Marx+and+Smith+and+Oak+Park

=Marx and Smith and Oak Park=

Where do we see Marx and Smith in Oak Park?

This a tough one because we here in Oak Park have really stressed the idea that we are "Middle Class" and there is much to that. Yet, it is important to examine where there are elements of both thinkers. Let's start the discussion with an article here from the Wednesday Journal.

Here is one more article from the Wednesday Journal.

You now have to talk about where you think Oak Park represents aspects of Smith and Marx. This will be the toughest because you have think about your own world and your own sense of self. Good luck with all of that.

I agree with Ally. Also, Oak Park says wants to portray itself as a middle class community, but really there is a very wide range between classes. The reason for Oak Park being considered a middle class neighborhood is because most people are middle class, but that doesn't mean everyone is. -Julia C 2nd period

I think Oak Park is a Socialist society, with a touch of Capitalist. We support small business owners, giving more people chances to succeed. Socialism is about everyone being equal though, and Oak Park does not fully represent that. We think that if you are from the north side, you are rich. That shows a bit of Capitalists, but mostly, Oak Park is Socialist. Ally Period 1

I agree with Rory and Mr.K Antwoin B period 1

**This represents Marx because there are a higher and lower classes in Oak Park. Like Avery said, when I say say I went to Mann, they say "Oh, you live on the North Side" or "So that means you are rich." Just because somebody went to Mann doesn't automaticlally make them rich. OR just because someone doesn't live on the North side doesn't autommatically make them poor.** **Emma Neville** Period 1

I argee with "someone" because I think that not only is it just in Oak Park, but generally people strive to be perfect. No one wants to okay or almost perfect. They want a perfect house, perfect job, perfect family, perfect yard, perfect kids, perfect gardens, perfect car, etc. Smith believes that every human has the ability to be perfect and in Oak Park people seem to hold each other more to the standard. Oak Park is a somewhat wealthy town and many people outside of the Oak Parkers look at Oak Park as "the place to be." I mean from the houses/taxes are so high that you can't be dirt poor to live here. Smith would see Oak Park as the "perfect" town. -Halie Schuster <3 <3 <3 <3

-I think that Oak Park residents think like Smith. They want everything to be perfect. Houses/taxes are overpriced, most of the schools are sub-par. Dr. Roberts promises more than she can deliver. Oak Park is like Marx because our taxes probably pay for Dr. Robert's health insurance. Our so called "improvements" help very little, and make small things into a big deal. Like how Apple "might" set up a store in the old Borders. -Griffin Shaw

I believe it represents smith because its segregrated in houses and stores and resources people need Oak Park is quick to take but slow to give when the board knows they have all the money. Antwoin B period 1

I think that Marx wasn't 100% correct when he said there is no middle class. There is such thing as a middle class, but many people just don't want to admit it whether or not they're rich or poor to keep themselves from seeming snobby/rich, or pitiful/poor. You never hear people going around saying 'yeah, I'm rich'. OR if you do, nobody's going to be OK with it. And in response to what Cami/Avery said: there IS a dinstinct difference between the North and South sides of Oak Park. There are some exceptions, but for the most part, the more fortunate Oak Parkers live on the North side. I'm not saying that all the people on the South side are poor, (actually a family who lives by me won the lottery a while ago. They're millionaires now; go figure.) because I am not poor. But I'm definitely not rich either. I'm also not saying this to call anyone out, or make them feel bad, but no matter how much of a stereotype it is, it's at least part true. I think that people who live in big houses, or went to Mann, or whatever else people can judge as 'rich' have a different view of 'middle class' than other people do. Now, I'm not going to go preach about my family's financial status, or shame other people about theirs, but youguys need to realize that there is a difference. Nobody's John D. Rockefeller rich in Oak Park, and nobody's poorer than dirt. Just because you call yourselves middle class doesn't mean that you're not rich or poor; you have to be closer to one than the other. Here's an example: If you already have tens of thousands of dollars saved for college, then you're definitely not poor. If you don't have a single penny in your college fund and have no idea how you're going to get the money for it without saddling yourself with enormous loans, then you're definitely not rich. Say you have a really nice kitchen, or a finished basement, or enormous flat-screen TVs in every room of your house. This might be normal to some 'middle-class' people, but to some other 'middle-class' people it might be something that they could never dream of. I know that by saying this some people are going to get mad at me, but I swear I'm telling it like it is. I'm not saying that because you went to Mann, or live on the North side means you're rich, but I'm saying that some people have a different view of middle-class than other people do. Rory 1st period I think that Oak Park is thought of as a Marx society if you live before lake street people automatically think you are in the middle class and if you live after lake street you in in the higher class James Cousin Period 2 I think that there is much in way of truth in terms of discussing how class plays a role in how Oak Parkers see themselves. I believe that this is definitely evident. You also raise another point in terms of how objects represent wealth and status. I think that the perception of "wealth" is something that happens when individuals perceive wealth and objects to be one in the same. The possession of "enormous flat screen tvs" and "nice kitchens" are part of our operational definition of wealth. -Mr. Kannan

