The conflict theory best explains the upper and working class group economic situation in the society. According to the conflict theory, the society is always at conflict with each other all the time because of their class, race and ethnicity (Dennis, 1998). Conflict theory stipulates that people compete for the limited resources in the society which are wealth, power and prestige. All the resources bring social change to the society and some of these changes oppress the lower class people since they are not in a position to be wealthy. People from a certain class will always seek to gain wealth and power and attain a certain economic status so as to be superior to the other. There is always competition between the upper class and the middle class to attain an economic status in order to achieve power. The upper class will do anything even creating laws to oppress the lower class so as to be in charge both economically and socially (Stanley, 2003). The upper class group is the rich people in the society and they are the people who make vital decisions on the economic situation of the United States. The working class group is the group that suffers since they have low wages yet they are still taxed highly compared to the taxes of those from the upper class. Since the upper class group own significant portions of corporate America, they use their power to get the best yet the working class group struggles with their economic situation. The upper class group is always in conflict with the minority for power and wealth. The upper class group is always in conflict with the lower class as they struggle for power and wealth in order to control the lower class group both socially, politically and economically.
Why my group votes the way the do
The upper class group will always vote one way for the people from their class so as to protect their personal interests. Conversely, through symbolic interactionism, the working class will always vote for the people they identify themselves with (Anderson and Taylor, 2009). The working class group cast their votes to the people who support policies that help improve their lives both socially, economically, health wise and in the education sector. They tend to avoid leaders who advocate for policies that cater for their personal interests. Furthermore, they avoid leaders who are motivated by personal ambitions other than the good of the whole nation. Through the symbolic interactionism, the working class group is able to identify each other through their beliefs, culture and relationship in the society and this way, they only vote for leaders who identify with their culture, beliefs and are able to improve their societal status.
Economic Policies
If I was the president of the United States of America, I will make sure that policies that strengthen pathways for the lower and working class groups are implemented. I will make sure that all the people are in the middle class group and this will help eliminate class distinctions that are very popular in the society today. Firstly, I will make sure that policies that invest in human capital and education are implemented. In order to move millions of the American people in the middle class, it will require investments in human development and education. This will help secure the future of the coming generations since they will be able to get good education and this will guarantee them a good education. When all the children are able to access good education from high school to college levels, it will help reduce the educational gap between the upper class and the lower class thus they will be guaranteed a good future. Good educational background will help eliminate economic hardships in families since good educational background guarantees better employment. With good jobs, the class distinctions will be decreased since many Americans will be moved to the middle class thus reducing the conflict between the upper class and the working class.
In addition, if I was to be the president of the United States, I would implement tax policies that strengthens and expands the lower and working class groups. The current tax policies bolster the rich rather than supporting the lower and working class groups who work very hard. The policies favor the wealthy Americans instead of helping the Americans who are working hard to come out of poverty and improve their economic and social status. If a more progressive tax policy is executed, it can increase the economic mobility and decrease the class distinctions in the society. Furthermore, I can work on expanding the child tax credit and the income earned tax credit since it benefits the low income workers and this can help in increasing their living standards. Moreover, if I could get the chance of becoming the President of the United States, I would increase the taxes paid by the rich so as to stabilize the economy and make life easier for the low income earners.
Social Policies
If I was to be the president of the United States of America, I will expand the freedom to vote and protect the voting process so that only eligible persons are allowed to vie for positions in the society. This will help prevent the upper class group from taking over positions in the society for their selfish interests and using their positions to oppress the lower and working class groups. This will also help in preventing the election of people from the same class and leaving out true leaders who are from the minority groups.
Additionally, I will work on improving the health sector by making sure that all people are entitled to medical care regardless of their class and race. I will make health care facilities available to the low income earners as most people from the lower class die due to lack of money for medical attention while the upper class groups gets easy access to medical care. Moreover, I will work on improving the education policy whereby both the rich and the poor can get equal opportunities to education. Education achievement determines the class one holds in the society. If educational policies are amended and implemented, the educational gaps can be alleviated. When all the people have a right to equal educational facilities, it will help alleviate poverty, housing problems and low wages jobs among the minority groups which are the low class and the working class. It will help solve housing problems among the poor since they will be able to get good employment and improve their living standards.
Social policy makers should value diversity while planning and processing social policies (DiNitto, 2000). They should make sure that the policies implemented benefit not only the rich but all the people in the society. Moreover, the policies should not bring class distinctions in the society and should help improve the living standards of the lower class people. All people should be involved in processing and implementing all policies whether economic or social policies because they should benefit the whole society.
References
Anderson, M. L. and Taylor, H. F. (2009). Sociology: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
DiNitto, D. (2000). Social welfare: Politics and public policy. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Dennis, G. (1998). The American Class Structure in an Age of Growing Inequality. California: Wadsworth. Stanley, A. (2003). How Class Works: Power and Social Movement. Yale: Yale University Press.
