...Wealth & Power in America Name Institution Wealth & Power in America 1. In your opinion, who has political power in the United States? Who lacks it? Why? The congress has the political power in the United States. This is because the congress is entitled to writing the laws. The government and the president do not have the political power in U.S. The president is only entitled to signing the laws made by the congress. The Supreme Court, on the other hand, only decides whether the made laws are constitutional or not (Barret, Stokholm, & Burke, 2001). The wealth and the rich also have immense political power in U.S. 2. What is your opinion of the "American Dream" and the idea that anyone can work hard and succeed? “American Dream” refers to a concept that argues that people can lead happy and successful lives if they embrace the need to work hard. It also argues that freedom, meaningful relationships, and a person’s fulfillment can be achieved if a person works hard. However, in my opinion, not all people can achieve the goal of this dream. This is attributed to the society-structure of the United States. People live in varying social classes, ethnicity, and religion. This different structure of the American society hinders the achievement of this dream (Barret et al., 2001). Some people face a lot of discrimination in the workplaces. Discrimination, in most of these workplaces, is based on one’s color and background ethnicity. Such people are denied job opportunities...
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...Wealth and Power in the United States POL/443 Wealth and Power in the United States What is wealth? Generally speaking wealth if the value of everything a person or family owns, minus any debts, G. W. Domhoff (2015). Although many of us think of the division of wealth as an equal in the United States, the reality is completely different and shocking; to say the least. Because of this, there are three theories created; pluralism, elite theory, and state autonomy. Each of these theories where created to understand the structure of power in the United States. As we see each of their purpose, a few question comes to mind; who benefits? Who governs? And who wins? In 2013 wealth inequality in the United States was greater than in most developed countries other than Switzerland and Denmark, Weissmann, Jordan (2013). The top 1% (also known at the elites) of the American population owns 42.7% of the country’s total wealth. Meaning the next 19% of Americans owning 50.3%, and the bottom 80% owning 7%, Deborah L. Jacobs (2011). However, after the Great Recession (which started in 2007), the share of total wealth owned by the top 1% of the population grew from 34.6% to 37.1%, and that owned by the top 20% of Americans grew from 85% to 87.7%. The Great Recession also caused a drop of 36.1% in median household wealth but a drop only 11.1% for the top 1%, further widening the gap between the top 1% and the bottom 99%. According to the Institute for Policy Studies, in September...
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...POWER AND WEALTH Individual Assignment “Power and wealth are intricately linked. Critically discuss drawing on at least two perspectives from the field of International Political Economy and practical examples from the global political economy” Introduction Robert Gilpin (1975) once defined International Political Economy as the “reciprocal and dynamic interaction in international relations of the pursuit of wealth and the pursuit of power”, allowing for the understanding of the relevance of power and wealth in the global economy. The study of International Political Economy provides an understanding of the interaction between the Market and the State, as well as the importance of their existence within countries around the world. In studying this particular area, it is important to familiarize oneself with the key elements and determinants which make up the global economy. Two factors which play an essential role in the global political economy are Power and Wealth. These are considered to be significantly linked, as they share many similar attributes, and many corporations and actively involved members of the State seek to achieve and/or maintain both aspects. Power is globally acknowledged as the ability to influence the behavior in other individuals, or the authority to make decisions. As illustrated by Dahl (1957), the intuitive idea of power allows for the understanding that “A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise...
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...Domhoff’s article, Wealth, Income, and Power, he examines wealth distribution in the United States, specifically financial inequality. He concludes that the wealthiest 10% of the United States effectively owns America, and that this is due in large part to an increase in unequal distribution of wealth between 1983 and 2004. Domhoff also states that the unequal wealth distribution is due in large part to tax cuts for the wealthy and the defeat of labor unions. Most of Domhoff’s information is accurate and includes strong, valid arguments and statements. However, there is room for improvement when identifying the subject of what is causing the inequality. The most important points made in Domhoff’s article are his statistics, the reason behind the unequal wealth distribution, and his closing statement concerning the top 10%. In his article, Domhoff cites many statistics regarding the distribution of wealth between America’s top and bottom percentiles. There is quite a bit of research to back up his claims, and his data is generally very accurate. However, when it comes to the cause of such gaps in wealth distribution, there is more to consider than simply tax cuts and labor unions. Domhoff begins with a broad overview of wealth distribution in the United States. He states that the top 1% held 34.6% of all privately held wealth, with 85% in the hands of the top 20%, leaving the bottom 80% in control of only 15% of privately held wealth. In terms of financial wealth, he states that...
