American Society: How It Really Works

Cover (American Society)......Page 1
Half Title......Page 2
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
About the Authors......Page 6
Dedication......Page 7
Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 10
Acknowledgments......Page 14
1 - Prologue: Perspectives and Values......Page 18
2 - What Kind of Society Is American Society?......Page 27
Part I - Capitalism......Page 52
3 - The Capitalist Market: How It Is Supposed to Work......Page 54
4 - The Capitalist Market: How It Actually Works......Page 66
5 - The Environment......Page 88
6 - Transportation......Page 119
7 - Consumerism......Page 137
8 - Health Care......Page 159
9 - Finance......Page 196
10 - Building a High-Road Economy......Page 233
Part II - Inequality......Page 260
11 - Thinking about Fairness and Inequality......Page 262
12 - Class......Page 274
13 - Persistent Poverty and Rising Inequality......Page 284
14 - Ending Poverty in America......Page 314
15 - Racial Inequality......Page 329
16 - Gender Inequality......Page 381
Part III - Democracy......Page 420
17 - Democracy: How It Works......Page 422
18 - Elections and Voting......Page 438
19 - Taxation and the Attack on the Affirmative State......Page 463
20 - Corporate Control of the Media......Page 486
21 - Militarism and Empire......Page 502
22 - Labor Unions......Page 522
23 - Democracy from Below......Page 538
Conclusion......Page 558
24 - Possible Futures......Page 560
Credits......Page 572
Index......Page 574