Gotta love all the people here claiming "he doesn't get it", the dude is a professor of economics with an heterodox view on the subject matter (extremely rare from an economist). Who are you? Just because you took a economics class in high school or community college doesn't mean you have an idea of what is going on.
Ok he is basically correct, but he fails to mention what happened during the 70's, Breton woods e.c.t, the dollar has lost tremendous amounts of it's value since it's last link to gold was severed, inflation theory couple'd with what he is saying essentially spells out why the middle class is shirking, unemployment is rising though profits are better than ever.
This guy just doesn't get it. He doesn't even mention government handouts and entitlements, which cause budget shortfalls. Yes, teachers get laid off when government promises more than it can fund...it's simple, the "evil" is not in the layoffs, it's in the promises doled out for votes.
If the depression lasted from 1929 through 1939, and if only America's entrance into WWII ended the depression, what happened in 1940 and 1941? I think Mr Wolff is over simplifying and distorting some facts.
A final prediction that, two years later, has become our reality. An all volunteer military fighting ever increasing numbers of foreign wars, there’s not enough guns or will to take on this force. There won’t be enough holes to hide in. The vast majority of our elected officials just ripped up the Constitution by passing the N.D.A.A., this legislation makes American Citizens fair game in a Fascist police state. It’s already over !
for fraggle rock. this video has been a life changing moment for me. I have tears in my eyes. This man has brought truth to a lot of parts of my life I didn't understand.
I'm not easily persuaded but this is the truth. You recognize the truth when you hear it. What a completely immoral and reprehensible system we live in.
I'm going to tell as many people I can about this truth.
BREAKING NEWS-- BANK RUN -TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO WEST INDIES, REPUBLIC BANK, ROYAL BANK, FIRST CITIZEN BANK and SCOTIABANK thousand of customers simultaneously secretly withdrawing all their funds, because they believe that the banks might go into bankruptcy, and for fear of the bank becoming insolvent and that they the customer, will lose all their money.people are putting their money in smaller credit union banks or keeping it at home.
We are the working class! This man is a Genius and a catalyst for the growing socialist movement in America! Long live our godless nation, long live socialism, long live Obama!!
1:14:45 onward is the best part. Communal organisations make perfect sense. Experimentation, controlled and scientific is the first step. The ignorant masses let alone the government hear "Marx" and cringe, so stigmatised is the notion of communism or even beneficial elements of it, so taboo to criticise capitalism that everybody has shut themselves in and locking themselves into a system that clearly isn't working.
They're not Communists because they can perfectly operate in the free market without the need of the State to say what to produce, how to produce, and what price has to be paid for that product.
@heathmoor A 'collective' and a 'commune' can refer to the same thing. Quibbling over words is unhelpful. The point is that many self-identified communists promote collectives/communes. Even from the beginning of socialism, not all socialists advocated statist communism. Some of the earliest socialist experiments in the US were communes. A socialist commune can exist and have existed within capitalist societies.
So would the employees of Taco Bell be their own boss? If so, you could count on no work being done and the bathrooms not being cleaned. Unless the workers also decided that the bathroom guy gets more money. Also, Credit Unions are a somewhat similar in corporate structure, especially compared to for profit banks (Chase, BOA, W.Fargo, Compass,etc.), and CUs are rather successful and were not subject to massive failures like the big banks. The nuts and bolt of his plan would be complex.
@carsearch2001 As opposed to leaving the division of labor to free market forces? Then you would have to pay higher wages for cleaning the bathroom because fewer people would want to do it and you would have to incentivize them with more money, right? Isn't a corporation itself a communal structure, with each shareholder having an equal share of the profit and equal voting rights? Now which precedes which?
@DAngelo136, regarding the corporate structure, no not ever share holder is equal, preferred stock holders get more if not all the voting power and get paid out first if there is a chapter 13/bankruptcy and with either preferred or common stock the vote correlates to the number of stocks owned. Regarding the employees deciding upon the wages paid to the "bathroom guy" (labor division) I like the harder working employees getting more money and that is why I endorsed it.
@carsearch2001 Which confirms my point, capitalism foments inequality; preferred over common even though the risk of loss is the same. The purpose of the corporation was to syndicate risk, all shareholders assumed the same risk of loss and had the same vote. Only in the recent century, has this been altered. How would you derive who "works" harder? Cleaning a bathroom is harder than cooking? Even Adam Smith said that this was difficult to discern.
As of 33:16, I wondered if Wolff would make any reference to illegal drug use - because I consider this just as big a factor. After all, with America's voracious appetite for illegal drugs and many foreign countries being the supply nations, doesn't that in itself drain the economy (like what happened to China during the 1800s)?
@recyclea Of course, you could always say that if the meteor 2005 YU55 (or one like it in the future) would of just hit us yesterday and it came very close too the Planet. Any who, that there would be a great demand for sculptors since this meteor just knocked all of us back into the stone age!
@recyclea What happen when population growth exceeds let’s say 20 billion people on the planet and we’ve consumed most if not all the fossil fuels? Equipment no longer runs because of the energy shortage, farms don’t produce, people starve, equipment rust into nothing, and sculptors in the future lose work? By the way (25 percent) of (one percent) of 20 billion = 50 million
@recyclea 7 billion people on the Planet and growing. (25 percent) of (one percent) of 7 billion = 17,500,000 is that fair enough figure for all the new recycle sculptors entering the world for new business sales? It’s now a cheap activity with no value for the output of work or very little anyway? Competition is the capitalist worst friend they don’t like it. Hey, you’re speaking more and more like a socialist; everyone is involved and producing with an equal share?
The initial point I was trying to make is that when economists or anyone for that matter refers to capitalism as an exploitative process respecting labor, wage and return, they are generally ignoring self employment which does not directly exploit any labor but that of the business. People should make a distinction between capitalism and corporate capitalism because their are the many types.
@recyclea As well as other self employed individuals to varying degrees of freedom. The tentacles are far reaching and that is the world we live in “all brought to you by” human ideas of what is the best way to do things. I think we can do better than this without impeding on human rights and civil freedoms in which I‘m convinced capitalism does this without impunity on many different variation.
@recyclea Yes, and I mentioned unless you live in a utopia where none are exploited you are more than likely helping to exploit someone locally in addition to worldwide with your daily job activities; First, second or third hand, maybe more than that to a degree of involvement. So, from my point of view you are more than likely exploiting someone, somewhere at sometime.
@recyclea However, I’m now thinking that we are at a point in time and soon to be history where we all need to adapt the system in order to endure a changing world; lets say a hybrid form of capitalism or Marxism that serves us all better too thrive? If you pay attention too the rest of the world they seem to be doing just that on different variations.
@recyclea I think I should bring up to you, so that you don’t get a certain impression. I’m not advocating for lets say Marxism or an opponent of let’s say capitalism. Although, I’m demanding to understand more about what is happening in our world.
Capitalism is a process whereby we all are entitled to capitalize on our own labor intellect and property. In its truest form, we are are entitled to the full fruits of our own energy. Corporate capitalism is the process whereby those who have excess wealth receive business gain through the exploitation of the labor of others and take no risks. Corporate capitalism is not true capitalism, Self Employment is true capitalism. How is self employment not capitalism?
@recyclea There are many variants and they are all connected to one and the other, yes. And just as that is true; there are different varieties of bombs too. They just all do not do the same damage. I really don’t care if you call yourself a capitalist anymore than a go-getter, doer, self-reliant or even communal artist; I’m fairly certain you’re not a industrialist even though you work with metal. You’re not doing any of the damage like the real capitalist out there
Exploitation is not a second hand problem in recycling something that would otherwise go to the waste stream and either way it is not the direct exploitation of human energy for investment profit and it is that exploitation that has led to the disparity of wealth and poverty of the working class. I expect you think that my personal harvest and sale of Wild blueberries is exploitative as well? Give me a break and acknowledge where the problem lies.
@recyclea As long as you keep it small and unobtrusive; you’re only shouting out to the rest of the world that I’m self-reliant. Move foreword with your endeavors, but I still wouldn’t think of you as a capitalist in any manner from my point of view. Not too many of them picking blueberries or sculpting with old 1970’s GMC truck fenders.
More than likely they’re producing and large scale farming those things.
I would have to disagree to some extent with you. Your page says that you are a sculptor? Any metals, tools, shipping or maybe a stone block etc. That you did not create on your own could carry exploitive problems for others?
You must have been watching a different lecture than I saw. This is on a university campus so how full the room is has nothing to do with the popularity or credentials of Dr. Wolff. If you think fluoride in the water does anything, but prevent cavities you are a kook. No intelligent, educated, sane person cares what you think, but I agree we need Gods help.
2 collapses and 16 business downturns in 75 years - not caused by capitalism! Caused the the Central Bank - please, Mr. Economist sir, learn something about the "Business Cycle" - it's not that hard to understand.
