Three Topics For Final Summaries

The first I chose under Media and Democracy is inequity versus equality in the social and economic spaces of America. The first article in which I used as source was from the Daily Beast written by Andrew Yang. It is titled "The War on the Ordinary People" and here he talks about a lot of issues pertaining to this inequity in our country. He starts with the conversation of technological advances as soon to be (and already are). Yang foresees a future where the everyday working man is being beat out by growing tech and the lack of need for labor. He develops a hypothetical synopsis of next year, where the world is in further ruin than it is now. This hypothetical roots from our countries usage of GDP in the economy. As people and labor are treated as economic assets, they become expendable like theorized in the tech-takeover scenario. Our nation's current state is what fuels Yang's fears and we are blind to what is happening with lack of trust in our main sources of information such as government and media. In the article (2018), Yang describes "3 main preconditions to revolution: 1. Elite oversupply and disunity; 2. Popular misery based on falling living standards; and 3. A state in fiscal crisis" (Yang, par. 14). We already seem to be in this process. The only way to help it is forestalling automation and providing more for the ordinary man. Vox's article, "The case against equality of opportunity." It talks of the truth with in the fact that people really don't want "equal opportunity." Ideally, people assume equality means everyone can pass through at the same level from an already prosperous point. When in reality, the phrase equal opportunity leads to everyone totalitarianism.It perpetuates an under class but based off skill and merit, so those who truly "deserve it" will reap the benefits. It also is highly unlogically idealistic, as the Zaccarina describes Megan Ellson (daughter to the fifth richest man in the world. No where can everyone be provided equal opportunity and standing with a person like her. The idea neglects the differences in families and their structures, it assumes that given the same boxes they all will thrive when that is not the case. The idea benefits the few who stand out or the "elite" for they just made it and others didn't. Zaccarina associates Good Will Hunting to this theory as Will and Chuckie are not on equal footing despite being both given an opportunity. It becomes a war between the smart and the dumb, or a sort-of Darwinistic approach to life. The article also mentions how despite helping people achieve equity at the source, we help them as a reactionary precaution. Therefore, equality sand equity is a game of chance, where odds are determined by factors you cannot choose for yourself.

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The second important topic has a lot to do with the previous one, which is racial inequality and racism in general. A really interesting article from Vox "Persuasive proof that America is full of racist and selfish people" by Sean Illing has an interview with Seth Stephen-Davidowitz. Davidowitz is the author of Everybody Lies where it talks about how the internet harbors everyone's truest self. Illing explains how Google knows the dirtiest secrets and the difference between the private and public persona. Social media and the internet drives this divide even forward with the vastness of it and how people are more problematic than what they let on. The interview highlights how much more racist and misogynist searches poped up amongst the 2016 elections. Davidowitz also points that these searches can be important with regards to identifying the samll group of maniacs in which actually are the most problematic, for instance with islamophobia. Topics like performative activism and support on social media pop up which apply to the public versus private life argument which lies at this articles core. On truthdig.com, Major Danny Sjursen writes on the American History of what is actually myths and legends made to seem more epic. The active major (2018) summarizes his article with the realization, "As a result, from the beginning, our understanding of U.S. history is Eurocentric and narrow (covering only the last 400 or so years)" (Sjursen, par. 7). We are denied the knowledge of other narratives like Native American History trailing back before pilgrimage. He reexplains the civilization of Virginia and Jamestown, the first Drug Economy, Bacon's Rebellion, etc. All of these stories are not what we know.

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The last topic I chose to speak on was education, which I can also use Kate Conetta's talk with us to assist in this. Evann Gastaldo for the newser writes "Teacher's Letter to "Inept" Lawmakers." The letter in question reveals the pain of educators and the difficult relationship they have with the government. Steven Wedel, a highschool teacher in Oklahoma, expresses distress of the system he works for that basically sets his students for a cycle without much to look forward to. Educators are underpaid, Wedel would agree. However, his concern is for his kids. He calls out the lawmakers for squandering tax payers money in their own personal affairs and salaries. As they do that, teachers make so little and the children they teach lack the resources pivotal to learn. He calls to action to vote for people who actually care about education. On the other hand, there is another truthdig.com article called "America the illiterate." Chris Hedges uncovers another effect branching from not a lot of people advocating for education enough for foreseeable change. It talks of the divergence from print-based media is a path of illiteracy. This becomes importat in the face of democracy because the illiterate half of the whole group are less likely to vote. If they do, they will not have the tools to decide on a good candidate to represent them. "Political campaigns have become an experience. They do not require cognitive or self-critical skills. They are designed to ignite pseudo-religious feelings of euphoria, empowerment and collective salvation." says Hedges (2016) (Hedges, par. 3). Politicians do not have to be particularly competent or honest. Information consumption becomes a race to who is the most entertaining. Thus, society is more ignorant. Therefore, this all pertains to the classist divide from my first point. As the lack of education makes the crisis more liekely or kickstarts it. So, Hedges says our country's core values are dying.

​Sources

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-war-on-ordinary-people?ref=home

https://www.vox.com/2015/9/21/9334215/equality-of-opportunity

https://www.vox.com/conversations/2017/6/13/15768622/facebook-google-racism-social-media-seth-everybody-lies

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/american-history-truthdiggers-original-sin/

https://www.newser.com/story/221339/teachers-letter-to-inept-lawmakers-goes-viral.html

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/america-the-illiterate/