This week we are starting to discuss class in America in terms of wealth and income inequality in America as well as income mobility (just skim the main ideas).
When thinking about class it is important to look at issues from multiple perspectives as much as possible, which is not always easy to do. Take a few minutes to play this web "game" spent, which places you in a position of one of the millions of Americans who are unemployed and are down to their last bit of savings. The goal is simple: survive one month. Good luck: http://playspent.org/. Feel free to share your experiences in your comments below.
One of our readings for the week is about inequality in America and it's potential threat to democracy and as something that may contradict the American political ideal of equality of opportunity. I would like you to address the issue of inequality using any of the following questions as a starting point. Please start a discussion with one another and refer to each other's comments when possible.
To what extent is income inequality and/or wealth inequality a problem for America politically or socially? Does it contradict fundamental American political ideals, or does it reinforce the American Dream by supporting a meritocracy where one can succeed if they work hard? Finally, what should the role of government be in terms of providing assistance to the poor or helping to reduce the income or wealth inequality in America (or should the government stay out of issues such as these)?
I had $199 left at the end of the game. Income inequality is large social issue for America. I believe that it is one of the root causes of a brewing legitimacy crisis in the United States. If America is a meritocracy or not doesn't matter if the mass public believes it is or isn't. It is about perception, so from a social standpoint it is a huge issue that is only gaining more attention by angry voters and candidates. It also contradicts the idea of America being a meritocracy as it clearly has enforced that the amount of people 'making it' is less as we constantly here from politicians and the media that the middle class is shrinking. This goes back to the idea of a legitimacy crisis. The government should help fund groups that do work to help the economically disadvantaged. Governmental assistance is key with an emphasis on working hard to be able to 'stand on your own.'
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the game I had $227 left, I did however turn my mother down for important medication and I did lose my job halfway into the month. I believe that income inequality is going to have to be both social and politically driven. This is something that’ll take two to tango and without them working together it’ll be much harder to gain ground in the battle for income equality. This contradicts the American dream idea that has been embedded into the nations ethics from early on. The American dream doesn’t exist, no matter how hard I work at anything my net worth will never look like Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates. There is a good amount of luck and key upbringings that groom certain individuals to be able to achieve such greatness. The government needs to take a more hands on roll in battling income inequality. A basic income has been suggested many of times and is something that would really work too. Without the government helping the lower income families they’ll just continue to stay at the bottom when the top 1% keep raking in the 1000 time multiple than their average employee.
ReplyDeleteI actually did not make it a full month in "Spent." I ran out of money on the 29th day. The game is a good reminder of how poverty can almost build on itself with unexpected costs and losses that often come with life, especially if one is already in economic peril. I agree with Matthew W. that income inequality poses a threat to legitimacy. America has never been about equality of outcome--and probably should not be-- but equality of opportunity has always been touted as a central American philosophy. I think since the 70s this idea has become less of a reality as we see the middle class shrink and wealth/income distribution skew more toward the top .1%.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the recent tax revamp is a step in the wrong direction. While many people across the board will see relief from taxes, the benefits go disproportionately to those with income coming from capital gains (aka the dreaded 1%-ers). Meanwhile, it most likely adds around a trillion dollars to the national debt. I wish the government would focus on sustainably funding the security net that already exists rather than borrowing on our future.
When I played "Spent" I was barely able to survive the month. I ended the month with $117 left. However I was in need of major dental work($800), my car needed to registered($350), and I missed my car payment ($450). I ended the month with money left over, but not enough money for rent. I was living paycheck to paycheck, and problems kept piling up. Although I was able to keep ahead of certain bills by thinking frugally and cutting extra costs. However, I was still never able to get ahead. Government programs need to be available for low-income people. The current economic rat race, keeps people running forever. There is no break, no time to catch your breath or to think about a better life. When I was playing Spent I took a computer class at the community college. Although I spent my time and money to learn these skills nothing changed. Even when I was striving to escape the rat race, it amounted to nothing. We should be prioritizing retraining the low-income workers to work in higher paying jobs.
ReplyDeleteWhen I played the game “Spent”, I had $269 at the end of the game, but I lost my job and needed financial help.
