POLS 1100

Quantitative Literacy Reflection

A lot of these basic skills are used in everyday life. Along with that, children are taught at a young age how to make these calculations. With these 3 calculations, they are mainly used within math and science, but that doesn't mean it's only in math and science. In our last Quantitative assignment, we had to calculate the mean and median between the money and how many people donated the money. We also had to find the percentage with the money and the donators as well. This is only one example used for these basic skills. There are many different ways to use these 3 basic skills within Politics, just like Math and Science. Now that I've seen how Politics use the mean and median, percentages, and tables and charts, I now see that we have actually been using these skills the entire time, it's just that I've never paid attention to what I was using them for.

Reflection

Taking this class taught me so many things that I didn't know before. I had learned a little bit about politics from my dad, but that's all I knew, also, I didn't really care much about politics before this class, but after, I realize that without politics, we would have such a hard time getting simple things done. We would probably even live in some type of monarchy, or something like that. I found it fascinating to learn about campaigning, like how it works, and where all the money is put into, etc. What I thought was interesting, was that in my U.S. History class, we were learning things very similar to politics, just not into detail. I was able to do well in both classes because I would go over this stuff a few times a week. This class was better than I thought it would be. If I could, I would take a class that goes deeper into this kind of information.

Persuasive Essay



In previous years running up to year 2012, the United States has been having problems solving poverty. It has been shown that the families having the most problems with poverty were those who were African-American, under 18 years of age, and lived under a female dominant household. From 1979, African-Americans have always had trouble with poverty. “In calendar year 2011, the poverty rate for all African-American persons was 27.5 percent. This is statistically unchanged from 27.4 percent in 2010, and it is below the recent peak poverty rate of 33.4 percent in 1992.”(U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012).

When Regan was in is presidential term, the income gap began to show.In year 2013, the United States have now found a new financial crisis: the extreme income gap between the rich, middle class, and the poor. Emmanuel Saez tells us,

The richest 1 percent of Americans’ incomes have grown more than 11 percent. As for the 99 percent? Incomes shrank by nearly half a percent. […] The yawning gap between rich and poor has been growing since the 1970s, and reached a 90 year peak in 2007. (Bair, 2013). “There was a wide gap between the top 1 percent, whose earnings rose by 11.2 percent, and the other 99 percent, whose earnings declined by 0.4 percent.”(Lowrey, 2013).

There is much inequality in the money system. Catherine Rampell says, “The top 1 percent of earners receive about a fifth of all American income.” (Rampell, 2011).

Income inequality puts all the pressure on the middle class and poor citizens.“Rising inequality simultaneously puts pressure on the middle class to borrow more and on the rich to lend more.” (Drum, 2013).

Sadly, more than half of Americans do not know, or do not care about income inequality. The problem with this statement, people will just go on with their day. They do not realize that problems will arise in the future.

When inequality rises, poverty worsens. As stated previously, when the rich have minimal effect on income/wealth rise. Though it may seem the middle class and poor citizens are the ones that get hit hard with taxes, less wages, less retirement, etc., the actuality of it is, that taxes are based on how much income is made by the person.

Income inequality doesn’t only affect the United States, it also affects the world.In previous years, it was easier to find income inequality in countries that had much poverty like South Africa, the Middle East, and some parts of Europe and Asia. “A 2011 International Monetary Fund study found that inequality produced economic volatility in several countries.” (Rohde, 2012). In the rankings, the United States has been moving closer to the top. “The USA has been slowly moving up in the rankings. We're in the top 30% in inequality.”(Meyer, 2012).

President Obama and Mitt Romney talks about the solution to our income crisis.

President Barack Obama would raise taxes on households earning more than $250,000 a year, plus set a minimum tax rate of 30 percent for those who earn $1 million or more. He also wants to spend more on education, "a gateway to the middle class." Republican Mitt Romney blames Obama […] He wants to cut taxes more broadly and says that will generate enough growth to raise incomes for all Americans.(Rugaber, 2012).

