disparities in the rates of incarceration “cannot be explained by rates of drug crimes”? 

Racial disparities in the rates of incarceration can’t be explained by rates of drug crimes because everyone (regardless of race or ethnicity) uses and sells drugs at the rate. Per a statistic noted by M. Alexander in her article, there are actual surveys that show that it is the white youth who are most likely to engage in drug crimes versus people of color. Additionally, people of color who engage in drug activities are more likely to end up in jail for their offense, whereas someone who is white engaging in the same activities would be given a chance and more than likely sent to a rehab facility or to complete classes.

3. How do you understand the phrase: “the American penal system has emerged as a system of social control unparalleled in world history.”?

When I read this phrase I understand it as an explanation of how America’s Justice system is not meant to serve black and brown communities the same as it would serve white communities. It’s a way to control and keep the poor in their place. I think of movies I have seen where someone goes to jail and the lawyer they get appointed is a public defender and usually their immediate reaction is that they don’t think they have a chance of winning against someone who has a paid attorney. So, regardless if the person with the public defender is actually innocent there might be a smaller chance that they will win their case because that same public defender has hundreds of other cases that they have to get through and might not have had the time to review the case and so they settle.