Sunday, February 17, 2013

Richard Wolff & Elliot Currie

Both the lecture by Richard Wolff and the article by Elliot Currie both had the same basic principles included in them. They both went over the history of the United States in reference to class, how the economy has changed and wages have not changed enough to comply with them.

I liked the lecture, probably because it was right in my face with emotion, arms flying, different tones or volume in speech to really emphasis certain points, however I liked the article a bit more because of the particular to general style of it.

I also liked his structure in the lecture because of the history of the working class vs. the "big businesses" approach Dr. Wolff has in his lecture. It seems to put everything we've been talking about with the media into real perspective along with many things we have been talking about social class, and the seperation between the working, middle, and high classes.

The Currie article showed how the minority races have been oppressed since the very begining of a capitalist company. It really brought to light the historical background to the inequality today in the workplace and how/why it still exists today in a society in which everyone thinks is equal. Towards the middle to end of this article it brings the working class as a whole together in working against the monopolies of businesses. Throughout this text the author gives a lot of exact dates, companies, and statistics, making it a much more realistic piece.

In addition to this, Currie also ties in the aspect of drug use among the poor in relation to this oppression / inequality towards the working class. This helps explain and understand why the poorer communities have drug issues, and why it is difficult to stop them. The poor have nothing to work towards because they do not see a brighter light, drugs are available, and bring something different to the lives that make them miserable. It is all very interesting and heart breaking at the same time.

Both of these pieces go over why the economy and the country is in the state that it is in, with a growing gap between the poor and wealthy, or even decreasing gap between the poor class and the shrinking middle class. They both have information that should be read or heard and both have ideas that could help or actually change this country and make it a better place for everyone, not just those that can afford it.

1 comment:

  1. Currie demonstrates that the reason the poor have no other visions of their world is that various social systems - sharp reduction community services, decline in affordable housing, reduced social assistance, low wages jobs - have sharply limited their opportunities. Thanks for contributing so much in class.

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