Ask Prof Wolff: Capitalism & Fascism

[@1danwynn]

One of the best and most succinct explanations of fascism I've seen. Very handy to have in your favourites list for those conversations in the pub (bar)!

[@nowthenzen]

... dispensary

[@Clusterboy]

@@nowthenzen morgue

[@mcguerd8]

Yes, I agree.

[@TheNaturalLawInstitute]

Except that as always Wolfe is intentionally evading the reason for the development of Fascism - as a NATIONAL defense against INTERNATIONAL Communism, given that RULE OF LAW (capitalism), and that it is international communism that was responsible for the terrors of the debate between the three poles of political preference. Wolf is a subtle undermined of rule of law because he and his tradition holds the false belief that a group of human professional executives could do better. The point of rule of law is that all humans are the same, and equally corruptible, and deterministically abusive of power. The frailty in western civilization is nothing to do with capitalism - which like communism or anarchism cannot exist - is that we didn't complete the rule of law program by prohibiting the set of crimes possible using 'words and money': free riding, rent-seeking, privatization of common gains and socialization of losses, and false promises that bait into hazard. What would happen if we did? It would be very clear who undermined western civ, who created the present crisis, and how easily it was to fix it, and how rapidly the working and middle classes would be rescued from their current re-imposition of serfdom by 'experts'.

[@firstlastlastfirst7143]

@@TheNaturalLawInstitute tldr

[@razerone49]

Prof. Wolff, thank you for posting these videos. For those of us who were robbed of proper civics or economy classes (thanks to the U.S. public school system), these are extremely informative to me in my 30’s. Thank you for taking the time to educate those of us who didn’t major in economics by covering the basics in such a clear and easy to understand way.

[@GrandmaCathy]

Do you think private schools are doing any better?

[@kimobrien.]

@@GrandmaCathy Why do you think the ruling class sends their children to expensive private schools?

[@ProleDaddy]

Who says that economics majors learned any of this either?

[@lesliestenta3084]

We are there in America, look at what happened to that environment activist Lawyer who won a huge case against Chevron for polluting Equator , Chevon set up a kangaroo court and had him arrested.

[@ninamartinez5596]

Yes, its heartbreaking

[@ProleDaddy]

Wow, I had no idea. I'm definitely going to read up on this in some spare time, if I can come by some. How anyone can't see what a twisted monstrosity this shithole country is is well, well beyond me.

[@lynnebarnes3840]

@@ProleDaddy the elites rely on you being so hard working, by necessity, that you don't have time or energy to research the cause of your demise.

[@ProleDaddy]

@@lynnebarnes3840 Yep. I've figured it out, none the less. Oppression by means of the authoritarian system of capitalism and the theft of my surplus value labor value is clearly the cause of nearly all our issues.

[@kodyk124]

What’s the lawyer’s name? I wanna research this

[@Zeusselll]

Wolff was great, as always. I wish people talked about this subject more often.

[@Senasis469]

I really wish he would answer my question of whether I should invest in gold or crypto or foreign currency to prepare for the dollar collapse.

[@Clusterboy]

@@Senasis469 gold or Swiss Francs

[@freepalestine2434]

@@Senasis469 Gold and crypto are both very volatile. Crypto is very unregulated, which means a lot of dirty tactics are used to push them.

[@bobbafett1849]

@@freepalestine2434 lol, just like the reserve currency of the world does

[@maxyorke2453]

Except that this video is completely ahistorical garbage. His definition of Fascism is totally wrong, and every point thereafter is wrong also. Unfortunately, Marxists are still trapped in the binary political and economic dichotomy, so it blinds you to reality and truth. Just because Fascism is anti-communism, DOES NOT mean they were pro-capitalism. This is a detrimental mistake. Literally all Fascist or Third Positionist theory is 'anti-capitalist'.

[@RonGavalik]

I'm sorry, but listening to Prof. Wolff pronounce wookie in that manner made my day. Also, Wookie Rage is the best handle in the history of handles.

[@GrandmaCathy]

👍

[@lyhs0219]

Well said, you really describe the nature of Govt and the contradiction between its trying to represent the public and private at the same time

[@hilaryporter7841]

You mean trying to represent the 'public' and 'corporate' at the same time. It's achieved through the corporations owning the media/press and at the same time buying off the politicians through corruption, commonly described innocently as lobbying.

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

If the separation between the state and corporate capitalism is a "pretense," then that corporatism/fascism always exists, and merely shows itself more openly in times of stress ~ like an animal that only bares its teeth when threatened, but always has its teeth. If the capitalists "allow" the state to act as if separate, that means they're always in control. It seems that the merger of state and corporation is an inextricable feature of capitalism.

[@henrirauhala4335]

Quite right; capitalist states tend to merge with corporations (monopolies), and all of them have fascistic elements. Mr. Wolff contradicts fascism with state monopoly capitalism. It's a concept about the merger of states and monopolies, but it also says that contemporary capitalism indeed needs a state that's able to keep some distance to any individual capitalist. This does not rule out fascism, because fascism is about ruthlessly defending the big bourgeoisie as a class.

[@MrDXRamirez]

Agreed, the family is the historical origins of the State before tribes and communities and these social formations have their origins with the family. As a social institution the State changes or should change or be made to change to be compatible wth the changes of the family in society.

[@STScott-qo4pw]

witness all the rich people, the banks, the corporations, Wall Street saying it doesn't matter who the people vote into office they are prepared (read: able) to work with anyone. Essentially, they have bought/merged closely enough with government that people aren't really able to threaten the interests of the corporates. Fuckin lovely,. Just lovely.

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

@@STScott-qo4pw Yes. Just about all politicians are captured by corporatism, as is the MSM. Chris Hedges says there are not two parties; there is only one party, the Corporate Party, one faction of which pretends to lean a little left on social issues. Nader calls it the duopoly. Chomsky called it the business party. And W.E.B Dubois, in 1956, writing about the so-called "lesser of two evils" in that year's election, said, there are not two evils; there is one evil, with two heads.

[@kimobrien.]

@@stephaniecarrow4898 Fascism always includes a movement of made up of crazed petti bourgeois and criminal elements. The workers must organize defense guards to defend themselves from the fascists bands of thugs.

[@ibukunogunfeitimi5645]

I couldn't agree more with Professor Wolff's analysis of legacy system. I have being R&D how legacy capitalism works in the last 60 to 70 years. The brand new approaches are needed to support the authorities, families, working class and the disabled, and also IP productivity is key and must be at the heart of it all. Thank you to Professor Wolff ⏭️👏

[@allstarmark12345]

This type of “awakening” is needed

[@Dsonsee]

Thanks Prof. Wolff. It would also be interesting to see under which conditions of stress it happens, and why it did in Spain, Germany and Italy but not in France, for example.

[@robertfelts8773]

That's a lot of info in a short presentation. I have to watch that again

[@vusimdudu9033]

Thank you Professor, this is the clearest explanation I have heard about fascism. I wander about plutocracy now.

[@DV-dt9sq]

Professor, I just adore you and your wife! 🤗🤗🤗🌟🌟🌟

[@psikeyhackr6914]

Capitalism and Fascism are just words. This is really about the social psychology of European culture. One is its application to economics and the other is the application to politics.

