1. The statistic of the top 1 percent owning between 40 and 50 percent of the nation’s total wealth. That includes stocks, bonds, investment funds, land, natural resources, business assets, etc. This is more than the combined wealth of the bottom 90 percent. In comparison to the 40 percent of families that own some stocks or bonds, but they only accumulate no more than $2000. The 90 percent of families have little or no assets unlike the vast amount of debts and mortgages. It can be said that there is no regulation between the top 1 percent and the rest. It changes the perspective of the US being a “mostly broad affluent middle class society”.  

2. Some implications can be a sense of superiority between those of higher class against lower class people. Where income and wealth matters to an extent of getting something more easily. I have seen this before in some cases of the new playstation 5 pro coming out with reserve orders before the initial public release. In these cases the prices are higher given that they are limited and the stock replicas will be sold out soon. The rest of the public will buy and resell for higher prices as to make up for not being able to afford the pre order sale before. Leaving the people who can’t afford either in a financial hold to wait even longer for a fair price. Restriction of social mobility is a main one where having greater wealth gives more access to higher education quality, healthcare, and opportunities for a better quality of life. People who don’t have the wealth or may only be able to afford one aspect of these benefits with their wealth don’t get to reach their full potential. This is often passed down in their families. For example those in remote rural areas than those in urban main city districts have to travel to get a chance of partaking in greater economic and social development opportunities. Or they get left out from advancing forward.

1. I understand the means of production as the supplies and materials. For example I need my laptop, wifi, and a place to study in order to focus and do schoolwork at my best. In my case I don’t own these means of production entirely as they are mostly privately owned. Labor to me is what I have and how I can increase the value of it. For example, if I own paper, I can draw a piece of art that may increase its worth if it’s valuable in the art industry.
2. Value is measured by how much labor it takes to produce under normal circumstances. The means of production that it takes makes the production of labor more valuable. Whether it’s by hand or by machinery.
3. Labor is measured in time, hours, and minutes. The more labor time it takes to make something under normal circumstances, the more valuable it is. A good scenario is if you can automate a process then the products become cheaper, given it takes less labor time to make them. On the contrary if a job requires a lot of special training then the products become more expensive since the time spent training is necessary labor to do the job.
4. Labor power is the ability to go out to work and do the labor. Alike to the energy we have to do labor to the best of our ability. In contrast to labor being what I produce and how long it takes of my time. It’s the only commodity that when applied increases the value of the labour.
5. Surplus value is value on top of the value it takes to the amount of labor going into you as the same as to the amount of labour coming out of you. The profit that the laborer makes ends up belonging to the boss or to the company. An example is making candy products. The owners sell the products for profit and keep that profit you generated through your hard work labor.

1. Some similarities are that social class is based on common socioeconomic variables such as income, education, wealth and even occupation. These are the sources by which people often associate themselves from the 5 social class types. Some differences such as in reading 4.1 where age, race, and residence location has an impact on the social class that people associate themselves with. It’s not very common but can be important to include social class as a value of identification. 

2. On the 46st station served by the 7 train in Queens, the middle social class tends to live in my neighborhood. I am not surprised and assert that this is a dominant reality as many in the neighborhood commute to and from Manhattan everyday to work. Given the high salaries of work that they probably earn. People meet the consistent rent prices of $2,000 and upwards to live here. Except for the very few who work nearby can be considered as working class to make just enough to live in the neighborhood. 

3. I notice that social classes like upper middle and upper class live and commute within Manhattan or near the outskirts of manhattan strongholds for high paying jobs. Also reside in more safer neighborhoods. Then middle and working class residents reside in average residence locations not too far from transportation. They may or may not work at high paying jobs in the city but they make enough to make a living. The lower class often reside in far away neighborhoods or in neighborhoods considered very affordable to live cheaply. But can be on the downside due to the environment and lack of resources.

1. The distinction between owner and employees is by the range of income within both classes. The owners live off investments, stocks, bonds, rents, mineral royalties, and other property income. They don’t really do the work. On the other hand, employees live off wages, salaries and fees. Employees do the hard work of labor but are repaid less than the surplus value they make for the owners, which the owners take more.  

