Bob Avakian, "What is capitalism?" (part 1 of 3)

What is capitalism? - clip from "Revolution: Why It's Necessary, Why It's Possible, What It's All About, a film of a talk by Bob Avakian" given in 2003 in the United States. Bob Avakian is the Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. This talk, followed by questions and answers, is a wide-ranging revolutionary journey, covering many topics. It breaks down the very nature of the society we live in and how humanity has come to a time where a radically different society is possible. It is full of heart and soul, humor and seriousness; it will challenge you and set your heart and mind to flight. Watch the entire film online at www.revolutiontalk.net

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[mhgreen3000]

@susantolim I think that he is saying that he is against that system, as it should be replaced with a more humane system so that they wouldn't have to work and still have their basic needs met.

[susantolim]

I am from the so called poor country. AFAIK kids are not forced to work, if anything they are thankful that there are job for them. If you ban them from working their family may not have enough money to buy food or other basic need.

I haven't seen all of your video about capitalism, but if you are to ban child labor, you should also provide solution for the lack of income in the child's family. (no right minded parent would send their child to work if the situation does not force them to)

[batman93oo]

Yeah it's called corporatism not capitalism. With gold backed currency there wouldn't be the disproportional amount of wages because the strongest currency wouldn't be based on politics or establishment but on sound money. We exchange property not labor, yes labor allows us to attain property but all money is a store of value and gold is accepted currency as it was the thing that replaced bartarism. So commodities are not measured in labor but in subjective value of trade.

[M22118]

guy reminds me of lenin.

[hairydysentery]

If capitalism is ruining the world, what about all those socialist countries? how and why are they affected by capitalism.

I believe you all are confusing capitalism with corprotism and just straight up elitist tyranny.

[basedball1951]

hi bob

[nakedmambo]

@Adlasyn If you think paying pittance wages and always looking for ways to reduce them is not 'violence' against a people, you're mistaken. There is absolutely no outlet for alternative economies because the capitalist economy is defended by force - every time. There s no such think as market equilibrium, someone's interest is at play. Market equilibrium is a facile utopian ideology of libertarian dunderheads.

[Narkotiulo]

@danocatster Bob Avakian shouldn't be bringing up "children", since it's playing with people's emotions and not helping them reason. Having said that I'm fiercely opposed to capitalism and believe a revolution is necessary. You see... von Mises, who you quote, still reasoned around a gold standard. So the economy, our lives, should revolve around achieving goals (which we are conditioned to have) and around A MINERAL ???

[danocatster]

Economic calculation can only take place by means of money prices established in the market for production goods in a society resting on private property in the means of production.

Ludwig von Mises

Socialism is planned chaos.

[Adlasyn]

@MaoLeninMarx If you do not have a system when people get rewarded depending on what they create you will create mass shortages. If I don't work for the commune, collective or state I will starve. The difference is that violence is not being used by the capitalist unlike the state, and capitalists compete for a workforce, just like workers complete for a job. It works both ways and a market equilibrium is reached.