1. What concept that we have already discussed does “faction” remind you of?

Faction reminds of political ideology which is where people share common beliefs, ideas and interest which according to J. Madison arose from unequal distribution of property or wealth. 

2. According to Federalist #10 (written by James Madison), what is the source of wealth (private property)? What factor explains why some people get to possess wealth by owning private property, and others don’t (thus remaining poor)? This is a key question, because it shows how the authors of the Constitution thought about the difference between different classes of Americans! HINT: focus on the passage that begins: “The diversity in the faculties (WHAT DOES FACULTIES mean or refer to?) of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not les….”

According to Federalist #10 by James Madison, the source of wealth that is private property was discussed as the diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate. However, for the upper classes they had the opportunity of owning properties and factories. The upper class have advantages of private hospitals, better education systems (private schools) and resources. Therefore, it was the unequal distribution of facilities. Overall, faculties referred to natural skills and talents which led for the upper class to be successful.

3. Do you agree with this explanation of wealth and poverty?

I do agree with this explanation of wealth and poverty because the upper class have talents, skills and the resources while others may struggle to meet that level because of lack of resources, talent, skill and struggle to meet their economic needs.

4. What is the core mission (“first object”) of the US government? Does this surprise you, does it sound different from what our society today seems to suggest the core mission of the government is? Explain.

According to Federalist #10, the core mission “first object” of the US government is to protect and secure the rights of its citizens and also property, “From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately result. 

5. Given the discussion in questions 1-4, are you surprised that Federalist #10 is not in favor of democracy, and supports a Republican (representative) form of government? Why would the author dislike a (pure) democratic form of government? Hint: think about how this question connects with the social classes…

No, I’m not surprised that Federalist #10 leans more towards or in favor and support of the Republican representative form of government because it’s controlling the effects of faction and fulfilling promises to the American people. The purpose is to maintain the economic system and social class. The author dislikes a pure democratic form of government because “pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit no cure for the mischiefs of faction . .”

1. Based on the arguments presented in Readings 6.1 and 6.2, which social class wrote the Constitution, and which class was excluded and not allowed to participate in this process? In your comment, make sure you clearly specify the difference between the two classes by giving examples from the readings.

The wealth owning capitalist class wrote the constitution which set up the United States government and the social class that were not allowed to participate in writing the constitution were the working classes or the non-wealthy classes. They were excluded and were called the disenfranchised by Charles Beard. They were not permitted to exercise their input in shaping what the government system would be because the wealthy were acting from their own economic and political interests and they didn’t want to create a system of government that might protest the interests of the working class. 

2. Would say that the social class structure of early United States society was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.

In my opinion, I would say that the social class structures of the early United States were not the same as ours today. It is completely different based on how the upper class has been increased while the middle class has been decreased due to wealth dispersion. 

3. Why were the people who wrote the Constitution so afraid of democracy? Hint: think about how to answer this question by discussing it in terms of social classes.

The founders who wrote the constitution were so afraid of democracy because they believed that too much democracy can be harmful. Therefore, to protect the wealthy minority against the “Tyranny of the majority.”

1. Which statistic on wealth inequality in the US (discussed on p. 29) made the biggest impression on you? Explain why?

Only 90 percent of American families have little or no net assets which made the biggest impression on me and that is because most people live from paycheck to paycheck and can’t afford to put aside an asset. Most Americans struggle financially and that is struggling from poverty which cannot meet basic needs to provide for their families. 

2. What could be some of the implications of living in a society that has such huge wealth inequalities? Do you see this dynamic getting played out in everyday life in our society? How so? Example?

Reducing economic and social mobility could have negative implications of living in a society that has huge wealth equalities. However, the wealthy may have luxurious housing, better education/private schooling, private hospitals, better job opportunities whereas, the non wealthy people would have the opposite and little to no benefits compared to the luxurity. Yes, definitely see this dynamic playing out in everyday life in our society. Some people in the community are wealthy off and get better/more opportunities and benefits. 

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)

The diagram M-C-M can be explained as the general formula of capital which means Money-Commodity-Money. Therefore, (M) represents money that capitalist earned/savings which then buys the commodities (C ) such as raw materials, machinery, factories/buildings and labor power which are produced by capitalist. (M) represents more money which is basically the profit that was made when an item is sold however, capitalists can maintain and increase their wealth by making profits and paying workers less and that is implementing the surplus value “Without surplus value the capitalists could not have come into being, nor could they survive, so that it is always in their interests to seek to increase it either by playing on relative or absolute surplus value.” 

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.

Means of production can be divided into two things and that is instruments of labor and the subject of labor. However, the instruments of labor are the materials needed, factories and machinery which makes the products whereas, the subject of labor is basically the workers.

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 can be defined as the element that is common to all commodities is labor time required in production. Therefore, labor is what gives “value” to value. 

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

Labor and value are related; however, the connection between labor and value is that labor creates value in which the value of a commodity can be determined by the number of labor hours required. 

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.

The difference between labor and labor power is that labor is the ability,skill and energy of workers to produce whereas, wages are the price of labor power.