[@BigMikeGuitar]

Capital always swings fascist - and capital has the distinct motivation to do so as an instrument of authoritarian structural violence that maintains the hegemony of power - the power of billionaires, of corporations, of the self-interested state, and of self-interested white supremacy. Private capital, private property, contractual libertarianism subject to market survival, and reductionist individualism, including what is classified as social and environmental externalities, constitutes a comprehensive redundant system of authoritarian structural violence, which enables the most egregious entities - the authoritarian, anti-science, autocratic, pathological, and psychopathic - to grow wealthy, powerful, and influential in compartmentalized abstraction from systems-based social and environmental responsibility, and accountability. Meanwhile, we all suffer the negative consequences, which the establishment mitigates with institutionalized propaganda, lies, and ratcheting-up the authoritarian response. Any situation and systems erected upon growth and competition among self-interested entities leads to authoritarian escalation. Here, human potential is sacrificed to hierarchical authoritarian structural violence, subjected to endless resource wars, and to systemic Lifecycle Empire rot and decay, where hierarchical authoritarian oligarchy clings to power while punching down ever harder on populations forced to negotiate the increasingly insolvent situation of overextension, attrition, and implosion.

[@kimobrien.]

They don't swing that way until the face a crisis with a socialist revolution on the horizon. That is when it is critical for the workers to defend themselves from the fascists bands.

[@ProleDaddy]

At this point, I'm really just shocked that we're able to put such thoughts out into the world like this without being murdered. I speak the truth everywhere I go - I thought I'd be dead sometime ago. I can tell you it's definitely not good for retaining employment and I suppose that can equate to death in itself.

[@BigMikeGuitar]

@@ProleDaddy I’m not an expert, or giving any health advice, but being comfortable with ones degree of public engagement and political discourse is prudent. Cheers~

[@razerone49]

I kept wiping my screen down thinking those nails in the wall was debris on my screen

[@Wyrmser]

A bit of pedantry: Fascism, being a merger of govt./corporate entities seems as if it "fits the mold", but I think what we're looking at here would be better described as a corporatocracy, or a plutocracy. The difference being that within' a fascistic system the govt. maintains control of the corps, and in a corporatocracy the plutocrats are effectively in charge of the govt. Given we're operating under Cit United v FEC rules; i.e., campaign finance regulation is practically non-existent, then one could argue that "our" elected representatives are not ours, but serve their actual constituency, the plutocrats, (who hire the lobbyists, who write the laws, and buy their govt). This is essentially, "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy", in a nutshell...

[@lorrainewest7408]

And thus The White House is nothing more than a Facade not unlike a Whore House. Events in afghanistan and going back years state so.

[@auntiebobbolink]

I don't see how anyone aware and paying attention can say that the US government is in "control" of corporations. Other way around for decades now. When corporations are writing the legislation, the control is held by corporations.

[@Wyrmser]

@@auntiebobbolink I think the term *fascism is so often used for the same reason *racism is;- due to the inherently negative connotations. Often one's behavior would be better described as *ethnocentrism. Your just an ethnocentrist! It doesn't land the same way. Another good example would be treason, when sedition or insurrection are much more accurate descriptors.

[@Wyrmser]

@@lorrainewest7408 I have more respect for brothels... At least they're honest. =/

[@jamessmith1785]

Exactly, fascism controlled capitalism much in the way china does today successfully

[@remicaron3191]

That sounds a lot like America. In the US the corporations buy two candidates and let the people choose which one they want while knowing that they, the corporation, own both of them.

[@ilyaishevchenko]

Explained clearly in less than 8 minutes 👏

[@ch4rl3magn38]

Richard and his wife are so amazing. I try to watch every video.

[@anilliyanage1505]

Instead of dialogue and negotiations When you force your views on other nations, black list nations, use trade embargoes, economic sanctions, against those who are defending their sovereignty. And defend any dictator if he is your friend, you see fascism in action!

[@Clusterboy]

See psalms 7:16. We are doomed. And rightly so. The rise and fall of an evil empire will engender an endless dialogue. You’re up China!!

[@auntiebobbolink]

Refer back to Mussolini: it's the integration of corporations in government.

[@GrandmaCathy]

A formal merger of corporations and government? OR a functional merger? I believe a functional merger has occurred around 30 years ago.

[@petestanton1945]

"Woookie" : D Spoken like some1 who realistically may never have seen a Star Wars movie. Now we need a DAW interview w George Lucas about the "Rebels" vs "The Empire"

[@Wyrmser]

Didn't Lucas base the series on the conflict in Vietnam... or maybe Korea; wherein' the US would've been represented by the Empire? I'd love to see that interview.

[@freepalestine2434]

Prof. Wolff: _"What about the intersection between capitalism and fascism?"_ Me, a Soldier: _"What about the droid attack on the wookies?"_

[@Miodrag.Vukomanovic]

@@freepalestine2434 You should of asked "Are we really just fighting wars to keep the dollar strong?"

[@freepalestine2434]

@@Miodrag.Vukomanovic Oh no, I'm not brave enough for politics.

[@BBBarua]

Having children means a death trap for low-income families. Why should low-income families spend money raising children and then working for the rich on their own terms? Just to produce workers to " WORK & SPEND" mode to continue to support the rich? In my opinion, everyone (especially the poor)should work less, spend less and focus on their health and mental well-being. I hope people get wiser in this information age. It is very important for ordinary people like us not to spend time on social media platforms and games to make us more stupid. It is a crucial time not to fall for false information and always look beyond their intentions. Many rich people are stuck in compound wealth effects and will do anything to create "fake supply and demand."

[@ethanstump]

i agree with everything you said, except the gaming part. every socialist needs their downtime, and many use games as something they have as a way to recover. it does become a problem in excess, but then again most things become a problem in excess. also, many people are facing this child problem, including even the upper middle class families. some of my well off cousins are sorta "struggling" due to ever increasing housing, student loans, divorce, child support, car loans, and so much more. that's why the replacement rate has tanked so much, because even the people who historically would have no problem with having kids, are having some difficulty. also smaller family sizes, but that is also tied to economics.

[@BBBarua]

@@ethanstump Thanks Ethan. Thanks for the feedback.

[@anhedonic-voting]

Thank you ✊🌹🗽🇺🇲

[@suzegiljer3206]

Great explanation professor.Thank you as always.

[@typeviic1]

Tax payer subsidies going to big business, corporate bailouts, "to big to fail", a market approach to solve all/any problems, privatization of the commons, etc. That's all fascism and late-stage capitalism

[@kimobrien.]

That still has all happened under a bourgeois democratic regime.

[@mcnt9506]

Finally, an unbiased review of capitalism and fascism, it's are to see it these days.

[@NathanShirley]

Short answer: Yes

[@vlatkoteinovic101]

Europian capitalists embraced fascism to save capitalism but it has to be said that they were afraid of communism that was knocking on their door. Russian revolution threatened to wipe them out; Hungary and Germany almost became communist countries, Italian workers started to seize factories, masses of people were impoverished because of WW 1 ...

[@ricsosa7107]

Back in the Roman Days, trade with Egypt and other parts of the coast was trade among wealthy citizens and part of the earnings was given to the government for supporting trade by using Military if problems should arise. Then greed takes over then the Government comes in and takes over...

