1. The statistic that was most shock to me on is that the top 1 percent own between 40 and 50 percent of the nation’s total wealth (stocks, bonds, investment funds, land, natural resources, business assets, and so on), more than the combined wealth of the bottom 90 percent. This was shocking to me because it really puts into perspective how rich just a few individuals are.

1. Access to resources: People with more wealth may have greater access to resources such as education, healthcare, and other amenities, which can contribute to their overall well-being and success. This can create a cycle where those with more wealth are able to pass on advantages to their children, while those with less wealth may struggle to provide the same opportunities for their children. Political influence: Wealth inequality can also have political implications, as those with more wealth may have more influence in the political process. This can lead to policies that disproportionately benefit those with more wealth, further exacerbating the wealth gap. Social mobility: Wealth inequality can affect social mobility, or the ability of individuals to move up or down the socio-economic ladder. Those with more wealth may have more opportunities to advance in their careers or invest in businesses, while those with less wealth may face more barriers to upward mobility. I do see this being played out in everyday life. For example, people with more wealth may live in more affluent neighborhoods with better schools and access to amenities, while those with less wealth may live in neighborhoods with fewer resources.

M-C-M’ is a model that explains how capitalists maintain and increase their wealth. It stands for “Money-Commodity-More Money,” and refers to the process by which capitalists invest money in a commodity, sell that commodity for a profit, and then use that profit to reinvest in more commodities.

Here is how the process works:

1. Money: A capitalist starts with a certain amount of money, which they use to purchase a commodity.
2. Commodity: The capitalist buys the commodity with the intention of selling it for a profit. The value of the commodity is determined by the market, and the capitalist hopes to sell it for more than they paid for it.
3. More Money: The capitalist then sells the commodity for a profit, which is the difference between the price they paid for it and the price they sold it for. The profit is the capitalist’s reward for taking on the risk of investing in the commodity.

This process can be repeated indefinitely, as long as the capitalist is able to continue buying and selling commodities for a profit. By doing this, capitalists are able to maintain and increase their wealth over time.

1. The connection between “whiteness” and racism is that whites are credited with creating racism. But as Ruth Gilmore said its not racism that the whites created it was capitalism which prospers off of racism.
2. The prison system creates new “criminals” by creating and adding new ways to become a criminal. The prison system continues to extend individuals prison sentences and enlarges the list of behaviors that make someone a criminal. I do agree with her view, especially with knowing that a lot of these prison through out America are privately owned. I also agree with her stance that prisons are used to enclosed surplus workers. This takes the burden off the people in charge in regards to what to do with all these excess individuals.
3. I understand what Prof Gilmore calls Liberation struggle as the needs and struggles of certain communities that come under attack for expressing who they are. These communities are struggling to be liberated under certain regimes and their way of life is being threatened.

1. First the court decided that the women suing Wal-Mart could not seek back pay because they filed as a b(2) class instead of a b(3) class. What solidified them as a b(2) class was that they were suing under Title VII. The women’s demand for back pay could only belong in a class b(3) lawsuit. This misclassification compromised the women’s statues of suing as a class. Secondly the court decided in a 5-4 ruling that the suing class failed to meet Rule 23’s commonality requirement. The court argued that since all the women were not denied the same promotions, the same pay raise, or insulted, belittled or obstructed by the same manager in the same store, their case could not legitimately be litigated at once.

1. The court system is better suitable to protect the individual because there is more than one court system ready to protect an individuals rights. The court system also provides alternative venues in which to appeal for assistance. A good example of the court system being better suited to protect an individual is the trial of Ernesto Miranda. The Supreme Court found that his Fifth Amendment had been violated. This was a decision that the state courts alone could not have decided.
2. I do not think the selection of Supreme Court Justices is anti-democratic. Even though the Justices are not elected by the citizens of the country they are however appointed by individuals who are elected by the citizens. The reasoning for Supreme Court Justices to be selected this way is so only individuals who are deemed worthy enough by the people in charge will get selected. The founding fathers did not want less educated or less wealthy individuals to be able to influence the decisions made on a National level.