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 arises from the exploitation of labor because laborers are not fully compensated for the amount of value they create therefore, they have to sell for a wage in order for them and their families to survive. It is important to know in our social classes because it helps us understand the cost, value and how profit works. For example, if someone makes a burger and sell it for $8 and getting paid $8 then the owner, made nothing off of that burger therefore, in order for the own to make a profit, they have to pay the worker less than what they will make in for that burger so they can earn a profit. 

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

Answer: The distinction between owners and employees is that capitalists which identify as “owning class” tend to have a large income from other people (employees) labor. Owners live off their investments such as stocks and bonds, etc while employees live off  wages, salaries and fees, “The distinction between owners and employees is blurred somewhat by the range of incomes within both classes.”

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

Answer: The quote by Adam Smith quoted, ‘”labor … is alone the ultimate and real standard by which the value of all commodities can at all times and places be estimated and compared. It is their real price; money is their nominal price only.”’ Basically means if the employees want to be paid, they have to get the actual work done whether it’s manufacturing, shipping, advertising, they have to show values which the employees wages created by their labor.

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

Answer: I do agree with the statement that class is not an identity “rather than just the education or money someone has, class refers to an entire structure that imposes very specific logics of action on people in society.” Identity refers to qualities, beliefs, personality traits, appearance and expression of a person and not how much they earn or their education level. 

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?

Answer: I understood that class structures are different from other forms of hierarchy. In other words, capitalists who have power control the productivity of society therefore, workers must depend on them for a job “The kind of property capitalists control — productive property — is what everyone in a society depends on. In this sense, it is not only workers who are dependent on capitalists. Because capitalists can choose not to produce or invest if they don’t think profits will be high enough, all of society is compelled to ensure that their profitability stays high enough to keep them producing, no matter the costs to the rest of society.”

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?

~~~Since 4.2 is not available on my side, I’ll be comparing and differentiating 4.1 & 4.3.~~~

Answer: Similarities: In both readings 4.1 & 4.3, some similarities were identifying social class by education level, “”The biggest impact of education on subjective social class comes at the college graduate level…” 4.1 “Along with factory and service workers, the employee class also includes professionals and managers who in income, education, and lifestyle tend to be identified as“middle” or “upper-middle” class” 4.3. Some differences between the readings and social classes. 4.1 explained the characteristics of social class while 4.3 focused more on capitalism. 4.3 explained the ultimate purpose of corporate therefore, 4.1 differentiate social class by age, rural areas, race, and education.

2. a) Pick the station closest to where you live. Using the concepts from Reading 4.1, what social class tends to live in your neighborhood? 

Answer: Middle & working class

b) Are you surprised (or not) by the answer?  

Answer: No, not surprised.

c) Do you feel it is an accurate representation of the people living in your neighborhood?

Answer: Yes, it is an accurate representation of the people living in my neighborhood. 

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

Answer: In my opinion, the general pattern about social classes in NYC tends to be fenced off. Therefore, every neighborhood in NYC has people of different social class or perhaps some neighborhoods have middle class such as Queens Village & working class Lower East Side while other neighborhoods have upper class which is SoHo.

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

~A Repressive State Apparatus, the state as a force of repressive execution and intervention, to maintain order and control which includes the police and military. Althusser calls it “repressive” because it controls the threat of violence including courts and prisons. For example, a prison is used to confine individuals who pose a threat to society and break the law. 

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

~Some Ideological State Apparatuses are social institutions such as schools, churches and the media to maintain control. In school, students are being taught to follow their schedule and get to class in a timely manner and also to respect and obey authorities. Persuading in school helps open a path of understanding about life. Learning and developing new skills, following rules and laws, and doing tasks in a timely manner. Most importantly, an individual identifies with the state through emotional or ideological belief in it. Failure to follow rules in school can lead to forcibly removed from class, parents will be informed and get detention if an assignment is late.

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

~Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses are different from each other because RSA is the function of repression, basically maintaining control which involves police and military whereas, ISA is the function of ideology which includes institutions such as an educational system and media. 

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.

~The Bill Of Rights is an ISA because it emphasizes the rights of individuals when it comes to religion, freedom of speech and press. It’s a set of briefs to protect individual rights. 

What is Ideology?
In my view, ideology is a concept of an economic or political theory which is a set of ideas, beliefs, values and principles that reflects understanding of the social world which shapes decisions.

Example of Ideology
An example of ideology is socialism. Socialism is an economic and political system where the state owns and controls the means of production. Its goal is to seek inequality by measuring out among the population by economic planning to provide basic needs.

Difference between conservative & liberal ideology in US politics
>Liberal ideology is individual rights, equality and liberty therefore, advocates or supporters of a political philosophy. Liberals believe that the government can help solve problems, support government intervention in the economy such as regulations and higher taxes therefore, government protecting the environment

  >Conservative ideology values tradition and strong nation identity which limits government intervention therefore, favor policies such as lower taxes and private ownership. 

Example
Conservative are people who favor free enterprise and socially traditional ideas. Also, promotes nuclear family organized religion and property rights. It’s more of a gradual change to maintain social order. Whereas, liberals believe everyone should be treated the same way. Liberalism separation of powers into different branches of government, a separation of religion from the government and freedom of speech.

Althusser’s Ideology
The analysis of Louis Althusser institutions such as the educational system, churches, etc exist to reproduce capitalist relations of production and maintain order in society. Therefore, education helps to control the masses.