Chapter 5

Geofrey C BIlabaye (Political and Economic Columnist)

 

In this reading, there are mainly two things that caught my attention, first is the political economy of poverty where the author has discussed some of the most controversial things that take place in America currently. Secondly, The signing of civil rights and workers unions in America.

 

The political economy of poverty where the author discusses the ridistribution of wealth is a very interesting topic in my opinion. The interesting thing about redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor, is how both sides present legitimate ideas in their favors respectively.

 

The distribution of wealth is the right idea at certain circumstances and wrong at certain circumstances. In case of a country in depression, for instance during President Franklin D Roosevelt, the re-distribution of wealth from the rich to the poor was one of the biggest key solution to how the country was able to come out of the depression in the first place, because FDR was able to put in place policies that guaranteed the poor are not being exploited by the careless rising of prices of the products that consumers bought by that time, but there were forms of progressive taxation that were developed by that time which worked great in ensuring that the income gap was not as ridiculous.

 

The signing of civil rights and workers union in America is also an interesting subject Massey brings up. Historically speaking, all the good cause political and social issues have taken a significant time to finally be implemented as laws of land, or to be used as governing process of the land. My point is, despite what goes on, the debates in congress and different opinions from individual persons on controversial topics, by the end of day, there will always be a good solution. It could take a while, several months or several years but the beautiful thing about America is that, finally there will be a solution.

For example, Brown vs Board of Education, the law that finally integrated black and white students in same schools was 1954, but it wasn't untill eleven years later in 1965 where the first voting rights for African Americans was signed into law. Take into consideration then, despite the signing of the first voting rights in 1965, it took 43 years up until 2008 to have the first African American president.

 

Therefore, in conclusion, i would like to say I have faith that workers unions will eventually become an implemented policy and law of the land. Its just a matter of time.