In Arlie Russell Hochschild's "Strangers in Their Own Land," Mike Schaff subscribes to a libertarian point of view. Mike is a former employee in the oil industry whose town was evacuated after a drilling accident that led to a sinkhole. From the divided viewpoints table, a libertarian believes that a person should have more freedom and less interference by the government. This is seen in his explanation of his community's structure in the past compared to the current situation. He says that in the past, the community was closely knit, and although in most cases they were in need, nobody required the government to survive. People depended on one another. In the current community, Mike feels that the "big government" as he calls it has interfered. Mike Schaff opposes environmental regulations, which may have helped prevent the drilling accident that led to the formation of a large sinkhole in his town.
Mike wants the federal Environmental Protection Administration significantly reduced. He is against policies that could have most likely saved his home. This indicates that he wants reduced government influence and more individual freedom even though the policies by the government are for the welfare of the community. Mr. Schaff thinks that the public sphere has interfered with the private sphere. The public sphere, according to him, has replaced the closely-knit bonds that existed in the community with people expecting that the government will take care of their needs. The way Mike presents his argument indicates that he is against the government's much influence, as seen in his opposition towards the environmental regulation policies. He believes that the government is spending too much on it and, therefore, should be drastically reduced.
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Question Two
Jackie Tabor, a born again Christian, subscribes to a religious viewpoint. Individuals who subscribe to religious perspectives are fundamentalists and observant true believers according to the divided viewpoints table. They are against practices such as abortion, among others. Jackie was brought up in a family that was poor and very abusive. However, she learned survival techniques after understanding that she could acquire what she wanted by rejecting her desires and allowing God to take control. In her adulthood, Jackie opted to submit her wishes to the ones of her husband. Jackie Tabor believes that this is important for a Christian marriage. She defends the welfare that her mother receives but is quick to note that the number of people deserving the welfare who receive it is small. She further states that she avoids talking about pollution with other people, such as friends and neighbors. Jackie does so partly because of respect for the people working in the industries who may feel bad because of the pollution caused by their industries.
In the interview with the author, Jackie states that she feels sad about the pollution and the hazards that accompany it. "Pollution is the price we have to pay for capitalism," Jackie states. Jackie Tabor shows a strong feeling of being fragile in her status. Showing her room to Hochschild, she states that it may vanish the following day. Jackie desired to have air and water that are clean. However, she indicated that she also felt that she gained from the situation being the way it was during the period of the interview. From her perspective, one has to go without what he/she wants at times. One has to accommodate. She holds onto religious fundamentals and tolerates the situation, does not now to hurt those who work in the industries that cause the pollution hence does not discuss pollution among other things. This indicates that she subscribes to a religious viewpoint.
Question Three
Mike Schaff appears to have a strong dislike for elitist government officials. After the sinkhole accident, Schaff was reluctant in environmental activism. He had media interviews, addressed letters to representatives, and painfully spoke during protests with tears flowing. This he did because he was feeling nostalgic for the community love he experienced in the past and had been lost because of too much government interference. His ideal community was one in which the government had a little role to play. He rejects policies by the government and thinks that if the government had not collected social security from them, they would be millionaires. He blames the government and its officials for their current situation in the community, and this indicates his strong hatred for political elitists. He has a strong disdain for both the people who benefit from the government and the government officials who implement the various policies. He prefers reduced government regulation.
The drilling company may have destroyed his town and improved insight may have helped prevent the accident. However, even though he was requesting for improved safety for the public, Mike Schaff's opinion was that bureaucrats, as he called them, working in EPA and environmental quality section in Louisiana were slackers. According to him, they had not done their work, and even the federal government was posing threats to the idea of a community he wished to have. According to Schaff, the government had placed blocks on their road to acquire riches. He feels that if people should have invested the money paid for social security and become millionaires. He blames the government for almost all the problems that his community experienced, and this indicates that he has a deep-seated hatred for the government elites.
Question Four
Bob Hardey dislikes government help to the needy and the poor. When asked to describe his politics by Hoschschild, he states that he had enough of the poor him. He does not like government welfare. Besides, he is against affirmative action, which he thinks offers an advantage that is not fair to minorities. He explains how he experienced difficulties and challenges throughout his school life but realized that he had abilities when he worked at a petrochemical industry. Hardey did not understand why the black population and other legal immigrants could not do like he did. Just like most other conservatives in Louisiana, Hardey believes that economic success shows a person's abilities and determination to work hard. He wonders why people from other groups do not have such opportunities to get jobs that pay well.
Long term policies are a strategy that has been often applied in most blue states and was effectively implemented in Louisiana to ensure the public good. However, Hardey does not accept the strategy. He believes that the government should not be involved in improving the lives of poor and needy people. Hardey believes that poor and needy people ought to earn a living just like everyone else by their interests. Despite the fact that he mentions that minorities such as blacks and other legal immigrants receive an unfair advantage; his sentiments do not appear racist. His words seem to indicate that everyone should work and earn a living just like he did. It is through hard work that Hardey was able to make a living. He, therefore, finds it unfair that people receive help instead of working hard the way he did. His argument against the government assisting the poor and needy does not portray a racist viewpoint.