@Jollyprez You make good points, his comments are very aggressive - and are stretched in terms of the silicone valley reference. However I'm confused by your last comment. You insinuate that the central bank operates outside the structure of capitalism, but I see it as the central bank being the heart of it. It's not a federal program. It is a private company that is interested in maximizing profits and growth - some of the core principles of capitalism.
@pandamanprod Quite the contrary - central banks are a bastion of state power. The Federal Reserve is quasi-private, and has a monopoly to print money. Monopolies are grants of state power. The merge of state power and corporate power is NOT capitalism - it's FASCISM. When large companies work in league with government rules and licenses to force people to buy their products ( insurance, vaccines, etc. ) and restrict competition, that's textbook fascism. Gov bailouts = fascism, NOT capitalism.
Are you really comparing your knowledge to Dr. Wolff? Where did you get your degrees? I know where he got his multiple degrees so I think I will listen to him.
@jagwarrentex Absolutely! Degrees are frequently meaningless - especially in economics. If you have a problem with my arguments - address the arguments.
He misrepresents what is A) happening in Silicon Valley and B) what Karl Marx said. He's basically promoting a form of "syndicalism" - look it up. He also falls into the basic logical fallacy of equivocation.
"The government's actions to date, are a failure."
True - maybe the problem is that the government merely needs to get the hell out of the way. Stop trying to stop the crisis. Stop spending money. Stop giving money to certain groups ( e.g. Banks ). Let businesses go bankrupt. Clean out the system.
He even said, FDR did all kinds of things that DID NOT WORK. Bush and Obama are doing all kinds of things that DO NOT WORK.
Therefore, STOP DOING ANYTHING! GET OUT OF THE WAY!
his whole premis is flawed, Why would a thinking person discredit the government then present government statstics as to make himself appear correct.
The 1929 depression was caused by the creature from Jekyll Island, that creature (the owners of world finance) has been after American capitolism since we escaped it back in the 1700's, in the communist plan to over throw America they discussed using capitolism (operated by socialists) to show that capitolism did not work.
1:16:00 i love how he tells the story of the republican marxists in silicon valley. no board of directors, no suits, but instead colorful shirts, frisbees, and i can smoke a joint on my lunch break. lmao!!
What happens when the disparity between the classes reaches critical mass? "We Are The 99ers of Occupy Wall Street" is what happens,along with all the other ground swell movements cropping up around the country and the world. Mr. Wolff saw this coming two years ago. His book really opened my eyes, and I hope he has involved himself in some way with this New Revolution. The power elite of business and government will have a hard time backing away from this. Accountability is long past due.
A different story, he says? Naw, same old story for a One World socialist government. A different story is how the Ponzi scheme Fed received $8.4 trillion handled by the FRBNY and hid it from Congress is RIP OFF BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE posted at 3w scribd dot com slash doc slash 49040689 and CRIMES OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE at scribd # 62167283. He fails to say the Fed CAUSED the collapse of 1929 and Pearl attack was known in advance.
@RationalBullets But I think that it's a misconception socialism (or communism, I'm only @ 4:22 at the moment so I don't know which term Dr. Wolff uses) would be without markets. Markets where there before capitalism so if a non-capitalist market is possible it shouldn't be a problem for Marxists. I'm afraid I don't have much to back this up (actually only Wallerstein) but I hope you see some merit in my comment.
You live in the 17th Century. Developing a new CPU like Intel/AMD did costs about 100 billion. Thats why now new competitor can ever come up with something else then a Pentium/Intel Core and all others manufactorers are dying. Oil drilling in the artic circle is 500 billion. Developing a simple medicine is 1 billion, a car 10 billion and an airplane 50 billion.
This is why free markets do not work - we have a high industrialized society which can only survive on socialism.
Stunning. Not the lecture but the fact that at the 19 minute mark the camera man pans around and we see the room is only about 30% full. This was taken in dec 9 2009 but even so. The population has been so massively dumbed down by fluoride in the water and mercury in the vaccines. Its beyond a joke. God help us all.
@postpanic1 You really attribute this to stupid conspiracy theories as opposed to the system of capitalism which has made the people so complacent and the schools so useless...
@postpanic1 That's what I was thinking. You would think his lecture would be standing room only. We have a difficult fight ahead of us the masses are just starting to wake up.
@elbowbiter1 culture on the low end are music and movies etc, on the higher end are unique cultural believes and traditions, now on the lower American do produce a lot of crap music and movies, but American really have no unique culture, is there American food? American traditional thought? American Art? no, not really, Americans only have blind pride that boarder on bigotry.
@lppoqql I see your point but did you ever stop to think why America has no traditional food? It's because the country is a country made up of citizens from other countries. What's the national food of Italy... well that too is now a national food of the Americas. Think of all the music and movies that originated in the American stewing pot. Where does rap come from, rock'n'roll, country... there is so much American culture it is consuming the globe. Why? Because it's a mix of everyones culture.
@elbowbiter1 No, your argument for "mixed" culture is just a mainstream lie, if there is any "mixing" it would have been the culture of the natives, where is that culture now? Genocide is the answer, and how about blacks? slavery, its only recently that blacks got a break. Now how about Asians? Asian fetish? insulting Asian men? So all you see is just "western" white culture being forced into people of other races. Mixing is just a front for cultural genocide in America. Think about that
@lppoqql It isn't a genocide... it is an extinction. No cultures last forever. They, like everything in the cosmos, are an emergent phenomenon. Cultures emerge and die out but not before influencing the course of the next culture. Native American Culture's DNA is still present in modern western culture. If you know what you are looking for you'll easily find it. I could help you if you like. Oppression lead the blacks to sing the blues which lead to rock'n'roll. ;)
@elbowbiter1 lol what a lie, I know you "love America", but dont twist the truth. The rest of the world knows its genocide, why try to hide it with "culture mix"? What happened to the natives were the worst genocide in human history.
@lppoqql Oh, I don't deny that what happened to the natives was the worst and most deplorable and outrageous crime against humanity ever commited. It makes HITLER look like an angel. It was a product of the disgusting cultural ideas of the day. But because of what happened to the Indians, and because of WWII there is a wide spread cultural shift in how we view ourselves. Try marching in the streets with a sign that says, "Genocide is cool!" in a white neighborhood and see how you're recieved.
@elbowbiter1 yeah, so you see my point there? The American mainstream was never about "mixing" its always about making people conform to their cultural standards. Seriously lets take Asians for example, there are 14million Asians in America, now Asians have one of the richest culture in human history. You would think under the theory of "culture mixing" you would see more Asian culture. But all you is are Asian Geisha fetish and insult on Asian men, so much for mixing right? lol
@lppoqql I have said many a time that I see your point my friend. What I am failing miserably to do, so it seems, is to improve upon your perceptions of culture. Despite the genocidal pogram against the Jews and Native Americans their culture is alive and vibrant and part of the DNA of the mainstream in the 'West.' So too is the an element of Indian and East Asian Culture. What cultural elements from East Asia would you like to see? Maybe we could find them together, there's a ton.
@elbowbiter1 Look, we both are not in the position to do anything about this, I'm just saying this is how America is. A very simple example is, when was he last time you saw an Asian male on TV that is not awkward or offensive? My point is simply this, American culture have a serious bias towards non white cultures. Now, I'm not saying they must be less racist, after all its their choice. However I'm just saying America should not lie about its racism and call it culture mixing.
@lppoqql Jay Chou "The green hornet." / Kal Penn in "House" / Chow Yun Fat "Anna and the King." That's just off the top of my head. If you want your culture portrayed the way you want it... you have to get out there and portray it the way you want it. Don't let others do it for you. "Boyz in the hood" wasn't writen by a white pot smoker. It was writen by a smart black man.
Racism is in the minds of the people that take it seriously (on both sides of the coin).
@elbowbiter1 LOL, I really dont care if Americans accept Asian culture, its going to be Asian century anyways, my beef is that American culture is racist, but they always call themselves "melting pot" of the world lol. I just hate liars
@elbowbiter1 Well, I feel most Asian culture are more inclusive generally, but most cultures in the world have some bias, the difference is no other culture on earth claims themselves to be a "mixed culture" when its really not. Its kinda like fox news calling itself the most trusted name in new, you see my point?
@lppoqql I see your analogy, I don't see your point yet. Now, you say no other culture claims to be a 'mixed' culture and then go on to say that the west truly isn't. What in your opinion would be a truly mixed culture? And what in particular about asian cultures do you find inclusive? What part of Western Culture do you find completely and unyeildingly western? I am genuinely curious.
@elbowbiter1 No culture is not truly mixed, the issue here is, no culture claims this title except U.S, thats like someone claiming their product is 100% pure gold when its not, its a lie. So I'm saying the American's claim for "culture melting pot" is a lie. look at Japanese Chinese or Korean culture, they listen to music from all over the world, how about Americans? they only know American music, thats just one example.
@elbowbiter1 European classical, Chinese, Korean, some American, etc, why are you ask? Please tell me what kind of music Americans listen to from all around the world?
@lppoqql The reason why I ask is that I want to understand your point of view my friend. Now you say the Japanese listen to Classical great... so do a lot of Americans... A lot. But you have listed a few other types of music. What do you mean by Chinese? Korean? and American? Classical music? Rock? What types of music is being consumed? Can you give me details?
