Bourgeoisie VS Proletariat

1. what is the economic condition of the Bourgeoisie?

-  The bourgeois is the Higher power who are the owners of all land. They were originally the people who founded America. Today, they are known as the middle class, or industrial millionaires. There goal is to move on from the past and create a bigger, and better industry. " It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere." (page 459)

What is the economic condition of the Proletariat?

- The Proletarians were lower class workers that made the wealth for the country, but owned no land. The Bourgeoisie controlled them. " Not only are they the slaves of the bourgeois class and of the bourgeois state, they are daily and hourly enslaved by the machine, by the over looker, and, above all, by the individual bourgeois manufacturer himself." (page 462) They despised the bourgeois, and tried to retaliate against them. 

2. How does the expanding world market for goods affect national identity?

- In the eyes of the bourgeois, machines and goods were always improving. Improvement meant power. Marketed goods traveled all over the world, and you always had to have the best and newest product. The more places you sold to, the more your national identity will grow. 

3. What benefits does Marx expect communism to provide the proletariat? 

- The communists represent the movement as a whole. They want both parties to be happy. Their main goal is to help the proletarians form their own class and overthrow the bourgeois supremacy. They do this by helping the Proletarians gain their well deserved, self acquired property. 

I do think that wealthy people should follow Carnegie's example in " The Gospel of Wealth" because their money should be shared at a considerable amount. Wealth is usually passed down from generation to generation, and people don't put the money to good use. " This, then, is  held to be the duty of the man of Wealth: first, to set an example of modest, ostentatious living, shunning display, or extravagance: to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him... " (page 493). Bill Gates, the creator of Microsoft, has done so much for people, and the world of technology. His contributions have helped citizens tremendously already. I think that his decision to devote and provide his wealth to the people will help tremendously. It will not completely solve the problem of the Rich and the Poor: however, he will be setting a great example for how money should be spent. 

Here is a video about Bill Gate's rules for success

Aristotle and the signing of the constitution 

1.  How might Aristotle have responded to the painting by Howard Chandler Christy of the signing of the Constitution of the United States (p. 57)?

- Aristotle would have enjoyed the painting. It relates to Aristotle's representation of democracy in which everyone votes, and has equal rights. He also would have liked seeing the different representatives of each state. This painting represents many different people coming together equally. 

2.How many different "elements" of society are represented in this painting?

- George Washington stands firmly in the lime light, because he is the president. The cabinet ( Franklin and Hamilton) stands behind  him, because they are his followers. Congressmen and the house  of representatives stand before him representing their state.  Last, but not least, the common folk stand in the background representing that they are just as equal as the higher parts. 

3. Would Aristotle have assumed that the government being formed was a democracy or an oligarchy? Why or Why not?

- Since Aristotle was more supportive of a democracy, he would most likely assume that the government formed was a democracy. He supported a government that doesn't let the ruler have too much power, and let people have equal rights. This is what the constitution stands for.

4. Research the men who signed the Constitution. How well did they represent the elements of society of the newly formed country?

- The men who signed the constitution were mostly commoners excersizing their right to consent the governed. Others, such as the president, cabinet, congressmen, and house represented the Government itself, and how it supported peoples rights and freedom. 

5. Read Tocqueville, “Government by Democracy in America,”. Compare this reading to that of Aristotle's reading.

- In Tocqueville's "Government by Democracy in America" he is traveling to america from France to evaluate our new government. Aristotle was also evaluating government.  They both believe in a Democracy, and that power and equality should be given to the people. however, Tocqueville believes that more power should be given to the executive rather than legislative branch. 

How Martin Luther King JR. and Henry Thoreau compare 

Above is a video about Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther kings activism in defeating segregation is well known. In his letter from the Birmingham jail he refers to conscience as a guide to obeying just laws and defying unjust laws. In comparison, Henry David Thoreau also believes in disobeying unjust laws in his writing "civil Disobedience. " King, like Thoreau, was willing to suffer for his views, especially when he found himself faced with punitive laws denying civil rights to all citizens." (page 375 in " A World of Ideas") . The only difference is that Thoreau wanted the Government to "stand by" and let the people govern themselves. Martin Luther king only wanted the oppressed people to have the same freedom as the oppressor. I do believe Martin Luther could have read "Civil Disobedience" simply because his values ran along the same line as Thoreau.  

Cicero's "Defense of Justice"

Cicero believes that justice always changes through time, and everyone always has a different opinion about it. “Justice is not one static thing, it changes over time and in different places because its not like a rock, tree, or color.” Humans are the reasons for unjust laws. They didnt just appear. " But the point is that laws are not imposed on us by

nature—or by our innate sense of justice. They are imposed by

the fear of being penalized. In other words, human beings are

not just, by nature, at all" We, humans, are the cause for our own destruction" 

Henry David Thoreau "Civil Disobedience"
   
     

In Thoreau's " Civil Disobedience" his motto is " That Government is best which governs least" Thoreau believed that the Government has too much power over the people. Citizens  should stand up for their civil rights Thoreau is trying to encourage people to resist a government that makes bad decisions. He basically wants them to disobey unjust laws and abolish slavery. He cares less about government rights, and more about individual rights. 

" How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slaves government also. " Thoreau would not obey a government that gave slaves less freedom than himself, when in reality they live under the same government and should have equal rights.Morally, he thought that he should stand up for what he believed in no matter what the circumstances were. Slavery was a huge issue then, and he did everything he could to abolish it. 

The Mexican war was an act of bullying, It involved stealing land from a weaker nation. President Polk annexed Texas in 1845, and caused Mexico to retaliate. "witness the present Mexican war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool, for in the outset the people would not have consented to this measure." says Thoreau. This type of war was unethical, because the smaller country was only trying to protect their land, while the larger and more powerful country took it. 

"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" Rousseau says. Many men believe that they have power over others when they don't. In a republic, such as the U.S.A, men are born free, but they have laws and regulations that don't allow them to do some things. Rousseau's way tends to revolve around a republic view. He says " However strong a man, he is never strong enough to remain master always, unless he transforms his might into right, and obedience into Duty." This is why we vote for a president that can only be in office for 4-8 years. Rousseau agrees that a leader should allow his people to vote for what they believe in, and also voice their opinions over what should be done in the government. He wants everyone to agree on everything, get along, and respect each other. However, I do not think his way of thinking will work, nor has it ever worked before. People won’t get along and agree on everything. Personalities and opinions get in the way of that.

Below is the song free falling by tom petty. 

The Declaration wasn't trying to pick a fight or rebellion.  It simply wanted to state a moral and legal right of Independence. Jefferson wrote that the people have freedom and power over the government, while Machiavelli thought the government had power over the people. Machiavelli believed in strict and brutal power, where as the declaration the declaration implys that people are free and everyone is created equal. Jefferson wanted to justify freedom for the people of the United States, and if that caused rebellion, he would rebel. I think Jefferson would have taken Machiavelli's advice into consideration; however, i do not believe he would follow it because it goes against the Declaration of Independence and what it stands for. 

                              

                                                 Signing The Declaration Of Independence 

                                                        Machiavelli