Describe the primary differences in the role of citizens in government, among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems.

The differences in the role of citizens between government, federal, confederation and unitary systems are citizens among federal, citizens can vote. With the confederation system, citizens relie on their local government such as police to take control. Citizens leave the control to be taken by government within the unitary system.

Briefly explain how you understand the system of division of power.

Understanding the system of division of power that is known our government is broken down into three categories, legislative, executive and judicial. Legislative consists of 100 U.S Senators and 435 House Representatives. As these individuals are represented as the U.S Congress, they are known for making laws, approving federal judges, federal justices, passing the national budget and declaring war. Executive consists of the president and Vice President. Both enforce laws that congress sets along with working with their cabinet to make discussions upon defense, treasure and homeland security. They also appoint government officials, commands arm forces and meet with other nations. Judicial consists of all courts including federal district courts and the U.S supreme. For the Supreme Court, 9 Justices are appointed for life as they settle state disputes, hears court appeals and determines if laws are constitutional. Both courts interpret laws and punishes those who breaks them.

How does the federal government shape the actions of state and local governments? Write your answer based on doing a bit of research on how the federal government has influenced the actions of NY state and local governments, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal government shapes the actions of state and local governments by federal government gives out distribution of grants, incentives and aid. Federal government throughout locals give them the opportunity to solve common problems such as funding and education. They’re main responsibilities are to manage public services such as parks, libraries, schools, police and fire services. 

What concept that we have already discussed does “faction” remind you of?

The concept of social class reminds me very similarity of faction as faction is amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. This is very similar to social classes as they are broken down into social and economic statuses.

According to Federalist #10 (written by James Madison), what is the sourceof wealth (private property)? What factor explains why some people get to possess wealth by owning private property, and others don’t (thus remaining poor)? This is a key question, because it shows how the authors of the Constitution thought about the difference between different classes of Americans! HINT: focus on the passage that begins: “The diversity in the faculties (WHAT DOES FACULTIES mean or refer to?) of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not les….”

The source of wealth (private property) is the facilities being built up. Within the reading, it states “The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government.” The factor that explains why some people get to possess wealth by owning private property and others don’t (thus remaining poor) is “From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties.”

Do you agree with this explanation of wealth and poverty?

I do not particularly agree with this explanation of wealth and poverty because have too much of wealth and poverty can be very dangerous in a society. Individuals believe they can start taking control within their power of wealth and do what ever it is they want to do and not face consequences.

What is the core mission (“first object”) of the US government? Does this surprise you, does it sound different from what our society today seems to suggest the core mission of the government is? Explain.

The core mission of the US government is that “As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves. The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests.”

Given the discussion in questions 1-4, are you surprised that Federalist #10 is not in favor of democracy, and supports a Republican (representative) form of government? Why would d the author dislike a (pure) democratic form of government? Hint: think about how this question connects with the social classes…

I am not surprised that Federalist #10 is not in favor of democracy and supports a Republican form of government. The author states within the article “From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction . . . A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking.” He showcases the two differences of the views he sees for democracy and republic.

Based on the arguments presented in Readings 6.1 and 6.2, which social class wrote the Constitution, and which class was excluded and not allowed to participate in this process? In your comment, make sure you clearly specify the difference between the two classes by giving examples from the readings.

The upper class were the ones who wrote the Constitution. Both readings 6.1 and 6.2 detail greatly upon as “big landowners, merchants and bankers exercised a strong influence over political economic life.” The classes that were excluded and were not allowed to participate in this process were lower class. As stated in Reading 6.1, “All Native Americans, persons of African descent, women, indentured servants and white males lacking sufficient property.” As the upper class are included with individuals with wealth and power and the lower class are included with individuals with less wealth and power, this was very unfair. Throughout the timeline of writing the Constitution, only property owning white males were able to vote. Within reading 6.2, the quote “the government wanted a stronger central power that would resold ve problems among the thirteen states regarding trade and duties, protect. overseas commercial and diplomatic interests, effectively propagate the financial and commercial interests of the affluent class and defend the wealthy from the competing claims of other class within the society.”

Would say that the social class structure of early United States society, was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.

The social class structure of early United States society I would describe is about different from ours today. As prior to years ago, only upper classes and those who were wealthy enough have such great power of authority. In today’s society, we all have an equal amount of power to be able to speak on what we feel. Although many political and economical living has many individuals who are born into or become wealthy, no matter what social class you are in, you have power to become and speak upon what you believe in and for what is right within our society. 

Why were the people who wrote the Constitution so afraid of democracy? Hint: think about how to answer this question by discussing it in terms of social classes.

The people, our Founding Fathers, who wrote the Constitution were so afraid of democracy. In Reading 6.1, George Washington stated “to contain the threat of the people rather than to embrace their participation and their competence.” The founding fathers themselves were wealthy and powerful however, they wanted “to contain the threat of the people rather than embrace their participation and their competence.”

Which statistic on wealth inequality in the US (discussed on p.29) made the biggest impression on you? Explain why?

The statistic on wealth inequality in the US that made the biggest impression on me was “Without surplus value, the capitalist could not have come into being, nor could they survive, so that is always in their interests, to seek to increase it either by playing on relative or absolute surplus value, or by some combination of the two”. Wealth inequality has increased I feel over the years and many are putting funds into investments and stocks.

What could be some of the implications of living in a society that has such huge wealth inequalities? Do you see this dynamic getting played out in everyday life in our society? How so? Example?

Some implications of living in a society that has such huge wealth inequalities are lower average education levels as many only graduate high school to then begin to put funds into investments and stocks and profits. I do see this dynamic being played out in our everyday life in our society as many want to own designer items and the newest technology. Not everyone can afford these materalistic items however, as long as everyone sees they have some type of wealth, then they enjoy it. The dynamic of wealth now of days did go downhill.

