He gives three options of what to do about capitalism. Either revive it like we have been with massive bailouts, backtrack on the social progress we’ve made and reinstitute slavery, kick out all the immigrants, etc to make it seem like projected profit forever is available or to have a revolution/let it die and work it out as we go since its not going to end abruptly or at least it would be preferable for it to be a gradual transition. The website really opened my eyes and my mind to thinking about the flows of capitalism and the way the world works in a different against the grain light.

The article you reference mining through the roots relates to the video I watched on the website by Alex Knight. He spoke of the privatization and seizing of lands in the 1500’s that changed the system of sustainable farming by peasants to them having to pay for the land in order for someone to make a profit off of it. The prblem in mining through the roots seems to be similar, people just want to sustain and live a happy life but if there is a profit to be made off the resources in/on the land they will be pushed aside by the people in control of the money. The article about cancer being caused by pollution makes sense but I think that there is another aspect that is at play with the relationship of globalization and cancer. In a documentary I watched called forks over knives there are two studies that are explained that are able to correlate the rising rates of cancer in places like china to the introduction of western foods and nutritional standards.

I think that it is important to look at why the crime is committed and what can be done to prevent the crime in the first place. The prison system seems unchangeable because it has been ingrained into our minds as normal and the only way to live. I understand where your coming from and think this book helped me understand the social constructs and normalization that has been facilitating the prison industrial complex at the expense of American citizens.

Great analysis. I agree that it is apparent that the 2 million people behind bars are just being put away to decrease the work force thus these people are not calculated/included when the unemployment rates come out and that the system itself is a profit making machine that relies on the lives of primarily poor minorities. This is a modern day form of slavery and a hard conglomerate to take on but I think there is hope with the changing social structures, changing demographics and increased flow of information.

I too had an idea that the prison system is a corporately corrupt system but did not realize the extent of it until this weeks readings. The reality of how much our economy relies on the prison system and the correlations with workers in China is scary. We look at workers in China and think how its horrible that they work for little profit, under inhumanely conditions and for months at a time with no choice (unless they want to be unemployed) and how the system parallels the US prison system in the sense that the prison system does the same thing and its strictly for profit. The articles really opened my eyes to the system that basically just pushes people through with out a care for their life for the sake of the jobs that are provided for others.

The flows of the reserve workforce for Apple play the same role in China and the USA. It is amazing how employees are treated as disposable because they can be due to the availability of jobs. I agree that it is the corporations faults that the conditions for workers is not acceptable but what can be done about it that still allows smooth flows of capitalism (profit), inexpensive commodities that we are so used to being available and still paying workers a fair salary in the US, China, around the world?

These articles really opened up my eyes to aspects of online video games with virtual money and realities of what it is like to work for Apple. It is interesting how the global flows of capitalism are involved in pretty much every aspect of our life if we are spending money. I love Apple products and because of me “blind love” I didn’t think they would be the type of company to cut corners and hold out on benefits for their employees.

This interests me too. Why men sex workers are glorified and women sex workers are degraded. Especially with the feminization of the service industry to cater to emotional needs. The flexibility of what beauty is in different countries such as your home country and the effects of capitalism, globalization on the norms is interesting. In Afghanistan I think it is great that beauty is used to connect women and empower them, I just think it is important that the connotation of beauty is used flexibly and is hybridized there.

I enjoyed your response about the changing gender views and the un-eveness of capitalism. It is amazing what is brought to light when you look at businesses in different perspectives. I would have never thought that there would be discrimination in GRC’s in Thailand against their own people. The flows of capital and its relation to gender and sex workers takes many forms. The feminization of the service industry in the sense of being catered to emotionally and paying money for the service wether it is sexual or being cared for after surgery.

I didn’t read the articles you did, but I got an idea of what the main focus was in each. I enjoyed your passion about our generation because I also feel like we are making a difference, however there will always be critics. I don’t believe we are lazy at all.