1. Two key concepts in this video are the means of production and labor. In your comment, explain how you understand the means of production and labor. Give an example of each.

The Means of production are privately owned where it is sold in a market for profit. On the other hand labor is the only thing that can increase due to its value. For example, means of production shows more of like factories or the materials being used to make the product without that there will not be no production of the product. While labor is the work that’s being done. 

2. Another important concept in understanding social class is value. Based on the ideas presented in Video 5.1, what is value?  What gives “value” to value, what makes something valuable? 

Value is the time and effort you put into something. To give value you need to make something as simple as a ball of yarn into a sweater. The value increases because it may have started as just a ball of yarn but with time and effort in other words labor adds more value in other words money into the person who is going to buy it.

 3. How are labor and value related? What’s the relationship/connection between the two?

Both labor and value are related due to the process of the labor work. Labor is the work you put into making the product. The more time and effort the labor you are doing for the product will increase the value of what the product is worth. 

4. How do you understand the difference between labor and labor power? Hint:this is a key difference, give it your best shot based on what the video says about it, and your own ideas. We’ll clarify and develop it in our discussions, and in my video comments.

Labor power is your ability to work. With proper eating, sleep, housing and clothing and ect has an impact on the work you do. If you are well rested and well taken care of, your effort in your labor work will increase and the products will then get the right amount of value. Labor will slack if you are not being properly cared for. The amount of effort will not be the same you will slack and cut back.

5.Surplus Value: what is it? Why is it important to know about, in our study of social classes? Think about an example of surplus value?

Surplus value is the value on top of the value. But because the means of production is privately owned the profit will not go to you. It will go to your boss, the one who owns the company. Seems to be that you will always be getting paid less than the labor you actually put in because you are not getting the profit. You are being a hard worker for the profit to go to someone who didn’t do work at all.

1. 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-assessment exercise question 1-7)

M-C-M is money , commodity and then money again. The first M is not the same as the second M. The first M is the money being put into it by whether the companies or the owners while on the other hand the last M is the profit they are receiving. Which will be the surplus value. However, if it doesn’t go right for them, the capitalist will always put their money back into the process and start over with the operations as fast as possible. The capitals starting with money to acquire more money is what helps them increase their capital. The operation is limited due to the goods. But with the capitalist higher power they are able to devote their capital to factories , machinery, raw materials and ect. Labor power and value brings up the surplus value. The more value that is put into making or constructing a project or product. Bring this value to a higher price. If the value is most valuable and the work ethic is shown in the product, the more money the customers would want to pay. With them consuming more money the better the surplus value is on the capitalist side.

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

The distinction between both owners and employers is the ranges of income both might get. Owners live off of the investments, stocks, bonds ,rents , mineral royalties, and other property income. While on the other hand the employers rely on wages , salaries and fees.  

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

Whatever money the employers  make is  what the employers live on. The amount of labor and amount of work they do is what they have to survive on. They have a limit of money they make so they try to  manage what they can with that set amount.

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

I do agree that class is not an identity. Your social class shouldnt define your placement in the world. I was raised by the mentality that not everybody has the opportunities or the money like I did. They might be people who live a more lavish life or there might be people who are just satisfied with having a roof over their head. A little bit runs a long way to them.

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?

Class structures are built around a close form of dependency because the workers depend on the capitalist. For example if I had a job I would depend on my boss to give me work to do for me to get paid.If I don’t get work I wont receive the money I get.

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?

In readings 4.1, it is explaining how the income you get affects your social class. Which is divided into 5 different social classes.Upper, upper-middle, middle, working and lower. And how Gallups analysis shows how people self categorize themselves into the social class that fits them best. In reading 4.2, shows different train lines in different stops and what the income of that neighborhood is.

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?

The train station that’s the closest to me is 3rd ave 149 st The Bronx. The income states $23,670. And that is a little bit compared to the other incomes on that page. Most of the buildings in the area are low incoming apartments. And there are multiple resource centers where people can get help with assistance. I do feel like it’s accurate. It may not be the exact amount but I do feel as if it’s still around that amount. People do struggle whether it’s with paying rent or even being able to afford food. Which is why once you get off the train station you will see multiple people trying to find other ways to make a living. Whether it’s selling flowers or selling some type of food, fruits or even drinks. 

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

I do see a general pattern: people who live anywhere besides Manhattan are middle  class. And on the other hand living in Manhattan was more upper class. Which seems to make sense because Manhattan seems to be more expensive.

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

Repressive state apparatuses, that can enforce behavior directly, such as the police and the criminal justice system. A way of controlling violence with higher authorities. Althusser calls it repressive because it’s limiting freedom. It takes away the freedom of one by punishing them when they dont follow laws or rules from the authorities. 

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

Ideological state apparatuses are methods other than physical violence to achieve the same objectives as Repressive state apparatuses. Both have the same purpose but there’s different techniques to reach their purpose. School , politics and media are the main stream  that helps ideological state apparatuses are being applied. 

3. Important: this question will appear on our exam: How are the Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses different from each other? What is the difference between the two?

Both are different because repressive functions with violence while ideology tries to find other techniques to go about things. Ideological state apparatuses use manipulation as their direct force. 

    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. Next to your example, specify if this is an example of repressive or ideological apparatuses at work. I’ll start us of off by giving an example.

An example of ideology is the group communist. This falls in the category of repressive.

1. Why do think southern 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?

Southern racist politicians tried to still find a way to keep “Blacks in their place” as they said. As the civil rights activist made direct action to make sure blacks were able to be at public places. Southern racist had advantages because it states “citing lower crime rates Southern states as evidence that segregation was necessary”. With that being said southern racist may have thought that if the government saw the crime rates have decreased that they will continue to keep blacks separated from the majority of things. After assissnation of Martin Luther King Jr. , crimes of riot began happening. That’s when conversation tried to switch on the blacks saying that with blacks coming from the south that they are the ones dealing with the consequences in other words the crimes.

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

In today’s society, I do feel like racial issues still exist. There are still people in the world where they still feel as if blacks don’t have a place in this world. It is truly disgusting. Blacks work just as hard to have a place in this world. They have so many expectations to prove that they are worthy which is unbelievable. For example, police racially profile in some case scenarios. I do feel like the system puts that in their minds that blacks are her problem when in reality a crime can be committed by anybody. Doesn’t matter what race you are. Blacks walk in fear not knowing who will target them based on their skin color.

1. M.Alexander claims that the main explanation of why so many people are sent to jail in the U.S. today is deeply wrong. Explain her argument by referring to the various examples she mentions to backup her point (see p 1-2)

In the beginning , she explained how crack always been an issue way before the War On Drugs, it was founded mostly in the poorer communities. but as the war was declared the spread of crack became bigger. Since as they say the government seemed to see it coming from the poorer communities. That’s where the black neighborhoods was being target into more drug crimes.

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

It cannot be explained because it stated ” The War on Drugs began at a time when illegal drug use was on decline”. If it’s on decline there will be no need to be making arrest or putting people in prison. If that was to happen it will be looked as racial profiling on the poorer black neighborhoods.

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

Usually to understand a phrase I look up the words individually to get the perfect definition of each word being shown in the phrase. American has social control on us because there’s sets of rules such as laws that we follow as citizens.