Week 12

I was unable to be in class this week due to an illness, but I did read the chapters of Sandy Schram's book that you sent us. Though I am far from being an economist, I found the chapters to be easy to read and understand, something that I think is usually lacking in most economist's writings. One part that really resonated with me in the first chapter was when he wrote about how the effects of the recession in 2008 have been systematically forcing people at the bottom of the economic ladder to survive on limited options. If we look at individual policies, we might be able to see the hugely detrimental effects on the lower class. However, if we compile all of the policies together, it is so much easier to see how we have gradually taken away policies and programs aimed at helping this disadvantaged population, especially for low-income African-Americans.

  I really enjoyed the 8th chapter of Schram's book and I agree with the idea that we have to work through these current policies based on neoliberalism, rather than work around them to address the inequalities that they create. If we only work around these policies, there's no way to completely address the inequalities that have been created by them. I also really like that Schram gave concrete ideas on how to incite change, especially the changing of these policies that inherently exclude disadvantaged populations.

   In getting ready to go home for Thanksgiving, I have been thinking a lot about my family and what sorts of conversations we will have while I am home. I am from a part of Wisconsin that is relatively rural, where people love their hunting seasons and Republicans (generally speaking). My mother and I have always been black sheep in our family regarding politics and social issues, but I enjoy having constructive discussions regarding politics. My family doesn't really talk much about politics when we're together because of the differing opinions, but I almost hope we do this year. Even though I often disagree with what my family believes, I do feel that it is important to understand the opinions of people who are on the other side of politics. Though my father and I do not talk about it much, I do know that he and my stepmother support Ben Carson (I know, it's horrifying to me too). My father's family is very religious, so I believe that is one of the main reasons they support him. At this point, I'm just glad they don't support Trump, though I think that Ben Carson is just about as scary a candidate as Trump is.

And because I love late night talk shows, especially Steven Colbert: