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.

The means of production are the tools, machines, buildings, and materials that are used to make goods. Basically, anything you need to turn raw stuff into products is part of the means of production. Jalée explains that capitalists own these things, which gives them control over the production process (Jalée, pp. 22–23). For example, a factory, the machines inside it, and the raw materials like steel or wood are all means of production.

Labor, on the other hand, is the work that people do to turn those raw materials into finished products. It’s the human effort that actually creates value. Jalée calls labor power a unique commodity because workers create more value than the wages they are paid (Jalée, pp. 24–27). For example, a carpenter working in a furniture factory adds value by turning wood into a table that sells for much more than the carpenter’s wage. Parenti adds that in the United States, most workers must sell their labor because they don’t own the means of production, which is why wealth ends up concentrated in the hands of a few (Parenti, pp. 29–35).

2. Another important concept in understanding social class is value. Based on the ideas presented in Video 5.1, what is value?  What give “value” to value, what makes something valuable? 

Value, according to Marxist theory and Video 5.1, is the worth of a commodity based on the labor required to produce it. Something becomes valuable because human labor has gone into creating it, not just because it’s shiny or popular. Jalée explains that machines and materials only transfer their existing value into a product, but labor adds new value that didn’t exist before (Jalée, pp. 25–27).

For example, a smartphone has value because workers put time and skill into designing, assembling, and programming it. Without labor, the raw materials alone wouldn’t be nearly as valuable. Parenti emphasizes that in society, the value created by labor is not fully returned to the workers—it mostly goes to the capitalist class, which is why wealth is concentrated (Parenti, pp. 31–36).

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

Labor and value are directly connected. Labor is what creates value in a product. Jalée explains that the value of a commodity comes from the labor that produces it, and specifically from the part of labor that produces more than the worker is paid in wages (Jalée, pp. 24–27). In other words, labor is the source of all surplus value.

An example: a factory worker may be paid $100 for a day’s work, but the goods they produce sell for $150. The extra $50 is value that comes directly from the worker’s labor. Parenti notes that this is why workers do not accumulate wealth even though they produce it—they are paid only a fraction of the value they create, while capitalists take the surplus (Parenti, pp. 33–36).

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 is subtle but very important. Labor power is the capacity or potential to work, which workers sell to capitalists in exchange for wages. Labor, on the other hand, is the actual work done—the effort applied to produce value. Jalée points out that labor power is unique because it can produce more value than it costs to hire it (Jalée, pp. 24–27).

Think of it like this: a worker’s labor power is like a battery that can be used for work. When the worker actually builds a table, operates a machine, or cooks a meal, that is labor. The capitalist buys labor power but benefits from the actual labor, especially the part that produces surplus value.

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 is the extra value workers create beyond what they are paid in wages. It is important because it is the source of capitalist profit and explains how the wealthy maintain and grow their wealth (Jalée, pp. 27–29).

For example, if a worker produces $200 worth of goods in a day but is only paid $80 in wages, the $120 difference is surplus value. Parenti points out that this is why wealth is concentrated: capitalists take the surplus value for themselves, reinvest it, and expand their economic power, while workers remain dependent on wages (Parenti, pp. 36–46). Understanding surplus value helps explain why social classes exist and why economic inequality persists.

Surplus value is the extra value workers create beyond what they are paid in wages. It is important because it is the source of capitalist profit and explains how the wealthy maintain and grow their wealth (Jalée, pp. 27–29).

For example, if a worker produces $200 worth of goods in a day but is only paid $80 in wages, the $120 difference is surplus value. Parenti points out that this is why wealth is concentrated: capitalists take the surplus value for themselves, reinvest it, and expand their economic power, while workers remain dependent on wages (Parenti, pp. 36–46). Understanding surplus value helps explain why social classes exist and why economic inequality persists.

1. Means of production and labor (with examples)

The means of production are the tools, machines, buildings, and resources used to make things. Basically, anything needed to produce goods or services. Labor is the actual work people do using those tools.

For example, in an Amazon warehouse, the building, conveyor belts, scanners, and trucks are the means of production. The workers packing boxes, loading trucks, and organizing shipments are the labor. Without labor, the means of production don’t do anything by themselves.

2. What is value? What gives value to value? (Based on Video 5.1)

Based on the video, value comes from labor. Things aren’t valuable just because they exist or because money is attached to them. They become valuable when human labor is applied to them.

The video explains that workers create value by putting time, energy, and skill into producing things. However, workers usually create more value than they are paid for. That extra value is what Marx calls surplus value, which becomes profit for the owner.

