He's a little optimistic about Health Care. I'm Canadian and while I love our health care system, it is truly a very large expense, almost half of our budget. You can't go for health care unless you're really committed to doing it right properly. America is a richer country than Canada even if it doesn't always look that way because of American poverty, but I don't know if a Canadian style system will work there. Maybe a system based more off the Mexican universal system (they do have one).
"If Obama continues with puny measures" then progressives should abandon the bastard. And if Howard had lived to see the bullshit that's gone down the past 3 years he would be saying the same thing.
Here's how I see Zinn. He is deeply committed to socialism in that he believes it will help people more. He is not in it for power or privilege because he is willing to push for good things despite a fundamental flaw being present. I sometimes think that it is useless to try anything because we have capitalism and that will ruin anything, but to him helping people is the most important thing, so he'll focus on people and not on politics.
IMHO presenting a strong left alternative will at least cause the elite to throw some bones to the poor to keep the quiet like the new deal or something.
This is very true. I believe that the rich have created a society for themselves in which they have convinced the poor and middle classes that being rich is the highest ideal; that it is something to be strived for. Think about it. In the past, the poor revolted against the rich quite a bit. Now, instead of hating their wealthy overseers, people want to become them. I don't know if this theory has been proposed before, but it seems frighteningly accurate.
@fightforyourrights9 You tap into the propaganda fucntion of US media including movies and tv shows.
Ever notice that most of the characters on TV shows are either middle class or upper class?
Even a silly show like GOSSIP GIRL wouldn't work if it were about middle-class people.
The fatal flaw is that the US is an aspirational society. You are encouraged to be more you are. If you are poor, become middle class. If middle class, get rich.
@MultiSmartass1 I liked your observation about TV. Just look at the houses that they shoot these TV shows in where Mom doesn't work and Dad has a non-skilled job, but the house looks like it must have cost them $100,000. How sad that they are so fart removed frpm reality.
The assumption that there is a truly adversarial political contest in the US is misguided. There is an alternate condominium that serves the same masters. The election was handed to Obama by the brilliant, sophisticated Republican election campaign. When they get into office again, 'and we will', they will indeed be more extreme than ever before. Don't be a somnambulist.
Yes I agree Zinn, spending huge percentages of the budget on military for the purpose of playing global-political chess with other countries while leaving domestic issues to flimsy public relations gimmicks is a recipe for disaster.
Howard Zinn is a great guy. It's too bad that he doesn't get interviewed on mainstream media outlets on these issues. It would create great insight for Americans
Only a true fighting spirit will mobilize the masses in the way that needs to happen now, and in the fragmented masses of America all I see is a bunch of atomized individuals with the fight knocked out of them.
History is full of examples where a divided and depoliticized population has, seemingly overnight, transform into a class conscious and self organizing force for revolutionary change. It has happened before, and it could happen again.
You mean do nothing like in the early 1920s where there was no government intervention and the economic crisis was short lived? They did cut government spending so I guess there was some intervention.
There was not even intervention by the Federal Reserve until things were better.
So without intervention the crisis of 1920 lasts for a couple years and with government intervention the Great Depression lasted a couple decades.
Crank up the printing presses, we have holes to fill in.
Perhaps you should check your history a little closer. The crash of 1929 was manipulted as were most crashes before. Also, FDR's policies were invented by the same people who set up the crash and the system which created the crash. Does that sound familiar? Ask yourself who is right or left when you consider that everyone hated the bailout when bush called for it, but now everyone loves it now that obama is praising it?
Even by then, there was no free market. Long before then, the bankers had taken over the government. E en the 1913 birth of the fed wasn't the beginning. excepting the begining of the end. Fdr was their man as well, we hven't been a free country ever. There hasn't been free trade either. Look a little deeper than the surface that you can barely see.
The true genius of Zinn and those like him is that they recognize how truly seperated the people are from their own governement, and the frightening lengths to which the general populace must go (such as in teh Vietnam era) to effect true change in our society.
