HumanCulturesPortfolio8

URL:http://cosmosdocumentaries3.blogspot.com/2014/07/inequalityforallhddocumentary
film.html
Title:Inequalityforall
Author/Source:JacobKornbluth
Date:2013
ThedocumentaryInequalityForAllisabouttheproblemswiththeinequalityofwealth
inAmericaandthereasonsforthewideninggapbetweenthemiddleandupperclass.TheUnited
Statesisthemostdevelopedcountryintheworld;however,itisalsoknownforhavingthemost
unevendistributionofwealthbyfar.Theupperonepercentofthepopulationmakesfarmore
thanthemiddleclass.Themoviestatedthattherichest400peoplehavemorewealththanhalf
thepopulationoftheUnitedStates.Theupperclassconsistsofdoctors,lawyers,entrepreneurs,
actors,andathletes.Theupperonepercentssalariescanrangeanywherefrom$380,000to
$100,000,000.Theproblemwiththisisthattheyhavesomuchmoneybuttheydonotspend
largesumsofthatmoney.TheyspendwhattheaverageAmericanspendsoralittlebitmoreand
thenputtheremaininginthebanktogainmoremoneyfrominterest.Astrongmiddleclassisthe
keytomaintainingagoodeconomy.Themiddleclasskeepstheeconomyflowing.Theyaccount
for70%oftheconsumerspending;however,withlowerwages,themiddleclassisstruggling.
Themiddleclasssaverageincomecanragefrom$25,000to$75,000.Toendinequalityweneed
tostrengthenandgrowourmiddleclass.Abigmiddleclassleadstoacycleofmore
productivity,higheremployment,morerevenue,biggercompanies,andmoreeducatedpeople.
Inequalityiswideningbecausetheeconomyandproductivityisincreasingandgrowing;
however,thepaywageflattenedinthelate1970sandleadtoaflattenedwageandgapbetween
classes.The1970swerealsothebeginningofthetechnologicalera.Duringthistime,financial
institutionsbecamemorepowerfulandtheypushedforderegulation.Thiseventuallyledto
inequalityduetotheendoflaborunionsandthedeclineofthemiddleclass.Themiddleclassis
decliningduetothenewtechnologicaladvancesthatwehaveintodayssociety.Peopleare
losingjobstomanufactures,whichleadstotheundercutofwages.Automatedpaylinestakethe
jobsofpeople.Thesecorporationsalsolayoffemployeesthathavebeeninvolvedwitha
companyforsolongduetotheirincreasedwages.Theemployeesbecometooexpensivetokeep
sotheyletthemgo.BigcorporationsdonotcareaboutcreatingjobsforpeopleintheUnited
States.Theyonlycareaboutincreasingtheirprofitandtodothistheywouldratherhirepeoplein
othercountriesthaninAmerica.
Ifoundthismovietobeveryinteresting.Iknewtheupperonepercentmademuchmore
thantherestofthepopulationbutIdidnotknowthegapwasthatdramatic.Thefactthatthe
richest400peopleownmorewealththanhalfthepopulationoftheUnitedStatesisconcerning.
Themoviealsointerviewedmiddleclassfamilies.Whentheywereaskedhowmuchmoneythey
hadintheirbankaccountsmanyhadfewerthan$100andnothingintheirsavingsaccount.I
thinkthisshowsthatourwealthneedstobebetterdistributedduetotheamountoffamilieswho
arestrugglingeconomically.Ibelievethisdocumentaryisveryimportantforsocietytosee.It
wastrulyeyeopeningtoseehowoureconomygottobesobad.Ibelievethismovieisimportant

becauseittalksabouthowtheeconomygottobethiswayanditshowswhatweneedtodoasa
societytotrytomakeitbetter.Iwasnotinformedpreviouslyonthehugegapbetweenclasses
andIthinkitisimportantforpeopletobeawareofthiseconomicproblem.
Thisdocumentaryrelatestowhatwetalkedaboutinclassbecauseithastodowiththe
economy.Theeconomyisaculturaladaptationtotheenvironmentthatenablesagroupof
humanstousetheavailableresourcestosatisfytheirneedsandtothrive.Inclasswetalkedabout
thevariousdifferenttypesofeconomiessuchasfoodforagers,pastoralism,horticulture,
agriculture,andindustrialism.Thedocumentarystatedthatbigbusinessesdonotcareabout
creatingjobsforUnitedStatescitizens.Theyjustwantmaximizeprofitssotheyhirepeoplefrom
differentcountriesandmovetheircorporationstoplaceswithlowertaxesandlessenvironmental
regulations.Inclass,westatedthatistechniqueisknownasflexibleaccumulation.Flexible
accumulationistheincreasinglyflexiblestrategiesthatcorporationsusetoaccumulateprofitsin
aneraofglobalization,enabledbyinnovativecommunicationandtransportationtechnologies.
Thedocumentarystatedthatbusinessespracticeflexibleaccumulationbymovingcompaniesto
differentcountriesandhiringthenativesthere,leadingtofewerjobsfortheU.S.middleclass.
Thisdrivesthegapbetweentheupperandmiddleclass.
This documentary relates to what we talked about in class because we
talked about class and inequality. Class is a system of power based on
wealth, income, and status that creates an unequal distribution of societys
resources. Systems of class stratify individuals life chances and affect their
ability for social mobility upward. Inequality is when some people have more
resources than others. In class, we stated that all contemporary societies
have inequality and that some are more unequal than others. We also stated
that class is based on ones wealth, income, appearance, and how they
speak. Karl Marx stated that inequality is a natural part of capitalism. In
addition, we talked about how the United States is a class system, meaning
that you can move up or down in the system based on achieved status.
Social position established and changeable during a persons lifetime is
achieved status. People are able to move up in their class due to their skills,
knowledge, and hard work. In class we stated that although it is possible to
move up in the class system, it is very hard to do so.