1. Faction can be seen as similar to class. When he speaks of “the majority faction” he is talking about the working class and others who were marginalized for the purposes of the elites. The majority faction was seen as a threat to the elites specifically their wealth. Therefore, they devised ways to keep power in the hands of the few, the ownership class.

2. “faculties” as defined in in Wiktionary as a noun: “(Often in the plural): An ability, power, or skill.”; An authority, power, or privilege conferred by a higher authority.” This understanding of the word “faculties” would put the person who has wealth as having an innate ability and they could say it was God given. They themselves are creating wealth because of their smarts, genius, discipline, etc. And it is the same for the poor or those who lack wealth. They are not posing the necessary mind and spirit and inner qualities that would create land owning person. And those who do not have the innate ability to own property should not be given the trust to run the nation, rather they should be controlled.

3. I do not agree with the idea that faculties is the reason for people having wealth or owning property. For me they are correct in a small sense. There are characteristics that make a person more likely to be successful at owning property. Yet I take into account that access had a large part to do with who was allowed to achieve wealth and who never had a chance. Opportunity was not available to the many but to the very few. Though today there is more opportunity for individuals of various backgrounds to build wealth. A person in the middle class who makes $80,000 could build wealth through investing in the stock market. By consistently investing in the stock market over decades a person can build wealth that they could live off.

4. The first mission of the government according to the readings is to protect those with the ability or faculties to own land. This is done through a system of government that controls the “fraction” that which are propertyless because they do not have the ability. Really, it is about the elite controlling the “majority faction” for the protection of the elite’s wealth.

5. I am surprised that this line of thinking existed because I was never taught this before. Yet I am not surprised because I know that there was much hypocrisy at the Constitutional Convention. Such lofty ideas of liberty hit the brick wall reality of slavery and a land-owning status class that did not want to give up their status.

1. It is clear from the readings that the US Constitution was written by the wealthy which consisted of the ownership class or the capitalist class. The bankers, merchants, landowners, and such. There were requirements for voting which was that only white men who owned a certain amount of property were eligible. If one wanted to run for office, then the requirement of land ownership increased the amount of land you had to own. There was a requirement of needing to own L1000 to vote and L5000 to hold particular offices. Those not allowed to vote were Indians, Blacks, Women and White men who did not own enough land. This class excluded from voting were the traditionally marginalized of the time based on race and gender and including the working class. This class was also known as the majority class.

2. Though there are many differences between the class structure of the Constitutional America and current day America. There is not slavery or indentured servitude and no longer is there any exclusion on voting based on race or gender. however, there is still the class divide between the ownership class and the working class. The laws are heavily influenced by the wealthy because they have the money to donate to politicians and donate to think tanks and institutions that will advocate the policies that the wealthy prioritize.

3. The ownership class, the capitalist class, were not pushing for democracy and were purposely attempting to stop it. Those with the power of the law and the military violence were seriously intent on maintaining their power and protecting their wealth. The Shay rebellion of 1787 in western Massachusetts was a bold act taken by farmers who were angry by their poor economic state. They blamed their economic woes on an elite class that was causing them to lose their farms and throwing some in debtor jail. The rebellion was crushed by a government militia. However, this was looming over the Constitutional Convention. Slavery and what to do with the slaves was also an issue they faced at the convention. Hence, the constitution was written to impose the will of the elites or ownership class over the working class, majority class in such a way as to protect the wealth of the elite class. They did not want a form of government that gave power to everyone.

1. The video was very informative about Karl Marx theory of capitalism. Capitalism can be broken down into two important parts: labor and the means of production. Labor is when a person trades their time and labor power for money to an employer or capitalist. Such as when a worker goes to work for Ford Motor Company and works on the assembly line. That person is working for a define pay and hopefully benefits as they work to build a car that will be sold for a profit. Capitalism also requires the means of production. That is the owner or capitalist who is paying the workers to work, to make a product or conduct a service that will make a profit for the owner. The means of production is the factory that is owned by Ford Motor Company. In this example the owners are the shareholders but in a private business the owner is/ are individuals or a group of people.

2. The video also describes what Marx understood as value. Value is how long it takes to make something under normal conditions. An example would be that an employee is expected to put a bumper on a car in 1 hour. Or that it will take an electrician 3 hours to wire a room for 2 electrical sockets. In both examples the employees have been hired to by an owner or capitalist to give value to a product, which will be sold for a profit. But the profit is not how Marx defines the value of the labor, rather the labor is valued by how long it takes to conduct the work. This view to me put more emphasis on the labor without needing the validation of money.

3. The connection between labor and value is found in the need for labor to create value. Yes, it takes the electrician x hours to wire a one-bedroom apartment but how much is that worth? And who gets to decide the value added. In capitalist nations the market or the owner does. The labor theory of value says that a product is worth the amount of labor it takes to make it. This is a abnormal way of thinking about value in America because we are so profit driven. However, this view gives a tremendous amount of value to the laborer and his labor. In this theory of labor who can see why the emphasis may be on wants and needs of the laborer.

