1- P. Williams writes about the war on terror being different from other wars because it was a modern tragedy impacting the way airport and security is in our country. With the events of 911, emergency phone contacts to the police and fire departments were made more essential. The rise in airport and transport security as well has impacted our lives today. Citizens who had recalled events before 911 reported feeling unaware of crimes that could go undetected. Again, this tragedy as one of many that have followed in our country’s history.

2- The “Roving Wiretaps” of the Patriot Act seem to violate the Bill of Rights through several Amendments. The Fourth; unreasonable searches and seizures protection, The Fifth; right against self-incrimination and, Fourteenth; due process and equal protection. Since wiretaps are used as spying tools to hear in secrecy as a microphone device it can be processed against those speaking privately. With that said, these three amendments are technically in accordance to protection of privacy.

3- “Sneak and Peek” Warrants are also violating the previously stated Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments due to Privacy. Specifically the Fourth Amendment since it counts towards unreasonable searches and seizures. Without the individual present inside of their residence with a warrant seems counterintuitive in a way. Tampered evidence could be delt with and kept secret from the court of law as a high probability that could send the suspected individual into deeper punishment. Therefore violation of privacy in general.

1- The Establishment Clause is a guideline that states the United States Congress cannot set a state-sponsored religion. This applies on a state governmental level as well as much of the United States is diverse in religious beliefs compared to many other countries around the world. Since the U.S. was established with Christianity, in it’s many different forms there were heavy debates on Establishment Clause being a freedom. In modern times it has continued to be a freedom knowing that the United States has more than one dominating religion hence no restrictions of practice compared to other religion dominated countries. As for the Lemon Test, it sees whether the government is acting upon something that could potentially promote a bias of religion.

2- Burning the United States flag is protected by the First Amendment because the reading states, “However, in 1989, the Supreme Court decided in Texas v. Johnson that burning the flag was a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment and found the law, as applied to flag desecration, to be unconstitutional.” Therefore in accordance to the Supreme Court’s decision it is within the constitution in alignment with the First Amendment.

3- When someone says “I’m taking the Fifth” is the right to remain silent. This right allows the person to be protected from self incrimination by word of mouth. A protection against double jeopardy where a suspect may face prosecution twice. This helps the individual from facing more time or higher punishment. The right to not give evidence, especially if the person is in an erratic state of mind in order to protect themselves from further prosecution.

1- The primary differences in the role of citizens in government among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems is how high each level of government is and what role those citizens take. In the federal systems, citizens partake in government that concerns national and state levels. Confederations have local governments in power. Then unitary systems have central government in concentration where it limits citizen power at lower levels. This is because the power structure of the united states is divided to not give power to all one person or group of federal government.

2-The system of the division of power instructs each branch of government which part they are in charge of and are able to discuss. This means the equal power distribution makes it so no branch has more say in what goes than the rest. The Legislative branch is in charge of law making, which means addressing any issues with the law and reworking systems of laws. The Executive branch carries out and enforces laws into effect which means they make sure citizens obey them. Then the Judicial branch makes sure the laws are within constitution and where the law is interpreted. The reason for this power division and how it cycles well is so each part if the government can review the laws.

3- The federal government shapes the actions of state and local governments by identifying information first. In the case of COVID-19, the federal government worked with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in order to establish what the pandemic is and what to do to prevent infection and contain it. The research developed over time of the pandemic shaped how the federal government sent out orders to state and local governments based on safety protocol. Wearing masks and having social distancing was mandatory in certain places but laws in local areas may have been lighter due to friction with local and federal government. There were a lot of places that were divided based off political opinion and false information spread. This also shows how misuse of influence with wrong knowing of a subject can do more harm than good. Especially on a state level where local governments can become heated.

1- The concept of labor and the development of industry through that is what rings a bell when faction is mentioned. The word faction creates a divide groups those into categorial places. The labor mentioned in our previous discussions and how wealth is divided amongst them.

2- The source of wealth (private property) according to the Federalist #10 is keeping the wealth contained to the already wealthy. In other words, James Madison is speaking about limiting the access of money to those in the poor class. constantly subjected to selling manual labor to their higher ups in order to survive at the least. The cycle repeats with how two things are brought up, Liberty as to what drives the working class to try and try harder. Then diversity amongst men who have strength in numbers. Faculties in this case is a given sense of order to which men are divided and placed within to keep them apart from going against the wealthy. Created as a blockage that remains in effect today.

3- The explanation of wealth and poverty discussed in the reading is clear. Though I do agree with small parts, it is not how someone would describe wealth and poverty to someone who has no previous knowledge or continuous understanding of the topic.