@elbowbiter1 Korean pop is popular in Asia, Chinese pop is popular in Asia except Japan, and Japanese pop was popular before but now no many listen to them anymore. There are too many to list, why are going all the way into this? What was the last Asian music u heard? or even music by Asian Americans? Only recently did far east movement got a chance. I think in terms of openness to international culture America is be-hide its Asian counter parts. Again I'm not saying they are better for it.
@lppoqql I listen to Kitaro it isn't pop that's for sure. Now with the examples you've cited I am left with a funny problem. You mention Korean pop, Chinese pop, and Japanese pop. In North America, UK pop is top and vice versa but that is beside the point. Pop music as a music style originated in the west. Whether it be rhythm and blues, with rap style break beats or modeled from pop rock and jazz etc. This is a western cultural export my friend. Can you give me more examples maybe?
@elbowbiter1 you do realize you make no sense right? basically you somehow equate everything universal as an "western export" LOL. thats so funny, even music and democracy is a "western export"?? LOL is math also a western export? No, pop music is not "western" its music, its universal, dont claim it to be your own. I gave you so many examples, now give me some example where the "west" accepts "eastern" music? My point has been proven over and over again, the "west" is culturally close minded.
@lppoqql You're right I should have said an american export. These bands you describe are playing a form of music that originated in the US, possibly with an eastern flare. Now I am not a pop music kinda guy but Pop is a genre that borrows from a wide variety of different cultures and continues to do so to this day. Where did it get it's start? In the cultural mixing bowl of North America. Math is not a cultural export but the numeric system we use is arabic.
@lppoqql The west's dominant religion comes from the middle east. Democracy as we know it today is definately a western tradition... which isn't to say it wasn't use elsewhere. I prefer the social structure of the Iraquois my self but try to sell that one to the powers that be. The visual arts in the west is a hodge podge of all sorts of different cultures blended together in a fine stew of multiculturalism. Your point was the US has no culture. Yet you admit that it exports culture. I'm puzzled
@lppoqql Please link me a chinese pop band. I expect to hear a singer singing about love and heartbreak, some R&B stylings. A looped beat, all the modern fixings... All of that stuff you think is universal was invented in the West. The reason you describe pop as universal is beacuse it comes from a wide variety of backgrounds... it literally is music that came from a melting pot. Literally... and it was first heard and the the genre labelled in the US. It is sad but true.
@elbowbiter1 hahaha, you have got to be kidding me, so I guess since Chinese invent paper, they invented news paper and hence free speech, since China invent books I guess all the western literary gems are all Chinese exports? How can you "westernize" sounds? LOL and "democracy" was separately "invented" in China also, its called "muo jia" which use to be parallel thought to Confucianism, but it was never implemented because Confucianism over powered it.
@elbowbiter1 China invented the gun powder, rockets and many wonderful things, you dont see China claiming modern warfare as a Chinese export? Or how about ICBMs? is that also a Chinese export? China was the most advanced sea fairing nation until the end of Ming dynasty, Chinese invent the compass, is global trade a Chinese export? These things are universal, only "the west" would be so shameless to claim it as their own. Dont be angry my friend, this is what most of the world thinks.
@lppoqql No... that is absolutely not what I am saying. Let us re examine that analogy. You originally stated that "Americans really have no culture." (go back and see you really did type this). I asked you for examples... one of which was chinese pop. I stated that pop originated in the US. So if the culture originated in the US how can it be said to not have culture? Now... I also told you about the multiple cultures that gave rise to pop as evidence of the melting pot. Are you being obtuse?
@elbowbiter1 no, pop is not unique to America nor did it originate in the US, pop = popular music. one such thing you can point to might be country music, but as I have stated before, these music and movie etc are just lower end of culture, for example there is no unique set of American family tradition or values, its all basically European, there isn't even any culture mixing, thats my point
@lppoqql I have heard a few pop bands from different country... you are going to go ahead and deny American Pop influences? I know what pop stands for. Now you are making my original point... You just typed this: 'there is no unique set of American family tradition or values, its all basically European' I said this: 'It's because the country is a country made up of citizens from other countries. What's the national food of Italy... well that too is now a national food of the Americas.' Obtuse.
@elbowbiter1 my friend, popular music itself is just a broad term to describe music that was created for public consumption, think of it in terms of a van diagram, pop music is just a big circle that includes some elements of other musical category. I would agree with you, if you say country music is unique to America, because it came from the unique experience of the "wild west".
@lppoqql Yes I am aware of what pop is... The genres are the same the world over. I will agree that country and western is a unique American form of music that was derived from old european folk. If you accept that Blues, Jazz, big band, classic rock, modern rock, hard rock, metal, R&B, Rap, new wave, pop, synth pop, pop rock, pop R&B etc etc are all genre's founded in the West and often in the US. Furthermore originating artists in each genre influenced foreign musicians. Deal?
@elbowbiter1 anyways, the point is America dont really have its own culture per say, its just an extension of European culture, and it really didn't integrate with any other culture. Have a nice day! good discussion!
@lppoqql The term "mixed culture" is a substiture for a lack of culture since the US is a relatively new country. Japan and other Asian cultures have had thousands of years to develop culture while the US has had a few hundred. Before you make broad overarching states traught with assumptions about "musical taste" please try to free your mind of anti-US sentiment and understand that nationalism has no place in this argument.
@kingtophe009 LOL how is anti-us sentiment "nationalism"? I'm not even anti-US, I just dont like people who are racist and still say they are the beacon of harmony for the world, thats all. I think most people in the world outside of US hold the same views as me.
@lppoqql Yeah right up until the rape of Nanking, the occupation, forced renaming and butchering of Koreans by the Japanese or the forced subjugation of Tibet by the Chinese.
@effigytormented Go learn some history before you make a statement, Tibet was always part of China, go read it, seriously look at the fact before you get brain washed by the mainstream media.
@lppoqql Tibet emerged in the 7th century as a unified empire, but it soon divided into a variety of territories. The bulk of western and central Tibet were often at least nominally unified under a series of Tibetan governments in Lhasa, Shigatse, or nearby locations; these governments were at various times under Mongol and Chinese overlordship. The eastern regions of Kham and Amdo often maintained a more decentralized indigenous political structure. So no, not really fudge, just small parts.
@effigytormented Are you really that fucken stupid? 7th Century? Why dont you talk about if there are European in America in the 7th century? LOL China didn't "subjugate" Tibet, its always been a part of the Chinese empire, you idiots just got brain washed by the CIA propaganda. Its a province of China, learn something you moron. Also the Da Lai LAMA was always appointed by Beijing, and he was the biggest oppressor of the Tibetan people, he enslaved them.
Watch this if you'd like an explanation of whats happening in the world today. It's more a history of America than the rest of the world but it can help us understand whats going on here too. It's two years old but just as relevant today. It's long and heavy going at times but it put's into context the lies we're being fed by our corporate media. The truth can be so refreshing albeit a little scary. Skip the first 7 min's (just a boring intro) but watch all the way to the end of the Q&A's. xr
The last bit was creepy, about what the country with the largest military, but also a failing economic system, will do. I think that country would go ape-shit, invade foreign countries and strip mine them for all of their resources. We own China 1.5 trillion and the best way to get out of paying debt is to kill the one you're indebted to. That would lead me to believe that the only way out for the U.S. is a massive global war.
After the Europeans themselves, Native Americans and African Americans were the first peoples to be "owned" by corporations. Capitalism was always an imperialist nightmare, and now its spiraling psychotic addiction to more and more Profit is doing it to "everybody else" in plain sight. Critical mass toward critical change is coming. ANCIENT LIGHTS dot o-r-g
@brewmaster95060 When presented with facts, people who live in an illusory world deny, deny and deny. He's not the only person to say this. He's right. And so is Chris Hedges. People in this country just refuse to question that maybe, just maybe, our system doesn't work has been broken for a long time. It has nothing to do with unions, welfare, planned parenthood, abortion or "setting the free market free." We are owned by corporate masters. But, we have to be awake enough to realize.
@SandCmpbll Some of what you say is true BUT this Wolff guy is CLUELESS socialist/statist/progressive.
It is government that oppresses us fed union and special interest money.
Progressives and others loves the idea of a top down centrally plan all powerful government where a small handful of elites decide what is best for the rest us and give debacles like GM volt, obamacare. USSR failed because of that government model.
@brewmaster95060 How can you call what he said "clueless?" ALL governments have some kind of central planning. The U.S. has central planning--from it's inception! Do you even know what a social democracy is or are you getting your news from Fox? Have you studied the history of the labor movement in this country--as all? It sounds like you don't know what you're talking about. IT sounds like you don't even comprehend what Professor Wollf spoke about.
@brewmaster95060 Technically speaking, businesses also run that same exact model. It's a top down, centrally planned system where all the elites get the money and workers get the short end of the stick. If you don't do what the bosses say then you are fired. The only reason the business can't shoot you is because the government does that...on their behalf.
