SOCY 340 Module 2 Discussion Forum #1
Required Textbook (attached in PDF):
Social Problems, 14th Edition – D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Smith, and Kelley Eitzen Smith
Publisher : Pearson (January 1, 2018)
ISBN-10 : 0134631900
ISBN-13 : 978-0134631905
Prompt:
• Read Chapters 1 and 2 of the textbook.
• In the first sentence of Chapter 2, Eitzen, Zinn and Smith put forth their thesis for the entire book: “that many of the problems of U.S. society result from the maldistribution of wealth and power.” In essence, a thesis that the state is not a neutral agent of the people but is biased in favor of those with wealth – upper classes and the largest corporations.:
• Discuss this thesis. 1) What are the principle systemic imperatives identified by the authors that lend toward a bias in the U.S. economic and political system that favors wealth and power? 2) Why do the authors consider this bias in the system to be the root of social problems?