Me at Marx's grave in London's Highgate Cemetery
Q: Would Marx approve of my flying to England to teach a biomedical ethics course? Isn't that a pretty extravagant expenditure relative to how much I could have helped people in need? Discuss.
Q: What general questions do you have about Marx? What surprised you from the chapter on Marx?
Global Poverty
- Top 1 percent will control over half of world’s wealth by 2016 PBS Newshour 22Jan15 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/wealthiest-getting-wealthier-lobbying-lot/
- Philosopher Peter Singer talks to Stephen Colbert about global poverty http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/8nmnda/peter-singer
Class Struggle in the U.S.
- Middle Class Shrinks Further as More Fall Out Instead of Climbing Up - NYTimes.com 26Jan15 http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/business/economy/middle-class-shrinks-further-as-more-fall-out-instead-of-climbing-up.html?emc=edit_th_20150126&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=25414714&_r=0&referrer=
- The Shrinking American Middle Class - NYTimes.com 26Jan15 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/25/upshot/shrinking-middle-class.html?emc=edit_th_20150126&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=25414714
- Reducing Our Obscene Level of Child Poverty - NYTimes.com 28Jan15 http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/opinion/charles-blow-reducing-our-obscene-level-of-child-poverty.html?referrer=
- Smart Chart: It's Never Been a Better Time to Be Rich | BillMoyers.com http://billmoyers.com/2014/09/26/smart-chart-never-better-time-rich/
Q: What would Marx say about this? What do you think? Are you concerned about the growing gap between rich (super-rich) and poor (very poor)? Why or why not?
Poverty in Cincinnati
- http://www.cincinnatiworks.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=25
- http://citylinkcenter.org/about-us/the-need/poverty-in-cincinnati
- The January 2015 Ohio Poverty Report http://www.development.ohio.gov/files/research/P7005.pdf
- "The U.S. Census Bureau reports that one in every three Cincinnatians lives below the federal poverty line. The city is ranked second in the nation for child poverty, according to the Children’s Defense Fund. Of those households, most are headed by single mothers." http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/062414-poverty-in-cincinnati.aspx
Here's an initiative to try to break that cycle of poverty: The Cincinnati Preschool Promise:
http://www.cincy-promise.org
Q: does that seem like a worthwhile effort to stem the effects of poverty?
Before reading about the poverty in Cincinnati, I knew that there was a great deal of poverty but I did not realize the true extent. It is so sad to hear about so many people that are living in poverty, especially children. I had no idea that the poverty rate for children is so high and it is very concerning to me. I feel that more people need to know about this issue so that people that are able to help actually can. After looking at the Promise Cincinnati website, I think that it is a great initiative and will give the city a good start in the right direction. I do think that more people need to be aware of the poverty and the needs of children in Cincinnati though.
ReplyDeleteI also had no previous knowledge about the high rates of poverty in Cincinnati, but I was aware of the poorer areas. Poverty overall is a stressful and sad issue when it affects anyone, but children should not have to deal with that issue. Children should feel safe in order to grow and develop well, and poverty is such a burden. I am definitely concerned about it, since I will be in the elementary schools around this area. I think the Cincinnati Preschool Promise will make a positive impact especially since it was based off the Denver Preschool Program; it has been working since 2007. I think it will be very interesting to see how this program either works or fails.
ReplyDeleteI have been aware of the poverty in Cincinnati. I live in Villa Hills which overall is a very nice area. However, if we travel just ten minutes across the river into Cincinnati, there are plenty of impoverished areas. I wasn't aware of the severity of the poverty. In Cincinnati, the poverty rate is higher than the national average which is especially concerning for children. These children in poverty could have the potential to come up with the cure for cancer, however, they may be limited in their opportunities because of their socioeconomic status. I think the Cincinnati preschool promise could be very successful and could be crucial in getting children a good education early in their lives.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Karl Marx was more concerned with the conditions of the workers and society rather than helping out at home versus abroad. He implemented his theory across continents from Europe to Asia. If your trip to England, and the value of the course was impactful enough, I feel that he would approve of it. As long as it was improving the society, and teaching values to people who could take them and implement them into their daily lives and those around them, he would see it as beneficial.
ReplyDeleteThe main question I have about Marx is why he had to be so radically communist. He can’t advocate from one extreme (Capitalism) to transform into another extreme (Communism). It doesn’t work and history can attest to it. Nothing I read about Marx surprised me, but I was able to view his thoughts from the time period he wrote them in, when child labor laws were much looser, working hours were unbearable, and pay was next to nothing. Society has come a long way since then, and his writing has become less relevant as we advance into the future.
Zak, I unfortunately didn't read your post until after I made my own, but it looks like we came to some similar conclusions. The only place where we differ might be with the trip. Given Marx's disdain for anything upper class and the concept that college education used to be regarded as a privilege only to the wealthy, I believe he would have seen it as a frivolous waste of resources, because the class only benefits those who are already wealthy.