@Christ724 not really business sell products to make a prophet or go out of business
governments sell no products and don't go out of business voluntary and when something goes wrong we get tax hikes, cuts in service and bailouts. I get it you don't like capitalism good for you.
@brewmaster95060 Umm, did you not mention the USSR model? It essentially turned the entire country into one giant corporation. Products were made and sold on behalf of the state (one could even say that the state was competing among other states kind of like how mafias compete for business). We get cuts in service because of neo-liberals who don't want to pay their fair share and then cause tax hikes for middle and lower class people and then proceed to beg for bailouts when their business fails
@brewmaster95060 USSR failed because nomenklatura decided it should fail. The whole point of perestroika was to enable big party mugs & state enterprise directors to 1) monetize their administrative power 2) legitimize their closet dollar fortunes 3) make their wealth hereditary. They didn't like the fact that a committee could come , decide their work sucks & fire them. Starting from 1985 on USSR dismantlement was an effort of USSR itself (the elite part of it - ppl were never for it in 1985).
@Golos817 We also must note that the USSR was NOT a socialist state. The worker`s had no control over production, and profits were taken and given to the Party.
@Propagandhi900 Well you can use any terms you like, but the facts are USSR had the lowest gap between the poorest and richest people in the history of human civilization. So I guess you could say that Party profit ripping was very sparing compared to what you would find in a bureaucratic non-collectivist state ; ) Where the difference in income of the elite and poor reaches astronomical values.
@Propagandhi900 Please keep in mind that Stalin himself was of working class type. The guy left this world with some worn out clothes being his only personal property. The other top guys that ruled during his times didn't differ much. Research M. Kaganovich living conditions for instance, in his late years. About authoritarianism, the generation that ruled grew up in the WWI/civil war conditions. They shot left and right starting from point 0 of the soviet state. Only after WWII things changed.
@sk8tafrnk That train of thought has a lot to do with the use of the word "socialism" by Hitler. Although he professed to be anti capitalist, and anti-communist for that matter, he claimed he was a socialist...but "not in the marxian sense" because he believed in private property.
However, the fascist regime of the Nazis used socialism solely as a buzzword to garner working class support. They were capitalist in nature.
"Fascism is nothing but capitalist reaction" - Leon Trotsky.
@Propagandhi900 Yeah I know. There's a lot of countries that promised socialism... then hey, what do you know? They created a fascist country instead.
Propaganda, most thickly administered in the U.S. but not limited to to has lead to a delusional view of what communism is. It wasn't too recently, in studying economics and whatnot that I stumbled upon this and realized how hopelessly indoctrinated too many people are. I think about things as critically as I can and was still ignorant.
@sk8tafrnk Fascism wasn't created. Although totalitarianism and oppression was used in the USSR, and elsewhere, it didn't mean it was fascist. Bureaucratic Collectivism and State capitalism became the systems.
@brewmaster95060 , your intellectual envy is getting in the way of accepting a simple set of facts...money is money...somebody works to get paid...somebody pays for that work...profit is the end result after paying someone to work and selling what that worker produced...if you can get someone to work for less, the more profit you have.
I'm now a year-long follower of Dr. Wolff...I did want to comment on him saying that the NASDAQ was in a ten-year depression based on the March 2000 high. That high was the apex of the bubble and therefore not exactly a meaningful comparison. What might have been more useful would have been a comparison between where the NASDAQ was on the date of his talk versus a "de-bubbled" NASDAQ, or a value in May 1997. That would produce a paltry but positive rough return a little more than 3%
I found this to be very compelling to say the least. I myself was a vendor for a company that operated this way. It was a brewery and I found it amazing to see the employees all taking a first hand interest in the deployment of a new system that I was installing. They all wanted to know what kind of "bang for the buck" they were getting. Upon completion I was training a room of 35 people and not just a few people. These guys had great questions about the warranty, extras and more. Was new to me!
The professor is on point except when he states that most came to this country and got more. Our system of Capitalism needs a permanent under-class (Blacks or Mexicans). This fact is never brought out in the public sphere, by good meaning professors or politicians.
I am amazed that 14 people "disliked" this presentation (4.81%) My guess is that 1% are the top dogs that own everythiung and the other 3,81% are unemployed right wing republicans living in a trailer somewhere in the USA. The other 96.19% are democrats who are too busy to educate themselves about the world they live in and don't vote.
I like this presentation. The good thing is that we both, me and Richard are against Capitalism. If somebody want to have a look into Islamic system of Governance please go through this without any prejudice. At the end we all are a part of this world, and want solutions.
Gotta love all the people here claiming "he doesn't get it", the dude is a professor of economics with an heterodox view on the subject matter (extremely rare from an economist). Who are you? Just because you took a economics class in high school or community college doesn't mean you have an idea of what is going on.
gmwonder 3 days ago
Ok he is basically correct, but he fails to mention what happened during the 70's, Breton woods e.c.t, the dollar has lost tremendous amounts of it's value since it's last link to gold was severed, inflation theory couple'd with what he is saying essentially spells out why the middle class is shirking, unemployment is rising though profits are better than ever.
XpEAnUTBuTtERsUckSX 1 week ago
This guy is horrifically ignorant, being well read is dangerous, you need to know everything.
XpEAnUTBuTtERsUckSX 1 week ago
This guy just doesn't get it. He doesn't even mention government handouts and entitlements, which cause budget shortfalls. Yes, teachers get laid off when government promises more than it can fund...it's simple, the "evil" is not in the layoffs, it's in the promises doled out for votes.
pretorious700 2 weeks ago
@pretorious700 No you don't get it. You lack a class-based analysis of society and without this you will not understand anything this man is saying.
ComradePaine 2 days ago
If the depression lasted from 1929 through 1939, and if only America's entrance into WWII ended the depression, what happened in 1940 and 1941? I think Mr Wolff is over simplifying and distorting some facts.
hmoulding 2 weeks ago
Yes, yes, yes. He's right. The world (life) is imploding. Thanks for posting this video.
Rhea303 3 weeks ago
A final prediction that, two years later, has become our reality. An all volunteer military fighting ever increasing numbers of foreign wars, there’s not enough guns or will to take on this force. There won’t be enough holes to hide in. The vast majority of our elected officials just ripped up the Constitution by passing the N.D.A.A., this legislation makes American Citizens fair game in a Fascist police state. It’s already over !
rltmlt 3 weeks ago
now is this mostly considered Keynesian? or is at least considered anti-austrianism?
or am i missing something with heterodox economics
maozebong100 1 month ago
awful as it may sound - just because it's true doesn't mean it is right. My own dysfunction I know.
telemetry9 1 month ago
for fraggle rock. this video has been a life changing moment for me. I have tears in my eyes. This man has brought truth to a lot of parts of my life I didn't understand.
I'm not easily persuaded but this is the truth. You recognize the truth when you hear it. What a completely immoral and reprehensible system we live in.
I'm going to tell as many people I can about this truth.
telemetry9 1 month ago 2
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BREAKING NEWS-- BANK RUN -TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO WEST INDIES, REPUBLIC BANK, ROYAL BANK, FIRST CITIZEN BANK and SCOTIABANK thousand of customers simultaneously secretly withdrawing all their funds, because they believe that the banks might go into bankruptcy, and for fear of the bank becoming insolvent and that they the customer, will lose all their money.people are putting their money in smaller credit union banks or keeping it at home.
leef0flife 1 month ago
We are the working class! This man is a Genius and a catalyst for the growing socialist movement in America! Long live our godless nation, long live socialism, long live Obama!!
AddAsC0NTACT 1 month ago
1:14:45 onward is the best part. Communal organisations make perfect sense. Experimentation, controlled and scientific is the first step. The ignorant masses let alone the government hear "Marx" and cringe, so stigmatised is the notion of communism or even beneficial elements of it, so taboo to criticise capitalism that everybody has shut themselves in and locking themselves into a system that clearly isn't working.
mykebulvai 1 month ago
BTW, what Professor Wolff refers to at the end of his lecture as Communism here they've been always known as cooperatives
(en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Cooperative)
and Cooperative Movement
(en.wikipedia. org/wiki/History_of_the_cooperative_movement),
(en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Co-operative_economics).
They're not Communists because they can perfectly operate in the free market without the need of the State to say what to produce, how to produce, and what price has to be paid for that product.
heathmoor 2 months ago
@heathmoor A 'collective' and a 'commune' can refer to the same thing. Quibbling over words is unhelpful. The point is that many self-identified communists promote collectives/communes. Even from the beginning of socialism, not all socialists advocated statist communism. Some of the earliest socialist experiments in the US were communes. A socialist commune can exist and have existed within capitalist societies.