The problem with Obama’s idea, is that raising taxes will not get rid of debt, it will not decrease the income gap. Raising taxes will make it more difficult for Americans. Loans will be taken out, possibly causing more debt. In the future, the United States will be in so much debt, it will become another “Great Depression.” Romney’s idea is more practical because, cutting taxes is able to give Americans an easier time with taxes, and more of their money will be kept. There won’t be much need for loans. There may be a possibility interest rates may go down as well.

Although the income gap has slowly increased, it is not impossible to eradicate the gap. We should have to pay only 15 percent in taxes, just like they do. And since we will be earning money through investments, not work, we won’t have to pay Social Security taxes or Medicare premiums. That means no more money will go into these programs, but so what? No one will need them anymore, with all the cash we’ll be raking in thanks to our cheap loans from the Fed.(Bair, 2012).

It is important that citizens, not only part of the United States, but throughout the entire world, needs to be able to commit to changing the income gap. No one enjoys paying a lot of money through taxes, while the rich people relax. The rich should be taxed much more than the middle and poor class because of how much income they are earning. Taxes should be based on how much income is made, not everyone should pay the same no matter what income is brought home.

Although the income gap may not seem important to many people, it will affect everyone, and those in the future. The income gap has been around ever since currency and money was created, it was very minimal, but still there. The gap has slowly been getting wider, and now, year 2013, the gap has been so expanded, it’s causing problems throughout the states.The income gap must be acted upon, so it will eventually dissipate.

Work Cited

"Information on Poverty and Income Statistics: A Summary of 2012 Current Population Survey Data."U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.N.p., 12 Sep 2012. Web. 8 Apr 2013. <http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/12/povertyandincomeest/ib.shtml>.

Information on Poverty and Income Statistics: A Summary of 2012 Current Population Survey Data. 2012. Chart. n.p. Web. 8 Apr 2013. <http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/12/povertyandincomeest/ib.shtml>.

Bair, Sheila. "Grand Old Parity."New York Times [Washington] 26 Feb 2013, Opinion Pages n. pag. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/opinion/republicans-must-bridge-the-income-gap.html?_r=0>.

Lowrey, Annie. "Incomes Flat in Recovery, but Not for the 1%."[Washington] 15 Feb 2013, Economy n. pag. Print.

Lowrey, Annie. "Incomes Flat in Recovery, But Not For the 1%."New York Times [Washington] 15 Feb 2013, Economy n. pag. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/business/economy/income-gains-after-recession-went-mostly-to-top-1.html>.

Rampell, Catherine. "Inequality Is Most Extreme in Wealth, Not Income." Economix 30 Mar 2011, n. pag. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. <http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/inequality-is-most-extreme-in-wealth-not-income/>.

Drum, Kevin. "Income Inequality and Economic Growth."Mother Jones. (2013): n. page. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. <Income Inequality and Economic Growth>.

Rohde, David. "The Unequal State of America: Does Income Inequality Matter? And How?." Reuters 19 Dec 2012, U.S. Edition n. pag. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/19/us-equality-massachusetts-doesitmatter-idUSBRE8BI0LZ20121219>.

Meyer, Philip. "Column: Income Inequality Does Matter." USA Today 27 Mar 2012, n. pag. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-03-27/income-inequality-wealth-taxes/53810288/1>.

Rugaber, Christopher. "WHY IT MATTERS: Obama, Romney on Income Inequality." KY Post [Covington] 22 Oct 2012, n. pag. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.kypost.com/dpps/news/national/why-it-matters-obama-romney-on-income-inequality_7935245>.

Bair, Sheila. "Fix Income Inequality With $10 Million Loans for Everyone!." Washington Post 13 Apr 2012, n. pag. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. <http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-13/opinions/35450850_1_unemployment-benefits-bush-tax-cuts-income-inequality>.