DeleteI did not realize that poverty levels were so high in Cincinnati. Its concerning that the poverty rates are so high for children because they are the future of the city. The Cincy-Promise seems like a great investment. The saying that jumps out to me is, “Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” If these children are not taught the proper skills they need to be successful in life, they’ll end up repeating the cycle that they were born into. The way to break out is through education and foundation, which programs like The Cincinnati Preschool Promise are striving to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteI think my main question for Marx is why anyone would consider implementing his doctrine. In the text, the author writes about how many of Marx's predictions about Capitalism were completely wrong. In fact, the only prediction he did make correctly was the revolution in Russia, which was primarily stirred by government corruption. Capitalism has never come around full circle to communism, many Western countries have child labor laws and unemployment benefits/safety nets, and even socialist countries such as China have seen economic surplus recently because of new capitalist policies like tax breaks for corporations. Marx also says that the upper class industry owners will always exploit the rest of the community into poverty, but that doesn't explain professions like doctors, nurses, lawyers, and accountants who maintain both middle class status and an above average lifestyle, without being an industry owner. A quick glance at modern life is enough to see that Marxist socialism is outdated.
ReplyDeletePrior to reading about the poverty statistics in Cincinnati, I was unaware of how severe poverty truly was. I was, of course, aware that a lot of people are struggling financially but the true amount was shocking. It is especially concerning to me about the number of children who are experiencing these struggles. I live east of Cincinnati in a small country town and because of this I have not been exposed to a lot of homelessness and poverty. However, it is clear that more and more people are becoming financially unstable and that something needs to be done. I feel that the Cincinnati Preschool Policy is absolutely worthwhile to attempt to stem the effects of poverty. Anything that can make even the smallest benefit should be attempted.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this post I was aware there was poverty in Cincinnati, but not to this degree. I have volunteered at soup kitchens and it was always very hard to watch, but when I left I felt very very blessed inside. I cannot believe how many people are struggling because of their finances. I think that anything we can do as a community to help is worth it, even if it just helps one family out. I think many people live in a bubble and try not to see poverty and the downside of Cincinnati. As soon as we come together as a community the sooner we can start helping individuals that truly need help.
ReplyDeleteLiving in Cincinnati, I see both sides to the city. We usually use the cardinal directions to indicate which "sides" of the city are "better" than others. I currently live in the inner-city and honestly, it's not my favorite place to live; we are seriously looking at a newer house at the moment. I've actually lived where I do now for a little over 10 years. Two weeks after moving in, we were broken into while we were home - twice. That's when I knew: I'm really not going to like it here. Not to mention, our street is a main road driven on 24/7, including emergency vehicles. They never got away with anything and they were caught on-site - things have calmed down since. But, it made me realize at a young age the measures and lengths people will go to due to an impoverished state. Frankly, it scares me to death, as it were.
ReplyDeleteI realized not all parts of Cincinnati are what's shown in movies and on TV. Rather, a very diverse and opposite city where poverty is real. Poverty isn't simply a part of one part of life, it can effect someone from birth.
I always knew that poverty was present in Cincinnati but never to that degree. Especially with the amount of children in poverty. When ever I go to Cincinnati I can see a lot of impoverish adults in the city, but I don't really see that many kids running around. I am concerned about how many children are in poverty. Kids need a lot of nourishment while growing up and these kids are not able to have access to all of that. They are being shown how to live in poverty, but it will stop a lot of them rising above because this is the life they know. By having so many kids in poverty it will keep the cycle of poverty continuing on unless we can show them how to break it.
ReplyDeleteCLASS STRUGGLE IN ‘MURICA
ReplyDeleteMarx would have a lot to say about the growing disparities and inequalities in America today. He would say “look! I told you so” about the growing gap between the “proletariat” and “bourgeoisie.” He would claim that the growing lower class will only take so much of this before they start to group up and begin a revolution in which they take over and create a classless society. Sorry, Marx, a classless society will NEVER happen. It goes against the nature and spirit of humanity. Some philosophers and sociologists argue that society cannot function properly without inequality: it just does not work.
Personally, yeah I am concerned about this growing gap. I like to think of myself of a futurist, and a live researching different types of dystopic futuristic problems that society will face. The huge gap between rich and poor is a huge recurring theme in dystopic futures. I believe that with the way the world is going, this gap will continue to grow and grow until it implodes on itself and the system goes haywire. It is inevitable. Something cosmically and impossibly HUGE needs to happen to change the way the world is heading. Some sort of event or happening that redirects the course of humanity. The way we are headed now this gap will only continue to grow.
It may sound ridiculous, but I believe in order for humanity to survive we must come together as one human race, Earthlings, and not be divided by invisible state and country lines or social classes or religion. In coming together as one solid and united people, the inequalities will dissipate as the bigger picture starts to come together.