MarmaladeINFP 1 month ago
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heathmoor 2 months ago
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heathmoor 2 months ago
P.S.: Remember which candidate is willing to bring back troops so that the US can cut down expenses and relieve doubt.
heathmoor 2 months ago
And we are all pretending that this country isnt mortally wounded......
joecoool100 2 months ago
So would the employees of Taco Bell be their own boss? If so, you could count on no work being done and the bathrooms not being cleaned. Unless the workers also decided that the bathroom guy gets more money. Also, Credit Unions are a somewhat similar in corporate structure, especially compared to for profit banks (Chase, BOA, W.Fargo, Compass,etc.), and CUs are rather successful and were not subject to massive failures like the big banks. The nuts and bolt of his plan would be complex.
carsearch2001 2 months ago
@carsearch2001 Have you ever worked at a Taco Bell? Nothing gets done as is.
CapitalistOverlord 2 months ago
@carsearch2001 As opposed to leaving the division of labor to free market forces? Then you would have to pay higher wages for cleaning the bathroom because fewer people would want to do it and you would have to incentivize them with more money, right? Isn't a corporation itself a communal structure, with each shareholder having an equal share of the profit and equal voting rights? Now which precedes which?
DAngelo136 2 months ago
@DAngelo136, regarding the corporate structure, no not ever share holder is equal, preferred stock holders get more if not all the voting power and get paid out first if there is a chapter 13/bankruptcy and with either preferred or common stock the vote correlates to the number of stocks owned. Regarding the employees deciding upon the wages paid to the "bathroom guy" (labor division) I like the harder working employees getting more money and that is why I endorsed it.
carsearch2001 2 months ago
@carsearch2001 Which confirms my point, capitalism foments inequality; preferred over common even though the risk of loss is the same. The purpose of the corporation was to syndicate risk, all shareholders assumed the same risk of loss and had the same vote. Only in the recent century, has this been altered. How would you derive who "works" harder? Cleaning a bathroom is harder than cooking? Even Adam Smith said that this was difficult to discern.
DAngelo136 2 months ago
As of 33:16, I wondered if Wolff would make any reference to illegal drug use - because I consider this just as big a factor. After all, with America's voracious appetite for illegal drugs and many foreign countries being the supply nations, doesn't that in itself drain the economy (like what happened to China during the 1800s)?
bearpaw72 2 months ago
If we all were self employed, there would be no labor exploitation. That is my point
recyclea 2 months ago
@recyclea Of course, you could always say that if the meteor 2005 YU55 (or one like it in the future) would of just hit us yesterday and it came very close too the Planet. Any who, that there would be a great demand for sculptors since this meteor just knocked all of us back into the stone age!
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
@recyclea What happen when population growth exceeds let’s say 20 billion people on the planet and we’ve consumed most if not all the fossil fuels? Equipment no longer runs because of the energy shortage, farms don’t produce, people starve, equipment rust into nothing, and sculptors in the future lose work? By the way (25 percent) of (one percent) of 20 billion = 50 million
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
@recyclea 7 billion people on the Planet and growing. (25 percent) of (one percent) of 7 billion = 17,500,000 is that fair enough figure for all the new recycle sculptors entering the world for new business sales? It’s now a cheap activity with no value for the output of work or very little anyway? Competition is the capitalist worst friend they don’t like it. Hey, you’re speaking more and more like a socialist; everyone is involved and producing with an equal share?
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
The initial point I was trying to make is that when economists or anyone for that matter refers to capitalism as an exploitative process respecting labor, wage and return, they are generally ignoring self employment which does not directly exploit any labor but that of the business. People should make a distinction between capitalism and corporate capitalism because their are the many types.
recyclea 2 months ago
@recyclea As well as other self employed individuals to varying degrees of freedom. The tentacles are far reaching and that is the world we live in “all brought to you by” human ideas of what is the best way to do things. I think we can do better than this without impeding on human rights and civil freedoms in which I‘m convinced capitalism does this without impunity on many different variation.
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
@recyclea Yes, and I mentioned unless you live in a utopia where none are exploited you are more than likely helping to exploit someone locally in addition to worldwide with your daily job activities; First, second or third hand, maybe more than that to a degree of involvement. So, from my point of view you are more than likely exploiting someone, somewhere at sometime.
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
@recyclea However, I’m now thinking that we are at a point in time and soon to be history where we all need to adapt the system in order to endure a changing world; lets say a hybrid form of capitalism or Marxism that serves us all better too thrive? If you pay attention too the rest of the world they seem to be doing just that on different variations.
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
@recyclea I think I should bring up to you, so that you don’t get a certain impression. I’m not advocating for lets say Marxism or an opponent of let’s say capitalism. Although, I’m demanding to understand more about what is happening in our world.
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
Capitalism is a process whereby we all are entitled to capitalize on our own labor intellect and property. In its truest form, we are are entitled to the full fruits of our own energy. Corporate capitalism is the process whereby those who have excess wealth receive business gain through the exploitation of the labor of others and take no risks. Corporate capitalism is not true capitalism, Self Employment is true capitalism. How is self employment not capitalism?
recyclea 2 months ago
@recyclea There are many variants and they are all connected to one and the other, yes. And just as that is true; there are different varieties of bombs too. They just all do not do the same damage. I really don’t care if you call yourself a capitalist anymore than a go-getter, doer, self-reliant or even communal artist; I’m fairly certain you’re not a industrialist even though you work with metal. You’re not doing any of the damage like the real capitalist out there
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
@recyclea Nice try, you’re splitting hairs now and I believe I just suggested that?
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
Exploitation is not a second hand problem in recycling something that would otherwise go to the waste stream and either way it is not the direct exploitation of human energy for investment profit and it is that exploitation that has led to the disparity of wealth and poverty of the working class. I expect you think that my personal harvest and sale of Wild blueberries is exploitative as well? Give me a break and acknowledge where the problem lies.
recyclea 2 months ago
@recyclea As long as you keep it small and unobtrusive; you’re only shouting out to the rest of the world that I’m self-reliant. Move foreword with your endeavors, but I still wouldn’t think of you as a capitalist in any manner from my point of view. Not too many of them picking blueberries or sculpting with old 1970’s GMC truck fenders.
More than likely they’re producing and large scale farming those things.
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
Exploitation is not inherent to capitalism. All economists ignore self employment. I exploit nobody as a self employed capitalist.
recyclea 2 months ago
@recyclea
I would have to disagree to some extent with you. Your page says that you are a sculptor? Any metals, tools, shipping or maybe a stone block etc. That you did not create on your own could carry exploitive problems for others?
1p6t1gms 2 months ago
@recyclea Not true. In Marxian theory, it's referred to as the 'petty mode of production."
pointonjacob 2 months ago
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@57:00 a BS: Asset-backed security.
Not the translation I would have gone with. Then again, mine wouldn't have been marketable.
ReX342 3 months ago
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ReX342 3 months ago
:-O
:-O
:-O Oh Shit
11dimention11 3 months ago
You must have been watching a different lecture than I saw. This is on a university campus so how full the room is has nothing to do with the popularity or credentials of Dr. Wolff. If you think fluoride in the water does anything, but prevent cavities you are a kook. No intelligent, educated, sane person cares what you think, but I agree we need Gods help.
jagwarrentex 3 months ago
2 collapses and 16 business downturns in 75 years - not caused by capitalism! Caused the the Central Bank - please, Mr. Economist sir, learn something about the "Business Cycle" - it's not that hard to understand.
Jollyprez 3 months ago
@Jollyprez You make good points, his comments are very aggressive - and are stretched in terms of the silicone valley reference. However I'm confused by your last comment. You insinuate that the central bank operates outside the structure of capitalism, but I see it as the central bank being the heart of it. It's not a federal program. It is a private company that is interested in maximizing profits and growth - some of the core principles of capitalism.
pandamanprod 3 months ago
@pandamanprod Quite the contrary - central banks are a bastion of state power. The Federal Reserve is quasi-private, and has a monopoly to print money. Monopolies are grants of state power. The merge of state power and corporate power is NOT capitalism - it's FASCISM. When large companies work in league with government rules and licenses to force people to buy their products ( insurance, vaccines, etc. ) and restrict competition, that's textbook fascism. Gov bailouts = fascism, NOT capitalism.
Jollyprez 3 months ago
@Jollyprez Hmmm interesting thoughts. Thanks for the perspective.
pandamanprod 3 months ago
@Jollyprez
Are you really comparing your knowledge to Dr. Wolff? Where did you get your degrees? I know where he got his multiple degrees so I think I will listen to him.
jagwarrentex 3 months ago
@jagwarrentex Absolutely! Degrees are frequently meaningless - especially in economics. If you have a problem with my arguments - address the arguments.
Jollyprez 1 month ago
He misrepresents what is A) happening in Silicon Valley and B) what Karl Marx said. He's basically promoting a form of "syndicalism" - look it up. He also falls into the basic logical fallacy of equivocation.
Jollyprez 3 months ago
"The government's actions to date, are a failure."
True - maybe the problem is that the government merely needs to get the hell out of the way. Stop trying to stop the crisis. Stop spending money. Stop giving money to certain groups ( e.g. Banks ). Let businesses go bankrupt. Clean out the system.
He even said, FDR did all kinds of things that DID NOT WORK. Bush and Obama are doing all kinds of things that DO NOT WORK.
