...Both essays, "Framing Class, Vicarious Living and Conspicuous Consumption" and "Class in America-2012" talk about misconceptions and poor portrayals of how gender, race and class affect everyday Americans. Kendall's article more heavily talks about how the media "typically takes the heaviest of topics, such as class and social inequality, and trivialize it" (pp.424). The media shapes our everyday culture, and we have come to believe that the only way to get ahead in America is to identify with the rich and shun the poor. The media has also socialized us to believe that upper classes are better than us, while the poor and homeless are blamed for their own problems and are typically portrayed s bums, alcoholics and drug addicts (pp.425-427)....
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...“An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” –Plutarch. Inequality has been a problem for a long time, and every country has some form of inequality. It can be economic, social, and gender. Inequality is an issue, but there need to be poor for there to be rich. The problem is the gap between the rich and the poor. The distribution of wealth is too uneven. The main purpose of this essay is to address the question that many people are asking themselves: is inequality a consequence of too much or too little government intervention. The government intervenes in the economy in four ways. First, it produces public goods and services, such as education, infrastructure, national defense, and health care....
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...Income inequality is one of the big issues in 21st century. Unequal distribution of income in society is considered to be an obstacle to economic growth. The income allocation of a country’s population can be measured by a Gini coefficient. The value of Gini coefficient can be between 0 and 1 and used to define the income gap between the rich and the poor. The value 0 shows perfect equality and value 1 illustrates perfect inequality. The US can be an example of country with high income inequality. The US Gini coefficient has risen by 20% between 1979 and 2010 (Frizell, 2014). Factors like family structure (i.e. how many earners are there in family), technology (i.e. changes the way that we live), and immigration (i.e. changes the supply of...
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...nation’s increasing materialism, instructing us to “shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society.” Years later, this idea is just as relevant, if not more so. Our nation is facing the potentially dangerous problem of income inequality. There are constantly debates over the topic of raising the minimum wage, and with good reason: Between 1979 and 2009, the wealthiest 5 percent of American families saw income increases of 72.7 percent, while the lowest income group in America saw a decrease of 7.4 percent in income. Meanwhile, in the same time frame, productivity has increased by 90 percent. These issues combined have caused a huge wealth gap in America. This is primarily due, of course, to the selfish materialism of those higher-ups who prefer to have millions of dollars for themselves while the very citizens that work for them barely have enough to feed themselves. While this conflict has not yet become violent, it could do so quickly. Think of the French Revolution in the 18th century. It was caused by the poor finally rebelling against the rich who oppressed them. Already, in the present, there are some forms of rebellion, albeit nonviolent. The Occupy Wall Street Movement has protested this income inequality. While there are many different viewpoints on the subject, one solution to this issue is simple in theory: Those with more must give to those with less. If the millionaire CEOs, whose incomes have more than quadrupled since the 1980s, would...
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...What is the ‘Georgian worldview’ and how has this concept influenced the archaeology of eighteenth-century North America? The ‘Georgian worldview’ is a theory that uses a study of cultural development to determine the thoughts of the eighteenth-century North Americans. It was initiated by James Deetz in his first edition of In Small Things Forgotten (1977). The term encapsulates Deetz’s structuralism-based idea that the evident alteration within English material culture and landscape design was more than a change in style, but a universal change in human consciousness—from medieval to modern—and this extended across the Atlantic despite the colony’s increasing political distance from the homeland (Deetz, 1996: 62-63; 2003: 221). Deetz believed that shared artefact form reflected shared thought (2003: 220). The theory has enabled historical archaeologists to recognise a distinctive shift in many areas of material culture which subsequently encouraged a succession of scholars to further this idea by posing key questions: why did the worldview develop, where else was a Georgian worldview visible, how did it present itself in areas outside New England? In the quest for answers to these questions, archaeologists have developed the concept which accordingly shaped interpretations of the material discoveries of eighteenth-century North America. Deetz’s model for the cultural development of New England illustrates that following an interval (1660-1760) of limited English...
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...Jeanette Cepin Power & Inequality In The Workplace Term: Summer 2015 Professor: Bonnie Johnson Final Reflection Essay Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in a society that with hard work, dedication, and discipline we can accomplish the so called “American Dream”? Some have been able to accomplish this dream, but many still struggle and continue to work non stop in order to reach a dream that is almost impossible to achieve. The United States of America, “the land of the free and opportunities”, hasn’t really been the land of the free, with opportunities for all. During my 7 week summer course, I was able to have a better and deep understanding of how the United States is structured to benefit a certain group while denying others opportunities. How those in power acquired their power, work to maintain it through inequality, how these inequalities can a lot of times be correlated, and how can we work together to make a difference. In order to understand inequality we must first identify what are the factors that contribute in creating it. Social class, which can define one’s position in society, contributes to a form of conflict. Social class divisions have always played a prominent role in America. These class distinctions inflict unfair on all Americans. The idea of social class has been a central concept in determining the opportunities a person is capable of having. People from different socioeconomic backgrounds live different lifestyles as well...
