No Blesse Oblige: The Marxist Ideology

Hello fellow bloggers!
You know it just dawned on me; there are really eight of us that the previous statement applies to......we're pretty lonely aren't we?

Anyway, this week's blog asks for us to choose which ideology--Functionalism or Marxism--will be able to keep up with our continuously adapting world. Evidently, the answer to the question is really Functionalism (developed by Emile Durkheim and expanded upon by Talcott Parsons) however, obvious questions like these tend to leave concepts like Marxism under the gutter. Therefore, I have decided to do my blog on Marxism, an ideology that probably will never go into affect but has a real positive direction towards it.

Marxism, the theory that criticizes the capitalist perspective (of material wants), believes in the formation of a superior, egalitarian society ran by the working class (proletariat) instead of the oppressive factory owners (bourgeoisie). Marxism is structured on the idea of societal control and not elite domination. The concept of "No Blesse oblige" or the rule of the few over the many, is the epitomy of what the Marcists are against. In Marxist eyes, a nation will start out as a capitalist and gradually deviate from capitalism to communism as the workers begin to realize that they are being given unfair wages for very laborious work. Eventually the "working class" will gain class consciousness (sociology term) and rise up against the "factory owners". Now this ideology is good philosophically but it is almost impossible for it to be utilized realistically. Our nation, for instance, is so enveloped in the idea of free market competition that moving into an egalitarian society, which is what Marxism implicitly promotes, would seem unfair to those who like to compete even though there "competition" leads to more suffering. In essence, Marxism serves as a good premise as to what direction a nation should take yet in this competitive world, Marxism will remain just that: an idea.

Making Life Easy or Adding other Struggles: Online Classes

Online classes provide another realm for students to attain as much knowledge as students are provided with at school and to have much more flexibility when it comes to rigorous courses. The students does not have to deal with the tumultuous, disorderly, provincial environment of the classroom. Classes students did not have the opportunity to take in their school are usually provided by online servers like Florida Virtual School. The student is no longer limited to the classes chosen by the school; he or she has the ability to accumulate more credits and reach higher regions of academic prowess.
Online classes does allow the student to be more mobile and work in a more comfortable environment however is there a point where the student gets too comfortable? As a result of the student being able to manage their own time, sometimes "time" isn't dedicated to online classes at all. The student becomes lackadaisical, continuously puts off their assignments, and uses the common, tired excuse "I'm going to do it later". Online classes can benefit the student and in some situations, alleviate the stress a school environment tends to cause but if the student is not disciplined enough to do their 2.8 American History assignments (someone in our 4th block), the online class system could be another drowned of heir sinking gpa.

"Keep America American" - An Innocent Supposition or Underlying Message?

As we all know the presidential election is just around the corner (time goes by fast). As such candidates are scurrying and rallying up citizens to support their movement in this upcoming election. Before we get up to the "big day" however, we first have to support our candidates in the primary elections. Personally, I have an interest in politics but I haven't been keeping up to date with a lot of political issues so I guess assignment will catch me up a little bit.

Recently, republican candidate Mitt Romney, won the Florida primary election with a 46.4% lead. The runner-up Newt Gingrich (pictured to the right of photograph) had a 31.9% which is not even in comparison to the votes accumulated by Mitt Romney. Romney thanked his supporters by reiterating the need for the president's departure while Newt demonstrated how bitter he was by illustrating a sign that stated "46 states to go."
This win for Romney is not only a great start (and an indication of who might be chosen as the republican nominee) but it is a huge contradiction from what happened to Mitt Romney 4 years ago; he did not win in the Florida primary election in 2008. It seems that even after his "keep America American" slogan, which was the same statement used by the Ku-Klux-Klan in the 1920's as part of their hatred towards blacks, Jews, and Catholics. Kind of coincidental, but even if Romney does not have the same intention as the Ku Klux Klan had with that statement, what exactly does he mean by that? Does he want America to remain as a war state? His dissent towards Obama's method of buying 9 navy ships per year was strongly signified with his plan to increase shipbuilding and increase the number of modernized air craft in the Air Force. When statements like that are made, it brings about an air of suspicion. There more liberal concerns that need to be dealt with. We fund all our money into the military and yet we cannot provide the funds for the people who have to pay higher taxes to support these unnecessary motives. The priority now should be to focus domestic rehabilitation instead of foreign vindication. That is why these policies and statements backed by Mitt Romney worries and disappoints me because it seems as if history is going to repeat itself......