[@jeffnaslund]

Reagan was the original ‘merger.’ Now, look what we’ve got

[@yamnayaseed356]

Any example of that merger taking place? I mean Hitler was hardly a capitalist in an american sense

[@allagreta9990]

I prefer the definition that describes where power of decision is located starting from the latin language that describes fascism as the multiple sticks (of Power-ownership of an elite) bundled together holding exclusively monopolistic power in the domains of business, ecomomics, government, law, law-enforcement etc. Corporate US is a reality …..so what does the informed Reader conclude….?

[@jtinsley01]

And, even though Professor Wolff knows it in his heart and honest thoughts, he still cannot bring himself to say that ..." it was franco in Spain, and it is the present-day United States.

[@jamessmith1785]

“I do not intend to defend capitalism or capitalists. They, like everything human, have their defects. I only say their possibilities of usefulness are not ended.”-Mussolini The professor’s description of capitalism’s negative aspects is correct as they exist and are being experienced here in the US in the present time and especially between 1850 through 1932. His analogy of how fascism in Italy interfaced with industry and economics is incorrect. According to this opinion or spin not based on fact, fascism was the employee and body guard of capitalist powers curbing the rights of the workers. Fact-1) there were worker strikes at the Fiat plant in Turin during the wars end and these strikes were not put down with violence as they were here in our country in fact immediate concessions were made, then between 1919-1921 the fascists drove the strikes. 2) Corporate presidents who helped Mussolini into power were forced out of parliament where they had seats when he came to power. 3) The economy, workers’ rights, were increased, embellished, rewritten and controlled by his government to the shock of, and cost to corporate powers and against corporate wishes. In short the capitalist powers were controlled by government not the other way around as it is here today. It is understandable why fascism is loathed today, for the same atrocities committed by every nation including our own during the 20th century, but it is with the same lack of objective reasoning from tribal mentality or lack of study of documents like Mussolini’s fascist doctrine or Marx’s manifesto that we refuse to see the value in them. The reaction expressed here towards fascist ideology is the same reaction most Americans exhibit towards the professor’s view of the benefits of socialism over capitalism, which by the average uneducated violent majority is- evil, left wing, red, commie, etc. etc. his arguments suffers from the same criticism and taboo. Fascism did work with or use capitalism, but there is a greater bond between Mussolini’s fascism and socialism that the professor wishes to admit. There methods were different from traditional socialist because they wanted to force socialism into government, something the socialist were never able to do. Allow me to copy here some facts of history, which are only a few; "Generally considered one of the more radical Fascist syndicalist in Italy, Edmondo Rossoni was the “leading exponent of fascist syndicalism.”,[4] and sought to infuse nationalism with “class struggle.”[ After leaving Italy in 1910 and arriving in the United States, Rossoni began to work with American socialist part executive member Big Bill Haywood as an organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World union (IWW), and edited the revolutionary syndicalist newspaper Il Proletario (The Proletarian), which by1912 was the Italian-language newspaper of the IWW.5] The Fascist Syndicalists like Mussolini (who invented fascism) and Rossoni differed from other forms of fascism (“or since labeled fascism”) in that they generally favored class struggle, worker-controlled factories and hostility to industrialists, which lead historians to portray them as “leftist fascist idealists” who “differed radically from right fascists. These men followed the beliefs of Georges Sorel. Sometimes considered the “father” of revolutionary syndicalism or at least “the leading figure amongst the French Syndicalists”, Georges Sorel supported militant trade unionism to combat the corrupting influences of parliamentary parties and politics, even if the legislators were distinctly socialist. As a French Marxist who supported Lenin, Bolshevism and Mussolini concurrently in the early 1920s, Sorel promoted the cause of the proletariat in class struggle. The intention of syndicalism was to organize strikes to abolish capitalism; not to supplant it with State socialism, but rather to build a society of worker-class producers….(But one could not be accomplished without the advent of State control by the working class who wish to achieve this goal, and in conclusion did not without force or Mussolini) FDR dispatched members of his so-called brain trust to fascist Rome to study fascist policies, with a view to importing some of them to America. FDR viewed fascism as even more progressive than the New Deal (from which it was inspired), and he wanted his New Dealers to learn from it. Rexford Tugwell, FDR’s close adviser, upon returning from Rome wrote of fascism, “It’s the cleanest neatest, most efficiently operating piece of social machinery I’ve ever seen. It makes me envious.” FDR regarded his National Recovery Act (NRA) as the most important of his New Deal programs. It was directly modeled on Italian fascism. The NRA empowered the federal government to establish coalitions of labor and management in every industry to set production targets, wages, prices, and even maximum and minimum working hours. According to Tugwell, the NRA was designed to “eliminate the anarchy of the competitive system.” FDR’s man to run the NRA, General Hugh Johnson, was an avowed admirer of fascism who carried with him, and routinely quoted from, a fascist propaganda pamphlet, The Structure of the Corporate State, written by one of Mussolini’s aides. Under Johnson, the NRA issued its own brochure Capitalism and Labor Under Fascism. It acknowledged that “the fascist principles are very similar to those which have been evolving in America (under the new deal and not as we are today). Review of Nicolas Farrell’s book on Mussolini; “As an English speaking reader, you might have wondered how a supposedly incompetent, pathetic buffoon could hold power for - twenty years, in the country that produced most of western civilization, and unlike Stalin or Hitler, do so without sitting on a pile of corpses; you might also ask yourself how could he achieve such a vast popular consensus, end a civil war, pacify the nation, stabilize the colonies, expand the empire, balance and restore the economy by balancing and controlling the market, production levels and industrial independence, pay off the national debt bouncing back the currency from a deficit spiral, reclaim marshes, build entire cities, some in less than a year, some in Africa, innovate culture and arts, invent Italian cinema, collect Nobel laureates, international sport victories, outstanding record breaking achievements internationally in Aviation and records of various kinds. And all that while the west was flagellated by the great depression at the time when a sizeable fraction of Americans were forced into nomadism.(dust bowl / stock market crash)” “When the conception of the people’s state declines, and disunifying and centrifugal tendencies prevail, whether of powerful individuals or of particular powerful groups, (independent centrifugal corporate forces that do not speak or act for the majority), the nations where such phenomena appear are in their decline”.- Mussolini

[@Glenintheden]

Fascinating. I had no idea FDR's NRA was modeled on Italian fascism. Still, there is always a danger the bundle, the fascis, of rods will be bound too tightly resulting in a violation of the rights and freedoms of the citizens. There always needs to be a balance between the utilitarianism of socialism and the need and right to be free as an individual citizen. Many of the more extreme libertarians don't recognize the need for any citizen to be tied at all to the rest of society. But on the other extreme, many leftists socialists completely fail to recognize the importance of individual freedom. Ironically, the man most identified as the most extremist right wingnut in history, Hitler, also failed to recognize the importance of freedom, especially religious freedom. And therein lies the inherent danger of fascism; a lack of recognition of the importance of liberty. That bundle of rods sure looks to be tied rather tightly and uniformly together. Sure there is a need to tie society together to a reasonable degree for that society to function well as a civil society. But there also needs to be a recognition that the existence of society is not to glorify itself and its vaulted leaders, but to act as a 'canvas' for the citizens to paint their lives and find their way in life as they see fit. How come you don't have any content on your channel? Even if you're not comfortable making videos, you're obviously comfortable writing content, but I couldn't even find a link on your channel to any essays. Surely some of your writings can be found elsewhere on the internet; I'd like to read some more.