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...Contemporarily, global inequality means the extent to which income and wealth is distributed in an uneven manner among the world’s population. With international trade, more wealth is gradually being transferred from poor areas to others. As a result of this influx, the well-off are enjoying luxury yachts, private aircrafts, upscale restaurants and so forth, while only for the bread of every meal are the impoverished working around clock. A rising number of poor people are suffering from extreme poverty, injustice and illness. The most critical problems are those associated with global inequality. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the problems of global inequality, including its causes, and to identify solutions, providing reasons that support these solutions. Section 1: The global inequality, mainly referring to the increasing gap between the poor and rich nations, is an inevitable problem driven by globalization. The number of people whose daily wages were less than 2 USA dollars rose by 350 million around the world during the past ten years (APEC Study Centre n.d., para.1). One of the most significant problems is “the gap in incomes …has grown from 30 to 1 in 1960 to 82 to 1 in 1995” (APEC Study Centre n.d., para.1). According to another report, “the richest 85 people in the world are worth more than the poorest 3.5 billion” (Global Wealth Report 2003). Additionally, the richest one fifth of the world’s population had approximately 78% of the word GDP (Gross Domestic...
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...Michael Capobianco November 2, 2011 Philosophy 108 Moral and Social Problems Essay Topic #3-Distributive Justice “Unjustified Wealth” By: Michael Capobianco Michael Capobianco Philosophy 108 November 2, 2011 Unjustified Wealth In many ways it seems unjust about how wealth and money are distributed in modern America, but there are many cases in which people with excess money have to earn every penny with hard work. In certain cases, people are born with certain talents and abilities that supply vast opportunities of which others may not have. A prime example of this would be Alex Rodriguez, who is considered one of the most talented and highly paid baseball players in the Major Leagues. Due to his talents on the baseball field, Alex Rodriguez is currently making 27.5 million dollars a year to play the sport he was born to play. The public views Alex Rodriguez as an idol for everyone who strives to be the best at what they do. As a college baseball player at Umass Boston I have seen some of the hardest working athletes imaginable, but for most of them being as successful as Alex Rodriguez is completely unreachable. Each and every one of us is born different with different talents and abilities, and the best we can do is maximize our potential. The only way to accomplish this is with hard work. Every person is created different and will have more potential at certain things, which is why I feel that money should solely be earned on the hard work...
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...In many ways, the story of early America is steeped in ethnic diversity, the fight for it and the fight against. Many, many lives have been lost fighting the war for equality for all people. Early settlers came to America in order to obtain wealth, land, and slaves. Settlers owned large plots of land and needed help maintaining their property. Freeing their slaves for not an option for them, or so they believed. Important to realize, is the hideous fact that slavery was loosely shaped by religion. The violence against other religions was closely related to the violence against slaves; Christians in the name of God did torching and whipping. Of course, this was a misconstrued belief, not all Christians partook in these horrendous acts of inequality. The 13th Amendment saved and preserved many lives of slaves; the 15th Amendment allowed these people to vote and make choices for themselves. America had come so very far in the last 242 years, America has so very far to go during the next 242 years! Equality for all is a right and a privilege each and every one of us should be thankful for on a daily...
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...Kevin December 11, 2007 Field Guide to the U.S. economy Chapter one from Field Guide to the U.S. Economy analyzes the distribution of wealth between the family and the structures of corporate power. The idea that the wealthy, usually become wealthier is stressed in this chapter. Most of the United States income is distributed to the wealthy; “The richest ten percent of all households own eighty percent of the financial wealth in America (1)”. Average families have most of their wealth invested in their homes. As for the wealthiest, most of their wealth is invested in the form of business equity, real estate, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and trusts. This chapter also stresses that wealth does not only create a higher standard of living, but that wealth influences political outcomes. The economic power of the United States is held in large corporations with single corporate owners. Chapter two expands on the information given in chapter one and expands on welfare and education. The main point of the chapter is poverty hurts kids. I will be expanding on the ideas in the two chapters to show that the gap between the wealthy and poverty is extreme and how it effects households, welfare, and education. Section 1.1 concentrates on who owns how much in America, showing the difference between the worker and owner income. “The rich are different from you and me (3)” said F Scott Fitzgerald. The richest ten percent of U.S households own eighty percent of the countries financial...
