Robert Reich : Where is America Going?

[jeff600]

left off at 27:07

[zg76]

Look for "The Truth About Robert Reich "

[poosta7]

150.000 "new" young men and women enter the labor market each month....in May 2011 America added 54,000 jobs...what happens to the 100,000 people EACH MONTH that didn't t get a job??? We are creating an ocean of unemployed and PERMANENTLY UNEMPLOYABLE citizens .... In most American cities the HS graduation rate is under 50%, kids can't read, write, compute or think critically and are obese...don't even quality for U.S. military service.

[kn9ioutom]

TAX CUTS FOR RICH ! CUTS FOR POOR ! IT'S IN GOP BIBLE

[GOPkicksbutt]

Thanks to liberal policies America can no longer afford to pay for medicare, social security, unemployment and many other services. We also need to lower the minimum wage to $2/hr in order to compete with China and bring jobs back home. Fiscally responsible conservatives like Paul Ryan and John Boehner know this and are currently

working to end these wasteful handout programs and bring the minimum wage down so that America can be great again. God bless the GOP!

[Putaspellonyou]

@GOPkicksbutt people earning two bucks an hour? yeah, that would be better for all of us. that way, people can work six jobs just to afford rent, and another three to buy food. yeah, good plan. and while we're at it, let's be the only country in the world that goes back on the gold standard, so that the economy can't grow any faster than the supply of gold. good plan

[TheJoelef]

@Putaspellonyou its the not the governments job to pay your rent and buy your food.

[Putaspellonyou]

@TheJoelef who said it was? but clearly your understanding of economics, market pressures, supply and demand, labor mobility, as well as let's face it basic human decency are so skewed as to make a well-reasoned debate about our economy a moot point. you want an adam smith-style free market? fine, then don't complain about production going oversees and illegal immigrants flooding into america for better jobs. in a totally free market, labor is mobile, as is capital. you cannot have it both ways.

[TheJoelef]

@GOPkicksbutt john boenhr is not a consrvative. He for raising the debt ceiling and for the tyrannical super congress

[52111centrumcz]

@GOPkicksbutt

Actually what you will be doing will be lowering the living standards of most americans to the same that chineese have. That means working 100 hours a week for a wage that will earn you living worse than that presently considered undesirable (the projects). Also you have not left the 18th century (mentally). Most value added products no longer need large amounts of manual/other labor; its a function of a few highly inteligent people using machinery to produce goods. END OF STORY.

[vengencefrom1979]

so how does a man with the last name reich end up at berkeley?

[atlantoon]

@WW2medalsNpatchesME you are a prick

[guyNbluejeans]

Why this midget hasn't been taken care of after his anti-Caucasian remark a while back is a mystery to me. He should live with Ted Koppel on another planet in another galaxy due to their hate for Caucasians. But these are the times we live in, racist bastards and bitches in the media and in government spewing out their hate for "white people" while they live in a world where their millions of dollars afford them all the finest comforts and luxuries Caucasians have invented ... while we get hate.

[atlantoon]

@guyNbluejeans go back to the butt hole you crawled out of a$s wipe

[guyNbluejeans]

@atlantoon *belch*

[DCUPtoejuice]

WOW. He is amazing. I often disagree with his political positions, but I couldn't have more respect for the guy after seeing this brilliant characterization of the world we live in.

[justgivemethetruth]

I don't like you, but I respect you ... LOL. How do you debate with Nazis ... there is not much to debate. Ugh ... I cant stand Alan Simpson. And back in the 90's was when Newt Gingrinch was trying to stage a right-wing revolution.

Reich for President!

[troubledownbelowsir]

He doesn't really say where America's going, because, like everyone else, he doesn't know. He makes a good point that we face global competition and automation/mechanization, or "technological change." His main point is our future standard of living depends on our education. That's to be expected in a speech at UC Berkeley. And there's probably some truth to it. But he ignores motivation. One questioner brought it up at the end.

