Rick Wolff on Economic Crisis and Socialist Strategy

[arzoyan]

world capitalism is the politically manipulated, tyrannical,destructive,dehuman­ising Market system of artificial scarcity and false limits on our common humanity for a world of cooperation for our common needs and well being in harmony within and without.

[arzoyan]

@shadowgeyser Stateless Capitalism is a contradiction in terms, the gangs of haves need the state machinery to control and dominate the working class. your understanding of reality is shaped by disneyland.

[arzoyan]

The dominance of minority criminal interest moralised and legalised as FREE MARKET is the wage slavery of immense humanity in a useless employment system, for this dehumanisation to be a permanent feature, the ruling elite have used all means available to stupify majority, we have to do our all to fight back and organise for a democratic majority movement for a world of cooperation for our common needs and well being in harmony within and without, we shall prevail .

[arzoyan]

Capitalism. the wage slavery of immense humanity in a politically manipulated,tyrannical MARKET SYSTEM OF ARTIFICIAL scarcity and distortions, to perpetuate wage-slavery/exploitation in the interest of the OWNING/RULING CLASS. A socio-economic modality of production for profit as the sole consideration with devastating consequences of perpetual war,enviornmental destructions,animalcruelty and sufffering, a social reality of fear,insecurity,devaluation and dehumanisation.

[diogeneslaertius666]

even the nihilists can smell the decay

[nedlund]

its the end for working class people, no ifs or buts. the party is over for u guts, the rich has done a great job. in getting all your money

[brendanmcooney]

also- how about linking these videos together so that we can follow the order. The titles are too big, they run off the end of the screen so you can't tell which number the video is until you click on it...

[brendanmcooney]

In terms of "socialist strategy", the problem with the underconsumptionist argument that Wolff makes here is that if wages were higher there would be no crisis- that is, that capitalism is not inherently crisis-prone if wages are regulated properly.

I'd like to hear why he rejects the "tendency of the rate of profit to fall" theory of crisis. Can anyone point me to any work by Wolff on this topic?

[grandslam1998]

Capitalism is one jump ahead of socialism because it preys on greed. As K Marx said Working class people see their problems as personal and not as a class problem. Capitalism is dynamic and it can deliver wealth but that wealth is uneven. Rick I like your style.

[lilangelx09]

Socialism, Communism and Fascism NEVER WORK!!!!! We don't need it in the USA we will never need it nor want it! It will take away all of our freedoms and if no one believes that then read up on your history or Stalin, Hitler, Lenin, and Mao!! See what they did and it will tell you where those types of governments lead to! Capitalism is a good thing just other people do not see it! A free market is what helps us create more jobs!

[bapyou]

@lilangelx09 "every socialist experiment of any significance in the 20th century - without exception - has either been crushed, overthrown, or invaded, or corrupted, subverted, or destabilized, or otherwise had life made impossible for it, by the U.S. Not one socialist government or movement ... was permitted to rise or fall on its own merits; not one was left secure enough to drop its guard against the all-powerful enemy abroad & freely & fully relax control at home." - William Blum

[callingcox]

Yall are either excellent trolls or crazy, there is a fine line.

[aikido7]

Objective considerations of contemporary phenomena compel the conclusion that success OR failure in normative socialism and economic strategy yeilds no tendency for innate capacity. An extreme element of the unpredictable is inextricably taken into account.

Or not.

[xmenrus]

Are you sober? Are you a junkie? You use all these big words, tie them together with conjunctions, and it don't mean SHIT!

[aikido7]

You got it, but don't realize it yet.

[xmenrus]

A 'WOLFF' in sheeps clothing.

You dirty f'n commies never give up.  But you can't succeed agains success and that's what infuriates your F'n Stalinist killers!!

[xmenrus]

This guy has a marxist/leninest agenda. Don't believe anything he says.

[CorkyBuchik]

He does?  Please explain.

[xmenrus]

You are one of Karl Marx 'USEFULL IDIOTS'. Karl was talkiing about MORONS like you: tolerated until you are no longer needed.

[CorkyBuchik]

Wow, seems like the easiest way to make you snap is to ask you to explain what you mean. Here's a simple word of advice -- If you don't know what you're talking about, it's best to keep quiet about it because in the event that someone calls you out on it, you end up looking like an ass-clown.

[xmenrus]

CorkyBullshit: Me: BS Economics, MBA Banking. What are your BULSHIT credentials? You are a plant; a rable rouser. I know how you fools work. I've read you bible the Communist Manefesto!!!! I know every step you take; every word you say!!!

