“ISM”: A DISTINCTIVE(UNIQUE) PRACTICE, SYSTEM, OR PHILOSOPHY, TYPICALLY A POLITICAL IDEOLOGY (IDEA) OR AN ARTISTIC MOVEMENT. Economic “isms” The Breakdown

The Dilemma of the Cow and Milk The dilemma of how to get the most of the cow! Preamble: If you were a dairy farmer, what system (or way to work) would you use to benefit the MOST of the cow? Questions to consider: Who gets the benefits of the cow? Who gets to decide?

Systems: The –isms Define the following terms in your own words if possible:  Socialism  Communism  Totalitarianism  Capitalism  Plutocracy  Democracy*

In Reference to Cows Pure Socialism (Economic)  You have two cows. The dairy farmers own the cows. The dairy farmers take them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. Everyone takes care of all the cows. The cow’s products are then distributed amongst the people.  Pros:  Cons:  Is this the best way to get the most out of cow?

In Reference to Cows Pure Communism (Political):  You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk. Real-world Communism:  You share two cows with your neighbors. You and your neighbors bicker about who has the most "ability" and who has the most "need". Meanwhile, no one works, no one gets any milk, and the cows drop dead of starvation.  Pros:  Cons:  Is this the best way to get the most out of cow?

In Reference to Cows Totalitarianism:  You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned.  Pros:  Cons:  Is this the best way to get the most out of cow?

In Reference to Cows Pure Capitalism:  You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Sometimes Practical Capitalism:  You don't have any cows. The bank will not lend you money to buy cows, because you don't have any cows to put up as collateral (You give something to get loan)  Pros:  Cons:  Is this the best way to get the most out of cow?

In Reference to Cows Plutocracy:  You thought you had two cows, but you don’t. Really the educated, wealthy 1% who are running the country really have all the cows.  Pros:  Cons:  Is this the best way to get the most out of cow?

In Reference to Cows Pure Democracy:  You have two cows. You and your neighbors decide who gets the milk. Representative Democracy:  You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.  Pros:  Cons:  Is this the best way to get the most out of cow?

SO WHAT?... Take 5 mins to process all this information and do few things: 1. Write down any questions or confusions you have 2. Summarize what you think the “Cow” analogy has to do with all these “systems” we talked about 3. How does this connect to our conversations about “change”, “dissent”, “The Square” Chat with the person next to you and check in Lastly, Fill out the “Matrix” so you can have all of this on one sheet. You’ll need this for later

Tensions Within Democracy Tension, what it looks like: Strong Man Tractor PullStrong Man Tractor Pull Majority rule and individual rights Liberty and equality State and national authority in a federal system Civil disobedience and the rule of law Freedom of the press and the right to a fair trial The relationship of religion and government Distribution of Wealth and Resources –What’s fair? What’s equal?

What these differences in “ISMS” led to in 2011

Where this goes now?... Next week we start Economics We begin by taking our understanding of “Occupy Wall Street” and starting with the basics of our economic system- Capitalism This will lead us into an understanding of our economic system  the rules and ideas behind it  how it’s supposed to work  the realities and challenges  how it’s changed over the last 50 years  the impact it has had on people all over the world  Lastly, YOUR 10 PAGE RESEARCH PAPER on ECONOMIC ISSUES in the 21 st Century