4- The core mission, first objective of the US government is to ensure stability of the society run. There should be no violence between factions where it may turn to civil war in extreme cases. The US government serves as a rule to power the social classes and protect them from one another if that logic is applied. Division is what ruins us and sounds different in relation to exclusion. Modern time US government tries to sweep these issue and cover them. Unlike the early government that was adamant on exclusivity. Today is no other than similar to what it started as where it tries to hide the blatant exclusion this time and lie to the citizens of what the truth is.

5- The Federalist #10 not being in favor of democracy is not surprising. The obviousness of why they dislike it is prevalent when speaking about the faction violence. “The inference to which we are brought is, that the CAUSES of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its EFFECTS…” Removing a right does not stop the problem and allowing it untamed makes it unmanageable.

1-The social class that wrote the Constitution based off readings 6.1 and 6.2 is the wealthy class of specifically men. All white men who happen to be of powerful influence to the rest of the social groups at the time. According to reading 6.1, “The working people of that day have been portrayed as parochial spending thrifts who never paid their debts and who advocated inflated paper money.” This quote portrays the working class as is thought be the by wealthy. Undisciplined in order to take control of benefits the government had to offer. Which in modern society has not changed much given that government benefits such as well-fare and food stamps are still around. It presents an image of dependence that the working class are all grouped into when that is untrue for a lot of us. Second, in Reading 6.2 it says how marginalized groups of people were excluded from the Constitution. “… the slaves, the indented servants, the mass of men who could not qualify for voting under the property tests imposed by the state constitutions and laws, and women, disenfranchised and subjected to the discriminations of the common law. These groups were, therefore, not represented in the Convention which drafted the Constitution, except under the theory that representation has no relation to voting.” Many groups in the added quote were excluded from the Constitution’s draft and later the final writing of it. Representing the exclusivity much of this power had to the wealthy class.

2- A small reference to contemporary time was made in my previous statement. How modern social class of the United States has not much changed other than the implemented laws. Even with laws in place, discrimination and exclusion is not eradicated as an issue. Unfortunately, the similarity remains as working class citizens are still labeled as dependent on the government. A highly subjective and incorrect natured statement grouping together many different minority groups who belong to the umbrella term of working class. The government is no help in de-escalating what hostility working class social class citizens face considering most laws we had previously to protect us are being overturned in modern time. Proving that there has been a reversal or a step-back than progression to where we need to be as a society.

3-The people who wrote the Constitution were so afraid of democracy because it made their power over the working class less effective. Since those in the working class were a majority of citizens, their voting in a democratic social structure would throw the wealthy off. The influence the money has is still prevalent but not as much as when numbers of citizens are in affect. No way in escaping that number to out count the amount of money a person has in their pockets to influence their power dynamic away from the majority.

1-Means of production refers to the tools needed to make a product. Such as machinery and equipment in the process. An example of this can be an oven for a bakery. The equipment needed to bake cakes and other pastries for the business. Labor refers to the human effort and time placed into making a product. An example would be stirring batter in a bowl to make a cake. Then placing the pan of cake mix into an oven.

2-Value is the worth of something, usually in comparison to something else. The value of labor would logically make something more expensive if more effort was placed into it. That is not the case when talking about the video’s value. The value of the video could also mean quality of something because labor does not equate to value. Usually quality does, as something with better quality is considered more valuable. The 5.1 video breaks down value and how not all labor intensive products are seen as more or of higher value. Think about how much labor goes into farming for example and yet they pay workers so little for their labor.

3-Labor and value are connected by how products are seen to be of more or higher profit with done labor. Labor focuses on human effort placed into production. Value focuses on how much it costs or how much more worth it is in comparison to something else. They relate depending on what is being made or produced, how much effort are people putting into making it and does it cost more to make? Usually value relates to the pay off of the product made and compares it to the production of the item. There is little to no point in making something with little value if the labor is too high and the pay off is even less valuable than the cost to produce it.

4-Labor refers to the effort place into making or working towards something. Labor power refers to the potential amount of labor that will be needed in order to make a product. The way I understand this is through context clues. Usually power in this case could be the man power needed to produce something.

5-Surplus value refers to a difference between value of a product and the cost of producing it. The importance of knowing the cost difference is if you’re getting what you paid for. In the working class, you want to know if the money you put labor into making is really paying off. This includes wanting good products to consume. In the eyes of capitalists, the money you put into producing items must be less than the value of your products. That said, capitalists tend to mark up the value of their products to lower the difference of surplus value. An example would be electronics, cheaper parts to make an expensive product. The difference in surplus value would be less than making a higher quality product with less pay off.

1-Wealth inequality has become more rampant in modern capitalist society. The US statistic displaying 90 percent of American families having little to no assets and a combination of debt and mortgages is mortifying. Reason behind this inequality is because there is no circulation of wealth. Most of those with wealth continue to increase it and keep it to their own investments. Sharing it only with other high wealthy capitalists.

