Welcome. 

So this fair society stuff is hard work!  And yet, those government officials want some decisions made by this Monday, at the latest! 

At least for now, you are the four appointed co-leaders with the equally shared power and sole responsibility for making some decisions.  Also, you will choose the rest of the people from a large pool of eager volunteers who represent a perfect cross-section of the U.S. population.  All skill and education levels or other relevant characteristics are available, as you wish them.

A suggestion:  you may have to abandon hope for reaching an immediate consensus on these issues and find some other way to make decisions for this project (e.g., vote, and majority rules – if it’s a split vote, go to another issue).   You may do this by using the discussion chat-room here, by meeting together, or both.

Decide first what resources your group will produce to sustain you and what system you will use to produce and distribute them.  Once you decide this, some other things on the assignment may fall into place.  Next come up with the dominant ideology, which you can express in a phrase, and a name.  Then take the remaining issues one by one.

Finally, make sure that you specifically address one  of Nozick’s concepts (e.g., distributive justice) in your decisions—actually explain how you used it in your decisions.

Each of you will, once, need to write up the results of your deliberations to report to the class; put these on a word file and we’ll post them on the 327 web page.  I would like Carie (I) and Ryan (II) to be the first to do this.  Due to me via e-mail by Monday! (yes, midnight is still Monday).  I look forward to seeing the results!  Dr. Bullock (8/30)

Toward a Fair Society: Take II

The first task is to finish up the previous issues we discussed during our last class session.

Once that’s accomplished, let’s try a few more basic and general parameters.  In each case, bring some specific idea or concept from our course to bear on your response.

What will your society do about population control?  (How much immigration, if any, will you allow?)

Gans’ article explains in functionalist terms how society gets jobs done.  What system of work incentives or sanctions will operate to get the most challenging or dirtiest tasks done for your society?  (Will “natural,” individual differences in intelligence [Murray’s Bell Curve] or talents figure into this system?  How much inequality does your society “need?”)

What will your society do about the “free rider problem”  (people who can’t or won’t do work and thus become “dependents”)?  Will there be welfare benefits, and will these be extended immediately to any immigrants?  How will you handle non-compliance with legitimate rules?  (Who would have the authority to remove people from the society?)

Everyone step up and participate.  Meet on-line or in the dorm or wherever, but don’t leave it to others to carry the day!  This time, let’s have Kate (I) and Teresa (II) write up what you all decide together, no later than Tuesday, 5 pm, due by e-mail to me and posted on the web page discussion thread.

Dr. Bullock  (9/20/01)

SOAN 327

B. Bullock

Toward a Fair Society: Take II (cont.)

I’ve made sure to post on our web page the summaries of the societies you’ve created so far.  Note for Kate and Teresa:  if you have not already done so, would you immediately post your e-mail summaries on our web page?  Thank you.

This time, everyone conduct your discussions on line only.  I’ll go there occasionally to follow your discussions.  Erin (I) and Leah (II), it’s your turn to write up what you all decide together, no later than this Tuesday, 5 pm, due by e-mail to me and posted on the web page discussion thread.  Remember the help instructions, or contact Eric Remy.

One perennial issue is in how “the elite” are recruited in a society: generally, from among the elite.  Another, related issue is how large and powerful are the elite.

The only assignment is this:  what sort of elite, if any, will your society have? (not just size and function, but what will be the source and scope of their power).  How will the leaders be recruited?  If you desire avoiding an elite, then how will you avoid this, or at least limit their influence?  The only requirement is to identify and use two, specific ideas from either C. Wright Mills or Domhoff (mentioned in Marger).

Dr. Bullock  (10/18/01)