12 24 2012 Sociological Imagination A shift from personal troubles to public concerns Detach from assumptions and get critical distance View world from perspective of others Seek solutions to social problems by changing structure of society not Franklin D Roosevelt s Four Freedoms Speech problem people Freedom of Speech Freedom of Worship Freedom from Want Freedom from Fear FDR s Second Bill of Rights Employment with a living wage Freedom from unfair competition and monopolies Housing medical care education social security Why Care about Inequality It is in our self interest to do so Self Interest Risk of poverty over life course Risk of welfare use over life course It is consistent with and essential to fulfillment of core values of our society It is part of our obligation and responsibility as citizens of wider communities Spending on health education crime Risk of Poverty over Life Course By age 75 52 of White Americans Americans face by age 75 Risk Sharing 75 with less than high school education 48 with high school education By age 28 Black Americans experience the same risk of poverty that White No one plans to be poor or need welfare but it is a risk for our economic system Most Americans believe it will never happen to me or my family Are the poor or welfare users any different than us Public Spending Due to Poverty Education Health problems lack of family resources stressful home neighborhood 90 of crimes to obtain property normally acquired through legitimate Judeo Christian Ethic Direct imperative to help the poor in both Old New Testaments Mercy generosity and urgency in helping poor American Civic Principles Principles are undermined by existence of poverty Crime means Values Liberty Poverty constrains people s choices power ability to act Poverty constrains equal access to opportunity Equality Citizenship Demands reciprocity reaping rewards of a society as well as bearing responsibility to maintain common good How does one become poor Wise stewardship Con Inequality Does Not Matter Principles of competition profit and efficiency Belief in mechanism of free market Largely inconsistent with caring for poor or for gaps between wealthy and poor increasingly isolated This is only one of many complicated competing beliefs Are we at a point in which inequality has forced us to reconsider a full range of principles 12 24 2012 12 24 2012
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