2-Society has had its clear changes in wealth for the better and worse. In modern times, this has become more than out of hand. A big example is neighborhoods and how safer places tend to have more expensive living. Such as housing, groceries and other businesses. In everyday life, I see it when I travel to BMCC and Manhattan for in-person class. Seeing prices of lunch in comparison to where I live is scary. Most times I opt to bring from home and pack a lunch or early dinner. Whenever I look around, too often I see wealthy people pass those who are begging on the streets near the subway. It has become worse since Covid and the rise of inflation.

When I travel back to the area I live, there is a huge shift. More normal and working class people are seen. Prices of food are not as mortifying but still warry to lookout for. There is also more homeless people in my area that surround the small business. Lots of liquidation places where thrift stores are too, not any well known big chains or fancy small places to shop.

1- M-C-M’ refers to M for money, C for commodity and, M’ for money at the end of the transaction. The diagram used refers to how capitalists maintain and increase their wealth by circulating money in this system. Reading 5.1 refers to cloth weavers as means of commodity. Instead of personal use, cloth is made to resell into clothing and other goods to increase profit. Doubling the value since there is labor placed into the product and creates a loop for more money made by capitalists.

Labor power is another factor that adds to the surplus value, M’ in the diagram. The estimated amount of man power needed to be paid in order to produce something also takes money out of production. That is why capitalists deliberately plan ahead to lower costs of production to try and come up with a surplus value that is reasonable to them. Maintaining high wealth means cutting corners in some areas from what a lot of products say today. Seeing appliances from the 1950’s in comparison to today is a good example of how M-C-M’ has become an issue for consumers. Since capitalists want consumers to keep coming and buying again, many products do not have a life time warranty. Nor hold up to high standards than back in the day.

(Disclaimer: 4.2 reading is not available to me so I will be comparing 4.2 and 4.3 instead.)

1-The way social class is discussed between readings 4.1 and 4.3 is similar because there is a higher class and lower class. Specifically, higher classes in the 4.1 reading are those with wealth. Those who can spend money without having to worry about it. The lower class are those who are unable to have such luxuries. The social objective here describes how the perspective of Americans is skewed so much. It undermines how much each class is actually earning. 4.3 reading discusses a similar phenomenon between big businesses and small businesses. The two discuss how often the scales are tipped against the smaller and poorer classes. That the monopoly of big businesses and the wealthy has significantly skewed the charts.

The difference between the 4.1 and 4.3 readings is how they address the issues. 4.1 provides an overview on what Americans perceive their social class to be. The factors being income, wealth, education and occupation. 4.3 provides a deeper view of how capitalism has become skewed overtime. Labor was discussed in the reading to be a driving factor. To provide better for those in the lower classes. Small businesses are often overlooked or crushed due to the credibility larger businesses have above them. The history along with statistic details in 4.3 shows how unfair it was from the start.

2- I live in New Jersey and the area around me is a very dense city. Mostly small businesses and local shops. The poor working class tends to live in my neighborhood. Although recent changes have been showing up. Some areas near me are getting bought out by large companies to make luxury apartments. 4.1 concepts do not make this surprising to me given it was progressing through many years. Eventually all these higher classes and businesses saw a chance to make even more money at the working class expense.

3- Based on reading 4.2, a general pattern of social classes have in NYC is how divided it is. I mainly saw the poorest of neighborhoods when I grew up. Queens Far Rockaway and Elmhurst where always crowded and poor. Going to school in Manhattan feels so odd considering the area is rich. Many business people and those with stable jobs live around there. I believe NYC has a wide range of social classes where I have yet to see. My view comes from extremes and experiences.

1- The distinction Reading 4.3 makes between owners and employees is how each live. Owners are those who can live in luxury. Not have to worry about anything except expanding their businesses. The wealthy stockholders of giant corporations. Employees are those who live off wages, salaries, and fees. Those who cannot afford to live in such luxury and carefree.

2- The quote by Adam Smith on pg. 28 refers to labor as a driving force. How working can push the real standard of luxury as an earned for prize rather than passive. Labor and hard work pushes away from a socialist stand point where everyone has equal chances. Working for what you want should be a drive for many Americans. Pushing our capitalist nature further as many businesses strive to be on top.

3- The main argument of Reading 4.4 is how social class is not an identity. A person’s social class should not tie into identity because it could change. My thoughts include how it is limiting to people and often exclusionary. There should be no involvement between identity and social class to define a person. That a person should identify in the working class and feel like they are unable to get themselves out. Just because they grew up within a social class that was less fortunate.

4- “Class structures built around a close form of dependency” is Reading 4.4 way of saying status is all that matters. The classes are divided to give those with money an edge and those without money no benefit. An example of this is the structure of jobs today. Most employees with decent jobs have a Bachelors or higher. Even multiple degrees which is unachievable without money. I would like to say a lot of those with high degrees are those from rich families. The close form of dependency these multiple degree holders have on their old money.