Howard Zinn: relying on charity from the rich

From a talk I recorded at Harvard's JFK school of government in March, 2009, on a break from recording Thomas Ferguson for my documentary Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Politics http://goldenruledocumentary.blogspot.com/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Howard
• Zinn

[NamelessCommenter]

I assume he's alluding to the fact that markets encourage that side of us.

Greed is one aspect of human behavior, but there are other (better) sides to us. There's no rule that says we can't replace this system with one that encourages our better sides; there are simply powerful people who are opposed to it. We need to dethrone them, for the reason you mentioned if nothing else.

[Raford146]

Of course he is. Marx is one of most noted historians of all-time.

[UrbyKris]

@NamelessCommenter Why is is "better"? I hear people assert it, but no one says why.

[seigneurvoland666]

@NamelessCommenter dethrone them through force though? that is the question. And sometimes it is illegal to replace the system. Sedition laws anyone? All power to change though!

[Dezzreck]

@Lamboragon If by socialism you mean the systems of the USSR or other "Communist" nations, than I agree. But that system isn't socialism, it's state capitalism. I doubt that you even know what real socialism is.

[DesmondE]

@Lamboragon

how so?

I don't know that I could regard myself a socialist, but how do you come to this conclusion?

[agapeiron]

@biwon Zinn was an anarchist, albeit with reformist tendencies. Nevertheless, as an anarchist, he was necessarily a socialist, advocating a classless society.

In a socialist society based on libertarian principles, where markets are abolished and wealth and State power are dissolved, rich people are no longer needed, they can flee to capitalist countries and try to exploit others there more successfully. They can live in luxury and cynicism elsewhere.

[biwon]

@LTS1287 Because usually people that blame successful people are usually the same people that want hand outs.Or they beleive in socialisim.You say your in college yet you ignorantly lump ALL rich people together.Rich people create buisness that create jobs. You wanna talk about the elite who dont care about you...try socialisim.Youll be brainwashed in college anyway to hate freedom and america in college anyway.Its too late for you.

[LTS1287]

@biwon: The rich elite don't care about you. They don't care about your family, your kids, or if you die alone in a ditch. Why are you lecturing anyway? What do you know about how I or others on youtube are living our lives? Don't assume that just because someone is complaining about something that they're a basement-dwelling neckbeard covered in cheetoh dust. As we speak I'm working on my bachelor's degree. I'm sure that there are many other professionals on youtube.

[biwon]

@LTS1287 Why dont you apply yourself.Put down the facebook,ipod,and x box and put in hard work to make something for yourself .And if you work hard and you fail ...thats life and you should be thankful that you had the freedom to try.Everybody cant win in life kids.Its time to grow up.Life isnt fair all the time but its not the wealthys fault.Are there greedy rich bastards?Yes.Are there down to earth wealthy people who care?Yes.

[kirby4d]

So what do we do? Violently steal their money from them?