4. Labor is the time it takes to create something or complete a service. The worker in the Ford Motor Company or the Electrician. They labor in their given field to create something which adds value to the product. Labor power is the ability to work which is the laborer’s ability to work on the assembly line at Ford or electrician’s ability to wire the apartment. They in their labor are adding value or improving on what is already there. Therefore, without the ability of the electrician the wire and sockets and other materials are of no true value. When the electrician has connected and fastened the material to conduct electricity safely, they have improved to a greater value. The labor power is the ability to improve upon or add value by ones labor. A final example is that labor power is such that the laborer has the power to withdraw it by striking, which is to not labor for the owner.

5. Surplus value is profit. It is the value that is given to the finished product that has been created with the labor of the assembly line worker or the electrician. The electrician is paid and has benefits which cost a defined amount or has a range amount, but his services are sold to a customer at a profit. This is important to the very system of capitalism. The right to own property and the laws that ensure an owner can be confident that their property will not be taken is important in capitalism. However, the reward of a profit is an incentive for the capitalist to invest in the means of production which employs others and creates products and services. the surplus value is the end goal of the capitalist and gives them more value or in this case profit than the laborer.

1. Ideology is a belief or belief system that is based on core principles or maybe better known as foundational principles. It is very common for someone to have core beliefs that are of the same religion, political party, or country or same military service. Therefore, the US Navy has an ideology which is made of its core values. These core values are taught from day one at boot camp all the way through military service. Ideology can change or be shifted to fit the uses of those in power because the non-living are do not use ideology. Animals are not in need of ideology rather it is only humans that have a need or use for ideology. Also, I do not believe that ideology is ever meant to be solo project or is best used alone. It seems to me that ideology is used to indoctrinate others and to create a standard for an organization.

2. The difference between conservative and liberal politics in American political life is a perspective on the use of government and some political core values. Conservatives generally argue for a small federal government that allows the states and other local governments to have more say than what would be possible in a strong central federal government. Alongside that conservatives believe in low taxes and a strong robust military and foreign policy. Sometimes you will hear conservatives explain that part of their ideology is to conserve the foundational principles of the country that have been crystalized in the U. S. Constitution. Therefore, conservatives would say that free speech which is protected by the constitution is principle that must be protected. Some of them go so far as to identify themselves as ‘free-speech absolutist’. Another ideology of conservatives is to be against drastic social changes. They often seen as slow to join in on changes to marriages, definitions of equality, racial justice and normalization of abortion to name a few. Liberals in direct contrast to the conservatives believe in a strong central federal government that can and should intervene in state and local affairs. Those on the liberal spectrum of political views support abortion, rigorously support equality, racial justice and higher taxes and a smaller military. Liberals can be shaky when it comes to military intervention aboard. Liberals will say they are against military intervention as a principle, but they do support using military power aboard for certain reasons. Liberals also support environmentalists and would use government power to bring about changes for that movement.

3. Althusser’s definition of ideology could be indoctrination. He talks about how school is used to teach children to obey or value certain principles above others. He says that ideology is a Marxist idea but is used by more than Marxist. He gives the example of the lower class being told that the bible teaches not to rebellion against their leadership or ruling class. He points out that ideology changes in the 20th century. That it still is about getting people to believe things they don’t know why they believe. however, added to that is the repressive method of ideology which includes using fear to keep people inline. Also, ideological systems in a nation help to maintain the status co, or they behave in a way to dampen the urge for change and rebellion. Schools serve the as the most important ideological agent of the government. He compares schools to the role the catholic church in the medieval time period. Interpellation is what Althusser defines as the obeying of the ideology that a person has been indoctrinated into. Ideology is total and meant to keep people obedient. Ideology is a tool of the elite to maintain control over the masses who are usaully poor and in lower social classes.

4. This image supports the ideology that the U. S. Navy is primarily about defending the American way of life.

1. Althusser definition of ideology includes repressive state apparatus. That is the state institutions that are used to maintain the social order by keeping the desire for change contained or limited. It is the primary purpose this apparatus to control through fear which is implemented through violence. The law enforcement institutions which include the prison system are there to put those who go against the ideology back into in line with the ideology.

2. Ideological state apparatus is when institutions in society are used to dampen the masses desire for change which may lead to rebellion. The elite do not want the people to be on the street in a rebellious contentious uproar demanding change. Rather the elite prefer that the masses use a state approved channel for demands of change. The institutions that make up this apparatus are political parties, the education system, the welfare system, and even the private sector.

3. Repressive apparatus are for correction of the people that go against state approved ideology. They use fear and even violence as they deem necessary. An example of this is the FBI. Ideological state apparatus is focused on distraction or watering down the foaming of the desire among the masses for change. This is done by giving the people enough help, welfare system, or distractions, sports and entertainment, or false choices, political parties. The most important is the education system which begins in grade school. It has the most important function of indoctrination of these impressionable minds.

4. This is part of the ideological state apparatus as it advertises the idea that college will lead to monetary prosperity.