[@auntiebobbolink]

I keep coming back to the difference between government and economic systems. As an economic system, the US is fascism. As a governmental system, it can be said it's not quite there yet....the veneer still exists.

[@mcguerd8]

Excellent clarification of how capitalism can so easily shift to faschism.

[@alloomis1635]

without democracy, you are children, discussing what the grown-ups do. unlike children, you will never grow up.

[@hunteramato9998]

I appreciate what you do Mr. Wolff. Thank you.

[@jamessmith1785]

The following is a definition of Corporatism, cut and pasted. In regards to worker co-ops, I believe they are the ideal system of social business structure, I even believe that class conflict is required for achieving balance. But considering the great imbalance of the employer / employee system of the late 19th and early 20th century, what was more realistic or achievable to better the plight of the proletariat at that time? “Corporatism developed during the 1850s in response to the rise of classical liberalism and Marxism, as it advocated cooperation between the classes instead of class conflict. Corporatism became one of the main tenets of fascism, and Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime in Italy advocated the collective management of the economy by employers, workers, and state officials to reduce the marginalization of singular interests. Corporatism is a collectivist ideology where the corporates work together for a common interest.5 Corporatist ideas have been expressed since ancient Greek and Roman societies, with integration into Catholic social teaching and Christian democratic political parties. They have been paired by various advocates and implemented in various societies with a wide variety of political systems, including authoritarianism, absolutism, fascism and liberalism".6

[@junedea7225]

Prof Wolff, could you comment on China's crackdown on billionaire party members like Jack Ma and actress Vicki Zhao? Does the US government have the mechanisms to do something similar or would there have to be significant changes making addressing income inequities unachievable?

[@Mullet-ZubazPants]

I'd also like to know from Prof Wolff if China is more fascist than communist now

[@jamessmith1785]

NO because what the professor fails to say is that fascism controlled capitalism like china and not the other way around like us, why we are not fascist like he claims

[@jamessmith1785]

@@Mullet-ZubazPants yes per government control and now they are even charging for medical services like capitalist america

[@transsylvanian9100]

No the US does not have such a mechanism. China is not capitalist. It is not controlled by corporations and billionaires, quite the opposite, these capitalist elements are kept on a very tight leash. The US is fundamentally and systemically incapable of such a thing because the very same kind of criminals and corrupt oligarch gangsters who you would like to be held accountable are the ones who control the government. The system works for them and only them. All the institutions of the US state exist to protect their interests.

[@transsylvanian9100]

@@Mullet-ZubazPants No, China is the opposite of fascist, it is socialist. It has reformed and adopted market elements in its economy but its mission remains nonetheless the same: build toward communism and a prosperous, egalitarian society for all.

[@Gigika313]

That yellow vest tho 👍🏼

[@Talltrees84]

Good video. Maybe this is semantics but some say that there are differences between Italian Fascism (some say they are the only true Fascists) and German National Socialism (conservatives like to say Hitler was a socialist) and the traditionalist Latin authoritarianism of Franco’s Spain. Variants on the same model of strong dictatorial state with a strong leader which protects the capitalist elites and practices racism and has strong gender roles.

[@locusta4662]

in labour camps he selled prisoners and forced workers to private enterprises and before that he basically forced every german man to work in industries . Socialism means to be owner of the fruit of their own labour in a privatistic sense (proudhon and similar thinkers) , in a pubblic sense (marx and similar thinkers) or in a mix of the first two (socialdemocracy) . Hitler was for the corporativism that is the opposit of socialism , in that models the workers aren't owners but owned and that is why the differents kind of socialism make the far /midle left of the parlaiment and the fascist one the right during the xx century and in the beginnig of the xi (in most of the world , Cina and USA aside) . PS hitler himself said that mussolini was is teacher and model

[@Talltrees84]

@@locusta4662 Yes, different types of rats but rats they all are. What you described at the beginning of your reply sounds like the convict lease program of the Jim Crow South which was slavery redesigned. Slavery is legal in the US but as a public sector monopoly. I would say the closest thing to the merger of Fascism and Socialism would be the Perons of Argentina. Social welfare mixed with strong authoritarian leader with a nationalistic but not expansionistic bent. Juan Peron was a Duce fan boy and allowed a lot of Nazis to settle in Argentina for their money and shared ideologies.

[@locusta4662]

@@Talltrees84 actually many described the extremization of socialism (communism was the most famous) as the last christian heresy (because it change the man with god but basically is the same structure) and the fascism as a Roman imperialism in the xx century

[@dragonprogressive4317]

Thanks Prof. Wolff. This was very informative for me.

[@p.brooksmcginnis1749]

All War is Evil No More War

[@camilom2752]

As the empire begins to fall, I wouldn't be surprised if we see this merger within the decade.

[@transsylvanian9100]

It will likely happen at the end of the next republican president's term, all of the necessary lessons have been learned from the failure in 2020 to hold on to power, the next time they will not make the same mistakes, they are already laying the groundwork now, republican state legislatures passing myriad voter suppression laws, grabbing ever more power, and preparing everything necessary in order to be able to declare the results of the next electoral loss that happens while their party is in power fraudulent, and instead declare the incumbent the winner by default. After which there will need to be a declaration of martial law to violently suppress the resulting mass protests. This will probably be in 2028 since Biden will either not candidate or lose his re-election since he and the democratic party will be seen largely as a failure as they are pathologically incapable or unwilling (in the name of bipartisanship but really because they serve the donor class) to implement the kinds of radical reforms and ambitious programs that would be needed to get out of the ever worsening perpetual crisis that the US now finds itself in. The democratic party has no viable charismatic candidates anymore, the only ones that could beat republicans in 2024 are progressives and they are constantly sabotaged, demonized and undermined by their own party. So yes, open fascism will happen around 8-12 years from now unless something drastic alters the current course which frankly is the opposite of what i expect will happen, i expect that the support for a fascist coup will only increase over the next few years as China overtakes the US and Americans develop a deep resentment and sense of defeat like that which Germany had after the first World War. This racist, reactionary resentment will manifest as fascism at home and an unprecedented escalation of imperialist violence abroad to attempt to desperately hold on to global hegemony. Brutal proxy wars will be started in order to rally Americans around the flag.

[@michaelirwin1887]

And we, the US, is very much on the precipice.

[@RussCR5187]

Yes, PLUS all of human civilization is on the precipice due to ecological overshoot. See William Rees' excellent explanation at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJe0nHp3rb55h5I

[@foxyrollouts]

If we taxed corporations back at 90% Would that end forever wars? It sure would help your bridges and healthcare.

[@RussCR5187]

I don't think so. The billionaire oligarchs have amassed so much wealth they can continue to buy off the government without the need for any more income. And forever wars will continue to be profitable for the military-industrial complex because there are so many ways the money to fund them can get "lost".

