Captalism

I'm pretty sure every American citizen is familiar with the term capitalism. Capitalism is an economic system that includes: the private ownership of the means of production, creation of goods or services for profit or income, the accumulation of capital, competitive markets, voluntary exchange, and wage labor. It is the system in which America is run -a system where man has the freedom to run, own, compete, and gain.

Now everyone knows that with nearly everything there comes both positive and negative things. Capitalism sounds like one of the best ways to run a country, however there are some cons. Capitalism is believed by some to promote competition and strip away legitimate equality. Many instances may occur in a capitalistic government where competition is divided unequally and unfairly. (For instance where a member of the minority may have to compete with a member of the majority -one can assume that the majority member will most likely win).
The competitive aspect of a capitalistic country may result to individual's focus to be more so on individual profit and away from the profit of the community as a whole. Many people have recently seen how companies will destroy the health or welfare of a country or community, in return for self benefits. Due to the unfair distribution or intensity of competition, the wealth within a country will be unevenly distributed -in which a capitalisticc government is not required to regulate the wealth distribution of a country.

On the flip side capitalism is a type of economic system where hard work is paid off. It provides economic growth, in which individuals are given a wide range of beneficial opportunites. In this type of government individuals have the freedom to think for themselves and make their own descisions that can either make or break their company. Every descision made by that individual will effect that individual's pocket. A capitalistic government keeps citizens motivated and encouraged. Capitalism brings about social mobility for individuals to experience. There is no doubt that hope is available for every individual living under capitalism.

Globalization

Globalization is the increasingly global relationships of culture, people, and economic activity. The most common form of globalization is economic globalization, which is the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import quotas and the reduction of restrictions on the movement of capital and on investment. I know, it sounds great but with the good you must learn to deal with the bad.

Globalization has lots of global benefits. With globalization, the world seems a lot smaller. Technologies ensures that nearly every major event that takes place in a country, the whole world may know. Social networks, and emails allow for people with the proper equipment to communicate. Globalization brings in new culture to countries. People in places like China can enjoy and American style burger, and people in places like America can try Jamaican style food all in the comfort of their own home country. Globalization is said to increase the global economies in which jobs are provided for those in poverty. For the members of a capitalistic nation, one may set up a franchise in another country and increase the company's overall profit. The world seems more united with globalization, but everything that glitters is always real gold.

Globalization has said to tear down the little dignity members of poverty may have within their community. Many of the jobs provided for these individuals pay very little and require degrading tasks with hours that are unbearable. Globalization is said to have watered down the originality of cultures. A lot of places that are incorporating American franchises and lifestyles pull the younger generation from their true culture and more towards the American life. Culture serves an important purpose in society, in which it provides individuals with a sense of belonging and respect for their history and ancestors lifestyle and traditions; globalization steals that from the life's of those who once cherished their culture.

Globalization is providing the world with a more close united feel, but in doing so it is stripping away the culture, respect, and dignity of the individuals who once cherished their original identity. 

Interactionist vs. Positivist

Sociologists are broken into different categories regarding their perspective and the way they approach
things such as their experiements. The two major categories are positivism and interactionism. Both theories are attempt to investigate sociological issues and functions, but from complete opposite spectrums.

In sociology interactionists are interested in the social process by which particular behaviors come to be understood as deviant and the consequences of these for those who are labelled deviant. It is a theoretical perspective that derives social processes from human interaction. Positivists on the other hand believe that in social as well as natural sciences, data derived from sensory experience and logical mathematical treatments of such data are together the exclusive source of all authentic knowledge. Personally I feel that from the interactionist's perspective one can better grasp the interaction and relationship of individuals and society.

Because sociology is a social science, the positivist perspective is unreasonable. Statistics that have not been developed from interviews, questionaires, or any type of human interaction cannot help a sociologist focus on what sociology is set to explain- the influence of our relationships around us and how they affect our behaviours and attitudes. A positivist who uses quantitative data alone is incapable of getting thorough insight as to how society influences individuals' behavior. An interactionsit focuses more so on validity (whether or not the researcher received the information/answer he or she set out to receive); which I think is important, because without it the whole experiement was a waste of time.

Any social science requires interaction with individuals closely related to the topic of interest. One can not gain a deepeer knowledge about sociological issues, without researching the issue and those that the issue greatly impacts (which requires complete interaction).