[Romansteel13]

As a White Construction Working Male who makes little over 50,000 dollars a year trying to feed a family of four living on paycheck after paycheck. I haven't been to Hawaii never had the money to go there. This piece of trash known as Robert Reich said I wasn't entitled to stimulus money because I was white. I hope this human being burns in hell and the deepest recesses hell's creatures' devour him wholly.

[yamasas]

Interestingly, if you follow (sic) the dialogue below, it has little or nothing to do with what Reich stated,but strays or rather deteriorated to ad hominum attacks on Reich and his political persuasion, which is too bad, because his speech was an exposition of the reasons why America's future lies in its ability to innovate and increase education and conversely its demise will be centered on the diminishment of education and ambition as others here demonstrate EXACTLY what he was talking about!

[keepaopenmind]

@yamasas Very good comment.

[rumco]

Such a pompous git who seems to think he knows everything, not to mention annoying tone of his speech and silly jokes.

[elysium735]

@rumco

I'm not sure who you're talking or what about, but you can't read a tone. So yeah, you're wrong.

[7514328]

Robert Reich is a very short man. He moved up the ranks quickly. Because he as at head level to the zippers on trousers.

[davetileguy]

JELOUSY IS POISON!! I am a contractor I am very happy with my life, never once during the day do I to myself those damn rich people!! you get out of life excactly what you put into it. simple

[thesparitan]

well thats not really true, but ok

[davetileguy]

theparitan..wwhhaattt?? whats not reeeaaally true? jelousy is good? I'm not happy?

[thesparitan]

i never said jealousy is a good thing

did you even listen what he said during his talk

tell me what did he say during his speech, i bet you didnt even listen

[davetileguy]

your response to me was "well thats not really true,but ok" how should I interpret that??

[thesparitan]

i dont care what you interpret,

did you listen to this video in full, FIRST WATCH THEN COMMENT

just listen to him and then argue the facts not say your opinion without having any idea what he is talking about

[davetileguy]

I did watch I did comment than you commented Im just trying to figure out WHAT your comment ment? is that so wrong? you go back and read the comments

[thesparitan]

ok forget what i said its not important

what part os that speech did you agree with and do you remember when he made the joke about republicans that got the lol. which part is that and what part did he talk about his hips

tell me those two things and i'll believe you and we can end this

[vengencefrom1979]

@davetileguy hey dave, hows that 'night of the long knives' coming along? ready to see some fema camps in person?

[BLUEANGEL7777777777]

His neck is going in a ringer. He can do all the song and dance he wants. He is gonna get it. It is destiny.

You can not get away with what he does for ever and people are catching up to him fast.

He is gonna burn- Just keep your eye on this little zionist midget.

[davetileguy]

BRAVO!!!!!!!

[BLUEANGEL7777777777]

ROBERT

IS THE LITTLE BASTARD THAT CONVINCED THE BAILOUT. Little midget Fatherless bastard.

[keepaopenmind]

I used to be brainwashed by the wealthy right-wing mouthpieces like Rush Limbaug and didn't like this guy. Now that I listen to him with an open mind, I agree with him. So you dittohead kids who are making these snide comments about Mr. Reich, wake up. Like he says, "We cannot live in a society where a rising tide raises only yachts," which is what the wealthy prefer.

[thesparitan]

hey you were a dittohead, why would you hate this guy. he is nice and polite. why cant you just disagree with him

[keepaopenmind]

I didn't hate him. I didn't say that. I just didn't like him or go out of my way to listen to him. He was in Clinton's government. That's enough of a reason to not like him.

[thesparitan]

what, lol

i bet you think clinton was a liberal, lol to funny. he was a conservative and worked with a very conservative congress.

so clinton is the worse right, not bush or anyone else. if you compare bush to clinton bush was far more reactionary and not conservative in the original sense. clinton refomed welfare and moved us far more to a brutal capitalistic society then bush did. because bush was a total reactionary.

keeaopenmind LOL REALLY REALLY hypocrite

[keepaopenmind]

No, I didn't think Clinton was a liberal, whatever that means. He's controlled by the same people who controlled Bush, and now Obama. You don't know what I think. So hold off the name calling, please.

