Monday, September 6, 2010

Ruling Class and Subject Class

Marx believes that in every stratified society there are two classes - aruling calss and a subject class. The ruling class possesses all the wealth and the subject class works for the suling class.

Do you agree with this statement as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago.?

36 comments:

  1. Based on Marx theory, I don't believe that in Trinidad & Tobago we have such a society. But, we do have differing classes of people which make up the social landscape of Trinidad & Tobago.
    Albert Best
    CNC SO 200 Student

    ReplyDelete
  2. Marilyn said:
    I would not say that the ruling class possesses all the wealth and that the subject class work for the ruling class in Trinidad and Tobago. In Trinidad and Tobago we have men and women who may not be considered as part of the ruling class bracket within the social groups. Some of these people work directly for the government. Some of them are skilled men and women who work and make a profit for themselves

    ReplyDelete
  3. Trinidad and Tobago is a society in which social stratification, as it relates to wealth and power exists. The ruling class in Trinidad & Tobago is clearly seen to be among two ethnic groups (the East Indians & the Syrians).They are the ones who are dominant in the financial sector as they own and to some extent control the means/factors of production. According to Marx,this 'capitalist class'is referred to as the bourgeoisie.On the lower end of the 'social ladder'there is the working class or the proletariat.According to Marx's theory the proletariat only have their labour to sell for a wage to the bourgeoisie. This is evident in Trinidad & Tobago on a daily basis.
    Bridget Fletcher
    CNC SO 200 Student

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Bible says in
    Proverbs 22:7
    The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender and in
    Proverbs 12:24
    The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

    If we have this class structure in society Is it beause we are born that way or is Solomon right - those under rule are plainly slothful?

    ReplyDelete
  5. How ironic is this, that the same area I focused on with my reflection of chapter 15, is a subject in the blog.
    There seems to be no middle class in this soceity of ours, in my opinion, but merely a lower and an upper class. I do agree that the wealth in this country is controled by a few. A group that is comprised mainly of East Indians and Syrians. Is that the way it should be, or have we simply learned to conform. I heard someone say in a motivational speech that the opposite of success is not failure but conformity.
    I think the subject class is of the view that everything is as it should be, and thus everyone is in their own comfort zone, oblivious to the truth.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes I agree with the statement as it relates to T&T. There are two classes in this country and we can see this clearly whenever we see issues like the Brad Boyce incident where this young man of Caucasian descent killed another young man named Jason Johnson.There were numerous witnesses who placed Boyce in the wrong and also as the aggressor,Brad Boyce walks free today.
    The biggest drug bust in T&T history- on the 23rd Aug 2005. 1.75 tonnes(1749 kilos) of cocaine with a street value of 700 million TT$, 7 GUNS and 247 rounds of assorted ammunition were retrieved from a house at Passy Bay, Monos Island. The main share holders of that house were never interviewed, they too walk freely today.
    PC Dave Burnett shot and killed Kevin Cato at Red Fete, Pier 1 Chaguaramas with his service revolver. He was attacked by thirteen men and fired his service revolver hitting two of them,killing one.PC Burnett is presently sentenced to hang.
    In 2005, PC Sunil Tota-Maharaj,son of former U.N.C. Senator Virmala Tota-Maharaj and grandson of the then Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha(SDMS) Sat Maharaj at Borough Day celebrations Point Fortin
    August 24th 2005,shot and killed Mervyn Cato Jr. PC Tota-Maharaj is presently a free man.
    At Peake's service station, Cocorite,CCTV footage caught a group of about eight (8)young men assaulting an on duty
    Security Officer with the use of a hammer,after the Officer asked one of the young men who was barebacked to put on a jersey.The Security Officer suffered a broken jaw and several missing teeth and other injuries.The group of young men consist of three(3)Syrian, two(2)mixed & three(3)of African descent.The final outcome of this incident should be closely monitored to see how the case would be handled.
    With all the facts given I agree with Marx and his belief in two classes in every society.I also agree with the statement "the consciousness of all members of society is infused with ruling class ideology,which proclaims the essential rightness,normality and inevitability of the status quo".