ReplyDeleteI think income inequality does not reinforce the American Dream if the only way to join a meritocracy is only by hard work. It is true hard work plays a factor into being part of a meritocracy, but I think the support people get from others is a bigger factor especially to lower income families. For example, my uncle died around his 30s, leaving my aunt with two children and not much money. If my aunt never got help from my uncle’s best friend or from a charitable family to pay for her children's’ education, then her children may have never had a chance to succeed or be part of the American meritocracy. This story is why I support the government in assisting poor families. I saw from the welfare info site a “head start’ program to educate children from birth to age five for low-income families, but not every state has this program. Maybe the government should implement this program to all states especially to Illinois since the site showed there are no child care/child support programs in Illinois.
After playing spent, I managed to finish the full thirty days with 291 dollars left over. Throughout the scenario, I could not make payments on my car, so it ended up getting repossessed, I could not pay for my dental work, and I was not able to enjoy any fun activities that was offered. I also ended up losing my job by the third week because I lost my car and I had to turn down going to my grandfather's funeral and helping my mother. As issues kept arising, the harder it became to pay for things. It forced me to think carefully on the choices I made because I felt I couldn't afford to make any mistakes. I think spent gives an eye opener and really puts you in the perspective of many Americans who live paycheck to paycheck and are struggling a lot. After playing spent, I feel there needs to be a greater emphasis on government programs that are helping Americans struggling day by day to survive. While I understand people argue that there are those who may take advantage of the system, it's critical to help those who are struggling and want to get back on their feet, so they can have a better life for them and their family.
ReplyDeleteI did not make it a full month. On the 23rd day I ran out of money. I think this was an eye opening activity in that income inequality in America is a huge issue, and it's hard to make ends meet when making such little money. I think the situation you are born into is a huge factor in how far you go in life, and that just working hard isn't enough. Government funded programs to help people who don't make a lot of money, such as food stamps I think are extremely beneficial, but the question is, "is that enough?"
ReplyDeleteI made it through the month but I had to make some tough decisions that I would genuinely take a second to put thought in. I always knew living on your own is hard, but this game gave me a step by step process of what it might be like. I ended up having $79 left over by the end of the game, however rent was due the day after... People who are unemployed or live pay check to pay check must have serious anxiety problems, especially those who have children. Problems kept arising and it put into perspective how risky it is not to have fallback money or support. In the game, it emphasized how important it is to have health care. You have nothing if you do not have your health. Many Americans are forced to live like this and go through these experiences and decisions daily. It is sad to think that the government is not doing much to help those of less fortune, and those who really need help just to get by.
ReplyDeleteThe income inequality creates huge problems for the U.S. on both the political and social levels. Politically people with less money have less power; as nice as it would be to pretend that money is not a heavy influence in politics that simply isn’t the case. Money and people’s ability to use it to influence politics is a huge part of U.S. political culture. When there isn’t that same opportunity for everyone in the U.S, a huge political power disparity emerges. Socially, the same disparity takes place. Low-income individuals and families have a harder time in life at almost all aspect. Studies have shown that people with low incomes are mentally, physically, and emotionally less healthy when compared to those with higher incomes. They can’t afford the same services that people with high incomes use to maintain a healthy lifestyle in those categories.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the type of disparities that stem from wealth and income inequality go against the several ideals the U.S. pretends to hold dear. The U.S. isn’t the place where anyone can make by “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps”. The “American Dream” isn’t real. The wealth inequality in the U.S. ensures that upward economic mobility is very difficult to obtain for people starting at the low end of wealth spectrum. To pretend that these things are obtainable for anyone who just works hard enough is to ignore years of evidence otherwise. If the U.S. is to be this place where anyone can make it, the yes it is the duty of the government to help those who need it. Leaving people without the basic necessity that are needed to live in the U.S. is cruel and inhumane. If these people are ignored and left to fend for themselves, then it demonstrates that U.S. clearly has a bias and preference toward a people with certain level of wealth. It would appear as though the lives and wellbeing of those with high wealth matter more than the live of those with low wealth.
When playing the game, i ended up running out of money on the 26th day. I felt myself experiencing slight anxiety as each day came around because i didn't know what would be happening next. I can't even imagine what people who actually live like this feel. Something that really surprised me was that children who are part of the free lunch system get made fun of for it. Perhaps i never saw it happening around me in high school, but it seems so inhumane and terrible that people get made fun of for that. People need to eat and if they can't afford it, it makes so much sense that the school should help the family out. Furthermore, i was able to see it from the adult's side in that adding just 3 dollars to someone's lunch budget is a lot when put into perspective. I think the government should have more policies in place when it comes to helping people in poverty. Sometimes it seems like no matter how hard people work or try, the system just won't work out in their favor.