Therefore, STOP DOING ANYTHING! GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Jollyprez 3 months ago
@Jollyprez
Anarchy, there's a stupid plan. That has never been tried, and will never work.
jagwarrentex 3 months ago
@Jollyprez Or maybe the whole damn game needs a rule change? Maybe...
rlidrazzah 1 month ago
his whole premis is flawed, Why would a thinking person discredit the government then present government statstics as to make himself appear correct.
The 1929 depression was caused by the creature from Jekyll Island, that creature (the owners of world finance) has been after American capitolism since we escaped it back in the 1700's, in the communist plan to over throw America they discussed using capitolism (operated by socialists) to show that capitolism did not work.
cagedodgeman 3 months ago
@cagedodgeman Glenn Beck is that you?!
rlidrazzah 1 month ago
1:16:00 i love how he tells the story of the republican marxists in silicon valley. no board of directors, no suits, but instead colorful shirts, frisbees, and i can smoke a joint on my lunch break. lmao!!
i'm happier and more productive - duh! :)
jradical420 3 months ago
What happens when the disparity between the classes reaches critical mass? "We Are The 99ers of Occupy Wall Street" is what happens,along with all the other ground swell movements cropping up around the country and the world. Mr. Wolff saw this coming two years ago. His book really opened my eyes, and I hope he has involved himself in some way with this New Revolution. The power elite of business and government will have a hard time backing away from this. Accountability is long past due.
SeeTimeRun391 3 months ago 18
@SeeTimeRun391, when class envy goes global, you & I and most of the readers here become part of the 1%.
rpoet60 3 weeks ago
A different story, he says? Naw, same old story for a One World socialist government. A different story is how the Ponzi scheme Fed received $8.4 trillion handled by the FRBNY and hid it from Congress is RIP OFF BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE posted at 3w scribd dot com slash doc slash 49040689 and CRIMES OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE at scribd # 62167283. He fails to say the Fed CAUSED the collapse of 1929 and Pearl attack was known in advance.
oldereb38 3 months ago
Very good lecture... but I couldn't stand the guy's tone.
Torro321 3 months ago
07:13 to skip to Prof. Richard Wolff speaking
ilikebac0n 3 months ago 37
@ilikebac0n Thanks!
eskatee 3 months ago
@RationalBullets But I think that it's a misconception socialism (or communism, I'm only @ 4:22 at the moment so I don't know which term Dr. Wolff uses) would be without markets. Markets where there before capitalism so if a non-capitalist market is possible it shouldn't be a problem for Marxists. I'm afraid I don't have much to back this up (actually only Wallerstein) but I hope you see some merit in my comment.
TheRacistsMustDie 4 months ago 3
I like how most of them look like they're asleep XD
lyro92 4 months ago in playlist Richard Wolff
@RationalBullets
You live in the 17th Century. Developing a new CPU like Intel/AMD did costs about 100 billion. Thats why now new competitor can ever come up with something else then a Pentium/Intel Core and all others manufactorers are dying. Oil drilling in the artic circle is 500 billion. Developing a simple medicine is 1 billion, a car 10 billion and an airplane 50 billion.
This is why free markets do not work - we have a high industrialized society which can only survive on socialism.
llothar68 4 months ago 4
Stunning. Not the lecture but the fact that at the 19 minute mark the camera man pans around and we see the room is only about 30% full. This was taken in dec 9 2009 but even so. The population has been so massively dumbed down by fluoride in the water and mercury in the vaccines. Its beyond a joke. God help us all.
postpanic1 5 months ago 4
@postpanic1 You really attribute this to stupid conspiracy theories as opposed to the system of capitalism which has made the people so complacent and the schools so useless...
You're a fool.
Propagandhi900 5 months ago
@postpanic1 That's what I was thinking. You would think his lecture would be standing room only. We have a difficult fight ahead of us the masses are just starting to wake up.
as26370 3 months ago
@postpanic1
...
dowshipwigga 3 months ago
@postpanic1 Oh boy, an anti-vaccine wacko. How did you end up here?
goodolarchie 3 months ago 3
Capitalists are misanthropic horrors, lumbering in the darkness through a burning world with blackened skies.
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 Very poetic. It is almost beautiful even though it speaks of misery brought on by a perverse economic system.
BuddhaBebop 1 month ago
This crisis will be the last known to this mankind. When it's over probably just about 500 million chipped man shaped monkeys roam the earth.
joggler66 5 months ago
Americans really have no culture
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql A bold statement. How do you quantify: culture?
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 culture on the low end are music and movies etc, on the higher end are unique cultural believes and traditions, now on the lower American do produce a lot of crap music and movies, but American really have no unique culture, is there American food? American traditional thought? American Art? no, not really, Americans only have blind pride that boarder on bigotry.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql I see your point but did you ever stop to think why America has no traditional food? It's because the country is a country made up of citizens from other countries. What's the national food of Italy... well that too is now a national food of the Americas. Think of all the music and movies that originated in the American stewing pot. Where does rap come from, rock'n'roll, country... there is so much American culture it is consuming the globe. Why? Because it's a mix of everyones culture.
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 No, your argument for "mixed" culture is just a mainstream lie, if there is any "mixing" it would have been the culture of the natives, where is that culture now? Genocide is the answer, and how about blacks? slavery, its only recently that blacks got a break. Now how about Asians? Asian fetish? insulting Asian men? So all you see is just "western" white culture being forced into people of other races. Mixing is just a front for cultural genocide in America. Think about that
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql It isn't a genocide... it is an extinction. No cultures last forever. They, like everything in the cosmos, are an emergent phenomenon. Cultures emerge and die out but not before influencing the course of the next culture. Native American Culture's DNA is still present in modern western culture. If you know what you are looking for you'll easily find it. I could help you if you like. Oppression lead the blacks to sing the blues which lead to rock'n'roll. ;)
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 lol what a lie, I know you "love America", but dont twist the truth. The rest of the world knows its genocide, why try to hide it with "culture mix"? What happened to the natives were the worst genocide in human history.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql Oh, I don't deny that what happened to the natives was the worst and most deplorable and outrageous crime against humanity ever commited. It makes HITLER look like an angel. It was a product of the disgusting cultural ideas of the day. But because of what happened to the Indians, and because of WWII there is a wide spread cultural shift in how we view ourselves. Try marching in the streets with a sign that says, "Genocide is cool!" in a white neighborhood and see how you're recieved.
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 yeah, so you see my point there? The American mainstream was never about "mixing" its always about making people conform to their cultural standards. Seriously lets take Asians for example, there are 14million Asians in America, now Asians have one of the richest culture in human history. You would think under the theory of "culture mixing" you would see more Asian culture. But all you is are Asian Geisha fetish and insult on Asian men, so much for mixing right? lol
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql I have said many a time that I see your point my friend. What I am failing miserably to do, so it seems, is to improve upon your perceptions of culture. Despite the genocidal pogram against the Jews and Native Americans their culture is alive and vibrant and part of the DNA of the mainstream in the 'West.' So too is the an element of Indian and East Asian Culture. What cultural elements from East Asia would you like to see? Maybe we could find them together, there's a ton.
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 Look, we both are not in the position to do anything about this, I'm just saying this is how America is. A very simple example is, when was he last time you saw an Asian male on TV that is not awkward or offensive? My point is simply this, American culture have a serious bias towards non white cultures. Now, I'm not saying they must be less racist, after all its their choice. However I'm just saying America should not lie about its racism and call it culture mixing.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql Jay Chou "The green hornet." / Kal Penn in "House" / Chow Yun Fat "Anna and the King." That's just off the top of my head. If you want your culture portrayed the way you want it... you have to get out there and portray it the way you want it. Don't let others do it for you. "Boyz in the hood" wasn't writen by a white pot smoker. It was writen by a smart black man.
Racism is in the minds of the people that take it seriously (on both sides of the coin).
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 LOL, I really dont care if Americans accept Asian culture, its going to be Asian century anyways, my beef is that American culture is racist, but they always call themselves "melting pot" of the world lol. I just hate liars
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql Which culture is an inclusive culture in your opinion?
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 Well, I feel most Asian culture are more inclusive generally, but most cultures in the world have some bias, the difference is no other culture on earth claims themselves to be a "mixed culture" when its really not. Its kinda like fox news calling itself the most trusted name in new, you see my point?
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql I see your analogy, I don't see your point yet. Now, you say no other culture claims to be a 'mixed' culture and then go on to say that the west truly isn't. What in your opinion would be a truly mixed culture? And what in particular about asian cultures do you find inclusive? What part of Western Culture do you find completely and unyeildingly western? I am genuinely curious.
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 No culture is not truly mixed, the issue here is, no culture claims this title except U.S, thats like someone claiming their product is 100% pure gold when its not, its a lie. So I'm saying the American's claim for "culture melting pot" is a lie. look at Japanese Chinese or Korean culture, they listen to music from all over the world, how about Americans? they only know American music, thats just one example.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql Ok, let's flush this out a bit. What kinds of music are the Japanese listening to that comes from all over the world?
