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 in the way social class is discussed in readings 4.1 and 4.2 is that they both measure the education and money of a person to determine the social class they are placed under. The differences that I did notice in the way the two readings differentiate social classes is that one may think that people of higher social classes do not exist around them but clearly with the mapping of the train lines you can see that they do. Which is quite surprising.

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?

I was most definitely surprised by the social class distribution in my neighborhood. For I only thought I lived in a neighborhood that is predominantly poor and working class. But based off the train map some make almost 200,000 in my train line area. Which can be inspiring and encouraging for the youth that there is potential. They may not stay stuck in the hamster wheel forever. With proper education and a wise career path along with some smart investments you too can see your way out of the ghetto. The question really is do the households that have the kids of our future teach and make ways for our future kids to succeed in society today. Or are most of the kids and teenagers now a days stuck like some of us older adults struggling and trying to make ends meet for our struggling parents in either single head of households or struggling working class house hold? It makes you wonder whether failure in society can also be a product of your upbringing and parent’s current social status. I would advise everyone to try to not be a product of your environment and always strive to succeed so that you can go from a poor or working middle class to the upper middle- and upper-class percentile.

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

A general pattern I noticed about the social classes in NYC is that the highest amount earned is always in Manhattan. No matter what train line you click on the highest amount of money earned is always in Manhattan.

1. A repressive state is where a state governs its citizens under different social classes using the basic functions of the courts, the police and the government to make sure citizens abide by set rules placed. If not, they are subject to disciplinary measures.

2. The Ideology state apparatuses use the same ideology as the repressive state apparatuses but instead of using the courts and police to enforce citizens to obey and follow as told. They use methods to inform, educate and perhaps sway the citizens to believing this is how things should be so that the government still gets what they want out of the citizens without having to use force or disciplinary measures.

3. A repressive state uses force, if need be, to get what they want done. In other words, do as I say or you will be punished. The Ideology Apparatus does not work in this way. They will use other methods to get their point across so that citizens understand and also begin to think and agree with the rules set in place.

These pictures are of Ideology.

1. Ideology to me can best be described as a hopeful viewpoint or an idea of any and all political parties. Some can share the same ideology and some may not.

2. The major difference to me about Conservatives and Liberals is that Conservatives are more on the strict no drugs, no abortion, are probably even more prone to a dictatorship run country. Where as the liberals are free spirited, believe in equality and are pro legalizing drugs like marijuana. Which they succeeded in doing.

3. Althusser’s definition of ideology is summed up in an idea that must be put into practice to become a reality. He believes in ideology has a material existence.

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?

My Answer: I believe that the southern racist politicians did this to create fear among the voters so that they can create the mind set of bringing blacks into your community will cause crimes and violence. The choice of words that they used served to make their point. By putting a negative light on a change that was mean to be positive and they did this because they did not want the change to happen.

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

My Answer: Of course, the southern strategy is still influencing American politics today. Just look at the police brutality going on. Look at how the media covered the Black Lives Matters protest. They never showed the positive protests being conducted only the negative. To show that this particular race of people is defined in that kind of behavior.

• M. Alexander claims that the main explanation of why so many people is sent to jail in the U.S. today is deeply wrong.

My Answer: M Alexander argues that the real reason so many minorities are sent to jail in the U.S today is due to the racial disparity caused by the war on drugs.

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

My Answer: The racial disparities and the rates if incarceration cannot be explained by the rates of the drug crimes because the war on drugs began when the drug use had declined, yet the incarceration rate of people of color increased

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

My Answer: I understand this phrase as the American system the United States of America is a controlling, racist, and greedy country in which only those designated to succeed, and progress will be giving the means and opportunity to do so. And those they consider less than will be put through crawl and jump through hoops to get halfway to a decent living while praying they don’t get racially discriminated against in the process of doing so.