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...Social Justice: America v Canada Concepcion Cruz Argosy University Abstract This paper will define social justice as defined in America, as well as it is defined by our northerly neighbors, in Canada. The author will analyze the ideologies of both countries, with regard to social justice, identifying similarities and illustrating differences by examining historical values, economic structure, and issues of discrimination that factor into the application of social justice and/or social injustice in each country. Using reasoning skills, the author will support statements or arguments about social justice as it pertains to both the U.S. and Canada. America America is a country of conflicting ideologies. Conservatism is an ideology which places a high premium on progress as a slow, gradual process. Conservatives, or in political terms, the Right, view most forms of change as an invitation to chaos. They prefer smaller government and less regulation (www.diffen.com). This constituency is likely to be privileged in society, and usually as a result of aristocracy that has been inherited, or passed down from previous generations. When things change too quickly, this privilege, in the eyes of its possessors, is at risk- hence the fear of change a conservative may have. The other ideology that is gaining traction in recent generations, in America, is liberalism. Liberalism is a belief in equal opportunity for all, within a defined set of laws governed by law. Liberal minded...
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...French Revolution and Napoleonic Era Essay By: Danny Buck October 31, 2014 Mr. Murphy French Revolution and Napoleonic Era Essay In this essay I am going to attempt to explain how certain ideas and ideals affected the French Revolution and its participants. The world had already under gone political changes by the time that the French Revolution came along. The United States had declared its independence from Great Britain and had fought a war of independence. Great Britain has been governed mostly by parliament since the 1700’s. As I understand it, parliament has grown stronger over the years and the monarchy has grown weaker. It was now France’s turn at independence and democracy. However that did not happen for a while. Their first step was getting rid of the monarchy. Liberty Liberty means being free and not being bound by the old ways and the old ideas. By the time of the French Revolution, the people were ready for liberty. Many philosophers for years had written about liberty and other ideas that rejected the feudal system and keeping people in bondage. The Age of Enlightenment had come to Europe and the old systems of power and faith were changing. Since the 1650’s philosophers had been writing about new ideas and new ways of thinking and the people of France finally embraced those ideas near the end of the eighteenth century. The French people were suffering in poverty and they realized the power of the monarchy was keeping them that way and that...
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...of the nation, some people sought to disillusion society from conforming with the problematic status quo, two of which were famous writers Zora Neale Hurston and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The two had their own respective grievances about the nation, but both used their writings to bring awareness about the follies of society. Hurston and Fitzgerald challenge the preconceived status quo of a perfect and progressive American society—set with values such as separate but equal, social classes, consumer culture, and so on—through their respective essay and novel, the former dealing with the erasure of African American culture due...
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...The essay, “Class In America-2009” by Gregory Santos, it begins with the author talking about how the U.S does not speak of class privileges or class oppression. These words not part of people’s vocabulary in the U.S. Poor people would rarely classify themselves as poor. Instead they prefer to classify themselves based on their race, ethic group, or geographic location. In a study done by Susan Ostrander, she asked wealthy participants they considered their selves in the upper class. Most participants responded that they hated the term “class” because they were just people who were well-born. Although it is unspeakable to talk about the upper and lower class, it is acceptable to talk about the middle class. This is because it seems that the middle class in the U.S, is neither part of the high nor the lower class. They’re four myths that suggests the people in the U.S are ignorant of class differences and how it impacts people daily lives. The first myth is that the rich and...
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...Sociology 201 15 April 2015 Savage Inequalities Reflection This Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools was written by Jonathan Kozol and published in 1991. The book scrutinizes the American public school system and drastic funding differences between schools in underprivileged urban neighborhoods versus their more affluent suburban counterparts. Kozol visited schools in all parts of the country, including New Jersey, Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Texas, and Missouri. The book takes a dark and contradictory stance than the typical ideas portrayed that everyone receives an unbiased and quality education in the United States. Kozol explores reoccurring themes of privilege, wealth, poverty, racism, injustice, and inequity within the public school system. He focuses on the point that schools in the deprived areas often lack the most basic needs, such as heat/AC, textbooks & supplies, running water, and functioning sewer facilities. Kozol informs his readers to these atrocities by using basic arithmetic, logical conclusions and profoundly thought provoking graphic details about the horrendous conditions of urban children’s schools. In addition he thoroughly examines the driving socioeconomic factors that hinder each school. In order to be most thorough, Kozol observed both schools with the lowest per capita spending on students and the highest per capita spending and found some shocking facts about America’s school system. This essay is a reflection to those deplorable...
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