[@foxyrollouts]

@@RussCR5187 if youre king of the castle. Its a position people dont like to give up. Jane Elliot describes it in her study "blue eyes" hopefully now countries will start speaking about the elephant in the room. America acting like a rogue state. I think your leaders are primitive christian zealots. Same as headchoppers

[@RussCR5187]

@@foxyrollouts Yes, and our leaders are also sociopaths who couldn't care less about the well being of the "unwashed masses". Zero empathy at the top.

[@foxyrollouts]

@@RussCR5187 sad

[@foxyrollouts]

@@RussCR5187 with equality we all get along better

[@GrandmaCathy]

Mussolini said that?? OMG. I thought corporatism was a new thing.

[@96cmb]

what are the main differences btw fascism and china's state capitalism

[@亲爱的爸爸]

mao said revisionist is a kind of facism. he called ussr after 1962 facism sometimes. some people say China facism, some say dictatorship capitalism, I am not sure

[@transsylvanian9100]

China is socialist not "state capitalist". A revolutionary workers' party controls the state and keeps capitalists and markets on a tight leash, regulating and supervising them closely. This is the exact opposite of fascism. In fascism capitalists and corporations control the state and use it to crush workers. China has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. Its government has a 90% approval rating. It is on track to become the world's largest economy in just a few years. It has done an amazing job protecting its people from a deadly pandemic which most other countries failed to contain. Every Chinese citizen, even in the most distant rural areas has access to free or highly affordable healthcare. It has built enormous amounts of housing for its people, much of which is given out for free just to lift people out of poverty. It has built tens of thousands of kilometers of roads and railways, bringing infrastructure to even the most remote, inaccessible places. In addition it regularly cracks down on corrupt capitalists who step out of line and whose greed harms the Chinese people as a whole. Most recently it has dismantled the multi-million dollar private tutoring industry which was bleeding poor people dry and preying on their hopes of a better education and future for their children but really only exacerbating wealth inequality. Now there will be vastly more equal access to education opportunities, lessening the gap between rich and poor. Countless loans for starting small businesses are given out by the government banks for little to no return in profit expected, merely to help people lift themselves up out of poverty. In addition China has one of the most vibrant systems of democratic participation at the local level especially in rural areas. The party is highly responsive to the needs and wishes of the people. In the US yes you can change the ruling party (though you have only two nearly identical choices) but regardless who governs the same corporate interests are always protected. Public opinion does not reflect in policy at all (or you would already have universal healthcare). In China it is the opposite.

[@thomasautonomousanonymous]

'Socialism'..."benefits the many" 'Fascism'....."benefits the few" Fascism = Corporate Socialism

[@tjgallagher7631]

The topic was between socialism vs capitalism, not socialism vs socialism, which you inferred. Corporate socialism is government(socialism) bribing corporations to come aboard ship before government(socialism)takes them over eventually, anyway. Crony capitalism is pretending to be capitalism but is instead government controlled. Free market capitalism is bringing products to market at the lowest price with state of the art products that last, the better quality and prices the higher demand for those products and industries. Taxes and over-regulations by government overseers hurt small business by causing them to increase prices in order to cover costs and raising wages arbitrarily on small business all but puts most small businesses out of business, thats why when socialism takes over completely, there is only the rich elite and the poor, the middle class, better known as you and l, are gone forever! Thats hardly fair, now is it?

[@thomasautonomousanonymous]

@@tjgallagher7631 I always look at Socialism being the opposite of Fascism ideologically...I use "corporate socialism" a little tongue in cheek from the perspective that there is corporate capture of the government and the capital giveaways/subsidies are often the difference between profit and break-even or loss...

[@tjgallagher7631]

@@thomasautonomousanonymous l think its a matter of indoctrination of what the elites want you to think and/or believe. Like an us against them mentality when in reality its the same thing, just different means of getting there, and their end justifies their means of getting there, no matter what the cost to freedom! Whether its labeled communist socialism or fascist socialism either way you'll end up under an authoritarian dictatorship, the only difference will be the label they are most endeared to.

[@thomasautonomousanonymous]

@@tjgallagher7631 Fascist Socialism is an oxymoron...Communism is designed to be the opposite of authoritarianism and in theory, it is not inevitable...In reality, those in control of any system control the narrative that is easily propagandized and preys on fear of those who through no fault of their own don't know the truth... Fascism doesn't benefit many people, especially those at the bottom economically...Both are economic systems, themselves, and are affected by politics around them...

[@tjgallagher7631]

@@thomasautonomousanonymous what you're missing is the lefts changing of our language to fit their norms, like the word, "infrastructure" meaning more than it once did in order for them to take more our our hard earned income for their wasteful socialist policies rather than just going for roads etc. as it was meant for in the not to distant past. Thats just one example, but its a good one, being that its recent and happened under and by our current regime.

[@mauibill7233]

Perhaps some of you remember when CSPAN first came on the scene. I watched it back then. I seem to recall that it was in the early 80's. I wanted to know what government was doing and their cameras were in the senate and house recording everything. I was bored to tears watching it as it was just one bill after another regarding business issues and virtually nothing else. Things have only gotten worse since then. So, again, how is this not fascism, Prof. Wolff?

[@williams.1980]

Right, but isn't that feature of "partial independence" or "relative independence" of the govt necessary for the particular corporitism that we live under nowadays? So this highly controlled, highly contained, highly manipulated independence is not independence at all, it is captured with a flair of independence I would argue. And the tiny bit of controlled independence that the govt might have is also an asset of the corporitism. It is not a concession or an economic cost of the monopoly state I would argue. And because of the way the corporate media works, it's not like the corporate state has to worry about being found out. It would have to be completely destroyed and defeated into the ground like the fascists in WWII were. Until that happens, the PR does not have any worthy opponent IMO. I actually have no reason to believe that Biden is going rogue to end the Afgan reign of terror. I think we are seeing a lot of television producing and some blah blah speeches and that's enough to keep us pacified. We're coming up on 9/11 twentieth, so we're probably going to be getting a lot of force fed state worship and war on terror jingoism and how all the US leaders and CIA are protecting women's rights, it's appalling when you look at it in isolation. But people don't see it in isolation, they are presented this ongoing manufactured narrative as a framing of the world to imagine themselves existing inside of. So it's not for analyzing, it is for absorbing unconsciously. But if govt essentially steps aside and lets corporatism corral workers anyway they want and to crush true effective socialism anyway they want, then that is essentially a merger. They can say they aren't "working together" but they are like two suspects who are completely practiced and rehearsed on what story to tell. But they aren't suspects, they are the judge and jury with the biggest PR campaign in the world. Remember, the corporate authority doesn't want the state to even exist much less act with authority. When it comes to the people the corporate authority wants the state to be totally handicapped or worse. So in the effort to suppress or control workers, their conditions, their rights and their effective organizing, the monopolies and big corps just need the state to stay home and watch American Idol which they happily do. Media does the PR for both. If you watch how they operate, the congress and leaders are mostly lawyers for the special interests. But not just the special interests individually, but also the unspoken precepts of extreme economic liberalism. You hear some criticism here and there coming from congress men and women, but as far as the institutions as a whole, they are basically the biggest corporate law firm in the world. The protection, immunity and privileges the corporate state is awarded is almost unfathomable. What part of govt acts independent of the corporate monopoly or Wall St? I can't think of one significant govt authority that is allowed real autonomy. Remember the Ford philosophy. Consumers need something to keep the engine going. So people do need something for the sake of the consumer economy, but they are getting less and less it seems because they are less and less important to the corporate monopoly state. Or the average standard of living is less important. The relief people get might be more to control unrest and collective organizing than anything. So this isn't the state having a conscience and acting independently I would argue, it is simply maintaining corporate monopoly homeostasis. Is the homeless population really about to multiply by a factor of 10 or more? I recently heard this and it's frightening.