[thesparitan]

did you or did you not say I quote " He was in Clinton's government. That's enough of a reason to not like him." umm interesting you call yourself keepaopenmind and say something as hypocritical as that very interesting

I would never say that about the bush administration because for one I know its not true. I can name at least 5 bush officials that I respect and admire more then even most democrats. But even if I hated them all I would still listen to what they had to say.

GET OWNED

[keepaopenmind]

"GET OWNED" yourself! You don't make a lot of sense, and your grammar is atrocious, but I think I understand what's bugging you. You don't like the fact that I have a username "keepaopenmind," and yet I would not listen to Reich when he was Labor Secretary. That seems hypocritical to you. Is that what's bugging you?

Look, child, a user ID is not a statement of philosophy for oneself or others to follow. It's a user ID. So get over it! Have a nice day, and get a meaningful life, if you can.

[thesparitan]

ok first what is wrong with my grammer lol there is nothing wrong with my grammer, and that which is, is not important and deliberate. i dont use caps or do i use the classical form when commenting on youtube. because i have to write to much.

lol my grammer is atrocious, ok lol you need to get a life you're talking to me are you not. look in the mirror

and

GET OWNED loser

[keepaopenmind]

Don't worry your little narcissistic head about grammar. That'll improve when you get to high school. We hope.

What's this "get owned" shit. You mean like join the army, or something? Go from being a free civilian to owned by the US gov't? No thanks. Slavery sucks.

But you've made me realize that maybe I'm very closed minded about some things, invading a country to take its oil, torturing prisoners, letting war criminals go free. Hmmph.

So thanks.

[thesparitan]

whats wrong with my grammer

[keepaopenmind]

First, it's grammar, not grammer. It would take to long to list all your errors. Just keep an open mind about God. Best wishes. Adios.

[thesparitan]

first that was a joke, and second there is not anything wrong with my grammar, and you cant even say what is wrong with it.  you are so full of shit and no i dont believe in god or unicorns.

by the way, just because i dont use perfect grammar on youtube comment boards has no effect on my arguments.

you just are a dumb conservative weirdo who has no idea what you are talking about. as i have proven time and time again. and your only reaction it to talk about grammar on youtube lol

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind You'd have to be an ass clown to think that Reich's statism is going to benefit you. Why not stop choosing who will be brainwashing you and actually think for yourself?

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 You seem full of false assumptions. What makes you think I'm in favor of Reich's statism, whatever that means? Is that something you picked from Bigmouth Rush? If anybody's the ass clown, you are. Why don't you just think for yourself and leave me alone. Or you may find out you're a bigger fool than you realize.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "What makes you think I'm in favor of Reich's statism, whatever that means?" The fact that you stated you agree with him. So, no assumption, just deriving conclusions from your own statements.

"Is that something you picked from Bigmouth Rush?"

Oh, you assume I listen to Rush. Living in Japan, it would be fairly difficult to listen to Rush. You know what they say about assuming. It makes an ass out of you.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 Did you listen to the whole video? I agree with being educated. I didn't say I agreed with his "statism," by which you mean what, anyway?

Did you get that "statism" from Limbog? A simple "yes" or "no" would have sufficed. You're telling me you've never listened to him? You can't get the golden microphone in Japan?

No, I don't know what they say about assuming. Sounds like you just want to call me an "ass.' But I'll throw it right back in your face.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "I agree with being educated." Now you agree with him about education. Your original post indicates you agree with him on his statist economics. Which is it?

"his "statism," by which you mean what, anyway?"

You don't know what statism is? I thought you believed in being educated? Never took a pol sci class?

"You're telling me you've never listened to him?"

Why would I listen to Rush when I can read Reich, Rawls, Nagel, Gutmann, Sen, Hobhouse, etc?