So what gives value to value isn’t money or machines alone it’s labor. A machine sitting there does nothing. Money sitting there does nothing. Value only appears when people work.

For example, warehouse workers might create thousands of dollars’ worth of products in a day but only get paid a small portion of that. The rest becomes profit for the company.

3. How are labor and value related?

Labor and value are directly connected. Labor is what creates value. The more labor that goes into producing something, the more value it can have.

The video shows that value doesn’t come from exchange alone — it comes from production. Workers produce value first, and then that value shows up later as profit when goods are sold. Without labor, there is no value to sell in the first place.

4. Difference between labor and labor power

Labor is the actual work someone does the hours spent producing something. Labor power is a worker’s ability to work, which they sell to an employer for wages.

In capitalism, workers don’t sell the value they produce they sell their labor power. The employer then uses that labor power to extract more value than what they pay the worker.

For example, a worker might get paid for an 8-hour shift, but during that shift they create more value than their wages cover. That difference benefits the owner, not the worker.

5. Surplus value: what it is and why it matters

Surplus value is the extra value workers create beyond what they are paid. This is where profit comes from.

It’s important because it explains how social classes work. Owners make money by taking surplus value created by workers, while workers depend on wages to survive.

For example, if a worker produces $300 worth of value in a day but only gets paid $120, the remaining $180 is surplus value that goes to the company. That’s how wealth builds at the top while workers stay stuck earning wages.

Mariam Kone 

Pol 100

1.Means of production are the items a worker uses to create some sort of labor. Labor is the only thing that can increase the value of the item or service being possessed.

2.Value is how much labor something takes to make under normal circumstances.

3.Labor and value are related because one needs the other in order to sustain the balance. Labor is the work that creates value, and the value of products is often determined by or linked to the amount of labor involved in making them.

4. The difference between labor and labor power is labor refers to the physical work being done by a worker, whereas labor power refers to the ability of workers to perform labor. Labor power is the potential to work and produce power. Labor just refers to the actual effort being put into producing a product or service.

5. Surplus value refers to the additional value of a worker but the wages don’t reflect the extra value. People are usually paid less than what they work. This is important to know about within our class because it will help us to understand our current economy, which has much to do with politics. Right now The United States is going through a period of inflation and prices especially in New York are at an all time high. Minimum wage in NYC is $16.50 which realistically isn’t enough to sustain a decent lifestyle in NYC. Even with people working full time and over time it’s barely enough to scrape by. An example of surplus value is if a worker makes $20 an hour but produces goods worth $60, the surplus value is $40. The extra $40 is profit for the employer. 

1. The means of productions are the items and materials needed in order to make a product. For example if your creating an artwork the means of production would be the paint for the art and the brushes needed to paint the picture. Labor is the amount of work we put into a product and increases the value of the items. For example using the paint and the brushes and painting a picture would be labor since you worked to create a new product.
2. Value is how much labor it takes to make something under normal circumstances. What makes something valuable is its labor and how much of it went into the product.
3. Labor and Value are related because the more labor it takes to make a product the more valuable it is given its done under normal conditions. This is called the Labor Theory of Value.
4. The difference between labor and labor power is the the work you put into making a product while labor power is the ability to do labor. Its the ability to do work and increases the value of the product Labor power comes from people
5. Surplus value is the extra value that comes from my labor power and its the extra value that i don’t get paid for. The payment goes to my employer. This is important to know about social class because who gets that surplus value determines which social class they end up apart of.

1. Means of production are the tools used to create products. These tools are privately owned by the capitalists or businesses, not by the worker. For example, in healthcare the means of production would be the hospitals, technology used for communication between the doctors and patients, MRI machines, and tools used to perform surgical work. Labor is the physical work that goes into creating something. It is measured in time and increases the value of the product. For example, in healthcare the physical building or surgical tools do not save lives within itself. It is the doctor who performs surgeries using the proper tools that save lives.
2. Value is “measured by how much labor it takes to produce under normal circumstances.” This means the more time,energy, and effort placed into making something, the more valuable it is. One example is from the video when the concept of value was explained using wood as an example. If you get a piece of wood and do nothing to it, the value will remain the same. However, if you carve the wood into a chair, the value of the wood will increase.
3. Labor and value are related because labor is needed in order to produce or increase value. Value is measured by the amount of labor put into the product. For example, if you work for only one hour carving wood to create a chair, it will have a basic foundation and will not have details. However, if you spend more time adding details to the chair, the value will increase.
4. Labor is the physical active work that goes into making something. Labor power is the workers ability to do the work. Additionally, labor power is only found in people, and labor can be done by people and machines. In order to sustain labor power, the worker must have the basic means of life. These include food, shelter, and clothing. Without the basic means, a worker cannot work to their best ability.
5. Surplus value is the additional work the laborers put into the production of products that they do not get paid for. The extra value created only becomes the profit gained by the capitalist.This is important to know because this is the reason the working class will always struggle, while the rich continue to prosper off the labor of the working class.