[@jamessmith1785]

well said, as for terrorism we must change our money lust and foreign policy and preferences

[@nobodyspecial2053]

So the only real difference between this and what you would consider a fascist state is the facade that the people still have some level of control.

[@ProleDaddy]

So it would seem.

[@transsylvanian9100]

You can elect a figurehead, you can switch between two parties, but fundamentally you have no power to affect policy. Both parties serve more or less the same financial interests. If you had democracy then public opinion would translate directly into policy. You would already have immensely popular propositions such as universal healthcare and a higher minimum wage. But you don't. Because public opinion is irrelevant. You may cast your ballot but the ones who put big money into the politicians' pockets and into their election campaigns (which they use to manipulate you into voting exactly the way they want you to; if you think you are immune to propaganda, think again) are the ones really in charge. Ironically one of the countries that is most responsive to public opinion, where the voice of the people regularly translates into policy, and where as a consequence the government enjoys a nearly 90% level of support is a country that is among the most accused by the US of being undemocratic: China.

[@watsonroadster3707]

Wanna learn about fascism...That is to say what it is and how to fight it???...Read Trotsky on the subject. He was, and still is, the best at truly understanding the ideology and its true purpose...

[@jerod256]

Wikipedia has a more comprehensive definition of fascism, with police states, suppression of speech and rabid tribal scapegoating for societal issues. Wikipedia also distinguishes fascism from conservatism in that fascism tends to have radical government policies. In other words govt has a very large role in everything that happens in the country and not much is sacred except the guys at the top.

[@kyivstuff]

This explanation is so simplified as to becoming false. fascism was based on national syndicalism. Prof Wolff makes it seem as if the fascist movement was the initiative of capitalists - it wasn’t. It was a syndicalist (read - worker’s) movement. The fascist Manifesto included: universal suffrage (voting rights for women too), a minimum wage, an eight-hour workday for all workers, and the participation of workers' representatives in the functions of industry commissions. (PS: I’m a social anarchist, and I absolutely reject authoritarian regimes of all kind, so don’t come at me with accusations of fascism. I just think that our ideology should be based on real knowledge and not myths, such as presented here by Prof Wolff.)

[@locusta4662]

false . The fasci agrari and the fasci di combattimento , the first core of the fascist party (PFN) aimed at the destruction of the leghe dei braccianti (workers league) and the workers chambers . When mussolini rose to power he closed all the trade unions apart from the fascist one (that was the expression of the governament) . he cancelled the right to parade (unless it was a fascist one) and extended the daily workingtime . The right to vote to women was conced in the hope they would vote as the priest in the church would said them to do (antisocialist) but it lasted a few months , he didn't had the majotity in the parliament so he had to fraud (like Matteotti said) and closed the parliament , and he imposed to the industries that they could employ only a certain % and the small enterprises didn't have to employ woman because too stupid( Mussolini words) . For the fascist manifesto , it was made to appeace the masses but it wasn't approved not only by many intellectuals that worked for the fascism but wasn't signed even by many hierarchs , if you understand in a dictatorship what it means

[@giannid93]

great question wookie rage

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

Mmm. I go with the palingenetic ultranationalism definition, because the definition of fascism used here is much closer to authoritarian monarchy or oligarchy seen in most human history, where the people on top dominate religion, government and rule production, including mafia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palingenetic_ultranationalism trump as a personality for example comes close to the function of a fascist leader but falls short in the sense that he uses his “moral” force for thuggery and intimidation rather than generating a religious fervor to revamp all of society.

[@Punmaster9001]

So capitalism will inevitably lead to fascism, if it isn't already fascist

[@sebsfintechchannel5775]

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[@Glenintheden]

I prefer to look to the word origins of the term fascism. The term 'fascism' derives from the word for a group of sticks tied together uniformly around a central stick, usually with an ax head at one end. The central stick is analogous to a central government and the sticks surrounding it are analogous to the citizens, constricted and restricted in unison for the sole purpose of strengthening the central stick. If we use that as a definition, then most of the Communist Party governments in modern history have been fascist. Just look at how Chairman Mao forced his citizens to wear uniforms, as just one of many examples. We need libertarian socialism, else there is the ever present danger of repeating the same mistakes of many leftist governments throughout history who disregarded the importance of individual rights & freedom.

[@jamessmith1785]

This Latin definition is true, originally the rods were held by the roman senate, then emperor’s but under Mussolini it was used to control oppressive financial powers, industries, capitalists. So the people would not have their lives controlled by them in slave labor.

[@denisemorton56]

Here's the thing. The planet is burning and flooding and the land sea and air pollututed. All the while we argue about the merits of the different ways of organising our economies. All nations now use the economic tools of capitalisim to either sustain or develop their economies. Is it sustainable? Not if inequality and poverty are ignored or at best ameliorated, now and again, like extra dosh for low income families during a pandemic! I truly believe the wealthy have to do with less wealth. A lot less. In the meantime, Stay safe folks. There a better future to build.

[@dondevine3833]

So my question is; what is "neo fascism" then? Is that a better description of the American predatory capitalist model? The United States of Amazon? Asking for a friend. :)

[@harry1189]

0:53 that quote is fake, actually

[@LongDefiant]

OK, this video just won the internet WoooKey Rage...

[@SleekMinister]

This is a tough nut for a lot of people, because both ideologies surround the idea of the heartland; the capitol and the political "elite". In ancient Rome, Marcus Manlius saved the treasury of the Republic from Gauls when he defended the Capitoline Hill, and for that they made a bust of him, the oldest one we know, probably later, named him Capitolinus and gave him the epithet "Father of the Republic". This was the 390s BC. Fascism may have been considered having died that day, even with Brennus and his men sacking the rest of the city. Something you need to understand is that senators and patricians lived decades longer than poor people in those days, and they got away with it because of tech-craze and being surrounded on all sides. Not too long before, historically speaking, they had had a volcano erupting, which may have had something to do with the turbulence in the 500s BC, which was some 100 years after standardized coins and retail came into being. When it comes ideology, we should distinguish between economic and political ones, even though they are related, because one is martial, and the other is not. It's like with morals and ethics. Morals are considered part of your character, while ethics are taught in school. Which came first, and which is more important, I guess we'll never know. Socialism is the martial form of liberalism, because the Social War was about incorporation of clients into the heartlands, which they were refused, initially, even after the primal war with the Germans forcing popular reform in the army. Word beginning with soc- include slipper, sugar and step mother, inferring "weak alliance". Liber- initially meant the sap, or inner bark of a tree, then later book and, eventually, freedom, because maybe only 5% could read and write back then, so an education meant you were pretty much set for life, if you weren't so fat a horse couldn't carry you. In peace, it's immoral not to maintain atleast a veneer of neutrality, but in war, you can't afford not to pick a side. Communism is the martial form of anarchy. The communae were frontier outposts of the Roman army, outfitted with palisades, temples, and warm baths. How economic life worked must have differed from in the city, especially becaue you'd probably trade a lot with the enemy, who didn't speak your language, and it's reasonable to assume there must have been more pressure on officers to do hard labour, as in farming. Anarchy on the other hand is a school of philosophy. There aren't any communists, not that I know of, that have written anything worthy of mention. Marx certainly was no communist, but a complete anarchist he wasn't either. I think Marx finished his greatest work ... a little too soon, because history was pulling him along. At any rate, all ideologues seem to have a serious itch and a notable "anarchist" that played the accordion at balls, namely Ravachol, was one of those. He threw a stick of dynamite into a crowd. Baseline is that these are all slogans, and insofar as that they're trees of accumulated wisdom, they are also epistemological weapons, so choose carefully, pat a Juan, and remember that before 1850, or there's about, almost nobody had any data but what they had gathered in their own mind. Also, everybody who uses these words with grave intent seems to want to take your language from you and use it against you, so they don't have to do math, which is quite sad.