2. I think he means that labor is the true source of income to be successful. While money is the pretextual reward to be successful. Labor is the most important resource to depend on to generate wealth and sustainability as long as it exists. There will be supply and demand. The true worth of value relies on labor not the money generated in the end. 

3. I think that class is not an identity as it might seem as with gender and race. On the economic side it might tend to resonate with the inequality of one gender to another and certain races. In that case class may have something to contribute to this issue. Another point is that to target class as an identity has to do with targeting corporate owners who benefit from the struggle of the working class. As they in charge depend on the most valuable source being the people’s labor for their income. 

4. I interpret it as employees and owners both need each other to make a living. This close form of dependency is one sided if there isn’t any backlash from being taken advantage of. As reading 4.4 states the reality, “Workers urgently need employment, while capitalists see a long line of workers applying for any given job”. This is where worker strikes come into act to keep the owners in check with the demands of the workers. This is a somewhat balanced system between both class structures as they need each other to keep the economy going.

1. Repressive State Apparatus is the judicial system of police, prisons, and even the army . Althusser calls it repressive as it enforces rules and standards that maintains order by force. Althusser says it in this way to assert the forces and correlation that put fear into society through sanctions and violence when people don’t understand by words. An example is a protest march in the streets, where authorities show up and tell people to back up and leave. This force of authority is meant to maintain law and order in case things escalate. 

2. Ideological State Apparatus is the programming state of mind that maintains their obedience in society without force. They are the institutions and programs that portray expectations and rules such as schools, family and the media. People follow easily as they see this as normal and right to go by what they see as influential.  

3. Repressive state apparatus uses violence or the threat of violence to maintain control by force one way or another. People will feel expected to obey and comply. Ideological state apparatus maintains force by influential ideology. Such as the teachings of religion, education and ideas that influence the mind to operate based on what is seen as appropriate without having to be under pressure to follow.    

4.    Below is an example of Repressive state apparatus since law enforcement is being used to assert control of any escalation in the form of riots. And to shut down any further advance of the cause that people are protesting about.

1. Ideology to me is the concept of a perpetuated view and mentality of how a society should work. Ideology is a set of beliefs and ideas that a great representative of a group represents. I think of ideology in terms of economic and political ideas in the world. Ideology can be good or bad. Ideology has a great influence on the targeted audience that it represents and tries to reason with. People look for various ideologies that match their ideology in mind in the private or public sector. Ideologies can be biased or based on common sense. 

For example nationalism is the ideology that a country should remain to its culture and ways that differentiate it from other countries. Represented by its people, food, culture, life customs and language which makes the country united. 

Ideologies rise and change over time due to the perceptions of the world evolving and information that comes from across the world. The mindset that we have is the most common ideology we program ourselves to in life. The expectations, goals, and opportunities that we look to achieve are what shapes our way of viewing the world based on how we should work and succeed. This is the type of ideology that affects our way of living. It can be good or bad if we ever decide to change our ideas and ways. 

2. The difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics is the role and necessity that the US Government should play in the country. Conservative are considered as right wing and liberals as left wing. Conservatives believe that the government poses a great threat to individual liberty. The government should be limited by the involvement that states and localities hold in power. For conservatives, the free market is the economic force that provides the benefit to most people, but in reality it’s not always the case. The military budget should be kept high for the nation’s sake. The idea of lower spending will result in lower taxes. Life should be reflected by traditional religious and patriotic values. 

Liberals believe in the great role the government can bring to life in the US. Such as giving out handouts in welfare programs. As well as in the economic sector by regulations and high taxes on the elite. Equality is the main cause that the government should be involved in. Meanwhile liberty is the main cause that the government should not be involved in as much. An example is liberals demanding financial aid as welfare aid, meanwhile conservatives think that people should be responsible and strong to depend on themselves without the help of the government. 

3. I understand althusser’s definition of ideology as a way of conditioning the mind. Both as an imaginary state of being conditioned by societal expectations. And operating based on what happens in the real world. You have the free will to follow along or not. This is the way of people going on what is needed to live whether it be unconsciously or consciously as it is in demand to be part of society. People must be checked upon as there is a role for everybody to play in to keep society how it seems fit. For example, going to school 5 times a week for 8 hours is the ideal schedule to learn the basic subjects. This model promotes organization and productivity in a timely manner.