Well said... I think Zinn should make documentaries for the rest of his life bc unfortunately the people who need to hear his message the most are the people who read the least...
RealNews is wonderful but... even on their website, they show pieces of interviews without making the full sequence available. it's very annoying. When RealNews is on CNN at seven PM right after DemocracyNow, we'll have a free press in America again.
this guy is talking about people marching in the streets to overide obamas advisers...... he wont break rank and admit obama is no better if not worse then bush.
What are people tolorating this for? If they want helth care and jobs instead of military and millionar. In Peru about a year ago, no one tolorated the proposed tax increase. After the national strike the government decided that maybe it wasn't a healthy idea. (BUT AMERICA DID NOTHING AFTER TWO RIGGED ELECTIONS IN A ROW. yaa, i wish i could beleive the people would do something, because i would be there.
in terms of organization, cooperation, mutual aid, direct action? what?
no matter how much 'unity' there is amongst us, the corporate executives of Exxon are willing to kill the planet for profit, Lockheed is still willing to shell innocents if it means more numbers on ledgers..
well its plutocracy. the moneyelite dont gives a shit about the poeple. but war is a profitable business ^^ and bailouts and a rip off of the masses so there is money there for that kind of stuff. but not for the masses. cus the politicans rule in favour of the poeple which fund them and pay their (s)elections
This country has always been flooded with money. We've been ripping off the planet for 100 years. The problem is that the stolen wealth is concentrated and wasted on corporate welfare and astronomical consumerism from a lifetime of bombardment of advertising propaganda convincing us that we can buy happiness. If the environment, our finances and values are destroyed consuming ourselves into oblivion that's ok because the environment and public are irrelevant. Only profits matter.
dude, howard zinn is one of the few historians I trust.. he takes what is usually the point of view of heads of state and instead switches it to the P.O.V. of the working class... the majority in otherwords.. listen and be filled with knowledge... peace be the journey
He was brilliant.
NoDestinyLive4Now 2 months ago
He's a little optimistic about Health Care. I'm Canadian and while I love our health care system, it is truly a very large expense, almost half of our budget. You can't go for health care unless you're really committed to doing it right properly. America is a richer country than Canada even if it doesn't always look that way because of American poverty, but I don't know if a Canadian style system will work there. Maybe a system based more off the Mexican universal system (they do have one).
Mehtaphorical 3 months ago
"If Obama continues with puny measures" then progressives should abandon the bastard. And if Howard had lived to see the bullshit that's gone down the past 3 years he would be saying the same thing.
hamnose 8 months ago
I bet Obama wishes he had listened to Mr. Zinn after his 2010 "schillacking"---------------
-------not even 2 years and he's a miserable failure
what a joke
Nader in 2012' BABY!
If we're all still around?!
metalreign81 1 year ago
I agree with Howard Zinn, but I think a snowball has a better chance in hell than we have of instituting any type of progressive taxation.
metalreign81 1 year ago
He was a genius
timoback3000 1 year ago
Here's how I see Zinn. He is deeply committed to socialism in that he believes it will help people more. He is not in it for power or privilege because he is willing to push for good things despite a fundamental flaw being present. I sometimes think that it is useless to try anything because we have capitalism and that will ruin anything, but to him helping people is the most important thing, so he'll focus on people and not on politics.
IntractableJ 1 year ago
@IntractableJ
IMHO presenting a strong left alternative will at least cause the elite to throw some bones to the poor to keep the quiet like the new deal or something.
Arrrz77 1 year ago
We need him now!!! I can't believe he is gone!:(
QueensLadyDay 1 year ago 2
A wise man is Mr Zinn.
The problem is simple... the rich are given a level of respect which is undeserved.