These are usually owned by the capitalist or business owner, not the worker. For example, in a clothing factory, the sewing machines, the building, and the fabric are all part of the means of production. one the other hand, Labor is the actual work being put into producing the specific thing.

Value comes from the amount of labor and time invested in creating something. The more time and effort it takes, the more valuable it becomes. That’s why labor and value are connected. Labor creates value.

The difference between labor and labor power is that labor is the work itself, while labor power is your ability to work, which you sell to your boss in exchange for wages.

Surplus value is the extra value workers create that they don’t get paid for. For example, if a worker makes $100 worth of goods but only gets paid $20, the $80 is surplus value that goes to the owner. It’s key to understanding how inequality works in capitalism.

Reply

1. Means of production are the tools and resources you need to make something. For example a factory machines or farmland would count as means of production. Labor is the actual human work that goes into making things. For example the, the workers in the factory running the machines or planting crops are providing labor.
2. Value comes from the amount of work or labor that goes into making something. It’s not just about whether people want it but also how much human effort it takes to produce under normal conditions. For example, a diamond is valuable partly because of demand, but also because it takes a lot of labor to mine and shape it.
3. Labor and value are related. because labor is what creates value. Without people’s work, raw materials would just stay as they are. When workers put time and effort into making something, that’s what gives it value in the market.
4. The difference between labor and labor power is labor is the actual work you do, while labor power is your ability to work that you sell to an employer in exchange for wage. For example, when someone works at a grocery store, they’re selling their labor power (their time and skills) and then they perform the labor when they stock shelves or ring up customers.
5. Surplus value is the extra value that workers create but don’t get paid for, hence what the owners keep as profit. It’s important because it shows the inequality between workers and business owners. For example, if a worker makes $15 an hour but creates $50 worth of products in that same hour, the company keeps the extra $35.

1.Means of production are necessities to produce a final product. From my understanding the example I’m going to use is in the video I’ve watched on youtube he uses youtube, camera, microphone and editing software he was using in his means of production. Now labor is what increases the value of what you have. For example, in my understanding if I bought something from the facebook market and I see its potential value in it, I would either clean it up and resell it. I would want to profit because of my labor and the work I put into it.
2.Value is important because it measures how much labour it takes to make under regular conditions. It doesn’t matter if you make the product under 30 minutes or you take your time to make the product for 2 hours, there are many ways people describe what really gives it value depends if it the price is right or fair or some ignore it and see it as a set price its more of an accepted price point.
3.Labor and value are similar because labor is the work that a person/people put their work into and value is similar to labor by the work that is measured into the product, so both essentially are requiring work into the product.
4.The way I understand the difference between labor and labor power is that labor is if you put work into a product or sell something that is your labor because you are putting in time, it becomes more valuable. Now labor power is only found in people where the people go into work and get paid for it because you need to be sustained, for example if you work a certain amount of hours to have food, shelter and expenses.
5.Surplus value is when you the worker do additional work that is outside they are paid. The bonus value is kept by the employer. For example if I had to make meal prepped foods in a certain amount and I’m there from 9-5 but I finish by 3pm I would have to do additional work by making more meal prepped foods that is kept for extra profits for the employer, this is important for us know in class because this all falls into place of socials class and how capitalism work in our economy.

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Labor and means of production:

1. The means of labor are the products or services that enable the creation of something. An example of this could be Adobe Premiere. There are millions of creatives and companies using this software to make digital art.

1. Labor is the individual’s commodity. It is something that they are selling to their employers for their salaries. The more a person can accomplish with the least amount of labor provided, the more expensive each hour of their time becomes

2. What makes something valuable is what can be done with that item. A motorcycle would be much more valuable than a bicycle because of what it can be used for. While a motorcycle can take you across the country, a bicycle will only get you so far within your own city.

3. The relationship between labor and value is that of value, stating the worth of the amount of labor a person can provide. The same can be applied to anything that allows you to get a job done.

4. The key difference between labor and labor power is that labor power is the most labor is what a person provides, and being that labor power is something that is privately owned, it is controlled by the company and not the individual.

5. Surplus value is the outsized worth an item or service has relative to the cost to create that good or service. A surplus value is created any time an item is purchased at Nike. While the shoes only cost a handful of dollars to create, those same shoes will be sold for a markup that is 10 fold of what it costs to make them.