[CorkyBuchik]

Gee, then you must also know every breath I take, every move I make too, right? Your level of discourse exposes your level of intellect. I ask you to explain your point and you snap and resort to an ad hominem. It's very simple to redeem yourself here, just explain Dr. Wolff's so-called Marxist/Leninist agenda clearly.

[xmenrus]

Let's see: 80 years of Russian Socialism down the shit tubes and millions murdered by friendly communist leader. 60 years of Chinese socialism but nice chineseleaders swetched to a capitalist economy (politics stil phony socialism they are really thugs which is what socialism breeds.) Castro is a socialist and a shit head. Venezuela has a socialist dictator who is a buffoon anda killer. Hmmm, I don't think I want socialism in my life, If you do move to CUBA; YOU BIG DUMMY!~

[CorkyBuchik]

I gave you the opportunity to redeem yourself by explaining Dr. Wolff's so-called Marxist/Leninist agenda and you reply with cases of Communism? FAIL. Not only is it unrelated to what Dr. Wolff advocates, it's inaccurate. No doubt the Communism in Russia and China were failures, but what's the relevance?

[CorkyBuchik]

Castro was indeed a bit of a tyrant, but you've also fallen victim to the US propaganda against him. Did you know Cuba has the highest literacy rate in the Western Hemisphere? Health care for all as well as a college education... (something you're in desperate need of). All this despite an embargo that's crippled their economy.

[CorkyBuchik]

Interesting.  Why call Hugo Chavez a killer? How many people did he kill and who?

[xmenrus]

corkyshit: "The mind that bends, bends all."

Now go get a real job fit for you: Cleaning toilets at your local High School...You've been outed. You and Wolffman. LOL!!! You elitest think you are so clever. LOL!!!

You are transparent. You are a SHILL!

[CorkyBuchik]

Another example of dodging a simple question. I'm not surprised since that's usually what people do when one of their claims is challenged and they don't have the facts to back it up. To all who are reading these comments, I'm sure it's obvious to them that I'm wasting my time talking to a kid.

[xmenrus]

KinkyButchDick: I know the commie strategy; don't waste you time here. Do F-OFF you big dummy!

[xmenrus]

QuirckyBullshit: Yah, Econ.& Banking. The Wolffman's agenda is world progressive movement with a ruling elite. You think Wolffman & you will be part of that ilite. When they don't need you fools run to Brazil like the Nazis did after WWII. GOOD LUCK FOOL! LOL!!!!

[CorkyBuchik]

Err... Wrong again! Geez, this is just not working out for you. Dr. Wolff doesn't advocate anything like that. Provide me the souce of that claim or at least the premise from which you drew that conclusion. Do you even know the difference between Socialism and Communism? Do you even know that there are different kinds of socialist ideologies? Did you know that Stalin carried out nothing like what Marx advocated?

[xmenrus]

They both spell dictatorship. Once the government becomes the giver of freedoms: To work, school, medical...then the people are enslaved by the few. It's just human nature. All socialist are scum!

[CorkyBuchik]

There's a difference between a dictatorship and a communist government. Dictatorship is absolute rule by one person, but class and private ownership may still exist. Communism seeks to remove the classes and private ownership. I'm sure you'll believe only what you want to believe, but Dr. Wolff doesn't believe in either one. Basically he argues that we should bring democracy into the workplace rather than just limit it to the political arena.

[CorkyBuchik]

When we go into the workplace, it's organized like a totalitarian structure. He says wouldn't it be better if the people who own the factories were the ones who ran it? In capitalism, it's said that there are 4 means of production: Land, labor, capital, & entrepreneurship. Dr. Wolff says if we get rid of the entrepeneur (the owner), we can still function just fine because the land, labor, and capital don't go away.

[CorkyBuchik]

This idea of a free market capitalism that you're in favor of leads to pretty much what we have now. Why? Because private tryannies are worse than state tyrannies. When we look at the abuses of our health care and credit banking industry, who do we look for to save us? The State, no the private sector. Look at everyone's solution... it's always talk to regulations. It's the only way to protect the people in our system.

[CorkyBuchik]

Nobody here is advocating Communism. Unfortunately, it seems like you're excited to demonstrate what you've learned from Alex Jones and those conspiracy movies, but I'm sorry to tell you this... you failed on this one. Try again...