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 I didn't ever say I agreed with "statist" (whatever that means. You still won't define it) economics. No I don't know what it means. I don't recall ever taking a pol sci course, because it's garbage. It's not science. It's opinion based on wishful thinking. I'd like to know what you mean by "statist." I was a politician, and I know some things about politics and law.

Why, indeed, listen to the fatboy? Have you ever read the Constitution?

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "Like he says, "We cannot live in a society where a rising tide raises only yachts," which is what the wealthy prefer."

Never took an economics class, eh assclown? The wealthy make their money by selling product. They want people to have money so they can sell more product.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 I've taken more economics classes than you've had hot meals. But that doesn't mean I know more about economics. What makes you economics classes teach you anything?

The wealthy make their money by selling? Some, including criminals, make their money inventing or selling. And for the most part my hat's off to them. But do most wealthy people make their money that way? I think not. Ever hear of inheriting? But do the wealthy prefer the rising tide to raise only yachts? Maybe.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "What makes you economics classes teach you anything?"

Is that supposed to be a meaningful sentence?

"But do most wealthy people make their money that way? I think not. Ever hear of inheriting?"

How was the inherited money made? By selling?

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 Think. You're just trying to be sarcastic. I think you understood.

The original fortune was earned or stolen, I agree. But that's the founder of the fortune. Most of the heirs are wealthy, too. E.g. the Rockefellers. Get it?

At least you forgot to call me "ass" this time.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "The original fortune was earned or stolen"

If it was stolen, wouldn't the person be in prison and his stolen fortune returned to his victims?

"Most of the heirs are wealthy, too. E.g. the Rockefellers. Get it?"

If the money wasn't stolen, what's your problem? Just got an irrational impulse to impose your morality on them by force?

"At least you forgot to call me "ass" this time."

Sorry about that. I'll have to make up for it, assclown.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 I'm not going to waste time flapping with you. You sound like an overweight smartass punk who can't carry on a reasoned argument. So back to your original comment. Do I think I'm going to benefit from Reich's statism? Since you don't know what you mean by "statism," I'll tell you. You mean big US federal gov't. Am I going to benefit? I don't know. I doubt it. That's partly up to me. I suppose if I wanted to I could.

Do you know, oh ass-fixated one, what federalism is?

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "Since you don't know what you mean by "statism," I'll tell you. You mean big US federal gov't."

You're the one that admitted to not knowing what statism is. Are you embarrassed by your admission? Is that why you felt the need to malign political science as "garbage"? Anything you don't understand is garbage?

"You mean big US federal gov't."

No, statism is not coextensive with the "big US federal gov't." You know, they have books nowadays. You might want to read a few.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 I'll say this for Mr. Reich-sha. He, at least, seems to care more about the common people, plain working folks who make the country go, than the wealthy and their Republican subalterns in Congress. That's probably why they despise him. The Republicans have only one item on their agenda. In the 90's they talked like they cared about smaller gov't, balancing the budget, returning power to the states, etc. But all they really wanted to do was lower taxes, especially on the rich.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "seems to care more about the common people, plain working folks who make the country go, than the wealthy"

Yeah, that's called classism. Stealing from the rich to give money to the poor. Caring is nice - care with your own money. When you "care" with somebody else's money, it's injustice.

"That's probably why they despise him"

Yeah, people who believe in individual rights despise him because he violates individual freedom.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 "The gov't that robs Peter to pay Paul can generally count on the support of Paul," eh? He's buying votes or popularity with other people's money? No argument there. Republicans never do that.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "seems to care more about the common people"

You nailed that. "Seems" is right. He has got you bent over, no lub, and he's driving it home. You think he cares about you, while he's taking half of all you make to fund millions in corporate and personal welfare, NEA, NES, NEH, NASA, DOD, trillions in foreign aid to nations that don't need it (Israel), etc. Yup, millions of dollars to rich artists, writers and scholars while the common man works his ass off just to make ends meet.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 It may be only "seems." So, are you against all taxes as theft? Maybe there's hope for you yet.