ReplyDeletePlaying the game itself put a lot of things into perspective for me. Although, I know that low income families have a tough time keeping up bills, etc I did not realize just how much they would have to give up. At the end of the game, I did end he month with $480, but my rent would have been due the next day and I wouldn’t have enough to cover the costs. A lot of the decisions that the game gave were really tough. For instance, choosing between going to your best friend’s wedding that’s out of state (and costs $200) or to say you couldn’t go, deciding to help your neighbor move for $50 but having to miss your child’s school play, etc. Overall, it was a really hard effort and a lot of tough decisions had to be made just to make an extra buck. But, I do think that income inequality is a large problem for America politically and socially. I think that the idea of the American Dream, is something that is overhyped and not really realistic. Though the idea of the American Dream sounds nice, it is almost impossible to accomplish if you have no financial support. As can easily be seen through the game, the whole point of living to paycheck to paycheck is something that isn’t easy to do and can end up hurting your finances in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI finished SPENT with a balance of $313. This game has created a convincingly realistic example of the economic plight of lower-class Americans. I think the issue of income inequality is among the most pressing in the United States, and one that seemingly gets little attention from leaders and lawmakers. I think solving such an issue should be one of the top priorities of both America's leaders and its people. The country coming together to help lift some of its members out of poverty through responsible and lasting changes is both an honorable and beneficial cause for our people to devote themselves to. I think the government has a definite role in this matter, providing assistance to those in need and working with businesses to create jobs for those struggling to make ends meet. Additionally, private citizens and organizations as well as government agencies alike could provide guidance for those looking to save and invest money to better their futures.
ReplyDeleteI managed to make it through the month with a remaining balance of $686 and only one job strike. The decisions I had to make were pretty tough, and I often had to swallow my pride and rely on my friends for help. Although I had to forfeit attending “my child’s” play in order to earn some extra cash, I never took money away from “her” piggy bank and always gave “her” money when I could. This gave me a solid perspective on what it’s like to be part of a low-income family. There are a lot of sacrifices that are needed to be made in order to make ends meet. Although I did well managing my finances in this game, I know that the outcome would be much different in reality and that I probably wouldn’t have made some of the same decisions I did had I actually been faced with this financial burden. When you are doing everything you can to provide for your family, the heat-of-the-moment decisions can be quite detrimental. Income inequality is definitely a more pervasive issue in America, and I think there’s a lot more factors that play into success than merit on its own.
ReplyDeleteI finished the month with $450 left and a large amount of health problems piling up. Going through this activity was very eye opening not only to what the lifestyle is like, but what people will do for their kids. I ended up really only ever spending the money on my child which I think is similar to how most parents live. Income inequality is such a serious problem in the United States but it is hard to find a balance of how to resolve this issue without making people who work for their money feel like it is being taken away. I could not think of one simple solution that will solve both these issues, but I think this game will help people begin to understand what life in America can truly be like for most Americans.
ReplyDeleteI finished the game with $256, but a long list of problems piling up on the side, as well as the threat of a car being repossessed and nagging tooth issue and back problem. I found this game to be extremely humbling, as the problems presented in the game are very real and happen every day to a large percentage of Americans. I found myself having to weigh my priorities and consider health, my child, work, education and bills. Having to rely on friends for bill payment or having to deny a field trip for my child really opened my eyes to the class of Americans that deal with this reality. In terms of the governments role in this situation, I feel like aid should be provided for those who fall below a certain line, but not to the point where it can be relied upon to the point that it will carry someone through life comfortably.
ReplyDeleteI did not quite make it a full month. I thought Spent was an eye opening experience for me to see how difficult living in poverty can be. The decisions they have to make on a daily basis must be stressful beyond belief. Income inequality is definitely a difficult issue to solve. Although meritocracy exists for people struggling financially, it doesn’t mean it always works out for them. We live in a competitive country and when you’re already in a tough place financially, it’s hard to succeed. As far as the government providing aide for struggling families, I believe it’s necessary. If a family can’t provide food for themselves, I think it’s a valid request for government assistance.