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 European classical, Chinese, Korean, some American, etc, why are you ask? Please tell me what kind of music Americans listen to from all around the world?
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql All of the same and probably more, you're still making assumptions, so I get to as well, right?
kingtophe009 5 months ago
@lppoqql The reason why I ask is that I want to understand your point of view my friend. Now you say the Japanese listen to Classical great... so do a lot of Americans... A lot. But you have listed a few other types of music. What do you mean by Chinese? Korean? and American? Classical music? Rock? What types of music is being consumed? Can you give me details?
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 Korean pop is popular in Asia, Chinese pop is popular in Asia except Japan, and Japanese pop was popular before but now no many listen to them anymore. There are too many to list, why are going all the way into this? What was the last Asian music u heard? or even music by Asian Americans? Only recently did far east movement got a chance. I think in terms of openness to international culture America is be-hide its Asian counter parts. Again I'm not saying they are better for it.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql I listen to Kitaro it isn't pop that's for sure. Now with the examples you've cited I am left with a funny problem. You mention Korean pop, Chinese pop, and Japanese pop. In North America, UK pop is top and vice versa but that is beside the point. Pop music as a music style originated in the west. Whether it be rhythm and blues, with rap style break beats or modeled from pop rock and jazz etc. This is a western cultural export my friend. Can you give me more examples maybe?
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 you do realize you make no sense right? basically you somehow equate everything universal as an "western export" LOL. thats so funny, even music and democracy is a "western export"?? LOL is math also a western export? No, pop music is not "western" its music, its universal, dont claim it to be your own. I gave you so many examples, now give me some example where the "west" accepts "eastern" music? My point has been proven over and over again, the "west" is culturally close minded.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql You're right I should have said an american export. These bands you describe are playing a form of music that originated in the US, possibly with an eastern flare. Now I am not a pop music kinda guy but Pop is a genre that borrows from a wide variety of different cultures and continues to do so to this day. Where did it get it's start? In the cultural mixing bowl of North America. Math is not a cultural export but the numeric system we use is arabic.
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@lppoqql The west's dominant religion comes from the middle east. Democracy as we know it today is definately a western tradition... which isn't to say it wasn't use elsewhere. I prefer the social structure of the Iraquois my self but try to sell that one to the powers that be. The visual arts in the west is a hodge podge of all sorts of different cultures blended together in a fine stew of multiculturalism. Your point was the US has no culture. Yet you admit that it exports culture. I'm puzzled
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@lppoqql Please link me a chinese pop band. I expect to hear a singer singing about love and heartbreak, some R&B stylings. A looped beat, all the modern fixings... All of that stuff you think is universal was invented in the West. The reason you describe pop as universal is beacuse it comes from a wide variety of backgrounds... it literally is music that came from a melting pot. Literally... and it was first heard and the the genre labelled in the US. It is sad but true.
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 hahaha, you have got to be kidding me, so I guess since Chinese invent paper, they invented news paper and hence free speech, since China invent books I guess all the western literary gems are all Chinese exports? How can you "westernize" sounds? LOL and "democracy" was separately "invented" in China also, its called "muo jia" which use to be parallel thought to Confucianism, but it was never implemented because Confucianism over powered it.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 China invented the gun powder, rockets and many wonderful things, you dont see China claiming modern warfare as a Chinese export? Or how about ICBMs? is that also a Chinese export? China was the most advanced sea fairing nation until the end of Ming dynasty, Chinese invent the compass, is global trade a Chinese export? These things are universal, only "the west" would be so shameless to claim it as their own. Dont be angry my friend, this is what most of the world thinks.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql No... that is absolutely not what I am saying. Let us re examine that analogy. You originally stated that "Americans really have no culture." (go back and see you really did type this). I asked you for examples... one of which was chinese pop. I stated that pop originated in the US. So if the culture originated in the US how can it be said to not have culture? Now... I also told you about the multiple cultures that gave rise to pop as evidence of the melting pot. Are you being obtuse?
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 no, pop is not unique to America nor did it originate in the US, pop = popular music. one such thing you can point to might be country music, but as I have stated before, these music and movie etc are just lower end of culture, for example there is no unique set of American family tradition or values, its all basically European, there isn't even any culture mixing, thats my point
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql I have heard a few pop bands from different country... you are going to go ahead and deny American Pop influences? I know what pop stands for. Now you are making my original point... You just typed this: 'there is no unique set of American family tradition or values, its all basically European' I said this: 'It's because the country is a country made up of citizens from other countries. What's the national food of Italy... well that too is now a national food of the Americas.' Obtuse.
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 my friend, popular music itself is just a broad term to describe music that was created for public consumption, think of it in terms of a van diagram, pop music is just a big circle that includes some elements of other musical category. I would agree with you, if you say country music is unique to America, because it came from the unique experience of the "wild west".
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql Yes I am aware of what pop is... The genres are the same the world over. I will agree that country and western is a unique American form of music that was derived from old european folk. If you accept that Blues, Jazz, big band, classic rock, modern rock, hard rock, metal, R&B, Rap, new wave, pop, synth pop, pop rock, pop R&B etc etc are all genre's founded in the West and often in the US. Furthermore originating artists in each genre influenced foreign musicians. Deal?
elbowbiter1 5 months ago
@elbowbiter1 anyways, the point is America dont really have its own culture per say, its just an extension of European culture, and it really didn't integrate with any other culture. Have a nice day! good discussion!
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql The term "mixed culture" is a substiture for a lack of culture since the US is a relatively new country. Japan and other Asian cultures have had thousands of years to develop culture while the US has had a few hundred. Before you make broad overarching states traught with assumptions about "musical taste" please try to free your mind of anti-US sentiment and understand that nationalism has no place in this argument.
kingtophe009 5 months ago
@kingtophe009 LOL how is anti-us sentiment "nationalism"? I'm not even anti-US, I just dont like people who are racist and still say they are the beacon of harmony for the world, thats all. I think most people in the world outside of US hold the same views as me.
lppoqql 5 months ago
@lppoqql Those were two separate statements.
kingtophe009 5 months ago
@lppoqql Yeah right up until the rape of Nanking, the occupation, forced renaming and butchering of Koreans by the Japanese or the forced subjugation of Tibet by the Chinese.
effigytormented 3 months ago
@effigytormented Go learn some history before you make a statement, Tibet was always part of China, go read it, seriously look at the fact before you get brain washed by the mainstream media.
lppoqql 3 months ago
@lppoqql Tibet emerged in the 7th century as a unified empire, but it soon divided into a variety of territories. The bulk of western and central Tibet were often at least nominally unified under a series of Tibetan governments in Lhasa, Shigatse, or nearby locations; these governments were at various times under Mongol and Chinese overlordship. The eastern regions of Kham and Amdo often maintained a more decentralized indigenous political structure. So no, not really fudge, just small parts.
effigytormented 2 months ago
@effigytormented Are you really that fucken stupid? 7th Century? Why dont you talk about if there are European in America in the 7th century? LOL China didn't "subjugate" Tibet, its always been a part of the Chinese empire, you idiots just got brain washed by the CIA propaganda. Its a province of China, learn something you moron. Also the Da Lai LAMA was always appointed by Beijing, and he was the biggest oppressor of the Tibetan people, he enslaved them.
lppoqql 2 months ago
Watch this if you'd like an explanation of whats happening in the world today. It's more a history of America than the rest of the world but it can help us understand whats going on here too. It's two years old but just as relevant today. It's long and heavy going at times but it put's into context the lies we're being fed by our corporate media. The truth can be so refreshing albeit a little scary. Skip the first 7 min's (just a boring intro) but watch all the way to the end of the Q&A's. xr
roryontour 5 months ago
Thanks Paul for filming this and putting it up. This Mr. Wolff poses great questions, and makes sense. Why cant we make a better system?
zyvek 6 months ago 2
The last bit was creepy, about what the country with the largest military, but also a failing economic system, will do. I think that country would go ape-shit, invade foreign countries and strip mine them for all of their resources. We own China 1.5 trillion and the best way to get out of paying debt is to kill the one you're indebted to. That would lead me to believe that the only way out for the U.S. is a massive global war.
shade1978x 6 months ago
i like this man, he is making it easy to understand.
waffiki 6 months ago 2
Free market capitalism is Anarchy. The rule of the gun.
frankinbun 6 months ago
THANK YOU for posting this amazing lecture---I wish every American a chance to hear and think about it. Absolutely worth every minute you give it!
37Dionysos 6 months ago 2
After the Europeans themselves, Native Americans and African Americans were the first peoples to be "owned" by corporations. Capitalism was always an imperialist nightmare, and now its spiraling psychotic addiction to more and more Profit is doing it to "everybody else" in plain sight. Critical mass toward critical change is coming. ANCIENT LIGHTS dot o-r-g
37Dionysos 7 months ago
nice mix of lies and truth
brewmaster95060 7 months ago
@brewmaster95060 When presented with facts, people who live in an illusory world deny, deny and deny. He's not the only person to say this. He's right. And so is Chris Hedges. People in this country just refuse to question that maybe, just maybe, our system doesn't work has been broken for a long time. It has nothing to do with unions, welfare, planned parenthood, abortion or "setting the free market free." We are owned by corporate masters. But, we have to be awake enough to realize.