Culture of Poverty

The culture of poverty is a theory that ellaborates on the cycle of poverty. This theory was first proposed by anthropologist Oscar Lewis, and explains that poverty remains within a family throughout generations not only because of the lack of resources but also because poverty itself has its own set of consistent ethnic value. For instance an individual born into poverty has very little hope of escaping. After children accumulate the values and customs that come with poverty they are more than like inable to escape that underclass because that individual due to the lack of exposure will not be able to compete well with those who are born into the upperclass.

The culture of poverty theory goes further to explain that the members of the lowerclass due to their seclusion are unincluded in the country whcih they reside. Many of the decisions made are not centered around members of the lower class, and because of the lack of resources these individuals voices are not heard. Lewis believed that because the poor are uneducated they are unaware of occurances outside of their poverished society. Because they are unaware of the outside lifestyles, they lack class consciousness and are unlikely to riot or make a difference. Lewis argued that the moment an individual residing in poverty gains class consciousness they are no longer apart of the culture of poverty.

The culture of poverty is sad yet accurate. Many don't believe that it successfully evaluates the structure of poverty, but personally I do. I do feel that the obstacle for a member of poverty to experiece social mobility is much greater than those of any other group. Actually breaking the chain and getting out of the bondage poverty brings is not as simple as a trip to the nearest library.

Forces & Institutions' Influence on Popular culture: The puppet master (mass media)

According to wikipedia (which in this case is close to accurate) "popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture." Pop culture is known to be influenced directly by the media, in which it controls what is available for the mass to indulge in -whether it be clothes, news, or music. There may be other institutions or forces -for example, the elite- that impacts pop culture, but I believe that the mass media is one of the most influencial institutions effecting the structure and compnents of today's popular culture.

I believe that the media  controls further than just trends in our culture. It tells us what to wear, what to eat, what to say -how to say it, and even how to conduct our selfs. The mass media sets the norms within the popular culture. Movies aired on television show the mass the life of a typical high school student, homeless man, and even teenage mother. The radio constantly plays songs it feels we should listen to. By labeling a station as one that was made for teens or kids to enjoy, the audience is indirectly told that the music played on that station is music that teens or kids should listen to.

 Because the media controls what the majority of the population receives, it plays a major role in the very things people prefer. The individuals within society that indulge in the things of the popular culture do not fit the definition of a true individual, but instead a puppet available for the mass media's manipulation.

Symbolic Interactionism in Sociology

As many of you may know, conflict lies between those who study and respect symbolic interactions in sociology and those sociologists who think it's irrelevant in sociology. Symbolic interactionism is the study of symbols, how individuals interpret them, and how individuals use these symbols to interact in society.

Sociology focuses on society as a whole rather than the individuals that make it up; many sociologists believe that actions are based on roles set on individuals in society. On the other hand symbolic interactionsts studies symbols and how individuals interpret them, because they believe that individuals’ actions and behavior are based on their interpretation of symbols. The focus of other sociological perspectives and the symbolic interactionist perspective are different, and because of this symbolic interactionism is criticized in sociology.

One that studies symbolic interactionism may justify their perspective by saying that in order for one to fully understand society and the roles within it, one must first study the actions of individuals and factors that contribute to those actions. Once an individual studies the tree -its primary functions and why or how it performs them, that individual can then move on to studying the whole forest -and why specific types of trees contribute what they do to the forest as a whole.

Symbolic Interactionism is the connecting bridge between sociology and psychology, but it is also the foundation for better understanding society as a whole.


To the founding fathers of symbolic interactionsism Rest in Peace:

   

Serving the Community

In life favors are typically returned when needed. When someone that loves you gives you a gift
on any special occassions, out of courtesy you do the same. When someone provides you
with advice when needed, return the favor by providing them with any advice you have they may need.
When someone gives you a complement you respond by returning one. Responding to another's appreciated actions with a nice deed is a sign of appreciation.

Communities provide residents with numerous services, but a majority of citizens are abominable at returning them. Any residents appreciative of the services a community provides have the responsibilty of returning services to the community that initially provides it. I try best when I can to give back my community. This summer I volunteered with a church camp. There I painted a church that provided food for the homeless, I cleaned up Fort Lauderdale beach, and went out and feed the homeless. Services given back to a community help keep that community thrive by keeping the residents happy and the area clean. After painting the church, I realized that nearly everything in the community provides services. The church I painted provided refuge ffor the homeless; the homeless were given a place to rest and eat, while the beach provide citizens with luxery and entertainment.

Community service builds not only a community but character. Volunteering requires selflessness, in which time, labor, or company is given. Once an individual learns the effects volunteering has on others, they learn
its importance and will continue to strengthen their community and those in it. community service is something everyone capable should do; afterall its basic courtesy.