Gilmore says racial capitalism began when European groups turned into “white” people and used ideas of race to explain why some should have more power and money than others. “Whiteness” is not real—it’s a made-up idea that helps keep racism going as a way to make rich people richer by treating groups unfairly. Racism creates big differences in wealth and opportunities, and it can happen even without only white people involved. The prison system makes more “criminals” by turning small acts into big crimes, handing out very long sentences, and making life hard after release—no good jobs, no housing, no support. This traps people and pushes them back into trouble, so prisons stay full and profitable. I have reservations about her research that shows most people return to prison not because they are bad inside, but because the system blocks their way to a normal life. It might be a generalization based on historical facts and statistics, however, every mind is a world of its own. “Liberation struggle” means everyday people in a neighborhood join together to solve their own problems caused by unfair systems. They study what is wrong, talk and plan together, build strong community ties, and help each other survive and fight back—like groups stopping evictions by sharing knowledge, food, and support. It is about making real freedom through caring for one another and standing strong as a group.
D.B 13 Chris Pomales MLK
A Just law agrees with God’s moral law (or natural law) and lifts people up, treats them as full human beings with dignity. An unjust law goes against God’s moral law and degrades or harms human personality. It does make a difference and it can affect politics in a way where representation of elected leaders can determine the laws that are adopted and the way we live within that society. If people believe all laws must be obeyed no matter what, terrible injustice can be legal like slavery once was or Nazi laws. Knowing the difference lets individuals and society say no to immoral laws through civil disobedience. Examples today of Just laws at a local level in the U.S., although of a different magnitude and purpose would be the NYC traffic laws. The purpose would benefit society as a whole by decreasing accidents, preventing deaths and establishing order in the roadways. Along those lines, an Unjust law would be imposing a mandatory Congestion Fee for drivers to pay for mass transit. Or getting into a yellow cab or ride share vehicle and obligatorily having part of that fare pay for the train when one is paying for a private car service. “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly”, said MLK.
11.1 Chris Pomales Pol 100-508
Chris Pomales Pol 100-508 11.1
1. Imagine you paid $300 for a bike online during COVID, but the store closed and never sent it. Congress and the President were busy sending checks to millions and your tiny problem doesn’t fit their big plans. The Mayor and City Council focused on keeping hospitals open and buses running and one lost bike is too small. But the courts are like your personal helper. A judge listens only to you, checks the rules, and can order, “Give the money back!” Courts protect one person at a time, not just the whole crowd.
2. Imagine your town votes to let a factory dump smoke near your house. Elected leaders follow the crowd, but federal judges are appointed, not elected. They check: “Does this break clean air rules?” One can think of judges like a strict librarian. Young people (voters) might want loud parties, but the librarian guards quiet study rights, even if unpopular. Or picture a city seizing your business for a mall. Appointed judges, free from campaign pressure, protect your property rights. This isn’t anti-democratic, it’s a safety net. Appointed judges stay fair, defending you when the majority gets greedy or act improperly.
Chris Pomales 7.1
As a concerned citizen, I’m always thinking about how much say we really have in our government. In a unitary system, power’s all at the top—citizens mostly vote for and deal with the national leaders; local folks just carry out orders. Federal systems, like ours, split power: we engage at national, state, and local levels, voting on everything from schools to taxes, giving us more direct input. Confederations flip it—states run the show, so citizens focus there; the national group’s weak and needs state okay for big moves.
I see division of power as a safeguard: it spreads authority between branches (like president, congress, courts) and levels (federal vs. states) to prevent anyone hogging control, with checks to keep things fair.
During COVID, the federal government shaped New York’s actions through billions in CARES Act funding tied to testing, masks, and lockdowns, plus FEMA aid for NYC’s tracing and hospitals. It enabled quick response but showed feds steering states with money.
Discussion Board 6.2 Chris Pomales
A faction is a group of people united by shared interests or emotions that might harm others or the community, like rich landowners or upset workers pushing their own goals. To control factions, there are two methods: removing their causes or managing their effects. Removing causes means either taking away freedom, which allows factions to form, or making everyone think the same, but both are flawed. Taking away liberty hurts everyone, and forcing the same opinions is impossible. Instead, controlling effects through a republic, where elected leaders balance interests, works better. The word “faculties” refers to people’s natural abilities, like skills in business or farming, which lead to different wealth levels and create factions. A pure democracy has everyone voting directly on laws and works in small places, while a republic has elected leaders making decisions and can handle larger areas and more people.
Discussion Board 6.1 Chris Pomales
Who wrote the Constitution and who was left out? The Constitution was written by wealthy men like merchants (e.g., John Hancock) and landowners (e.g., George Washington), who owned big businesses or land, according to Parenti and Beard. Poor people—like small farmers, workers, slaves, women, and Native Americans—were left out and couldn’t vote or participate. The rich had money and power; the poor worked hard but had no say. Is today’s class structure the same as early America’s? It’s different. Back then, only rich people had power, and most couldn’t vote. Today, everyone can vote, and people can move between classes (poor, middle, rich) through jobs or school, but the rich still have more influence. Why were Constitution writers scared of democracy? They worried poor people would use democracy to take their wealth, like forgiving debts or taxing the rich. Parenti says they wanted to control power; Beard says they protected their money from the poor.
Chris Pomales- Ideology
- To me, Ideology is a set of beliefs of how they work. It is how we see the world whether as a group or individual. An example would be democracy. I understand Ideology as a vision of how the world be and the behavior it should adopt. Sometimes shared by oneself or many others.
2. Differences between conservatives and liberal ideologies are very well defined with little or no government intervention or heavy government participation and taxation. The focus on calculated choices, free economic industry and support only for the neediest is a conservative standpoint. Social justice and equality are trademarks of the Liberal movement. An example would be when conservatives see the government as a threat to individual liberty during legislation of a bill for limitations or amendments to the right to bear arms or when liberals want equal opportunity/access and special preferences to employment hiring based on race, age or gender.
3. Althusser says that accepting ourselves as we are brought onto this earth should leave us complacent in our role in society. In the Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA) people participate in their respective role without question. Schools and the media are examples of ISA’s where social order ensure people participate.
Chris Pomales- RSA
- Repressive State Apparatus (RSA) is the idea that people are controlled by the government through violence. This prevents people from challenging the rules. Repressive in the sense that if there is nothing to fear then you will not obey and if you do disobey you will receive harm.
- RSA’s it is how a ruler maintains control through the use of force. RSA’s consists of public institutions that function primarily thought the use of violence and coercion to ensure social order and protect the interests of the dominant class.
- The difference between Repressive and RSA’s: Examples of Repressive are the police, courts, and prison system. RSA’s examples are educations systems, religious organizations, media and cultural organizations.
