DB 5.1

1. 1. **C > M > C** (Commodity > Money > Commodity) illustrates the working class, where labor functions as the commodity. I exchange a product or my services to earn money, which I subsequently use to purchase other commodities.

• 2. **M > C > M** (Money > Commodity > Money) exemplifies the capitalist approach. Here, I begin with money, use it to acquire goods or services (the commodity), and then sell that commodity at a higher price to realize a profit.

• 3. The “M” represents MONEY, indicating the earnings for both social classes. The primary distinction lies in how they obtain it, depending on their respective methods.

• 4. How is money transformed into capital? When I use my money (M) to purchase a commodity, whether it be a service or a product, I carry out the necessary labor. Afterward, I sell the product at a higher price, generating a profit. With this profit, I can invest in various opportunities, thereby creating capital. As previously mentioned, owners and capitalists acquire their money through investments, while workers earn their income through wages.

DB 5.2

• Explain M-C-M’ to show how capitalists maintain and increase their wealth. Owners have money, which they have accumulated through investments made from the profits generated by low-cost labor. They hire workers who, in return, provide products or services. The owners then reinvest the profits they earn from these products, allowing them to accumulate even more wealth.

In “Wealth Inequality in America” and “What Determines How Americans Perceive Their Social Class?”, the authors explore the understanding and discussion surrounding social class. One striking similarity between the two pieces is how we, as Americans, perceive the social class system. In the first video, we are presented with a clear explanation of the social class system itself, our perceptions of how it functions, and the ideal version we hope it can achieve. This highlights the subjective nature of our understanding of social class dynamics.

In the second video, the 2nd paragraph expands upon the distinction between objective and subjective perspectives on social class. Objectively, factors such as income, wealth, education, and occupation significantly contribute to the classification of individuals within the social hierarchy. However, the subjective dimension arises from how individuals perceive and position themselves within this system, highlighting the interplay between personal identity and social categorization.

I observed a notable difference between the two videos. The first video shares information from the latest consensus, indicating that the top 20%, top 10%, and 1% of Americans control most of the nation’s wealth, while the middle class and those below are in a challenging situation.

In contrast, the seco^nd video explores the influence of education on an individual’s standing within the social class hierarchy. It suggests that individuals with a higher level of education are better equipped to assess their position in society.

1. The distinction between an owner and an employee is that one owns wealth while the other works for it. The top percent live off investments, while the other lives paycheck to paycheck for hours worked.
2. My understanding of Adam Smith’s perspective on “labor” is that it’s not just about the item itself but rather about the effort to create it. Adam Smith emphasizes not just the tree on the land but what comes from that tree, such as furniture and paper. In your video, you discuss the relationship between the owners and managers of Starbucks and the baristas. I used to be a barista for that company. The barista is responsible for creating the latte: grinding the beans, pouring the shots, and adding the extra ingredients like whipped cream and caramel sauce. All of this effort goes into the cup of coffee (or Frappuccino) that customers enjoy. This exemplifies labor—the barista does all the work, while the owners collect the rewards from the investments made in Starbucks. It reflects what Starbucks earns from that cup of coffee and what the chain stores collectively contribute to the profits of the big boss.
3. My initial impression of the reading is that it delves into the conflicting perspectives of Liberals and Socialists, shedding light on the confusion that emerges when politics and social economics intertwine. It examines the relationship between Owners and Employees and the complexities surrounding Race and Gender in the context of Capitalism. Liberals want to involve Race and Gender in everything. Social economics is not a personal identity but it’s about the relationship between the worker and owner. Social economics is not a personal identity problem. Liberals invoke such an ideology to create more confusion.
4. In the reading, the term example was “worker vs capitalist”. The working class depends on wages to survive while the capitalist depends on the workers. Capitalists exploit the workers by in return giving them low wages. I think everything you can think of today is just that. A notable recent example of labor unrest is the Amazon workers’ strike that took place a few months ago. Jeff Bezos boasts a net worth of $245.7 billion, while the average Amazon employee earns around $1,434 per week. Considering current economic challenges, such as rising housing costs and inflation, many workers are left struggling to make ends meet, often living paycheck to paycheck.