[xmenrus]

It's the same thing A-hole. You are such a big dummy! The "nose under the tent" strategy. You are either a F'n liar....Commies believe in lying as a tactic...or you are a big dummy puppet. NOW F-OFF!!!!

[CorkyBuchik]

@Xmenrus: LOL! Blanket statements left and right. Care to explain how they're the same thing? This "avoid the issue and resort to name-calling" strategy is just sad. A simple question for you to elaborate on a statement you made led to all this childish bickering. If all you have left is "you're this and you're that" then I see no further reason to continue. I rest my case.

[xmenrus]

QuirkyBitch: This is not the place where I can explaing 'The Wealth of Nations' by Adam Smith or Milton Friedman's writings on 'money supply.' Yes, in my opinion, you are a shill for the progressive monsters who have been working their evil plan for over 100 years now. I know the entire movement and the players from Teddy Roosevelt to President Obama and many other politicians and elitest such as George B. Shaw. Surprised aren't you. I rest my case. Now F-off!

[aikido7]

It is an interesting idea to conclude that Wolf's agenda is a Platonist ideal ruled by "elites."  I am just surprised to hear that from YOU, xmenrus.

[xmenrus]

They think I am a fool until the shocking realization arises that I own them.!! I've read the history of every western civiization from the NAQADA, 4400 - 3500 BCE, AND Temple Building society of MALTA. Today's politics are all 'old errors with new labels.' In history the best societies were under the hand of 'benign neglect'. And finally, there will never be a heaven on earth until mankind destroys itself. "All men are mortal, Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates is mortal."

[aikido7]

Everything has been thought of before; the trick is to think of it again.

--goethe

[xmenrus]

Everything is not what seems; nor is it otherwise.....NISARGADATTA.

Thoughts come and go but bullshit is forever....ME.

[aikido7]

Which particular place does Marx do this? Remember, his Das Kapital was a normative assesment of capitalism. Keyes merely followed the lead.

Marx indeed had his criticism open to examination. So what is this (and WHERE is this?) talk about "morons."?

[xmenrus]

Moron is 'my' other name for Marx's 'USEFUL IDIOTS'. Useful idiots are like Hitler's BROWN SHIRTS. In 1921 Adolf Hitler formed his own private army called Sturm Abteilung (Storm Section). The SA (also known as stormtroopers or brownshirts) were instructed to disrupt the meetings of political opponents and to protect Hitler from revenge attacks. Captain Ernst Roehm of the Bavarian Army played an important role in recruiting these men, and became the SA's first leader. Hitler mordered Roehm.

[aikido7]

With your definition of "useful idiots" as operational, it sounds like the Tea Party movement. They were backed by corporatists and Fox "News" to disrupt town meetings.

[xmenrus]

You are a big dummy! What an idiot.

[aikido7]

Actually, I am a rather small dummy (but thanks anyway!).

[xmenrus]

It's OK. All thoughts are false; all movements of energy. No understanding at all. It's all programming of this structured energy we call the human body. Truth and understanding is in SILENT BEING AWARENESS. There is nothing else; everything is no thing-ness. This is all there is. Then thoughts come along to F-it all up. All suffering comes from thinking "I am seperate from life. I am an individual."

[aikido7]

Gregory Bateson for President! And Tenzin Gyatso for Secretary of Defense.

But Bateson, God bless him, died.

[xmenrus]

Bateson was born and in England so he was disqualified. Tenzin, aka Dali Lama, may be to busy with his hollywood buddies to really work for a living. He lives in a multi-million dollar home in New York and in California. Life is good. I don't think he would return to Tibet after seeing New York and Hollywood.

Tibet can't compete with fame and fortune!

[aikido7]

But hey--can you produce Bateson's birth certificate?

Seriously, though, don't mix up Richard Gere with Hollywood and don't mix up Tibetan Buddhism with Liberals of whatever stripe or origin.

"SILENT BEING AWARENESS," you said. I was trying to elliptically point out that Bateson's "Ecology of Mind" and the Dali Lama's spiritual practice are good examples of approaching your "SILENT BEING AWARENESS" phrase. Bateson's is sicence and Gyatso's is "religion."

[xmenrus]

I once met a couple of young bhuddist from Tibet. They didn't hold the Dali Lama in very high esteem. They talked about his rolex watch and his western millionaire life style. NOW this are young buhddist talking about the Lama dude. I was surprised but they should know.