ReplyDeleteI only made it through day 14, since the decision to cure the dog, or put it down was not one that I could morally make. Although, this is probably due to the fact that I recently got a puppy and am very attached to her. I think that since I grew up lower middle class, some of the situations were something I grew up with, specifically the child getting bullied for receiving the federally paid for lunch. Although, other issues I never worried about, since my father was able to get insurance through his employer for a reasonable price. Income inequality is a major problem in the United States and I feel that one of the ways that we could improve this would be through properly taxing the upper class and reallocating that money towards programs to help out lower income Americans (EX: increasing funding for pell grants).
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ReplyDeleteI made it through the month and ended with $314, but many of the decisions I had to make were not ones I have needed to make in my like. Income inequality is a major issue in this country and is at its highest levels since the turn of the century. It has come to impact so many of the things we hold sacred in this country from education to the American dream and even democracies. I don’t think it supports the American dream, because as we saw in the immigration’s aftermath, those in low income areas do not have access to good schools which allows them to never achieve their true potential and show the world their merit. I am not a proponent of any sort of universal income or anything so progressive as this, but food stamp and Medicaid. I think the governments job is to use taxes as a means of creating income equality. We used to have 50% taxes from President Johnson until the Raegan tax cuts and during that time we had the most income equality we had ever had.
I first want to take a moment to say that while this "game" was only a simulation, I felt an unfamiliar sense of anxiety for the duration of the month. There were four imperative factors that I invested the majority of my focus upon: 1) maintaining the health and wellbeing of my child by proving adequate food and money for non-reduced lunch 2) maintaining job security by ensuring that I was assessing each conflict that was presented to me 3) attempting to maintain my credit score - with both the near and distant future in mind and 4) making sure to dedicate any potential leisure time to my child by attending sporting events and rehearsals. The sad reality of it, however, is that while I was conscious of these factors, my own health was rapidly diminishing. There was a cloud of worry that gathered over my head, and I simply couldn't imagine teetering on the edge of having just enough to live and having nothing at all. As I have previously touched on, this is a simulation, though this tragic notion of wealth inequality has plagued the United States. Moreover this struggle has made a presence in more than income disparities including, though certainly not limited to, education, politics, etc - and can be dependent on an equally extensive list of factors, where a few be may race, and gender.
ReplyDeleteI made it through the game with roughly $200 left. Although it might have had some issues, I do see the point in this game, and thought it replicated the anxious feeling of living off of next to nothing, as well as raising some issues that are caused by income inequality. With this being said, income inequality is clearly a huge issue in our country, and something needs to happen for this change. That change is not easy to come by though, and it involves tough decisions that may infringe on some people's right to property. It is not unreasonable for people in situations like spent to need help, and the government should be able to help them, but it becomes a gray area when deciding how to help the people who need it.
ReplyDeleteThe game became pretty miserable after getting my car foreclosed after I lost my job. It's incredibly difficult to be proactive and preventative while also covering priorities. Sometimes you need to take the risk of not getting something checked out or not paying a bill right away, and then it can backfire and the expenses start snowballing.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be incredibly difficult to be an underemployed, single parent, I clearly had a hard time in the game and it's likely because I have never had to consciously budget so tightly.. and because I have good health insurance. For that I am very lucky. I did not realize just how lucky until I got to college and the city where the very rich and very poor cohabitate.
I do think the emerging wealth gap between the top 10% and the bottom 90% - even the top 1 and bottom 99 - is very concerning to our democracy. Some level of income inequality will always exist in a capitalistic society and I think that's healthy for a meritocratic country. Even if everyone starts at the same level, some will make better decisions and investments than others. A command economy is not ideal by any means. It limits personal freedom and inhibits innovation and progress. Perfect equality is untenable in actuality. The key is to have enough socialistic policies for public goods that the private economy cannot provide for: such as education and conservation.
However, the level of inequality we are at today is very dangerous, politically - especially when considering our campaign finance laws. The more rigidified our income-groups are over time (most low-income people remain so for life, as do their kids), the less meritocratic our society is, and the more our democracy resembles an oligarchy. I think because of the state of our public schools, especially in poor/urban areas, equal opportunity is diminishing and ensuring people cannot work their way out of poverty.