[@jamessmith1785]

Despite all the data available our minds are still empty, no one is interested in history and the evolutionary results of political / economic systems. The manipulation using these old titles is also as you point appalling.

[@SleekMinister]

@@jamessmith1785 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYPFnYycgNyUbpo

[@kevinmulkerrins605]

I'm guessing Professor Wolff is unfamiliar with Chewbacca

[@tanujSE]

Red salute

[@flav2157]

Is that democracy at work or socialist -communist at work??

[@crimony3054]

And it sounds like Barack Obama in 2009 when the federal government took an equity stake in General Motors and participated in electing a new board.

[@zehrajafri9252]

The democracy in America is government for the corrupt, by the corrupt of the uninformed helpless poor. Can this state of affairs be justified by any argument. Free Assange and Hale.

[@garrethoien6666]

Capitalism being the political and economic system of private entities given the right to trade goods and services for profit as the market dictates. There was so much mutually agreed transactions that Hitler was the result...is that really what you are saying? Someone needs to do a body language study on this guy he seems to touch his nose at critical points

[@tanujSE]

It's religion itself that is fascism exoect the proletariat and exploiteds Bourgeois did played a revolutionary role once as social fascist reducing everything into money relation

[@ThaiThai-sg9hy]

Mindblown. Awesome explanation and storytelling prof Wolff! If what you say holds its weight of truth, and i connected the dots from the events that recently happened...the merge had already completed its course. The fascism is in its infancy stages right now.

[@travcollier]

I don't really like how antrhopomorphized this explanation is. It implies an intent or intelligence which just does not seem to be there as I see it. The course of events and causes/stressors are correct in this explanation, but it implies the "why" is due to some sort masterminds instead of being systemic. To be clear, I don't think that is what Wolff actually means. In times of great stress, political leaders have a strong incentive to use the power of capitalists to preserve order and mollify public fears, and capitalists have a strong incentive to use the power of government to protect their enterprises. Politicians who don't take the right-wing populist route will tend to lose, and capitalists who don't "capture" government will tend to be displaced by ones who do. It is more like biological evolution than evil cabals. Very importantly, these are forces we can't successfully oppose by just "getting rid of the bad guys". It is systemic and requires systemic efforts to counter. I also don't think it is "solvable" in any sort of permanent way. Those forces/incentives or something functionally equivalent will always be there... we have to counteract them, not try to eliminate them. PS: I'm a biologist, so I can't help but think of all this as a sort of evolving system. Maybe that clarifies things a bit if you're not getting what I'm trying to say.

[@burningpile8371]

"Authoritarian Corporatism" came to mind while watching this and sure enough, there's a pretty good description of our plight in wikipedia (ugh!) under that term. The list of countries they cited as examples is hilarious!

[@PoliticalEconomy101]

Not its not a good description. The best description of the USA is corporatocracy or a state supported capitalism. Wolffs definition is not even a correct definition of corporatism.

[@Redactedlllllllllllll]

@@PoliticalEconomy101 so much time spent arguing about minute terminology on the left when we're so buried in a right wing state of affairs.

[@MrDXRamirez]

Classic contradiction isn't it? If you lived long enough you've lived through one complete business cycle you'd know. Business cycles are a necessary evil of capitalist life. The last business cycle ended with the Fall of Saigon 1975. It began with WWII. The newer cycle began anew in 1980 and ends with the Fall of Kabul 2021. The latest cycle is what we are in now that the variables are beginning to take shape as dismal. After Saigon fell the US economy faced double digit inflation and coined a new term 'stagflation'. Unemployment and inflation crippled working people in the 70s. At the beginning of this cycle crippling the standard of living of working people are four disasters. Destruction, climate change, unemployment, pandemic, proving capitalism is incompatible to human life. Business cycles are more than an 'explanatory hypothesis', of statistical analysis presented to us in the media. They mean and measure something real when statistics and theory fit into an institutional study. Understand that unemployment, crisis, depressions, are necessary evils that cannot be separated from the economic system than you can understand the work of the political world is all damage control and self-preservation. There is always enough money, they sit on a surplus that reaches the stratosphere, its purely political that people are not helped in their domestic life or the State is hijacked by a national business class of monopoly corporations.

[@puddingwithoutatheme4378]

Nice to see Franco in Hitler's and Mussolini's company, where he belongs.

[@healthyhomesoflubbock3985]

Everything is labeled these days

[@irabraus9478]

Time for an unfunny joke. "What do you call the merger of the Supreme Court with state courts (a la Texas)?" [Federalism]

[@jamessmith1785]

Fascism controlled capitalism much like China does today, capitalism controlling government is Americanism or plutocracy / kleptocracy. (nazism and fascism, big difference)

[@kobemop]

they've had the chance to prove themselves in the early to mid-40s, but failed. their system experiences the same contradictions of capitalism (all though with more a grip on the economy), as they still run on with the profit motive. nazi germany's economy was mainly geared towards death and war. hitler built many autobahns just for that. only half of mussolini's country experienced joy and the other half didn't. there's a great discrepancy and inequality between north and south Italy in terms of wealth, education, and health. anyways half of fascist Italy was illiterate. fascism is just another elitist ideology (or an alternative to socialism, another way of rebranding it), it was never meant to serve for the "majority" like it claims that it does. history proves that.

[@saramuhumphries5197]

👍💐

[@TheMisterGriswold]

Dear Proff Wolff, Please treat yourself to an attractive background. You deserve it!

[@matthewingerson]

I'll be the first to admit that Wikipedia isn't the best source, but you can start here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_vests_protests The vest on the wall in Wolff's background is an expression of solidarity with the working-class people, not just in Europe, but around the world. Yours is a nice verbal-gesture toward the Prof, but the background is a statement. Be well. :)

[@williamcook1476]

Hitler and Mussolini were both Socialists as was Stalin. George Orwells 1940 article on the word Fascism showed even back then that the word had become meaningless. Fascism is an Italian word meaning Bundle and referred to Trade Unions in that country. Most Capitalists are for limited government while Socialists are big promoters of big government and big corporations. Even during the Hitler years, he argued with Strasser we do not need to socialize the businesses we only need to socialize the people.