No, I doubt if Reich, or the Democrats in general, care about me. But I know the current batch of Republicans don't. In fact, after almost destroying the economy (and we're not out of the woods by a long shot) they now want to prevent fixing it for fear Obama will get the credit. But they have no answers other than cutting taxes (creating more debt) and cutting Social Security.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind The current batch is a batch of Democrats, and they are continuing to destroy the economy just as Bush did. Neither group cares for the poor; and neither group cares much for justice. It takes a truly intellectually incompetent person to think that either Democrats and Republicans are anything but a scourge on society.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 The Dems, including O, are a bunch of spineless cowards. The Reps are know-nothings. But those two are the practical choices. For most of my adult life I've railed against the feds., its various wars, affirmative action, its unconstitutional usurpation of states' powers, its bloated bureaucrazies. Now it's in danger of going under. I really don't want that. Do you? Even Greenspan wants to end the tax cuts. Right now, we need to tax and spend. Big. Practicality trumps ideology.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "I really don't want that. Do you?"

Yes, I want that.

"Right now, we need to tax and spend."

Tax and spend is not fixing the problems. It never has. Tax and spend is the source of the problem.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 You want the US gov't to go under? Wow. There goes my Social Security. That's too extreme for me. It does much evil, I'll agree. But at least it keeps the peace within the states. Have you always thought this way? The Bush tax cuts caused the immediate deficit problem. The gov't must now spend a lot to get the economy going because the people aren't spending. But unless there's a tax increase, that makes the debt too large. I'm for tax cuts, but not with borrowed money.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 Your comment was flagged as spam, didn't show up, and I didn't get an email. That's what took so long.

You have no idea how much I'll pay or receive in SS.

If the gov't didn't spend so much, esp on the military, it wouldn't need to tax. Correct! Spending, priming the pump, did too work during the Depression, to the extent it was tried, which wasn't much. Just like now, not nearly enough to get things going. When WWII came, then spending went thru the roof. That's OK with Reps.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "Spending, priming the pump, did too work during the Depression, to the extent it was tried, which wasn't much."

No, it did not. “We have tried spending money,” FDR Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr. said in 1939. “We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. ... I say after eight years of this administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started. And an enormous debt to boot!”

You need an education, not a dogma.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 The New Deal was not a test of spending because FDR, like Morgenthau (who wanted to cut spending), believed in balanced budgets. A better example is WW2, which involved huge gov't deficits. There's nothing magic about war. It's the spending that brought full employment. If you can't stand deficits, then raise taxes. You can even balance the budget. But when people and corporations aren't spending, as is the case now, the gov't must. Otherwise, we're in for a long unhappy period.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind Spending alone does not create full employment. And full employment does not create wealth. Some types of employment create wealth - mostly non-governmental employment; and some types of employment (Keynesian, mostly) destroy wealth. Long unhappy periods are the result of stagflation, often caused by Keynesian refusal to accept real, as opposed to nominal, value. You want to go on stealing money and sinking into failed businesses while impoverishing the nation.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. I certainly am not even going to try to enlighten you. Life will probably teach you to see other points of view. Economics isn't much more of a science than so-called "political science." It's mostly opinion. What does matter in economics is expectations. Fear is the enemy.

Would you agree to reduce gov't employee salaries, benefits, and pensions? That's where around 60% of the spending goes.

You don't know what I want.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "Economics isn't much more of a science than so-called "political science." It's mostly opinion."

So far you have dismissed political science and economics. Are you inclined to dismiss any science which does not agree with your emotional state??

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 Yeah, I was a math and physics major in undergraduate. I figured poly sci, sociology, the soft sciences, were for weenies. Keynes was a mathematician. That's why don't understand him.

But back to Reich. Or better yet, why are you so angry? Just what's bugging you? You're not alone. There's quite a few like that now. You're full of hostility, name-calling, and just plain stupidity. Don't you know that's bad for your health? You think it's going to scare me into changing my mind?