1. A repressive state employs force and coercion, which is why Althusser describes it as “repressive.” These states use fear as a tactic to suppress the population and maintain order. An example of a repressive state apparatus is how the media emphasizes narratives that instill concern over Trump’s potential return to office.

• On the other hand, ideological state apparatuses propagate beliefs through channels such as education, religion, and media. These apparatuses operate through school systems and media outlets, as they are integral and unavoidable aspects of daily life. As mentioned earlier, the media serves as a tactic to create and amplify fear.

• The difference between repressive and ideological apparatuses lies in force, fear, policing, imprisonment, and the judicial system. Ideology, on the other hand, involves the methods used to implement these structures.

•   “The Communist Manifesto” is an example of an ideology. It originated in Russia as a political movement opposing the Western idea of capitalism.  

1. My understanding of ideology can be interpreted as a personal belief system, a principle that one embraces wholeheartedly. It involves having a strict moral code and knowing what you believe to be the right course of action. For example, one might believe in living the traditional All-American life, though such a scenario exists only in an ideal world. When it comes to American politics, abortion is the number one topic of discussion. Conservatives tend to oppose abortion, while Liberals, tend to be opposite because of the belief of helping those in need. (Note: The thoughts were shaped before watching the video.)

I realized that ideology functions as a system that keeps people in check, essentially ensuring that the lower-class citizens stay in line or confront the fear of consequences aka Policing. This ideology has been ingrained in all of us from a young age. We are taught in schools to behave to authority, to believe that we have choices in our everyday lives, all the way to the end of our existence. What once existed as a feudal structure with “lords and kings” has just transformed into a system dominated by figures in suits, big corporations, and politicians, now the phrase “the rich keep getting richer”.

• I understood the difference between being a Liberal and being a Conservative as follows: Democrats and Liberals tend to support public welfare and advocate for providing aid and assistance to people both in the United States and abroad. In contrast, Republicans and Conservatives often emphasize a strong faith in Jesus, oppose universal healthcare, and are generally against abortion.

In school, we were taught that the United States was once a superpower since World War II, which instilled a belief that our country should help smaller nations in need. My first real awakening to the political landscape occurred in 2009 with the slogan “VOTE FOR CHANGE.” I vividly remember where I was on 9/11, as well as the discussions about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and the ongoing battles in Afghanistan that were pursued under President George W. Bush (Republican) largely for economic interests in oil. In 2006, Vice President Al Gore (Democrat) raised awareness about environmental issues and global warming in the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” Under President Obama (Democrat), a healthcare system was established to support middle and lower-class citizens. President Biden (Democrat) has focused on immigrants entering the country and the aid of other countries like Ukraine, while President Trump (Republican) emphasized an “America First” policy, ensuring the belief of returning the power to the United States once had. The dividing line among these leaders is evident in the topics they discussed, as well as their policies and concerns. Democrats tend to prioritize people and the environment, while Republicans focus more on the economy. In summary, as noted by Parenti in “Democracy for the few.”

• The way I understand Althusser’s definition of ideology is that it isn’t just a belief but a system to shape people through an “imaginary relationship” (talk about boundaries), Historically the ideology was imposed on people through lords and kings through force and fear. So, to prevent “rebel scum” from happening ideology went through the education system, religion, media, and even family.

My responses to the previous questions relate to Althusser’s definition of ideology. I believe that my education and my upbringing—especially the narratives I heard about the traditional American lifestyle and the ideals of a prosperous America—shaped my understanding in a way that felt like an ideology being imposed on me. I often reflect on the idea that “we are all born Democrats, and as we grow up, we become Republicans.”