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...DIGITAL BANGLADESH- CAN IT PREVENT CORRUPTION INTRODUCTION : The present fever to launch an extensive digitalization program is sweeping the Bangladesh political, business, and elitist minds. In the face of an overarching outlook of sustainable development the Bangladesh digitalization program runs into some grave questions. The paper points out that ethics as a strongly endogenous force in development is indispensable to keep in view the simultaneity of attaining growth and social justice. These targets are variously manifested in different sectors and quarters of the beneficiaries of growth and development. In this perspective, various comparative works in the literature are invoked toward establishing the essential national wellbeing for alleviating poverty. Wellbeing is established by participative complementarities between economic growth and social justice and their disaggregate manifestations. The digital good must therefore be understood as a socially inclusive empowering good, not as an element of traditional economic theory wherein only efficiency, and thus globalization and maximization behavior, turn out to be of sole attention. The paper introduces a new model upholding participative complementary synergy, learning, and unification by an epistemic guidance of development ethics. Such a model invokes a system and cybernetic approach that combines in an innovative way the analytical with the system and cybernetic view of development. Various facts and figures relating...
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...Wealth and Power in the US EDWIN SMITH Pol 443 January 6, 2015 KYLE HAGENBURGER Wealth and Power in the US Wealth and Power in the US To whom it may concern: This letter is to inform the public of how health care relates to the distribution and concentration of wealth in the U.S. and support the need to redistribute wealth in America. Wealth refers to the value of everything that a individual and family owns minus all its debts. Most of economists define wealth as marketable assets such as stocks bonds and real estate. In marketable securities, consumer durables like cars are not included because they are not readily converted into cash (Domhoff 2011). Power refers to the ability of controlling the behaviors of others, even against their will. Groups and individuals who have power are able to use it to increase their own interest. It is not necessary that individuals take these benefits at the cost of society. In the Unites States, social class is an arguable issue because there is a disagreement on its models and its existence in the country. Three class model that includes the rich, the middle class and the poor as believed by Americans. Among all the major economies, distribution of income in the United States is most unequal (Domhoff 2010)). The poverty level in the U.S. was $16,036 in 1997 for a family size of four. As with earnings difference, the poverty pace vary significantly between cultural groups. Difference in poverty and earnings has a chief...
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...To achieve power, wealth and fame is the best motivation for any person. These things are more tangible than other rewards such as emotions and feelings. Money and fame can lead people to being corrupted and doing actions that they wouldn’t normally do but because of their greed, they commit a bad act. Power, wealth and fame is the best motivation for any individual because it influences the to execute actions that a normal person would not be motivated to do. Whether it be bribery with the police, stealing another scientist’s works or committing scandalous acts, people have always been motivated to do acts that are questionable due to being influenced by power, wealth and fame. An individual’s conscience is strong but it is not as strong as the desire for growth. Kim Kardashian is an example of a person who was influenced due to power, wealth and fame. However she does not do these actions to such an extent that is problematic to society and harmful to others. Kim Kardashian is always craving to find new ways to achieve power, wealth and fame such as making the new phone app that is a game just so she could be relevant again with the media and social networks. If she was not so greedy when it came to fame and wealth, she would not have been...
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... The conflict theory focuses on the negative aspects of our changing society. This Theory rests on the premises that the history of society of class struggles, and over Powered with wealth and power, throughout this paper I will explain my personal View of sociology and provide evidence of the conflict theory, which will lead to The reasons for choosing this theory. Karl Marx (1818-1883) argued that it is tension and conflict that motivates us to Think and act differently (Vissing, Y. 2011). My personal view of this theory is that it Argues that the competition of individuals and groups for wealth and power is Fundamental process shaping social structure. There are so many people that are Overthrown with wealth and power until they forget the society and what it faces. Our economy is suffering with no help from those with all the power, rather than Working together to solve the problem, they are fighting against one another, our Attitudes and behavior plays a great deal in the way we think and look at society, Such as, what we wear, eats, and lives, all based on gender, race, religion, violence, Group behavior and personality. It is evident that a conflict is always concerned with a Distribution of power. An exertion of power is prerequisite to the retention of a share in the determination of Future relations---as well as for the acquiring or retaining of other...
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...Opportunity cost also analysis the considerable part of a company's in decision-making processes, but is not treated as an absolute cost in any financial statement. The upcoming best concern that a person can engage in is referred to as the opportunity cost of doing the finest being and ignoring the next prime thing to be done. Economic opportunity cost the basic problems in society. Therefore it focuses on the differences between human resources and natural environment. The basic scarcity could be an understanding in a confirming life, good life, and hope for a better one. After knowing what scarcity and opportunity cost, or economic opportunity loss, it made it easier for me to summarize the story of the concepts. The story “The Wealth of People,” helped me compare the definitions of the two concepts I chose and helped me explain how I would use this information in teaching an appropriate age group. For example, using the information...