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "why are you so angry?"

You do you insist on assuming so much? Didn't you take a critical thinking course some time during your lifetime? I'm not particularly angry.

"You're full of hostility, name-calling, and just plain stupidity."

Yeah, I noticed that name hostility, name calling and stupidity. Here are some thing you've uttered: fatboy, Bigmouth Rush, fool, your little narcissistic head, child, etc.

Yeah, I read the crap you posted before I came along. Infantile.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 I didn't start the crap throwing. You did "assclown." Like I said before, I'll throw whatever you serve up right back in your face. I've been trained to do that, and I kind of enjoy beating up on bullies. You talk civilized to me, and I'll do the same to you.

You don't think you're angry? You sure sound like it. You said you want the US gov't to go under. Do you mean you want Obama to look bad and be defeated, (I didn't vote for him) or you just don't like paying taxes?

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "I didn't start the crap throwing."

You were regurgitating crap before I got here, and I don't have a problem with it. You are the one who whined about "hostility and name calling" like a pansy. Do you see me whining about your name calling? No.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "You don't think you're angry? You sure sound like it. You said you want the US gov't to go under."

Why would anger be involved? Some of us think. We study political science and political philosophy, and we reach rational conclusions. Like the one that democracy is an unjustifiable violation of individual freedom.

Stop emoting, okay? Emotions aren't going to get you anywhere. You need to use your head.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 No, you're not angry, and you've reached your conclusions rationally, whereas anyone who disagrees with you needs to think. I think you're delusional.

So, democracy is an unjustified violation of individual freedom, eh? You don't like the US gov't or democracy. What would you prefer instead? Anarchy? Is there no role for gov't that you, in your vaunted rationality, can approve? And what would justify the limitations democracy imposes on those who choose to live in it?

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "I think you're delusional."

Surely you learned in school that if you want your assertions to be taken seriously, you need to back it up with logic.

"So, democracy is an unjustified violation of individual freedom, eh?"

Yeah, it's not exactly a new concept. If you had studied political science, you would probably know that. Read Rothbard, kiddo. Get an education. No individual or group of individuals has a tenable right to impose their will on others.

[keepaopenmind]

@JohnScott700 I was reading Murray Rothbard (who I like very much) when you were still in diapers. Look, this conversation is not really going anywhere, and you don't seem to want it to go anywhere. You've got some half-baked ideas, but not much experience, especially dealing with people. And you need to get over your humongous ego. Until then, don't bother me anymore. All right? You live your life; I'll live mine, like good anarchists. And love your neighbor as yourself.

[JohnScott700]

@keepaopenmind "Until then, don't bother me anymore. "

No, no, no. See, you have it all wrong. You came in here, posted that you agreed with Reich who wants to use coercion to collectivize individual earnings and then redistribute those earnings according to your and Reich's morality. See, that's not what we call "not bothering" people. That's definitely bothering people. That's my point, bozo. Stop trying to use the government to impose your morality on others.

[cannotbelievemyears]

Anyone who can sit through this crap on a daily basis, and pay for it...in other words...Berkley poly students...are paying to get it up the butt...from Reich.

[joe035]

Well put Reich is a cancer, Obama's bitch. Anyone who would pay to listen to this fool are a fine example of whats wrong with america.

[TheTreemeister]

I know where Robert Reich is going...To Hell!

[apJAzzfusiondruMmer]

robert b reichsheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh­sha

DWARF!!

[magprob]

And Americans wonder why the education system is a fucking joke!

[scata99]

This guy has Napoleon complex.

[JOSNAPJO]

So, the president should fire this goofy little man with an unproportioned head and a small body. Robert Reichhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, you are a POS.

[negativ90]

liberal indoctrination

[thesparitan]

just because you disagree with him

[mannyfeseha]

thehelpfund.blogspot

[pebud2002]

True that!!!

[idicula1979]

Rober Reich is the man