Sunday, January 15, 2012

Umm.. Can we just talk about this??


My Comments to Professor Bogad's Post because it wouldn't let me post to her blog. I kept getting a blank screen.


I personally appreciated the remarks from President Obama. I thought it was a great to hear from the man who broke some social boundaries in himself, speaking about social normality's going on now. I liked how he spoke about Washington having to do what families across America are doing, cutting back.  He also mentions "structural reforms". My father being a construction worker, this part of the speech especially stuck out to me. I'll post it right under this. I hope he makes actions out of his words, and makes a difference.

"It is wrong that in the United States of America, a teacher or a nurse or a construction worker who earns $50,000 should pay higher tax rates than somebody pulling in $50 million. Anybody who says we can’t change the tax code to correct that, anyone who has signed some pledge to protect every single tax loophole so long as they live, they should be called out. They should have to defend that unfairness -- explain why somebody who's making $50 million a year in the financial markets should be paying 15 percent on their taxes, when a teacher making $50,000 a year is paying more than that -- paying a higher rate. They ought to have to answer for it. And if they’re pledged to keep that kind of unfairness in place, they should remember, the last time I checked the only pledge that really matters is the pledge we take to uphold the Constitution" - President Obama



One workplace vs Another



My thoughts on the websites (:


I started off on the PBS website. There was an article about " How to Marry Rich" from Beverly Hills, California. I was immediately disgusted. This woman was sick of dating poor men so changed plenty of aspects about HERSELF in order to catch the eyes of a wealthy man. Come on? What ever happened to marrying for love? Social classes are clearly so important to people that they feel the need to change themselves to be "better off". I believe that in this is where the connection to feminism lies. Wealthy and social standings are the criteria for people to be "better off". WHY? If I work hard for every penny I own, then I think as a person I'm doing pretty well for myself. Feminism is about equality for all people. Well I can understand why some people make more money than others, because they may do more work, but sadly that's not how it works. My father has worked in construction his whole life, I see him come home in pain everyday because he works hard, working with his back. "I want the best for you, I want you to work with your mind instead of your back" -My Dad. Why is it that my father works himself to the bone everyday, but only makes half as much as someone with an office job, or someone on wall street? Do they work harder? No it's unequal. So this idea of inequality makes this issue a feminist issue. Also, the look at people not accepting of others because of their social class. I read multiple stories about missed holidays, and awkward first meetings, and reluctant visits home. All because families may not agree with spouses of their loved ones due to social class. The rich are too good for us, or the working class aren't worth our time? It's a nonacceptance of a way of life, which again makes this issue a feminist issue.

Okay lets talk about another nationwide issue. Welfare. I just read a story called "Trouble at Home" on the PBS website. Ginny takes home $158 every two weeks, and refuses to go on welfare. Her electricity and gas for her trailer home will constantly be turned on and off due to her income. She works hard, and takes care of 4 children in this home. I believe people like Ginny deserve to go on welfare as long as she works as hard as she is now. However I do not believe this gives her the right to feel superior over anyone else, just because she refuses assistance. Those people may be just as deserving as she is. The only thing that upsets me, is when people take advantage of the systems in place used to help those who need it. If your not trying to make a life for yourself that supports you, than you shouldn't be on welfare. Not because they're not out there, just because your not trying or working to help yourself at all. There is acceptations and excuses for everyone who is or is not on welfare, but that is the gist of my thoughts on it.


My thought in class are how can we relate this to our trips to the Occupy Camp. How does this relate to wall street? Is it wrong to want to change classes? There are many different ways to take this, but utterly I don't believe the changing classes will assure happiness. Ultimately, all I want in life is happiness, rich or not.

21 comments:

  1. I was also very disgusted with Ginie's story! Smh I was like sheesh. Sometimes love does bring you to someone who happens to be rich but it just seems like she's taking advantage of what he's given to her. She used being "rich" now as a way to make her money! She could've definitely got a regular job!! Great post though!

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  2. Everyone's posts are making me wanna go back and read this Ginny story! I love how you brought your own experience (or your Dad's) into this post and that's a really good point that a lot of jobs that bring in MORE money actually require LESS work. It's unfair that income isn't based on how hard you're working but on what type of job you have and how "prestigious" it is

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    1. I agree 100%. It seems like society and social classes are based soley on prestige now a days. If you really look into some jobs, and the amount of manual labor that really goes into them, along with salaries, its astonishing how much salary fluctuates between jobs in this country

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  3. I really like this post! I can really hear your voice and enthusiasm in it. I feel like you typed as you would if you were speaking. I agree about Ginny, just because she turns down any assistance doesn't make her superior to anyone. That is a problem among our society too. The whole idea that someone has to be on top and above everyone. It really creates a barrier between everyone- causing these divisions to be soooo hard to get rid of.

