The document discusses perspectives on democracy and economic inequality from functionalist and conflict views. It also summarizes views of Karl Marx, Herbert Spencer, and others on how political and economic systems impact democracy. Marx saw class conflict between the bourgeoisie and proletariat and advocated temporary dictatorship of the proletariat. Spencer felt competition between individuals determined societal advancement, and government should not interfere.

1. Democracy and Economic Inequality Can they exist at the same time??? Functionalism vs. Conflict Perspective

4. Can Justice be Achieved with Economic Inequality? Can democracy truly exist if we live in a society of haves and have nots? Is it the responsibility of citizens to take an active role in changing the economic system, or should it be left to the the natural forces of capitalism?

8. How Does All of this Impact Democracy Today?

12. The dictatorship of the proletariat, i.e., the organization of the vanguard of the oppressed as the ruling class for the purpose of suppressing the oppressors, cannot result merely in an expansion of democracy. Simultaneously with an immense expansion of democracy, which for the first time becomes democracy for the poor, democracy for the people, and not democracy for the money-bags, the dictatorship of the proletariat imposes a series of restrictions on the freedom of the oppressors, the exploiters, the capitalists. We must suppress them in order to free humanity from wage slavery, their resistance must be crushed by force; it is clear that there is no freedom and no democracy where there is suppression and where there is violence." - V.I. Lenin

13. Who do you tend to agree with? Marx of Spencer…