1. P. Williams states that the war on Terror is a war of the mind rather then a war on specific bodies, land or resources. This is the first of its kind and because the war on Terror is a war on the mind it makes the enemy anybody who makes us afraid. Wars in the past have been very straight forward on who was the enemy. Country A is fighting country B and they eliminate each others armies. With a war on terrorism the enemy is never fully known.
2. The Roving wiretaps of the Patriot Act seem to violate the Bill of Rights by invading individuals privacy. People fear that act could lead to privacy violations of anyone who comes into casual contact with a suspect. It seems to violate the Fourth amendment because the Fourth amendment protects individuals from unreasonable search and seizures.
3. Sneek and Peak Warrants seem to violate the Bill of Rights because the Bill of Rights states that notice is required before a search. Now with Sneek and Peak warrants no notice beforehand is required. This also seems to violates the Fourth Amendment because the amendment states people have the right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

1. The establishment clause prohibits federal or state government from creating or promoting a state sponsored religion. It also prohibits them from favoring religion or non-religion. The Lemon Test is a list of three criteria’s that must be meet for a law or action to be found constitutional and remain in effect.
2. Burning the US flag is protected by the first amendment. In 1989 the Supreme Court decided that burning the flag was a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment. The case that leads to this ruling was Texas v. Johnson.
3. When someone says “I’m taking the Fifth” what they mean is that they are choosing not to give evidence in court or law enforcement officials that might constitute an admissions of guilt.

1. In a federal system a citizens role is to choose who represents and makes decisions at the state level and national level. In a confederation the citizens uphold the most power. They choose representatives for their states who posses all the power. Lastly in a unitary government the people hold the least influence. All the power it held by the national government. This leads to the citizens and subnational governments depending on the national government.
2. I understand the system of division of power as government authority being decentralized. It is balanced between multiple powers so that one power does not overthrow or overpower the other.
3. The federal government shapes states with its federal grants and loans that it distributes. It forces states to abide by certain criteria in order to receive these grants and loans. They also shape states by recommending guidelines during certain events. For example the CDC a federal agency recommended wearing mask and social distancing during Covid 19. This caused the state of New York and other governments to issue mask mandates and social distancing guidelines.

1. Based on the arguments presented in readings 6.1 and 6.2 it is clear that the Constitution was written by the wealthy class. The wealthy class being property owners. They can be broken into three classes, the small farmer, the manorial lords and the slave owners. The individuals left out of the Constitution creation where the working class or the “propertyless” as George Washington labeled them. This class consisted of freeholders, artisans, tenants, and indentured servants. Most of these individuals were heavily in debt. Debt and the need to not have to work directly for wealth is what mostly separated these two classes. As the article states ” Ordinary working people could not take off four months to go to Philadelphia and write a constitution. The debate between haves and have-nots never took place.”
2. I would say the social class structure of todays society is different then the social class of early United States. I believe it is different mostly due to the creation of the Middle Class. Early America was mainly wealthy or not wealthy. In todays society many individuals can not be wealthy but still own land and live a very comfortable financially free life. In early America that was not as possible. By owning land you immediately became a man of importance. this still holds some truth in todays society but much more land is needed to be recognized as wealthy.
3. The individuals who made the Constitution were so afraid of democracy because they did not want the lower classes to disrupt the wealthy class. George Washington himself said a constitution was badly needed “to contain the threat of the people rather than to embrace their participation and their competence,” lest “the anarchy of the propertyless would give way to despotism.” The founding Fathers were also afraid that the non land owning class would have different agendas then the land owning class. James Madison himself said “the most common and durable source of faction has been the various and unequal distribution of property [that is wealth]. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society” and “the first object of government” is “the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property.”