I think that Oak Park is a fairly capitalistic village. I now that it is very expensive to buy a home, from what I hear from my parents. However, I have also witnessed it. I've seen one of my neighbor's foreclosure. Repo men took all of their possessions out on the front lawn like ants picking up crumbs. Then they piled the furniture into a truck and took it away. There is definitely a need to lower house prices and property tax. Cole Period 1

Marx's idea of the class system is the upper class is the rich, and the lower class is the poor. There is no middle class, but in Oak Park many people see themselves as "middle class." In Oak Park there is a know class system about the north side and the south side.The north side is the upper class, the rich, and the south side is the lower class, the poor. In some cases this can be true. Some people on the north side do have more money than some people on the south side. Also if you look at the houses you can see that houses on the north side are bigger than on the south side. But sometimes this is just a stereotype that people always use. I know that when I was in 5th grade and I first came to Julian for the school tour people would ask us what school we were from. When we said Mann they would just start calling us rich. People don't know how much money anyone has and you can't just base that on if they live on the north side or the south side. Most people in Oak Park are middle class and have the same amount of money. Some people are upper class and some are lower class but most people are middle. ~Cami period 1

People, in Oak Park, do categorize people and money by where they live. Either the North or south side. They see the south side as poorer than the North. The south are the proletariats and the north are the Bourgeoisie'. But Marx would argue that we are both the poor because we are not the 1%. Jay H. P.2

I completely agree with Cami. People always respond with "Rich kid" when I say I went to Mann. Yes, some of the houses are bigger than the average sized housed in the Mann district. But there are big houses in the other school districts as well. I don't agree with Marx's idea on there only being upper class and lower class. I think it is alright to say that you are middle class if you aren't in debt but you're not bathing in money. -Avery B.

Oak Park is split into the north side and south side. Some see north as upper class and the south side as lower. Marx would agree with this, but I do think there are people in the middle class Henry V, period 1

I think Oak Park thinks like smith. Oak Park is an expensive place to live but it is also very diverse. We also have a "class system." The north side, or kids from the Mann area, are known as the rich kids of Oak Park. I understand that the houses might be bigger but that doesn't mean people their are rich. Some of the houses on the south side are just as big. I think everyone in the Oak Park area is middle class. No one is in poverty and most people aren't extremely rich and flaunting money in people's faces. Also Oak Park is a pretty safe community and we always are trying to perfect it. Megan period 2


 * I think that Oak Park represents Smith and Marx because, what Smith said, we are all equal and we all have the right to do great things and, with what Marx said, I agree with Avery. None of us are either extremely poor or extremely rich. I don't know any people like that in Oak Park. Even before we started talking about this unit in Social Studies, I always thought about are economy in Oak Park. I always thought we were middle class because none of us are poor and live on the streets, but none only drink Voss water brought to them by their buttler named Bob.**
 * Sofie Period 1 :)**

I think that Oak Park is more of a Smith type enviroment. I think it is because there isn't just really poor and really rich, there is mostly middle class people that live here. I also feel that we follow Smith in terms of us all having the ability to do great things. Though Oak Park supposedly has a "rich side" and a "poorer side" I really don't see this in Oak Park, and that seems to fit more into Smith's perspective rather than Marx's. Scott period 1