As we learned thus far, the capitalist class consists of people who own wealth, as well as the means of production in American society. An important question in understanding how this class works is to ask: how does a capitalist remain wealthy? The answer to this question depends largely on understanding the diagram M-C-M’. So, let’s practice by explaining what happens in this diagram in our own words (but basing our ideas on Reading 5.1). Respond to the following question: Explain M-C-M’ to show how capitalists maintain and increase their wealth. (hint: your answer should weave a summary that includes what you reviewed in the self-assesment exercise question 1-7)

Capitalists remains wealthy by counting to make profits and investing in stocks and bonds. With M-C-M meaning for Money Commodity Money, capitalists use their very own money to buy resources such as machines, fuel to be able to provide their employees to labor. Capitalists continue to invest into business and profits that they know they would benefit from and many capitalists already are wealthy from being born into the family wealth.

What is the distinction that Reading 4.3 makes between owners and employees? Give an example of each.

The distinction that Reading 4.3 makes between owners and employees is “who owns the wealth of society and those who must work for a living”. Owners for example live within the owning class as they make their money based upon investments such as stocks , bonds, rents, mineral royalties and other property income. Employees live based upon wages, salaries and fees. Majority of Americans today live through payback to paycheck with how our economy has been going within the years. An example of an owner would be a CEO of a company and an example of an example would be a sales associate.

How do you understand the quote by Adam Smith on pg. 28? What is it saying about labor?

The quote Adam Smith states on page 28 is “labor…is alone the ultimate and real standard by which the value of all commodities can at all times and places be estimated and compared. It is their real price; money is their nominal price only.” This quote states that human labor is the most important thing that makes something made by people values.

What are your thoughts on the main argument of Reading 4.4 that class is NOT an identity?

My thoughts on the main argument of Reading 4.4 that class is not an identity is I believe this is false as class is made up many different backgrounds, such as cultural, political, wealth. As stated within reading 4.4, “class locations are essentially gradational, with degrees of advantage or disadvantages.”

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?

Understanding the argument Reading 4.4 makes when stating that “class structures are built around a close form of dependency” is by each social class gives individuals a level of dependency with working as they take responsibilities. This close form of dependency is “it’s that to be a worker means, necessarily, to be dependent on a given capitalist or firm for a job.” An example of a close form of dependency would be being manager.

Do you notice any similarities in the way social class is discussed in readings 4.1 and 4.2? Do you notice any differences in the way these two readings DIFFERENTIATE between social classes?

The similarities I’ve notice about the way social class is discussed in readings 4.1 and 4.2 are they both highlight our social class based upon income. Both readings give great analysis of incoming starting from making $0-$19k all through making $250k yearly. These social groups are broken down by classes such as lower, working, middle, upper middle, and upper class. The differences in the way both readings differentiate between social classes are reading 4.1 breaks down our social class by using analysis that showcase, education, income and describe upon how much of an impact age, race, and rural areas have on our social classes, determining what they fall under. Reading 4.2 showcases more on based upon your income, it determines where you can live. The graph shows more losses than gains from our socials class.

Pick the station closest to where you live. Using the concepts from Reading 4.1, what social class tends to live in your neighborhood? Are you surprised (or not) by the answer? Do you feel it is an accurate representation of the people living in your neighborhood?

The closest station I live by is Bay Parkway on the D Line. According to Reading 4.1, the social class that lives within my neighborhood is between the working classes and middle class. The neighborhood is mixed with lots of Asians, Hispanics and Europeans. With reading the concepts, I am not surprised by the social class that lives within the neighborhood because of the culture surround and how small the businesses the neighborhood are. I do feel as it is an accurate representative of the people living in the neighborhood.

Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?

Based on Reading 4.2, the general pattern about social classes in NYC I noticed is within almost every train line, boroughs of Brooklyn and Bronx, the social class annual income was making less than $150k a year. However, depending on the neighborhood you’re in Manhattan for example, your income would need to be high. There is a lot of popular neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Manhattan that within the years, income needed to live there definitely rose a lot.

Keeping in mind the material covered in this lesson, describe how you understand ideology in your own words.

Ideology is having beliefs and opinions upon a specific group or an individual, who mainly focus upon political views. When beliefs and opinions are based on, they could influence behaviors upon these social groups. One example that showcases ideology in our own society would be democracy. With our current presidential election just two months away, democracy would be the political system as we have to vote and elect either a new president or keep our current president into a new term of 4 years. The cycle would repeat every 4 years. Understanding ideology is knowing what influence it gives you in political views. The way you portray your views is important as it reflects how you vote and the influence to society.

How do you understand the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics? What seem to be the big differences, the dividing line? Given an example to backup your arguments.

Understanding the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics are by conservatives being anti federalist and liberals being pro federalist. The differences between conservatives and liberals are that conservatives view are that they believe that a large government poses a threat to individual liberty and have laws placed to maintain our society, while liberals believe the government can help resolve societies issues such as bigger government resulting in bigger solutions. An example of conservative ideology is gun rights. Currently, the argument in our society revolves around whether to revoke our Second Amendment rights due to gun violence upscaling within the last 10 years. An example of liberal ideology would be same-sex marriages, in which men and women are allowed to marry a partner who are the same sex as them.

How do you understand Althusser’s definition of Ideology? Paraphrase it in your own words. Given an example.

I understand Althusser’s definition of ideology as stating ideology is more of a practice as he believes individuals are painting a false narrative through society. Althusser argues between repressive state apparatuses and ideological state apparatuses. Repressive state apparatuses operates with violence and ideological state apparatuses operates with ideology.