Rick Wolff on the Economic Crisis and Socialist Strategy (3)

[chuckkottke]

I think what Richard Wolff is saying is generally correct, but I wonder how we are all to form these worker-owned cooperatives, when the money is concentrated in the hands of a wealthy minority who control even more through campaign cash and the revolving doors between government & corporations. It may take a mass movement to stop the buying of our government, so it will once again be of, by, and for We the People. It seems we are once again faced with the East India Company and their Tea.

[polygamous1]

@chuckkottke he is right man but why he forgot the fed the Real problem to Most of america's problems If we ever allow private bankers to issue n control out money we will forever be their slaves T jefferson It's an immoral system. You're asking the poor people to bail out the rich. You're asking the innocent people to bail out the guilty. You're asking people to just totally defy the Constitution because there's no place in the Constitution that says that we can do these things.

Ron Paul

[zayets]

Pure drivel.

[obtree]

This guy's entire argument is nonsense. It's based on one false assertion: wages have stagnated. They haven't; they have continued to rise, and have even risen at unprecedented rates. Look up census data, the facts are all there.

[arzoyan]

@obtree Yes look at the health of the nation physically and mentally they have ballooned and yes we manage the world resources so greatly the whole Earth is fucked.

[obtree]

@arzoyan That has nothing to do with what he is arguing. And don't misrepresent my arguments; I am in no way defending the status quo. I want change, but I don't want socialism, I want the free market.

I wonder if Mr. Wolff thinks workers should share losses as adamantly he thinks they should share profits.

[arzoyan]

@obtree I am not parroting anyone, I express my perceptions of the criminal system that Capitalism is .

[obtree]

@arzoyan The only significant elevation of living standards to occur over the past 2000 years has been due to capitalism. Billions of people have been lifted out of grinding poverty by capitalism. There is nothing criminal about that.

[arzoyan]

@obtree The era of European mercantile plundering of Americas and the genocide of million of natives followed by enslavement of tens of milions of Africans for exploitation in plantations and since mechanisation and technological innovaions by scientists in the state sector funded by tax payers we have a reality of potential plenty in harmony, but Market system is all about artificial limits and scarcity for the nomadic rampaging of Profit for a few, Capitalism is evil.

[obtree]

@arzoyan For you to call scarcity "artificial" tells me that you either live in a fantasy world with no connection to reality, or you are a complete economic illiterate; probably both.

The free market has nothing to do with slavery, and slavery is far older than capitalism. The reality is that slavery can not increase growth. The only thing that can is individuals making choices for themselves, pursuing their own private interests, i.e. capitalism.

[arzoyan]

@obtree You are conditioned in servitude and compliance for a little more.

[SolarJakee]

@obtree He's not talking about wages in terms of how many dollars one is paid. He's talking about "real" wages, meaning the amount of goods and services one can actually buy with an hours worth of work, which HAVE stagnated. The data you are using does not incorporate inflation which makes it irrelevant.

[obtree]

@SolarJakee Yeah, I know what he is talking about. The census data accounts for inflation. The way he is getting the numbers to say what he wants them to say is by using household wages, which have fallen. This is due to the average household size falling.

If you look at real wages for INDIVIDUALS you find that they have increased significantly across almost all income brackets.

In fact, if I recall correctly a recent study has found that the top incomes have actually FALLEN slightly.

[flexyco]

I'd like to see the rest of the video's with Rick Wolff. Have them?

[worthlessdollar1]

Is it really so fucking difficult to point a video camera?

[jewishamericanchica]

this guy is spreading the old marxtist lines. class warfare,wealth envy.Yes ,i have traveled to other Industrialized socialist countries and they are either on striking or complaining about not getting enough benefits.The french hate their system.They all dream of coming to America, ask them.

[jamilliscious]

There are no socialist countries! There are only capitalist countries, and a few very deformed workers states china, cuba etc.

And no the french do not dream of coming to America- they also have a right wing neo-liberal government implementing vicious attacks on them, but in general the french woking class still have a higher standard of living than the American working class.

[arzoyan]

@jamilliscious There are no so called deformed workers state. Capitalism has always been managed by minority for minority and has been given different terms to confuse to dominate the working class, Only a world of cooperation for our common needs and well being in a MONEYLESS,CLASSLESS,STATELESS communities of humanity can we truly evolve as HUMANITY in harmony within and without. Capitalism is legalised organised robbery of immense humanity by criminal gangs of Rulers.

[polygamous1]

@arzoyan IN EVERY COUNTRY U EITHER HAVE SOCIALISM OR U WILL END UP WITH BARARISM reminds u guys of any country the Ancient Athenians decided spontaneously one morning WHY work from sunrise till dawn for few rich landowners n they runs they out of town the Fisrt socialist revlution on earth n the birth of Real demogracysadly Nothing like this can happen again today things are devious nasty like in strikes they now go after the leaders n thei families stop the stike to save u r child simple

[Rykemasters]

Socialist industrialised countries? As far as I know, you can't travel to Cuba on an American passport, and it's not that industrialised. And it's not hugely socialistic either. What countries are you talking about?

[jewishamericanchica]

This idiot also neglects to mention that in this stage in economic history the "Working ' class IS invested in the stock market! wheather through their pensions or 401ks. regular folk benefit from the stock market .Heavy taxation on the american family was what brought the pressure on the working class and families.

[jamilliscious]

No your the idiot! If you actually listened to what he was saying, he doesn't neglect "to mention that in this stage in economic history the "Working ' class IS invested in the stock market!"- he mentions it in detail! But of course your so blinded by your own ideology that you actually believe your own propaganda!

[jewishamericanchica]

He neglects to mention the high taxation that companies and industry has had to face from a left wing democrat party who taxes have driven companies to other shores.

[jamilliscious]

You really are living on another planet! Since 1970 the US has had only 12 years of Democratic Party governments- who in the case of Clinton implemented the very same neo liberal policies as Reagan! Companies and industries have been tax significantly less than say, in the 30s and 40s when there was a 90% tax!

[rring88]

the democrats are a left wing business party which is far right compared to the people.

[PoetryMan11]

Brechtforum--you have parts 2 (not labeled as such), part 3, and part 6.

Where are parts 1, 4, and 5? I have heard this same presentraqtion by Wolff given at UMass Amhearst and you have left out a lot of very important and useful detail besides labeling what you have posted in a confusing manner...

[freddyvis99]

He's an amazing lecturer. You have to love it when a teacher knows the subject, and is passionate about teaching it to others. Those qualities combined are very rare, sadly enough.

[ursdj17]

Rick Wolff was my professor at UMass Amherst. One of the best I've had, some good professors there.

[Bigmartinno1]

he's very funny. I wish I had of encountered lecturers like him

[bajawind]

never found (2nd video), but he does provide an interesting point of view. lacking the manufacturing might, the suits turned to financial magic...poof!

[Rockerboy2007]

need the rest of the video please! thanx