I think that Oak Parkers want Smith's reality. They want everyone to have money and houses. But the thing about Oak Park people is that they know it can't be perfect. We all WANT more money, but the Trump's are keeping it. We are angry that there is a 99%, and that we are a part of it. People in Oak Park realize they have more money than other people, and they help out a lot, but they are always wishing for more money to buy a 3D TV, a iPad, or other overly expensive item. When a person wins the lottery, there is probably a ninety-nine point nine, nine, nine, et cetera chance that they will not burst into tears and go jump off a bridge. People in Oak Park, ( and people in general), prove Marx's theory correct. That all people want money, money, and more money... like ABBA. I believe people want to love what they do in Oak Park (Smith), but certain circumstances prevents that from happening, so most of them work just for the paycheck (Marx). People in Oak Park are middle class, but that does not mean they are just sailing through taxes and other expenses. The people of Oak Park work really hard, and they give back, so they think the deserve more than they have right now. To recap, I think Oak Parkers yearn for a reality where his home dog can chill in his posh homestead. They want money, but they give back, and Marx's thinking is represented here.-Bob Period 1

I think Oak Park has very Marxist ideals. Oak Park gives to lots of causes and treys to make everyone equal. Oak Parkers strive to have no upper and lower class but have everyone in one class. unfortunately, the reality is that we live in a capitalist nation and the oak Park ideals are not very practical in the U.S. at this time. Oak Park is as marxist as we can be but it does have some smith qualities. Lia 2nd period

I agree with Lia on the fact that even though Oak Park strives to be seen as "the middle class," it isn't. And the fact that this is a capitalist nation, it is going to be in Oak Park too. But there are some Smith qualities. All the little shops downtown are what people love and follow their own self interest. That would be a Smith idea. But all in all, it is a capitalist type town. - Grace R. per.2

Marx was definitely right when he said there is no middle class. You're either high class or low class. In Oak Park this is a big issue. People assume if you live on the North side you're rich. Especially if you went to Mann. And people think if you live on the South side you're not rich. Especially if you went to Irving. There is no middle class. But people on the North side usually don't think of themselves in that way but they look at people from River Forest as rich. River Forest people look at people from Oak Brook as rich. And the cycle keeps on moving. This is all based on because of the houses. People think just because people on the North side have bigger houses then people on the south side that they're rich. -Julia Barcia Period 2

I agree with Emma N that Marx represents this because of the higher and lower classes in Oak Park. Like Avery and Emma, I have been through that experience with people saying "Oh. You're from Mann so you're rich." Multiple times! It doesn't mean your rich. Its like judging a book by its cover. I do agree that somethings on the North side, like houses, might be nicer than houses on the South side, but there are some nice houses in Berrie Park on the South Side. I live on the North Side, right by Mann, and my house isn't huge. In fact, my basement isn't finished. I don't think that people should judge each other by automatically saying that someone is rich or poor based on what side of town they live in. Its not fair. Naomi G 2nd period

Yes, there is a definate "class system" in Oak Park, IL. Cami has the right idea, the North side is the "upper class" and the south side is the "lower class." there is an upper/lower class system in Oak Park, but the state of IL itself is kind of "middle class." We are not California rich, but we are not South Dakota poor. My comparisons are not very clear, but by "rich or poor" I mean like how well known it is, substituting for financial standings. -Caroline Orlin P. 1

I agree with Caroline because of the North and South side being seen as upper class and lower class. So I think Oak Park is like Marx since he believes that people are either rich or poor not middle class.-Elise T

Just as the ppor south looks at the north, the north looks at riverforest as the richest of ther rich. Jay H p.2

In oak Park i think it would be smith.-Ava B

There is a a class system in Oak Park depending on where you live.If you live near Mann school people think you are rich and if you live on kind of on the south side of Oak park your middle class or poor. I have personally been to the neighborhood near Mann (Naomi's "Nemo" block ) and the house to me it look nicer. It looks and feels like a tiny village (village of Oak Park) or a gated community. People may think this but after talking to Naomi, I do understand that people living there don't have to be rich. - Jittaun period 2

There are class systems in Oak Park. One of them is how people divide the north and south sides of Oak Park. People think that if people live in the North side they're rich and have great everything and South side is the opposite. That's how people look at things but it's not true. Some people think as North side people as snotty and rich. But now that's how people look at River Forest kids. -Julia Barcia Period 2

I think Oak Park is a very Capitalist town. We like to think of ourselves as a middle class village. This goes against Marx, who says there is no middle class, just rich and poor. He believes that the middle class people are just poor people with slightly more money. Duncan period 2

Jittuan you are wrong. The houses around man are 800k give or take. thats definitely upperclass. John Danuk 2nd