This has to change and this will lead to a more balanced society.
underyourskindvd 2 years ago 18
This is very true. I believe that the rich have created a society for themselves in which they have convinced the poor and middle classes that being rich is the highest ideal; that it is something to be strived for. Think about it. In the past, the poor revolted against the rich quite a bit. Now, instead of hating their wealthy overseers, people want to become them. I don't know if this theory has been proposed before, but it seems frighteningly accurate.
fightforyourrights9 2 years ago 6
Exactly...
From peasants to princes.
underyourskindvd 2 years ago
Yes.. and it spreads like some sort of viral psycho-pathology. Slaves (we) finally do their slave work willingly and obediently...
... hypnotized by fabricated dreams of their sick elites...
MarkoKraguljac 2 years ago
@fightforyourrights9 You tap into the propaganda fucntion of US media including movies and tv shows.
Ever notice that most of the characters on TV shows are either middle class or upper class?
Even a silly show like GOSSIP GIRL wouldn't work if it were about middle-class people.
The fatal flaw is that the US is an aspirational society. You are encouraged to be more you are. If you are poor, become middle class. If middle class, get rich.
If one cannot rise, then it is your fault.
MultiSmartass1 1 year ago
@MultiSmartass1 I liked your observation about TV. Just look at the houses that they shoot these TV shows in where Mom doesn't work and Dad has a non-skilled job, but the house looks like it must have cost them $100,000. How sad that they are so fart removed frpm reality.
GreggTheEgg 1 year ago
@GreggTheEgg Because it is true. There are little to no shows about working class people because there is no appeal to seeing ordinary people on TV.
Even reality shows feature mostly middle class to mdoestly wealthy people.
The US is about material wealth and aspirant status.
Nothing wrong with trying to live comfortably- I would be a fool to recommend poverty.
However, one should not live beyond their means.
That way lies debt, bankrupcy and posible penury.
MultiSmartass1 1 year ago
@underyourskindvd
" The problem is simple... the rich are given a level of respect which is undeserved."
Thats already going away.
Ebareebaveebeedee 11 months ago
The assumption that there is a truly adversarial political contest in the US is misguided. There is an alternate condominium that serves the same masters. The election was handed to Obama by the brilliant, sophisticated Republican election campaign. When they get into office again, 'and we will', they will indeed be more extreme than ever before. Don't be a somnambulist.
flyhead2 2 years ago
Yes I agree Zinn, spending huge percentages of the budget on military for the purpose of playing global-political chess with other countries while leaving domestic issues to flimsy public relations gimmicks is a recipe for disaster.
cool70200 2 years ago 4
Howard Zinn is a great guy. It's too bad that he doesn't get interviewed on mainstream media outlets on these issues. It would create great insight for Americans
Propagandhi900 2 years ago 13
Get ready for america to relinquish power
sudan15 2 years ago
It already happened in 1913. You are simply witnessing the Federal Reserve act becoming global.
flyhead2 2 years ago
Only a true fighting spirit will mobilize the masses in the way that needs to happen now, and in the fragmented masses of America all I see is a bunch of atomized individuals with the fight knocked out of them.
blackiron60 2 years ago
History is full of examples where a divided and depoliticized population has, seemingly overnight, transform into a class conscious and self organizing force for revolutionary change. It has happened before, and it could happen again.
shameoncanada 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The man doesn't even know what year he is in for crying out loud...
kmg501 2 years ago
Puny measures?
Guess Obama needs to make Roosevelt look like a success. He only drug out the depression for 15 years with his failed policies.
At least the host has an understanding of the problem and possible solution.
Obama is just helping the wealthy and ignoring the poor.
Paetaor 2 years ago 2
Comment removed
K3Nshady 2 years ago 4
You mean do nothing like in the early 1920s where there was no government intervention and the economic crisis was short lived? They did cut government spending so I guess there was some intervention.
There was not even intervention by the Federal Reserve until things were better.
So without intervention the crisis of 1920 lasts for a couple years and with government intervention the Great Depression lasted a couple decades.
