1. Production refers to the action or process of being manufactured from some materials. For example, using some wood to manufacture pieces of furniture, the processing is production. The means for labor is the most important commodity in the world by rending out time and ability to create value. For example, a piece of wood becoming valuable furniture has to be manufactured by people’s labor.

2. Value refers to making a product by how much labor under normal circumstances. Value is not price, in fact, it refers to the use value of the commodity, and what can it bring? For example, the computer has the value of surfing the Internet, doing homework, studying, communicating, etc. The bed has the value of allowing people to lie down and sleep and rest. These so-called values refer to use values.

3. According to the video, the normal connection between labor and value is measured by how much labor it takes to produce under normal circumstances. In general the more time of labor on produce, the value more likely increases.

4.  Labor refers to the labor provided by human beings in the production process, including mental labor and physical labor.​ Labor power is workers sell their ability, experience, physicals power and time to employees, so labor power is found only in people, and when workers go to work they rent out their labor power for the day.

5. Surplus labor is when employers exploit the most portion value from workers. In general, workers are always being paid less than what their labor is actually worth. That’s how capitalism works: they hire other people to increase the value of what they have, and then employers keep that extra value for themselves. Marx thought that capitalism, everything that has come with it, is sustained only by exploring the working class.

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

The distinction between owners and employees is that owners are who own wealth and their profit comes from the labor of other people to exploit the most of the value from employees’ surplus labor, but employees are who have to be forced to sell their labor and time for a living. According to the reading 4.3 the author Michael Parenti clearly exhibits the distinction between owner and employee. For example, Owners not only exploit the value from their employees, but also live mostly off investments, such as stocks, bonds, rents and mineral royalties. No wonder they can own most of the wealth in the society. Parenti explains that “The secret to great wealth is not to work hard but to have others work hard for you.” The panic part is the owner’s portion taken from employees which is not visible. End up the owners become wealthier. However, the employees are paid not the equal value they create, because the most portion value is taken to the owners. So the employees have to contribute more in exchange for a little compensation to support their living. 

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

Adam Smith explains that only the labor produced can determine the relative value of commodities in his labor quote. But money is the nominal price of commodities. I agree with his point of view about the value of labor. I am also grateful for his voice and opinion for the working classes, because most people are working for living, not because they lack knowledge, talents, dedication and experience, but because of the unequal social rule and opportunity.  Labor is the real price of commodities. The author gives an example about what transforms a tree into valuable furniture through workers’ designs it’s measurement, style and manufacturing, marketing and commodity promotion and so on and so forth. Without workers a tree could not transform by itself, and can’t create any profit to anyone except by the labor of workers. 

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

 My view to the main argument of reading 4.4 is that class refers to a socioeconomic status, also class is not an identity because class presents a social economic status, being classified in upper, middle or lower depends on many aspect factors, such as, ownership, property, reputation and power. but identity simply represents gender, race etc. 

4. 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?

According to the reading, the concept of the class structure depends on a particularly close form of interdependence, and the relationship between capitalists and workers seemingly are opposed. One is the exploiter and the other is the exploited. Capitalists hire workers, and workers sell labor and time to create surplus value for capitalists. The capitalist is the controller and production tool of production resources, the capitalist is the master of the machine, and the worker is the part of the machine, which is replaced when it is broken. However, Capitalists also depend on workers to produce surplus value for them. 

1. 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 to identify individuals social class both reading are most likely basic on income level. The reading in 4.1 discusses how American categorize themselves into different social classes. Unsurprisingly, most of them still follow the traditional way of hierarchy in society. In fact, in history or in real life, some people are doing or have done great things that have profound impact on the world, but they might classify as lower class. Such as Vincent Willem van Gogh, who’s work of art had impacted the world deeply after his death. Another phenomenon is that people in the lower-class society can only be solidified under their current social status, and it is hard to break the boundaries to reach middle or upper-class because of their own efforts. The reading in 4.2 mainly exhibits income inequality, especially New York City. I clicked those familiar subway lines such as  B, Q, D, and N trains. According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, it is pretty accurate, and highest median household income from Chambers Street, Park Place neighborhoods. But surprisingly the lower household income from Sutter Avenue, on the L in Brooklyn. The differential between the highest and the lowest income is $192,904 which is enormous inequality. 