    ReplyDelete
  7. I agree with the statement; the ruling class possesses all the wealth and the subject class works for the ruling class. In Trinidad and Tobago even though there is a great number of employment and wealth within the country there are also a great number of families living in poverty or identified as lower class. These persons support their family with minimum wage salaries of less, giving dominance to the ruling class, these lower class families often instil or develop their children to become successful by entrepreneur or laying foundational steps to create less or no dependency on the ruling class in preparation for becoming a part of the ruling class themselves; however, there are families who develop a continuation of dependency on the ruling class, this creates greater power or wealth for the ruling class and a continuation of generational dominance.
    Shurlene P. (CNC so200)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I agree with Bridget Fletcher that Trinidad and Tobago is indeed abiding by the theory of social stratification. The dominance of wealth or the desire to keep wealth within a particular class is becoming an ugly truth for our Caribbean Island. How do we truly attain power and riches if generational curses of dependency become generational curses of force and not by choice? Their name buys them power and their money gives them authority. It's time to open the eyes of many and begin to develop the discipline to break those generational curses of absolute dependency.
    Shurlene P. (CNCso200)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes I agree that ruling and working class exists in Trinidad and Tobago, any nation that experiences gaps in income, edcation, and services between classes of society are the cause and effect of social stratification. We have to be mindful that our inherent scheme of governance was adopted by British ruler ship, and as such we have inherently adopted and implemented a quasi structure in governance, hence the reason we have the need for representation from trade union in addressing the issues of ruling and working class.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kimonet said...
    Trinidad and Tobago, like almost all other Western socities, has a ruling class and a working class. Though those of a particular race may seem to have more persons occupying the positions of the ruling class, ample opportunity is being given by the government, through free tertiary education, for those of the least represented race to begin to occupy more places among the ruling class. We cannot get away from stratification in capitalist societies, but through education, the disparity between the number of persons of one race having more representation in the ruling class than the other(s) can be reduced

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think that there was a time in Trinidad and Tobago whereby a particular group of individuals were expected to be the ruling class. It was understood that persons, because of their class status would become rulers and the subject class would remain the same.
    But guys don’t your remember stories our parents told…( well I do having one pair of shoes to go to school. Church and if there was a time they got to go out) Think about what sir said in class about Jamaica. “On the same street two very diverse groups” sir said. I’m by no means saying that stratification does not exist in our twin isle republic. It exist and is necessary for people need to work in order to appreciate their position. Privileges should not just handed to citizens because of the mare colour of their skin and who they know. (I hear you Tricia)
    Still, “give Jack he jacket nah” Things have changed a great deal since then, education and other opportunities have been provide so that individuals once deemed “less privileged” are now capable of having the resources to break through barriers that once existed. We have moved out of a state of Relative deprivation. (Haralambos) The country is more affluent and leaders have been fairer at distributing the wealth. I believe that organisations studying Marxist predictions may have chosen the move reward employees and as such prevented high levels of Alienation. (Haralambos)
    Tessa Matamoro
    CNC Student

    ReplyDelete
  13. T & T does not just have a land iwning class and an agricultural labouring class which would show a sharp rulers and servants class situation. T & T now has a middle class of people with skills to sell in the oil and chemical industries business and education, there for not just their labour. However if your only means of supporting your self is to work for someone else and your employer does not need to work then there is still two major classes in the Maexist sence of a proletariat (The prolific numbers having no land) and there for having to work for those owning the land or means of prodution.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mailyn said:
    In Trinidad and Tobago our society is made of the upper class and the lower class. The lower class is considered to be the poorer class of our society. I believe if someone happens to be born into the poorer class of our society or may I say poverty, they do have to remain in that condition. If a person from the lower class of society wants to remain in poverty then they are can be considered slothful. Giddens states, “the middle class are those who posses educational or technical qualification. This gives them an advantage in the labour market over the working class, who have only their manual labour power to sell” (Haralambos 65). In our society, everyone has equal opportunity to achieve education and technical qualification through the government GATE program. This opportunity can allow anyone to walk out of their slothfulness and at the same time out of poverty.
    Marilyn Charles George
    CNC Student