[aikido7]

"They"should know WHAT?

Animal rights folks wear leather shoes, Obama's Secretary of Education is praised by Newt Gingrich, fundamentalists and many Christians fail to take Jesus seriously. It's a disconnect and a hypocrisy I wouldn't trouble myself over.

Speaking of Jesus, we should all pay attention to the log stuck in our own eye before we criticize the speck of sawdust that's in the eye of our brother or sister.

[jewishamericanchica]

This guy is a marxist.please look up your own inf. on his numbers they are a false assumptions.He is trying the old tired tech. of class warfare,wealth envy.

[CorkyBuchik]

Please explain which of his assumptions are false. Thanks.

[xmenrus]

When you merge corporate power with political power, Mussolini called this FACISM! That's what we have now. We no longer have a free market capitalism. It's all fixed by the Fed. Reserve, Wall Street, Mega Corporations, and Federal Government. Who doesn't know Wall Street/Bankers are running every presidential administration since President Johnson. The Federal Facist set the example by murdering JFK who replaced the Federal Reserve Note with the US Notes printed by the US Mint at no cost!

[CorkyBuchik]

Facism? I guess if you rely on Mussolini's dictionary... I just call it Capitalism.  I wouldn't say "Wall Street/Bankers" are running Washington, but I would say they're heavily influencing Washington's policies and actions. That's been our system since the birth of this country, just not to the same degree as it is today. I doubt you can prove that the so-called Federal Facists are the ones who murdered JFK. That's why it's considered a conspiracy theory.

[xmenrus]

Well since Benito created Facism I suppose he may be called THE AUTHORITY on the use of the word and how it is constituted. You big marxist goon!

[CorkyBuchik]

You missed the point. What I'm saying is that what we have now IS capitalism. Perhaps you didn't read any of Dr. Wolff's essays. This idea of free market capitalism might sound pretty on paper, but it ultimately leads pretty much to what we have now. The worst type of tyranny is not the State, but rather the private tryanny.

[xmenrus]

Don't lie Corky. Whe have an evolving Facist government that uses the power of corporations to endebt/enslave the worker/citizens. This began with the creation of the PRIVATE Central Bank called the Federal Reserve Bank. The value of the dollar has fallen by 97% since 1913 when the Fed. Reserve Bank was sneeked through congress in the middle of the night. I've read my Economic History. You guys can't fool me. I've also traced the history of the F'n money lenders from Mesepotania to NOW.

[CorkyBuchik]

LOL! What? This is really turning into a joke now... You're pulling info from Zeitgeist Addendum and acting like you're all schooled up on all this. Now you're suggesting that I'm part of some conspiracy to trick you? *yawn* Let me guess, you believe 9-11 was an inside job too, right?

[nineteenEcho]

And that is why we will take back this Nation and restore the US Constitution! We will NOT go the way of China. We WILL stick to a REPUBLIC form of government!

[heteferesheru]

Finally.  Someone who makes sense.

[systemchange]

Great again.Realy enjoying it.The working class has to wake up ,but i guess its too late.Advertisments and massmedia has done a good job in the US it seems.

Consume consume make profit,maximize profit,

get the best interest rates..............completly Brainwashed.

The world is limited and there will be no unlimited growth.We should start to look out of the box.

[arzoyan]

@systemchange Never too late for FREEDOM from WAGE SLAVERY, are you suggesting its too late so my son follows the path of servitude and bondage that you took it as AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE?

[aikido7]

Please God, let the right brain trump the left brain. Let the linear become holistic. Let's not interfere with our global evolution. Let's get the Universe back in balance.

[xmenrus]

"the Univers back in balance"...? How can you balance the INFINITE? You can't even conceive the infinite much less explain it. How can man impact the infinite? IMPOSSIBLE!

[aikido7]

I conceive of the infintie the same way you do: It IS conceivable that it is something man cannot conceive nor impact.  Also, this inconceivable state also has a lot to do with the conception of the word "impossible."

[xmenrus]

The only TRUTH that man can speak is "I don't know." Nothing is what it seems; neither is it otherwise.

[aikido7]

"Kangaroo" actually means "I don't know" in Austrailian aborigne dialect. Captain Cook observed a strange animal bounding out of the brush and hopping away on two powerful back legs."

"My God," he shouted to a native. "What was THAT

[xmenrus]

"I am that"...NISARGADATTA.

[oldhacks]

this guys a character.

[AbtinX]

yeah great stuff