2. 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?

According to concepts from reading 4.1, the closest stations of my neighborhood are working class and middle class. I am not surprised by the answer. I feel it’s a pretty accurate representation of the people living in my neighborhood. But there’s a Jewish neighborhood just one avenue away from where I live, and obviously they are a lot more higher class then others.

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

According to Reading 4.2, which indicates a tremendous income gap between the richest and the poorest in NYC by a line graph. To check the data from Census Bureau one can click every line of the subway map. The income inequality in NY is really astonishing to me. For instance, the average income for residents in Chamber St. is $205,192. In contrast, the Fulton St. residents make $62,927. They are actually two adjacent stations in A line, but the difference in income gap is $142,265. Hopefully people would have a little more equal opportunity for minorities to gain a certain social status by their own education, training and talents.  

1. 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?

I notice the similarities in the way social class in reading 4.1 and 4.2 both are inequity.

2.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?

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

1.What is a Repressive State Apparatus? Why does Althusser call it “repressive”? Can we explain his choice of words here. Give an example.

According to the video, the emphasis of the Repressive State Apparatus is to keep people’s behavior be controlled. The strategy is through the threat of violence which is related to the force from police, courts, and prisons. By doing that to motivate people to follow the social norm, and don’t break the rule of the system. So that they can be more easy to control people and execute their legislation smoothly. The reason Althusser calls it repressive because it helps people to understand the force to limited people’s freedom by society and government especially the political system. In other words, most people obey the rule is because fear of the consequences. For example, school will call student’s parents or the police to step in if student doesn’t follow the rule, by that to maintain their management.

2. Let’s do the same for the Ideological State Apparatuses. What are they, how do they seem to work?

Ideological State Apparatuses is bonded with education system which is the most powerful and mandatory. The structures is to guild student to be obedient and discipline to follow the society’s rules. Seemingly students have freedom to chose obedient or authority, however, the repressive apparatus would keep them away from freedom if they don’t obedient the rule.

3.How are the Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses different from each other? What is the difference between the two?

The Repressive State Apparatuses is to control people by threaten them what circumstances are for any disobedience to limited individual’s right. But, Ideological State Apparatuses is non violence but it refers to guild people doing good in the society, it related to individual’s internalize such as education, self-awareness, personal experience, and religion.

4.Post an example of ideology. This could be a piece of writing, an image, video, pdf document, visual art, or music, clip from a movie.

1. Ideology is neither inborn, nor is it inherent in the human brain, but derived from personal experience, daily observation and thinking, and gradually formed self-insights about society, politics, culture, and religion. Also Human ideology is affected by factors such as thinking ability, family influence, environment, educational level, living condition, and value orientation. For example, working class or minority groups favor equality rights and opportunities, but mainstream upper class strive to consolidate their power and advantages. That’s why different advantages groups have different types of ideologies

Ideology is related to the social environment, for instance, due to the spread of covid-19, people have to follow social forms to adjust their behavior,  daily routine and social interaction as individual ideology is restricted by social ideology. Also different ideologies have different understandings and cognitions of the same thing. In my point of view, a good ideology represents an individual, group, and community to chase for a better life.  Whether it is the Republican or the Democratic, as long as they can determine to speak out for justice, serve the people, and help minority groups obtain more equal opportunities, moreover, individuals have confidence in the ability to improve life through positive actions.

2. The concept of conservative ideology traditionally refers to the social system that focuses on the maintenance of a particular group. Usually it is categorized as rightist, and advocates free market, the virtues of private initiative and self – reliance. On the other hand, conservative ideology blames people for being poor because of their laziness because they want to cut human services to lower-income groups, and the minorities shouldn’t rely on the government but need to be responsible for themselves. A limited government is what Conservative people want, but they support government subsidies and rescues for large enterprises. Conservative ideology tends to defend social norms and reject inconsistent behaviors and ideas to maintain social structure and stability.

On the contrary, Liberal ideology traditionally refers to leftist which believes all human beings deserve to have equal opportunities and represents the working class, middle class and the poor. The main supporters are social marginalized forces such as immigrants, minorities, gay groups, etc. Politically, the liberal values ​​internal affairs and the environment Protection, health insurance and social welfare, education and other fields. According to the author, “liberal support minimum-wage laws, unemployment insurance, and other wage supports, along with Social Security, nutritional aid for needy children, occupational safety, and the like.”(pg.54) No matter what kind of form that liberal ideology emphasizes their concept to the society, they most likely want to support the minority community to live a better life.