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi all I finally got in.Thank God Almighty I in at last!!!
    No I do not agree with Marx's theory of a proletariat or subject working for a bourgeoisie or ruling class. I am of the opinion that marx's theory of only tow classes within the society is dater or is only applicable in societies where kings and queens rule. not in this twin island republic!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi all I finally got in.Thank God Almighty I in at last!!!
    I got so excited that i did not preview my writing so please forgive the errors in the first blog(I am still learning).
    No I do not agree with Marx's theory of a proletariat or subject class working for a bourgeoisie or ruling class. I am however of the opinion that Marx's theory, of only two classes within the society, is dater or is only applicable in societies where kings and queens rule. Not in this twin island republic!!
    September 18, 2010 2:20 PM

    ReplyDelete
  17. According to the argument of Westergaard and Resler,published in 1975, which is based on the Marxist view of the ruling class. The Britain was dominated by the ruling class (the upper class). In Trinidad and Tobago this is prevalent today, after so many years among certain groups, especially in the government.This ethnic group (I am not racist) has expanded in ownership of capital in private industries, they are favored and enjoyed effective power.For example, the proposal of property taxes by the past regime/ government was met with gross displeasure and disgust by this 'class'as it seemed to have been a tremendous threat to them as it would have some how have an adverse effect on them in terms of the depletion of their power (in terms of their financial resources).
    Bridget Fletcher
    CNC SO 200 Student

    ReplyDelete
  18. Marxism rules most of the world and Trinidad and Tobago is no exception. It encompasses everything for politics, economics,philosohpy and even religion, therefor it can also be classified as a worldview: away of explaining how the world in which we live functions,operates and maintains control and order. In all societies including Socialistic, Communism or Marxist each individual have the opportunity to determine if they are going to be in charge of distribution of goods and services or only the consumer of these goods and services. Whether or not you are going to be contented with what you are given or willing to work hard for more of what you want. Are you going to position yourself to ensure that you are not subjected to the exploitation and opression of others? and also benefit from the wealth generated,or are you going to allow yourself to be exploited and opressed to the point where it may seem impossible to escape. In Trinidad and Tobago I beleive that there is gearter stratification within the society than just the ruling class and the working class. This is mainly because of the significant middle class,who work of the ruling class but also have the power to command fair compensation for their labour based upon their education,status, and ambitions. The power to accept or reject what is being offerred.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Roxanne, you need to make a distinction between what Marx said is going on in a capitalist society and what he says should be going on. What should be going on is Marzism. What is going on in a capitlaist society is Marxist thinking. Now which of these are we?

    ReplyDelete
  20. I do agree with the statement as it relates to our society of Trinidad and Tobago. The society is divided into the ruling class and then there's the working class. An indicator of this can be seen on a daily basis in terms of the in-equal distribution of wealth, income and to some extent in the justice system . Example of the injustice and different laws applying to different class of people was rightfully pointed out by our fellow class mate Tricia. It can be argued that it seems as though there is one justice for the ruling class and another for the working class.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Marx Weber (1864-1920)thought that some, but not all, power came from wealth. Because staus groups are based on ethnicity,age,nationality,gender,etc. In Trinibago organized groups or press groups are of great influence who seek to exercise political power or influuce those with power, In a nutshell this descripe the islands of Trinibago.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Gross inequality and social stratification is evident in Trinidad and Tobago. In the case of inequality, it is clear that the wealth is not equally distributed and the power and prestige that usually accompanies it is only for the minority that possesses the wealth. And in the case of social stratification, I strongly that Trinidad and Tobago has a mixed society which consists of both functionalism and Marxism.Therefor it is my belief that this twin island republic has mixed society has four levels of stratification 1.A Capitalist class, 2.An intermediate class consisting of(a)A Managerial Class (b)Professionals- higher and lower class, (c)A lower middle class/ white collar
    3. Working class
    4. And finally the lumpen-proletariat-these are people at the bottom of the stratification system which includes but are not limited to, those who are poor,unemployed and dependent on welfare.