The community of Oak Park would represent the ideas of Smith. The Capitalism in OP are represented how there is so much separation of economic classes, like many said before, people who live in the Mann area are usually thought of as the upper class. If you brought somebody who has never been to the northern part of Oak Park up north, they would probably think that there were some nice homes there. And there are nice homes there but there are plenty of houses like the ones in the Mann area in the south Oak Park area. --Sage Degand Period 2 i agree with sage. oak park is smith all day. in oak park the only capitalism is the division of economy powers. people who live in the higher places of oak park are in the upper class (like sage said). the people who are in another part are in the middle class. people in another are in the uhhhh poor class (no offense to them) (jheckelman) 2nd period

You all have the right answer but if you put them together you get a great answer also oak park is like any other town or city there are lower and upper class people now oak park is more of a middle class town but there are upper and lower middle class family's. morgan jurgus

I don't think Marx idea was correct because I believe that there is a middle class. Yes, there are people in Oak Park who have a little more income than others but I don't think that anyone in Oak Park is living in poverty.-Aja G Per.1

I agree with jack because OakPark is a good town. We are all socialists but, we have a touch of capitalism. -lindsey zwPer:2 I believe that oak park a Smith capitalism society because there is a level of wealth that will differ greatly the area around OPRF is generally pretty wealthy the area around Mann is more like middle class and there are very few lower class houses but you might find a few if you go far south of julian you could find more apartments and town houses next to the high school you could find four floored houses and next to mann you will find regular houses that could have the occasional lower class house and upper class one. (Jack M. period-2)

(in response to Jack) I think you're right, for the most part. There are a lot of really big houses by OPRF, and normal-sized (if not bigger than average) houses by Mann...but in the Euclid/Linded north area there are some houses that are practically mansions. And by where I live there are a lot of two-flats and town houses. At least five houses on my block are those types of houses. But you can't judge wealth by the size of someone's house. Maybe someone lives in a mansion, but they can't pay their taxes and get foreclosed on. Just because they have a big house doesn't necessarily mean they're rich. Rory period 1

This represents Marx because just because where you live in Oak Park doesn’t mean your rich or your poor, like some people automatically think that “oh you live on that side of Oak Park your rich” –Johana O.

I think it is marx, because it isn't 1% rich and 99% poor, like in capitatitilism, it is more fair. Now while there may be some very poor and very rich people in Oak Park, it's not like there are a few very rich blocks and then everyone else is poor. Even though Oak Park claims to be middle class, and there is no middle class in socialism, it is fair the way the money is split up, which are stressed in marx's ideas. Jordan Mann

Oak Park contains a wide variety of people both rich and poor. There is just a very fine lines that that makes the different of rich and poor which would create the illusion of "middle class." This town is full of business people and that is why i think it contains more smith. Diego Period 1

Thats a good point Aja, its true, really in my viewpoint the ones that are lower class are the ones living in small homes with little to eat. Upper Class would be those with gates around their town. And Middle class would be those who live in homes with heat, water, and food. --Sage D period 2

I think that Oak Park is pretty capitalist because we all have to pay our price to live here. Oak Park is an expensive place to live in. Some parents work two jobs and they can be just sliding by. All that matters is that OP is an expensive place to live in and we are all paying our price for it. Gavin S. 2nd period

In agree with Rory in saying that there are different views of middle class. I also agree with him saying that nobody is crazy rich and nobody is dirt-poor. Because think about it: if you are SO rich than why do you go to public school? In oak park? Their is a middle class and like Rory said, their is two sides to middle class too. Their is the upper-middle class and the lower-middle class. - Raesean S.

Will G 2
I think Oak Park is a Adam Smith society. Everyone can do what they feel they want to do. A perfect example of self interest. People can pick what job they want, what stuff they want, and what activities they want to do. We have so many opportunities of self interest. But other towns don’t have this. Some places have limited stores and jobs. That’s why Oak Park is an Adam Smith society where we have self-interest! - Parker Period 1

I think Oak Park is like what Marx says because I think our town is divided into classes. There is a rich class and a poor class. I mean I kind of agree with Cami, but the students from Mann school seem rich to the poor. They might not seem to think they are but they might be. We do not know how much a person has but it seems like they do have a lot of money with the stuff they own. Like Marx said, rich has nice stuff like a business. -Josie Period 1

**I think Oak Park is also like Smith, because many people in this town own different shops and are happy that they own a store that they love. Smith believes that people should make more businesses and make some that what they like to do.** **Josie Period 1**