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...an unequal distribution of power and wealth. The absolute power of the ruling class led to tragic conditions including slavery, which resulted in the deaths of thousands, and diminished the rights for the peasants, who never were able to participate in how the government was run or managed. Similarities between the Incan and Latin American class structures included a small population in the elite ruling class which consisted of wealthy landowners and a significantly larger lower class consisting of poor peasants who worked on estates. As a result, these governments were dominated by rich civilians who enacted laws and rules to meet their own wants and needs, without any considerations for the peasants. In both...
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...as a result of many conquests of his predecessors, Egypt was flooded with wealth, promoting a flourishing civilisation. With this sense of stability and wealth, Amenhotep was able to invest his time into building programs, building extensively at Thebes, Luxor and Karnak, which also resulted in an advancement in art and religion. In order for his reign to be as successful as it was, Amenhotep also had to promote the image of warrior pharaoh in order to maintain ma’at. Amenhotep governed his empire by a policy of diplomacy, he needed to maintain the peace and stability through a carefully kept balance of power between greater and lesser kingdom. Due to these factors Amenhotep has a highly successful reign for almost 40 years. With the empire at peace for most of his reign, Amenhotep was able to initiate a building program that would surpass that of any of his predecessors. O’Conner says “few Pharaohs from any period of Egyptian history are as noteworthy for their monument-building activities as Amenhotep III.” The Temple of Luxor is an example of the architectural achievements during Amenhotep’s reign. Reeves says that it is Amenhotep’s principal architectural triumph. The temple was built for the purpose of the Opet Festival. This festival renewed the pharaoh’s power and reaffirmed that he was the god’s son. Reliefs in one of the chambers depicts Amenhotep’s divine birth and establishes his divine power to uphold ma’at. Amenhotep’s mortuary temple is the largest royal temple known...
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...be described also as an imbalance, and with such an imbalance in terms of income, wealth, and class prosperity comes income inequality. Income inequality or economic inequality can be described as the imbalance between income of individuals or household within a country or class. When income inequality is brought up or mentioned, most people think about it in regards to the impoverished class and the ultra rich 1% but this is not the case. In a world that is becoming more and more integrated, economic inequality between the middle class and the top 1% is becoming much more relevant and much more of a problem that needs to be addressed. We live in a...
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...‘Violence in [the media] demonstrates power. It is portrays victims as well as the victimisers. It intimidates more than it incites. It paralyses than it incites. It defines majority might and minority risk. It shows one’s place in the ‘pecking order’ that runes society’ (Nacy Snow 2001:24) In a 21st century we believe that gender equality is widely accepted belief in the public conscience however popular fashion media is generally lead by patriarchal agenda to promote violence against women and male dominance in it advertising. The case studies of focus for this essay are the 2010 Calvin Klein and 2007 Dolce and Gabbana advertising campaigns. Both adverts display extreme sexualised violence against women by a group of men. The adverts show a women who is being held down by a oppressive male hand, while four men gaze at her. The same gaze at which English aristocrats would look at the the exotic women of Turkey in oil painting or how 21st century men look at women in internet pornography. The idea of wealth and sexual violence being linked in popular culture is a common place and I will also explore how the idea of wealthy is linked to women and their sexuality. Throughout art history women have been depicted from male perspective as weaker, passive receivers of violence and object of a sexual gaze. This can be seen up to the modern day with the movie such as ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. The Dolce and Gabbana advert 2010 is a prime example of the power struggles between men and women...
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...than me. I think there are three key elements to social classes that are a parallel with Thomas Greys Elegy Written in a Country Graveyard, wealth, position, and power. Wealth, Thomas Grey said “But knowledge to their eyes her ample page, Rich with the spoils of time did ne’er unroll; Chill Penury repressed their noble rage, And froze the genial current of the soul.” (Elegy line 49-52) When we hear the term wealth our minds go straight to money. Thomas Grey’s term wealth is talking about education and knowledge. Will being...
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...distribution of income. "Income inequality refers to the gap between the rich and the poor. The United States has the most unequal income distribution in the industrialized world, and it is growing at a faster rate than any other industrialized country" Bernard Sanders (1997). What's really going on with the economy? - Unequal distribution of wealth and income. [ONLINE] Available at: www.usatoday.com. [Last Accessed 04/27/2012]. Society defines this social issue as the disparity between the few at the very top of the income ladder, and the many at the bottom. Recently, the Occupy Movement has defined this problem has fight between the 1% and the 99%. The social classes that are most impacted by this disparity pretty much cover the spectrum as we are all affected. The most latent effects are probably found in the poor, in single-mothers, and in the minority classes. Those are the classes that have the least amount of economic and social power at the onset. A persons clothing, housing and educational opportunities usually depend on their class, but that is a direct reflection of their income. A person does not gain any class or power without their income being taken into consideration. The only problem is, is that there is also class inequality, which further prohibits people to earn an equal income. Income inequalities in a society are a source of a variety of social problems in that society, almost without regard to the absolute level of income in the society. This...
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