Crank up the printing presses, we have holes to fill in.
Paetaor 2 years ago
Perhaps you should check your history a little closer. The crash of 1929 was manipulted as were most crashes before. Also, FDR's policies were invented by the same people who set up the crash and the system which created the crash. Does that sound familiar? Ask yourself who is right or left when you consider that everyone hated the bailout when bush called for it, but now everyone loves it now that obama is praising it?
wingsuitfreak 2 years ago
Comment removed
K3Nshady 2 years ago
Even by then, there was no free market. Long before then, the bankers had taken over the government. E en the 1913 birth of the fed wasn't the beginning. excepting the begining of the end. Fdr was their man as well, we hven't been a free country ever. There hasn't been free trade either. Look a little deeper than the surface that you can barely see.
wingsuitfreak 2 years ago
The true genius of Zinn and those like him is that they recognize how truly seperated the people are from their own governement, and the frightening lengths to which the general populace must go (such as in teh Vietnam era) to effect true change in our society.
SayYesToReason 2 years ago
Well said... I think Zinn should make documentaries for the rest of his life bc unfortunately the people who need to hear his message the most are the people who read the least...
JSparkleZ2 2 years ago
Also well said. I fully agree. And, the rich and powerful know all too well that an ignorant populace is a more easily controlled populace.
SayYesToReason 2 years ago 3
That's dead-on... the government can find the money for what agrees with it's interests but not the things that don't.
SayYesToReason 2 years ago 2
RealNews is wonderful but... even on their website, they show pieces of interviews without making the full sequence available. it's very annoying. When RealNews is on CNN at seven PM right after DemocracyNow, we'll have a free press in America again.
synapsecracklepop 2 years ago
this guy is talking about people marching in the streets to overide obamas advisers...... he wont break rank and admit obama is no better if not worse then bush.
ourpangea 2 years ago 3
What are people tolorating this for? If they want helth care and jobs instead of military and millionar. In Peru about a year ago, no one tolorated the proposed tax increase. After the national strike the government decided that maybe it wasn't a healthy idea. (BUT AMERICA DID NOTHING AFTER TWO RIGGED ELECTIONS IN A ROW. yaa, i wish i could beleive the people would do something, because i would be there.
Zakuii2 2 years ago
mr real news tryed really hard not to plug austrian economics
ourpangea 2 years ago 2
in terms of organization, cooperation, mutual aid, direct action? what?
no matter how much 'unity' there is amongst us, the corporate executives of Exxon are willing to kill the planet for profit, Lockheed is still willing to shell innocents if it means more numbers on ledgers..
mikezephyr 2 years ago
A movement at the right place and the right time.
sliq77 2 years ago 2
well its plutocracy. the moneyelite dont gives a shit about the poeple. but war is a profitable business ^^ and bailouts and a rip off of the masses so there is money there for that kind of stuff. but not for the masses. cus the politicans rule in favour of the poeple which fund them and pay their (s)elections
happosai21 2 years ago
This country has always been flooded with money. We've been ripping off the planet for 100 years. The problem is that the stolen wealth is concentrated and wasted on corporate welfare and astronomical consumerism from a lifetime of bombardment of advertising propaganda convincing us that we can buy happiness. If the environment, our finances and values are destroyed consuming ourselves into oblivion that's ok because the environment and public are irrelevant. Only profits matter.
888zzz 2 years ago 2
what will it take to stop it?
mikezephyr 2 years ago
dude, howard zinn is one of the few historians I trust.. he takes what is usually the point of view of heads of state and instead switches it to the P.O.V. of the working class... the majority in otherwords.. listen and be filled with knowledge... peace be the journey
MykeControl
mykecontrol314 2 years ago 3
lol he didn't get that 2008 was last year...he's from harvard?
TheJawsusNSexmanShow 2 years ago
well he is 86 m8
elstonieo 2 years ago