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    1. Lol thanks, it's because I pretty much write down exactly how I'm saying it in my head. & I agree. These barriers are a main reason why feminism is so closely related to social class. This inequality is causing for boudries between everyone, race, gender, ect.

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  4. I can explain to you the reasoning behind the rich people paying less taxes. If someone is getting paid $50 million and is paying %15 in taxes than they are paying $7.5 million in taxes every year. That is more money than what a nurse will make in a lifetime, even if she got paid $100,000 a year. But I understand what you mean when people who are rich are 'only' getting taxed %15, they should get taxed the same amount as other professions. Even if the the rich got taxed %25 they would still have millions of dollars every year. What's an extra 5 million in taxes for them when they still got $37 million in the bank, right? Sorry for playing devil's advocate.

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    1. No it's cool, it just frustrates me because, taxes should be based on annual income. If these people are making millions every year, than they should be taxed accordingly. No matter what the actual value. Just like everyone else. But thats just my opinion :)

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  5. nice post, Stephanie. I agree, taking advantage of any system that is set in place with good intentions devalues and discredits that system.
    Also, pride is an essential yet terrible thing. It is an emotion we feel regarding our own self-importance. Its good because it keeps us motivated, but its bad because it allows us to put ourselves above another in our own mind... it makes one wonder if its just human nature to create systems of categorization to help understand one's self in the world.

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    1. I agree but it's sad when a woman like Ginny has to work so hard to get by, and refuses just a little bit of help due to her pride. But then again her pride is helping her to motivate herself into working for a better life for her and her children. It could go either way I guess.

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  6. Very interesting post. I want to comment on Obama. I am glad that he has made his way to President of the United States but I am sure that their are American Americans who are out there who think that he is "Getting above his raisin." That he is selling out his heritage and who he is in exchange for power. That maybe he should have never gotten into politics and stayed in his home town and stayed more connected with his roots. I like that he broke away though it shows hope for the class system.

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    1. It's another issue with class systems though. Due to his change in class he seems to be "loosing his roots". This is another issue. It's the thought that a change in social class can force you to lose yourself. Whether or not this is true, many jump to the conclusion that it will and there fore judge you for it. I don't know, some food for thought I guess (:

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  7. I agree with you about Ginnies story, its sad that her and her family are stuck in the cold with no electricity over and over again, because so many people abuse it. A good example of this is the picture of the liquor store in Fallon's blog saying they except food stamps. That is not right, and its not right that the people who abuse welfare, scare people who actually need it away.

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    1. I agree ! I loved that picture on her blog, I commented about it. lol Its disgusting knowing that people can discredit the systems in place for those people who actually need it.

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  8. Love the pictures Stephanieeee, Great Post! I agree with you about the Ginnies story its terrible what happened to them and how others abuse it

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    1. Thanks Annisia, but your pictures were better. They were so influential, I commented about them x)

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  9. I love your pursuit of happiness argument in your post. I truly believe that whether or not you have money, as long as you are happy, it really doesn't matter. I agree that it's sad that welfare is abused by so many people but I personally believe that there probably could be stricter rules to applying to welfare, but who knows what that could be. I think thats left up to congress and quite frankly, I don't see them doing much of anything lately.

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    1. I can agree with you there. But as far as the pursuit of happiness, I wish people would see that yes money = Power but it doesn't neccisarily = happiness. I don't know, it's just my personal opinion. I think that happiness is the first thing I'm after in this life, and & being comfortable in my social class can help me with that, but it won't define it. (: Just my thoughts

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  10. It is not wrong to want to change classes, thats the idea of capitalism!

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  11. It sounds like your heart is in a good place. Money may make things easier in some instances, but wealth is no requirement for happiness. The Obama quote is a clear assessment of an error in taxation. I completely understand your point on the disproportion of income and labor type. In a world of large multi million, and multi billion dollar corporations, whether salary or wage employment, each business pays on their own assessment of the value of an employee's work. Unfortunately the strenuous nature of physical labor isn't always financially rewarded.

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  12. Very nice post Steph. I see how much emotion you have put in this. I agree with you in many points especially how women should not feel the need to change themselves for the love of money. And marrying into that idea!

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