Michael Parenti -- Real Democracy!

[HanEunJa]

check him out on michael parenti dot org or facebook he's awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[redcla052191]

kudos Sir. Michael! Reality under the present order reveals an order that's out of order.

[redcla052191]

Kudos great lecturer! reality cannot be denied.

[VenusFriend]

What does he think about The Zeitgeist Movement?

[PMishkin]

As VI Lenin would say: "freedom for WHOM, and freedom to do WHAT".

[PsykodelikCyoldier]

mutalism is sort of a voluntary socialist free market or a social market

[funkyfoolfromVanNuys]

Capitalism sure is a funny thing, it can only be held in check when globalization is left behind for fair trade between nations who are allowed to be free for themselves. The government and business use illegal immigration for example to keep Mexico poor while driving down wages in the U.S., it also serves as great distraction of both people. Hostility is directed from on worker to another and the fat cats get fatter. It's an ugly cycle, but very effective to there needs.

[dancthegr]

Orwell said that in communism "all people are equal but some people are more equal than others".

In capitalism i say " all people are free but some people are more free than others"

[Elin48]

Democracy and Capitalism are not the same.

[GranolaLola1]

What good are the rules for those millions who are excluded from the game. amazing quote.

[peterhalljones]

What about democracy at work? How come we accept the feudal "master-servant" relationship from 9-to5? The French revolution introduced social & political democracy, but instead of economic democracy, wealth and its power were handed on to the "bourgeoisie". They've been in control of it ever since, and, by extension, of employment and workplace relations. If we want real democracy we need more control in our 9-to-5 banana republics.

[funkyfoolfromVanNuys]

Honestly, self sufficiency is best way to throw the shackles off. If one can produce from themselves what they need, work then becomes a principal to obtain non essential goods, thus enacting the ability of the people to take it or leave it without being held over the barrel. I agree with you, but to look to the government or business is foolish, freedom is ours to lose, don't allow anyone to look after it for you.

[DelinquentFaith]

Wow.

[fusionguitar]

There are elements of free market involved in these countries, but they are also countries largely controlled by foreign governments and foreign corporations, therefore not a truly free market. Remember also that superpower corporations that often enslave these poorer countries get subsidized and protected by various governments around the world. Not a truly free market at all, therefore not really capitalism.

[maddohartlepool]

Pedantic semantics....laissez-faire or not, still capitalist in essence.

[xnostromo]

Which is what happens in free market. If these countries had tariffs or labor laws they wouldn't have a free market.

[seigneurvoland666]

can voluntary socialism be a form of free market?

[EasyEs]

Michale both can use the most powerful communication tool in history to communicate. The daily KOS or Little Greenfootballs for example have great influence on minds with out wealth. Sorry but there are other means of communication out side the norms which you did't put any weight into. Thinking outside the box doesn't mean go back to old 60s cliches

[mystykit]

This vid is so clear and easy to understand! And it needs to be viewed more.

[westphalianprinz]

This thing about the law he mentioned was given to me on my first day of law school. Anatole France and the "majestic equality." It took me a year, but this "formal equality" propaganda was nothing more than an illusion. Anatole France was wrong. Parenti is right.

[bradattack]

wow what a great video. thanks for posting

[Safehead]

If only people over here in the UK would do something about it but everyone I speak to is resigned to the fact all politicians are liers and the system will always look after the richest before considering anyone else.

[DeadCell79]

i agree with you. we normal people in the uk get shafted left right and centre any way they can, CALSSISUM is the issue now days,

[westphalianprinz]

Actually, I would say things are worse here. I mean you guys actually have a left-- a militant one. We have a two party dictatorship. It's hard to be a union member here. We had Tony Blair before you had Tony Blair-- his name was Bill Clinton. Michael Parenti is an outlier; most of our left intellectuals don't talk about things like this.

[Safehead]

We had conservatives, then Labour dropped 'Clause four' essentially moving it from a socialist to capitalist party. So essentially the US and UK are in the same boat although we do have a third strong contender (till that becomes infiltrated & corrupted). There is a school of thought that society needs nothing short of a violent upheval from time to time for principaled idealists to make their mark (good or bad) - like the founding fathers of the US.

[westphalianprinz]

I don't know about violence. In fact, I really reject violence. Now, maybe we can learn from Venezuela and Bolivia. Those are peaceful revolutions that are making real changes. We have party like your Liberal Democrats and one to the far right of your Conservatives. We have one socialist senator, Bernie Sanders.

[Safehead]

Shame you 'lost' Nader - he was the closest thing to a good man I've ever seen in US politics.

[westphalianprinz]

Nader is a great man. I hope he runs again, because I am NOT voting for Hillary Clinton. It's a shame people blame him for Bush. I blame it on the Tony Blairness/Joe Libermanness of the Democrats.

[westphalianprinz]

Also, in the last election, many of us were voting against Bush, not voting for Kerry. Kerry would be just another pain in the ass like Clinton, but Bush is an extremist. When you live here, you really get a feel for how extreme he really is. He's much worse than you could imagine.

[Safehead]

Well one of my friends voted for conservative last time around because "the liberals won't win so it's a wasted vote" - what a waste of a vote imo. At least with three equally supported partied (all equally useless) at least no single party can do too much damage. This time the conservatives will win because of that mentallity and we'll have another four years of politicians working for the super rich. If only there was justice =(

[westphalianprinz]

There are lots of strategies to try. If you are in the Labour Party, try to get another leader besides Gordon Brown. Unfortunately, we actually have more power over out parties in the US than people in the UK do. Also, the more you go on demonstrations, the more the poliiticians become scared of the public (that's why a large chunck of the Democrats are for defunding the war). There's no easy solution; it requires a lifetime of struggle.

[Safehead]

I like the Greek idea of calling people up for a limited term of service in the same way we do for jury service. Their salary should be fixed at the national average or at the very least they should be allowed no other financial interests during their term.

[westphalianprinz]

That would be a great idea.

[OoogieBoogie]

Are these commentaries from his books?

[Suryu]

I believe they are from his books and current events.

Respect, Ismael.

[westphalianprinz]

Thank you for posting these Michael Parenti commentaries.