I played the game Spent and was left with $374 left, however I’m not confident I would make the same decisions if I were faced with this situation in real life. Something I noticed throughout the game was being forced to make concessions in terms of my child’s happiness, like not being able to pay for him to play a sport. Class inequality is more than just a financial burden, it affects those struggling physically, mentally, and emotionally. A person’s wellbeing is only affected further if income inequality is compounded with racial, sexual, and/or gender discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI think the 2016 election is a great way to talk about some of the issues in our culture in terms of class inequality. Many people look at the 2016 election and think that Trump’s victory all came down to race, but I think it’s more difficult to understand why it actually predicated on class. Trump ran on a campaign that promised the working class a brighter future, a return to a “greater” time in America when you could work a blue-collar job and still provide for your family. Bernie Sanders centered his entire campaign around the idea that the top 1% of wealth and corporate America must be held accountable for their role in income inequality. Although they ran on almost antithetical platforms and went about addressing class very differently, Sanders and Trump voters found a common bond in their contempt for the establishment and to some extent liberal elitism i.e. Hillary Clinton. Even in 2016, the candidates focused much more on the “middle class,” whom even the rich associate themselves with, than people living on or below the poverty line. Hillary Clinton, our quasi representative for the liberal elite, spoke about the issue with the same enthusiasm she spoke about mass incarceration and student debt. The issue here is that class is at the root of those problems.
Talking about class makes people uncomfortable, it's inconvenient for the rich, and when poor people try advocating for themselves it generally goes nowhere (or they get fired like me in the Spent activity). Maybe it’s so difficult to talk about income inequality because...what is the “solution”? Is there one?
I had $147 left, but that was only because over the course of the game I made choices based only on the fact I could save money. The game helped show me that choices you make to save money or make a little extra will often cause you more stress or put stress on your children/relationships with them. In terms of wealth inequality today where the rich are getting even richer, the meritocracy simply does not exist because as the spent game shows you can work as hard as you can not only in your job but outside to make money as well but still be trapped in the cycle of poverty. I think the role of government should be to supply adequate aid that is easily accessible as well as a tax structure that supports low income/middle class families over benefiting large corporations under the idea they will raise wages with the money they save in taxes.
ReplyDeleteI did not last very long in this game, because I was playing within the idea that this was me and I wasn't stepping in to the shoes of someone who had to survive. This game did put a lot of things in perspective, however. I realize that, despite how much I complain about textbooks being too expensive or how I'm broke or whatever, I'm still incredibly lucky to be in the position I am today. If I was ever in trouble, I'd have parents to go back to and help me. But this game brought up expenses I didn't even know existed, and the fact that people can barely afford to pay for the expenses they do know are happening is heartbreaking. The fact that people live in such inequality, or the fact that some have to work multiple jobs just to provide for themselves or their families, is, to me, a fact that shouldn't exist in supposedly the "greatest country in the world." Inequality undeniably exists in this country, and that inequality can even translate into schools, were a poor student may have no choice but to attend a poor school that cannot give them the education they deserve, and that lack of a proper education can lead to a myriad of other problems later in life. Fixing inequality in general is a major key to solving problems that exist in education, and to me, government is about helping people, but I am nowhere near smart or well-versed to figure out what the solution for all of this is right now. Perhaps not providing cuts to programs like Medicaid is what I can think of right now. Anyone else can feel free to correct me or drop solutions as well.
ReplyDeleteI made it through the game with $921, after reading through my fellow classmates posts I was not shocked to see that most of them failed to get through the month or had very little money left over. I noticed that throughout the game we were given the option to “have a friend help” this involved posting something on facebook. I picked this option every chance I got. It allowed me to skip the annoying expenses like joining a gym (replaced by finding a gym buddy). It also allowed me to hitch a ride to work and ask my friend to borrow money. My parents always taught me to be a friend to those around when finances are tough. In some situations my parents needed to ask for a car if ours was broken or find paths around paying expense by asking a friend for their help. The simulation is impossible to win, in the same way it is impossible for those with low-income jobs to survive month to month. I was surprised by the difficult and random scenarios raised in the simulation, but that made it very similar to the daily struggles the average american faces. I think the government has a role to play in helping those individuals that cannot get on their feet. In many scenarios they are hard working people that cannot win because the system is against them.
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