3. Althusser terminology of ideology is the theory and representative system that administrate a person or a social group. It depends on social formation and doesn’t have history, but in it’s eternity that this concept contain positive impact. Moreover, it affect all kind of relationship in all aspect individuals perceive and the real world, it allow the working class works.

1. M. Alexander argues that the mainstream American view of why there are so many people in prison is because there’s a lot of crime being committed. However, it is not true. Unless they count drug possession to be a crime, most people go to prison because of the war on drugs laws, a lot of which are penalized with prison time drug possession. In fact, crime has decreased in America historically at least over the last 20 years and before.  Also the more minorities get arrested and sentenced the easier to control them in many aspects. “Sociologists have frequently observed that governments use punishment primarily as a tool of social control.” After the minorities have a crime record , they will be discriminated against legally for the rest of their lives. Also they will be permanently locked up in mainstream society. Therefore, the racist system can continue to exist. 

2. I think the main point is that all types of Americans use drugs, no matter if they are white, black, latino or other ethnicity. Any American from any social class or group or any other person can be said to be a potential drug addict. According to M. Alexander, “ Studies show that people of all colors use and sell illegal drugs at remarkably similar rates.” Obviously, minority people of color are overrepresented in prisons, this is not just because more people of color use drugs. That’s why people of color are potentially users of drugs and that’s simply not true.  Also people are led to believe the saying of the criminal justice system specifically related to the war on drugs is racist. People have realized that all colors use and sell illegal drugs at similar rates, but why are the minorities arrested and sentenced more than whites? Even the cost of black or brown is 20 to 50 times greater than whites in some states, it simply demonstrates racial discrimation in the system. 

3. Alexander’s is showing the point that the criminal justice system is a place where society is controlled. In other words, my argument to the phrase is that the government uses the penal system to control the minority people of color permanently locked out of mainstream society. As soon as they have criminal records, the result waiting for them is they will be legalized discrimination for the rest of their lives. The government can deprive their public benefits, also they will be discriminated against in employment, housing, and education, they are even excluded from voting and jury service rights. That’s the genius of the social control system and it has become the tool in the history of American racial inequality.

1. First of all, there’s civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s against racial segregation, because there were many inequalities led minority people of color living with frustration and anger. For example, people of color were not allowed to go to the same school, the colored kids were not allowed to the same playground, even separate restaurants, hotels and medical care. Laws said, whites can have seats in front of the bus, but black had to stand behind, or they can have seats only after all the white got one. If any people of color do not follow it will be sent to jail. This is the famous law, called segregated but equal. That’s why the civil right movement was widespread and aimed to end the horrible segregation laws. Because they ruin people’s lives, these unjustifiably laws have to be gotten rid of. On the other hand, the Southern racist politicians who support segregation would definitely do something to put down the civil rights movement. But they can’t directly arrest those protestors as they are not allowed because the bill of rights in the U.S, constitution says that people have the right to political protest. But, their strategy is to define civil rights activists to be criminals. By doing this, the law allows the police to get them to jail. Moreover, because criminals are dangerous to society, the politicians start talking about civil rights activists to define them as criminals. By that, they can continue segregation in another way. 

2. The Southern Strategy was a presidential election campaign by the republican party for the 1968 presidential election. Seemingly, the Southern Strategy doesn’t influence American politics because the society becomes more and more democratic, and the system improves. However, is it the reality? In my point of view, the root still influences American politics, it might being less or in other ways to continue. The world is changing to become more diverse, and the new generation Americans are pretty liberal, but we can observe some politicians still using the very similar strategy to win the votes like Nixon promised some certain group and majority to win his presidency. For example, to gain the support of white voters, Clinton made public housing projects exclude people with criminal records and made many people in the drug war that 90% are black or Latino become homeless. Also countless people with criminal records are exiled to mainstream society, where they may be discriminated against in employment, housing and education opportunities, and voting rights. Even today, the last politician promised the majority to consolidate their advantage, and most of his supporters are whites and helped him to win the election.