    ReplyDelete
  23. A report on the global impact of dementia says costs associated with the illness will reach an estimated $US604 billion this year.

    The World Alzheimer Report says this is more than the revenue of Wal-Mart or Exxon Mobil.

    The study calls dementia - an incurable and degenerative disease of the mind - the most significant health and social crisis of the century because of the global cost.

    Professor Martin Prince of King's College, London, also says there will also be sharp increases in the illness in developing countries.

    The authors want the World Health Organization to make dementia a world priority.

    The BBC reports there are many types of dementia, but Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for two thirds of cases, is the most well-known.

    A large part of the problem is people living longer. As life expectancy goes up around the world there will be more people who will develop dementia.

    The number of people with dementia is expected to double by 2030 and more than triple by 2050.Should we return to the old time culture of killing the old. what are your thoughts

    ReplyDelete
  24. I do agree with Marx's theory as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago. The ruling class basically controls the wealth in the nation, they own the huge houses, the most expensive cars etc. and because of this they seem to believe that they can control even where someone chooses to live if they do not fall into what they deem the ideal person. Because of this there are scenarios where people feel so belittled and lose so much confidence in their own ability that they simply decide to settle for less which is to work for the "Big Man" i.e. the business owners, factory owners etc.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I do not agree with Marx's statement as it relates ti Trinidad and Tobago. The divisions in this country is not as clear cut has having a ruling class and a subject class. The wealth in this country sporadically scattered among some sect of people. The East Indian and the Syrian owned a lot of the businesses. The Africans though appear to be comfortable in their role of being middle class and a few in upper class. What appears to be the subject class is a whole mixture of East Indians and Africans who also seem to have accepted their place by doing the menial jobs. I think this is because the divisions in Trinidad and Tobago is not purely economic, but beliefs and customs play an important part also.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi all,
    Sorry I was away from our virtual space for a while but i was doing much on chapter 2 of our text.
    I am dissapointed that no one shared their thoughts by responding to my report( from the BBC) on global dementia, posted sep 21, but you can still do it when you get the time.
    I red chapter two, Sex and Gender and this might just be my best chapter yet. I felt the pains of the radical feminist and found satisfaction in the explanations of differences existing between men and women, particularly brain lateralization and any other times where writers mentioned that women are better than men.
    In some societies today male does not mean masculine. Males may choose to engage themselves in a feminine role, thus there can be feminine males.
    I (to some extent) agree with Anne Oakley on the statement that male does not necessarily have to mean masculine but it can mean feminine. I believe that while we are born male or female, individuals during our first years of life were socialized into gender roles by the following ways, manipulation, cancellation, verbal appellation and being exposed to different activities.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I want to agree with Marx,because stratification exist only because it benefits individuals and groups, who have the power to dominate and exploit others.Marx contented that this theory is only to make the subject class struggle.
    I would support Marx and Bridget, because of our origin, each ethnic group came here and was assigned or came to do a certain task/thing to build Trinidad and Tobago, which today cause the division in the aruling calss and a subject class. The ruling class and the subject class
    Eg. Africans as slaves
    Syrians as traders
    East Indians as Laborers, that was promise land after. So "yes" Bridget, they are the ones who dominate and control,because of their status, leaving the Africans with a slave mentality.But"oh God", that's what we know, and it was passed down to each generation via society. Today it is changing!Trinidad and Tobago some subjective class are becoming the ruling class.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I believe that the ruling class continues to dominate with their possessions, however as it relates to Trinidad, I believe that the lower class of society has the desire to make in-roads to acquire some of the wealth. This is done by setting up small business and passing on the success to their children’s children.