SandCmpbll 7 months ago
@SandCmpbll Some of what you say is true BUT this Wolff guy is CLUELESS socialist/statist/progressive.
It is government that oppresses us fed union and special interest money.
Progressives and others loves the idea of a top down centrally plan all powerful government where a small handful of elites decide what is best for the rest us and give debacles like GM volt, obamacare. USSR failed because of that government model.
brewmaster95060 7 months ago
@brewmaster95060 How can you call what he said "clueless?" ALL governments have some kind of central planning. The U.S. has central planning--from it's inception! Do you even know what a social democracy is or are you getting your news from Fox? Have you studied the history of the labor movement in this country--as all? It sounds like you don't know what you're talking about. IT sounds like you don't even comprehend what Professor Wollf spoke about.
SandCmpbll 7 months ago
@SandCmpbll social democracy is tyranny a small step above mod rule. we live in a Republic. calling me names does not make you right.
brewmaster95060 6 months ago
@brewmaster95060 Technically speaking, businesses also run that same exact model. It's a top down, centrally planned system where all the elites get the money and workers get the short end of the stick. If you don't do what the bosses say then you are fired. The only reason the business can't shoot you is because the government does that...on their behalf.
Christ724 7 months ago
@Christ724 not really business sell products to make a prophet or go out of business
governments sell no products and don't go out of business voluntary and when something goes wrong we get tax hikes, cuts in service and bailouts. I get it you don't like capitalism good for you.
brewmaster95060 6 months ago
@brewmaster95060 Umm, did you not mention the USSR model? It essentially turned the entire country into one giant corporation. Products were made and sold on behalf of the state (one could even say that the state was competing among other states kind of like how mafias compete for business). We get cuts in service because of neo-liberals who don't want to pay their fair share and then cause tax hikes for middle and lower class people and then proceed to beg for bailouts when their business fails
Christ724 6 months ago
You're right, I don't like capitalism. I like free markets.
Christ724 6 months ago
@brewmaster95060 USSR failed because nomenklatura decided it should fail. The whole point of perestroika was to enable big party mugs & state enterprise directors to 1) monetize their administrative power 2) legitimize their closet dollar fortunes 3) make their wealth hereditary. They didn't like the fact that a committee could come , decide their work sucks & fire them. Starting from 1985 on USSR dismantlement was an effort of USSR itself (the elite part of it - ppl were never for it in 1985).
Golos817 6 months ago
@Golos817 We also must note that the USSR was NOT a socialist state. The worker`s had no control over production, and profits were taken and given to the Party.
It was bureaucratic collectivist state.
Propagandhi900 6 months ago
@Propagandhi900 Well you can use any terms you like, but the facts are USSR had the lowest gap between the poorest and richest people in the history of human civilization. So I guess you could say that Party profit ripping was very sparing compared to what you would find in a bureaucratic non-collectivist state ; ) Where the difference in income of the elite and poor reaches astronomical values.
Golos817 6 months ago
@Golos817 Believe me, the USSR had a much more democratic economic system, one which is much better than modern socialism.
But, the problems that came with Stalin, the totalitarianism, and authoritarianism, also brought about the massive issues.
The working class must rules itself, not be ruled by a `representative`.
Propagandhi900 6 months ago 2
@Propagandhi900 Please keep in mind that Stalin himself was of working class type. The guy left this world with some worn out clothes being his only personal property. The other top guys that ruled during his times didn't differ much. Research M. Kaganovich living conditions for instance, in his late years. About authoritarianism, the generation that ruled grew up in the WWI/civil war conditions. They shot left and right starting from point 0 of the soviet state. Only after WWII things changed.
Golos817 6 months ago
@Propagandhi900 It's very frustrating that people confuse communism with fascism seeing as they are completely opposite systems.
sk8tafrnk 5 months ago
@sk8tafrnk That train of thought has a lot to do with the use of the word "socialism" by Hitler. Although he professed to be anti capitalist, and anti-communist for that matter, he claimed he was a socialist...but "not in the marxian sense" because he believed in private property.
However, the fascist regime of the Nazis used socialism solely as a buzzword to garner working class support. They were capitalist in nature.
"Fascism is nothing but capitalist reaction" - Leon Trotsky.
Propagandhi900 5 months ago
@Propagandhi900 Yeah I know. There's a lot of countries that promised socialism... then hey, what do you know? They created a fascist country instead.
Propaganda, most thickly administered in the U.S. but not limited to to has lead to a delusional view of what communism is. It wasn't too recently, in studying economics and whatnot that I stumbled upon this and realized how hopelessly indoctrinated too many people are. I think about things as critically as I can and was still ignorant.
sk8tafrnk 5 months ago
@sk8tafrnk Fascism wasn't created. Although totalitarianism and oppression was used in the USSR, and elsewhere, it didn't mean it was fascist. Bureaucratic Collectivism and State capitalism became the systems.
Propagandhi900 5 months ago
Comment removed
BuddhaBebop 1 month ago
the problem with progressives, socialists and statists is they think they are 10 times smarter then everyone else they are not.
brewmaster95060 7 months ago
@brewmaster95060 ...and than there was irony.
nathanhouseman 7 months ago
@brewmaster95060 , your intellectual envy is getting in the way of accepting a simple set of facts...money is money...somebody works to get paid...somebody pays for that work...profit is the end result after paying someone to work and selling what that worker produced...if you can get someone to work for less, the more profit you have.
ronnieb1958 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Every American should watch this!
jemmre 7 months ago 3
I am in love with this guy! Perfect explanation, clear, concise and with a hint of humor!
Why didn't I have teachers like him when I was in college??
francovaldes 7 months ago
Sorry - that was June 1998 (1,337) to Dec 2009 (1,860)
korenreyes 7 months ago
I'm now a year-long follower of Dr. Wolff...I did want to comment on him saying that the NASDAQ was in a ten-year depression based on the March 2000 high. That high was the apex of the bubble and therefore not exactly a meaningful comparison. What might have been more useful would have been a comparison between where the NASDAQ was on the date of his talk versus a "de-bubbled" NASDAQ, or a value in May 1997. That would produce a paltry but positive rough return a little more than 3%
korenreyes 7 months ago
I found this to be very compelling to say the least. I myself was a vendor for a company that operated this way. It was a brewery and I found it amazing to see the employees all taking a first hand interest in the deployment of a new system that I was installing. They all wanted to know what kind of "bang for the buck" they were getting. Upon completion I was training a room of 35 people and not just a few people. These guys had great questions about the warranty, extras and more. Was new to me!
mistermassive1 7 months ago
The professor is on point except when he states that most came to this country and got more. Our system of Capitalism needs a permanent under-class (Blacks or Mexicans). This fact is never brought out in the public sphere, by good meaning professors or politicians.
kkpwd0724 7 months ago in playlist capitalism hits the fan
Good lecture. Too bad he tries to talk like a villain from a Saturday morning cartoon. Kind of distracting.
BodieSkate 7 months ago
@BodieSkate I dig it though. I wish more Marxian economists were this animated and passionate.
RevMossGatlin 7 months ago
@RevMossGatlin You mean there are others?! (That's partly a jest.) He is the only Marxist economist I've ever seen. I want more.
BuddhaBebop 1 month ago
@BuddhaBebop Check out Doug Henwood, David Harvey, and David Schweickart. All of whom have youtube vids up.
RevMossGatlin 1 month ago
The workplace is the biggest dictatorship of it all. Thats why i prefer to earn much less but be my own boss.
llothar68 8 months ago
I am amazed that 14 people "disliked" this presentation (4.81%) My guess is that 1% are the top dogs that own everythiung and the other 3,81% are unemployed right wing republicans living in a trailer somewhere in the USA. The other 96.19% are democrats who are too busy to educate themselves about the world they live in and don't vote.
poosta7 8 months ago
we need change....
L O V E not profit...
createrainbowz 8 months ago
the sound equipment is not really good :(
1schwererziehbar1 9 months ago
I liked it. Thanks!
scooped13 9 months ago
Capitalism: Turning the world into garbage.
Mjhavok 9 months ago
capitalism is dead.
VenusAsABoyFilms 9 months ago
@VenusAsABoyFilms Hopefully.
Mjhavok 9 months ago
Excellent, spot on, fantastic!
This guy knows his stuff and his solutions are common sense.
HuckMeHard 9 months ago
Ninivah repented and God saved the nation from destruction.
rickuzielvane 10 months ago
I like this presentation. The good thing is that we both, me and Richard are against Capitalism. If somebody want to have a look into Islamic system of Governance please go through this without any prejudice. At the end we all are a part of this world, and want solutions.
hazn139 10 months ago
all his "example