Who Has the Power?

There's several theories out there as far as who really rules in a democracy: the elites, the interest groups, the miltiary, or the people.  In our complex society, I can certainly understand why all four theories could hold water. I hate to say it, but I think the power elite is more like what our government has turned into.  According to C. Wright Mills, the power elite mainly consists of white protestant men who are from wealthy families.  These men have had very similiar back grounds from the same prestigious college educations, to the same country clubs and fraternities, and the same government committees.  As far as what they want, that too, is very similiar.  Furthermore, according to Mills, the people really do not have that much power over what can happen.  We see it all the time, the wealthy business leaders contribute to the campaign funds or to the interest groups, and those running for elected office take that money and then work towards the interest of those who pay the most for the campaign.

I by no means think that's the end all of how it works.  I have personally seen how the little people can make change if they are consistent.  And so I do encourage everyone to try to be involved and to vote.  But as for what I agree with the most, would be the power elite theory.

Is Wal-Mart Good for America?

I think this questions is similiar to the age-old questions, "What came first the chicken or the egg?"  The reason why I say this is because Wal-mart's ways have caused our country to spiral down into a lesser level of living.  Wal-mart buys nearly 80% of it's items from overseas, mainly China, because the merchandise from overseas suppliers, when sold here in the US yields a profit of anywhere from 50-80% on average where items that are manufactured here in the States, only yields a profit of about 18-20%.  With that kind of profit, who can blame Wal-mart!  But we also have to look at the jobs that the overseas suppliers are replacing.  Many US suppliers have been shut down which has resulted in thousands of job lay-offs in the US. In order to make such a big profit for the share holders of Wal-mart, Wal-mart pays it's employees nearly half what the US manufacturer's paid and offered even less benefits such as pensions and health insurance.  As a result, those very people who are paying less for cheap merchandise from overseas suppliers through Wal-mart, are also earning considerably less than they would if they could work for US-ran companies that make the merchandise that is being basically bought out by overseas cheap labor.

I wouldn't say Wal-mart is bad for this country.  But it certainly has cause a ripple effect that I don't think Sam Walton anticipated. 

Domestic Division of Labor

I do believe there is certainly a problem with women having a "second shift" in this world.  I see it all the time.  I grew up with it.  When my father came home from work, he's sit down and watch tv.  My mother would have dinner just about done, and then we'd all sit down to eat.  After dinner, dad would go watch tv and mother was left to clean up. 

On the other hand, I'm a very very lucky woman.  I knew this prior to filling out the task chart for this section, but I can honestly say that the division of labor, despite the fact that my husband works full time and I'm a stay-at-home-mom, is pretty equal.  Of the listed tasks, many of them (14), my  husband and I work together on: sometimes working side by side, other times taking turns.  There were fifteen tasks listed that I do solely, or almost solely.  And there were five tasks that my husband does solely, or almost solely.  Grant it, when my husband is deployed or on TDY, I do everything on the list either by myself or with the help of my children.  But I filled out the chart as if my husband was home.

I certainly think this is why we've been married longer than most of our friends and why I can say that after fourteen years of marriage I am looking forward to the next fourteen.  A fair division of labor between wife and husband means less resentment and more time for both spouses to have "down" time or "veg" time. 

Religion Pt 2: Religion's Role in Government

The role of religion in government is a very touchy subject.  Our forefathers wanted a separation of church and state for the reason that when Britian was controlling them, they had no say in how they could worship.  Today though, separation of church and state means something completely different, and too many people are trying to take it too far, and for what?  I see a breakdown of morals in our society.

Our country was based off religious freedom, among other freedoms of course.  But it doesn't mean that religion, or more appropriately a moral foundation based off religion, shouldn't be a cornerstone of our society.

I'm not saying we need to go back to when the Church ruled over every aspect.  The contrary, because history has shown that with that much power, even the Church grew corrupt.  We certainly need the balance of power that our government has put in place.  But Religion offers a moral compass for society, of which there is compelling argument that we as a society have started to loose.

Religion Pt 1: Secularization

Several people in the past, such as Karl Marx, have predicted that as modernization spread that religious secularization would occur.  I certainly think there is enough evidence to say beyond a doubt that secularization is occuring in society. 

Look at the push for taking anything religous out of our country's symbols: the dollar bill, the pledge of allegiance, etc.  Religion just does not have as much power in the majority of the societies in this world, but especially in the developed countries where technology and science has grown.

Race

In a Tale of Two Families, the reader is exposed to the differences between growing up black and growig up white in the United States.  Unfortunately, I'm not surprised by the results.  It's unfortunate, but ethnic conflict and stratification is ingrained in us.  We saw from the results of the self-tests earlier in the week that as a society we tend to unconciously favor white to black.  I think we just need to all try to make a more concious effort to be fair and tolerant of everyone, no matter where they come from.

Socializing Gender

Gender is certainly something that is taught (nurture).  But I think as much as parents would like to influence their boys to do boy activities and girls to do girl activities, or even keeping activities as gender neutral as possible, the outside world gets in the way.  Take my idea to keep my kids away from guns (play) and violence.  I soon had to let that one go because, perhaps because we are part of the military community, no matter where my kids went, other boys were playing with toy guns.  TV and school, alike, either reinterate or undo what parents teach their children.