    ReplyDelete
  29. i believe that this is very previlent in trinidad and tobago almost to an extent where it is inexcapable.as a work man unless you have risen to a place in your experties were you become independent you will always be manipulated by the "bigger man." hence the reason everyone is striving to establish themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am of the view that in trinidad and tobago our society is divided. To a large extent the rich will remain rich and the poor will remain poor. there are groups who dominate and have the wealth and power. they control the majority if businesses and pass on this wealth to their children. on the other hand there are those who struggle on a daily basis in order to make ends meet, living from paycheck to paycheck and have difficulty acquiring wealth and are unable to live a reasonably comfortable life.
    Galene
    Student
    SO 200

    ReplyDelete
  31. Joanne: I certainly do not support Maxist theory
    of the two classes lumped together, when it comes to our Society. Why? because in Trinidad that the his class structure, would not accurately apply. Added to which, my understanding is that, the ruling class, just do not possess all the wealth in the coutry. However, my belief is that, the subject class or upper class is just an extention to that of which the Government can employ.
    Hence, those who are wealthy is best able to uterlizse their wealth and power towards the further development of the country. Whereby,employment can be extracted through those of the subject class,refered to as that of, the middle and lowerclass, for skilled and efficienct work. Since the middle and the lower class have been broken down into groups who are also sometimes exploited, depending on their field of work. Unlike Max. it is not just a case of rich and poor, but instead,these classes are grouped through a stratification process, according to the above, enabling each class to identify through their role and path in society.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I would have to agree with Marxist theory to an extent because within Trinidad and tobago it do exsist but on a small scale. What we do have is a mixture of the roles of these classes where somtimes these two class possess equal wealth.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Trinidad and Tobago is unique in comparison to other countries and in particular the region. While Marx's theory on ruling class and subject class may hold for other countries, in Trinidad there is a level playing field. What contributes to this is (1) the structure of governance, (2) the constitution (every creed and race finds an equal place), (3) the wealth, (4) opportunities that are available to all. There may be evidence of a wealthy ruling class but not subject to rule over the subject class.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Yes I believe that this statement is true because if we look at the two islands carefully then we are sure to see that there is a big difference in the way that they operate. Trinidad is more Americanized and in many ways follows America’s style of behavior, their dress, lifestyle, etc. Tobago on the other hand lives a more long ago country lifestyle and even the way that the people would greet you, it is so trusting and open whereas Trinidadians live more isolated and mistrust everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  35. In Trinidad and Tobago, there is a clear demarcation between those who own the means of production and those who sell their labour. I think there is also a level of stratification as well in terms of the partiality of support given by lending institutions for the purposes of business acquisition.

    Where the gap really seems to exist though, is in the life chances, that the varying groups have. The persons with favourable means also have favourable support and wise counsel to bring them to a place of success. The effort that the 'underprivileged person' from an at risk neighbourhood would have to exude, to come to the place of parallel success, is at least twice as much. He is swimming against the tide of public opinion from his family, to his teacher to his employer.

    Sadly those that do make it out are so scarred by the experience and daunted by the prospect of continued under-compensation, that they take advantage of opportunities that takes them outside of sphere of influencing their communities, facilitating the struggle.

    It is no wonder that more and more educated young men are becoming daunted, and dropping out of society as we know it, falling into the jaws of criminal activity

    ReplyDelete
  36. I believe it relates fully to our country. Most of the time the wealth stays within the family of the ruling class and they are not allowed to marry people out side of their circle. In Trinidad and Tobago we all know who rules predominantly. The people of syrian decent. There are a few of the other races that own businesses but most of the bigger business are owned by them.

    I remember once, about a year ago, the them Prime Minister Patrick Manning called a secret meeting with the business men of the Syrian community. It makes me wonder why. Could it be that they play a major part in this country's economy. So much so that they have a meeting with the Prime minister?

    With out the so called ruling class, many may not have a job. So they have a function in our society.

    ReplyDelete