[@jobsanchez9989]

Check out Wolin's book, democracy Inc. It's a good supplement for researching fascism, totatarianism and authoritarianism

[@ynotlearn4190]

Should someone that is far left leaning pursue a economics degree?

[@ynotlearn4190]

@Joseph Norm remember i still need to be able to feed my family! So I don't I think I should pursue a degree merely just so I will be able to effectively make critiques. I can study economics in my spare time.

[@ynotlearn4190]

@Joseph Norm I plan on going to college that's why I even asked the question.

[@ericmacrae6871]

@@ynotlearn4190 im a double major in political science and economics. My goal is to become a professor and study these topic at lenght but right now i am slightly moving away and understanding the human nature aka psychology and bring that perspective into economics/political. I have also a goal to use modern day economics theories to prove Marxian economics. But i need that psychological background in order to achieve that. Something that Karl Marx Analysis lacks. Another thing that it lacks is how cultural norms impacts people behavior. For example you will hear concept like the western world is the civilized world. There is a quote from Thomas Sowell who stated that every babies are barbarian that needs to be civilized. Well there is a Protestant doctrine called Total Depravity where it teaches that human being cannot do good and are destine to rebel against God. As such even Hitler who might do something good it is always out of selfish behavior. Any ways the point is that there is so many differenr ways that you can take Marxiam and analyze the problem of capitalism.

[@marktomasetti8642]

Germany, Italy and Spain tipped into fascism, but USA (FDR) went for socialism - interesting.

[@lenuvian]

Usa? Socialist? Poor attempt at humor?

[@theburden9920]

@@lenuvian isnt america a mixed economy?

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

FDR enacted the New Deal to save capitalism. Strikes were breaking out all over the country. The working class was in full revolt. The economy was totally tanking. He gathered together all his capitalist comrades and told them, "If you don't give something, you'll lose everything." He then persuaded the union leaders to accept a compromise ~ much less than they should have accepted.

[@ashkitt7719]

I remember some fascist claiming FDR was a "national socialist" and said that in praise of FDR. ngl I could see FDR being that since the New Deal didn't apply to women and Black people.

[@marktomasetti8642]

@@lenuvian - What Stephanie Carrow said. FDR did a bunch of socialism like the WPA. Look-up The New Deal. FDR did lots of stuff.

[@allatsea]

Why do I have to pay you to ask you a question? More capitalist than Marxist, methinks.

[@ShaedeReshka]

Care to explain, or do you just think Marxism is when nobody makes money?

[@allatsea]

@@ShaedeReshka As a long time devotee of Prof Wolff's books and videos I was curious about his thoughts on the NPR show today restating a claim that has come up every few years for at least since the 1960's when I was in school and which claims Social Security is just about to go bust. Btw, I have high confidence that the good doctor makes a handsome income while I am a seventy-five year old with a lovely wife who have a joint SS income under twenty thousand. Not complaining, mind you, my life is full and happy. However paying for every channel I watch (mostly left leaning and scientific) would certainly be beyond my reach. So, while I am a loyal viewer, I will, alas, never be a "Patreon". Actually, I have a few other questions I would have loved to ask but I don't wish to offend, Regards, Jim Henry Past Democratic State Committeeman for St. Johns County, Florida

[@ShaedeReshka]

@@allatsea I understand. I was just curious what the criticism actually was, I hope I didn't offend. I obviously can't answer for him, but I suspect the answer would be along the lines of reducing the number of received questions, filtering out bad faith questions, or providing a reward of some kind to offer patrons as incentive. Dr. Wolff seems to respond mostly to questions he gets repeatedly, so maybe consider asking it in the comments a few times and see if others are also curious. I am not a patron directly of Democracy at Work, but I am of Capitalism Hits Home, which is hosted by his wife, Dr. Harriet Fraad. I'll send the question her way and maybe a response will pop on on that show which is also being hosted on this channel.

[@allatsea]

@@ShaedeReshka Thanks.

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[@catalinacruz8451]

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[@rickkurt2772]

My only problem with a decentralized system is that governments don't want that....I'm not saying it's not possible but it's just unlikely...I personally believe government's will bring the hammer down on Bitcion because it's attacks their ability to mismanage the current

[@catalinacruz8451]

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[@kraykray9585]

You mean like patents? So if I make a new type of microchip, people should just be able to copy my design verbatim?

[@Mutineer9]

Yes. You can have like may be 2 years max advantage. But in reality, you will never have any reasonable patent. Scientist and engineers do not benefit from anything they create. By contract, everything they create belong to company, including patent right. More, you even do not own what you know. Many contract prohibit to work in same industry for few years after your employment finished. In reality, patents is the biggest obstacle to scientific development.

[@kraykray9585]

Hmm interesting.

[@kraykray9585]

@@Mutineer9 Seems like a double edged sword. If theoretically you invented something at home with no contract, that would pretty much only give you two years to make a profit. A corporation can just steal it and build it cheaper and ruin you 2 years later.

[@thomasautonomousanonymous]

@@kraykray9585 The benevolent corporations wouldn't do that...You imply that they are Capitalists or something...

[@Mutineer9]

@@user-wl2xl5hm7k Yes, I agree. I just try to be a bit pragmatic. Many Soviet Union achievements come from absence of Intellectual property, concept did not exist. And problems especially later, come from secrecy created by cold war.

[@darthjarjarbinkstherealsit6832]

Red Salute.

[@anterodelgado9809]

Because of the economic crisis and the rate of unemployment now is the best time to invest and make money 💯.

[@TheNaturalLawInstitute]

Except that, as always, Wolff is intentionally evading the reason for the development of Fascism - as a NATIONAL defense against INTERNATIONAL Communism, given that RULE OF LAW (capitalism) opened the door to international communism (like it has here in the west again in pomo-pc-woke form), and that it is international communism that was responsible for the terrors of the debate between the three poles of political preference. Wolf is a subtle undermined (sedition) of rule of law because he and his tradition holds the false belief that a group of human professional executives could do better. The point of rule of law is that all humans are the same, and equally corruptible, and deterministically abusive of power. The frailty in western civilization is nothing to do with capitalism - which like communism or anarchism cannot exist - is that we didn't complete the rule of law program by prohibiting the set of crimes possible using 'words and money': free riding, rent-seeking, privatization of common gains and socialization of losses, and false promises that bait into a hazard. What would happen if we did? It would be very clear who undermined western civ, who created the present crisis, and how easily it was to fix it, and how rapidly the working and middle classes would be rescued from their current re-imposition of serfdom by 'experts'. Dr. Wolff at democracy now shows how storytelling (overloading), pilpul (sophistry), and critique (undermining) and suggestion, and false promise (baiting into a hazard) of alternatives to rule of law - constraining both commoners and professional 'elites' can be used to deceive the public with ease, and under the guise of 'democracy' advance the interests of globalists, who are nothing more than predators on western civilization's accumulated capital and the means by which we accumulated that capital - and no other civilization did: the reciprocal insurance, by force of arms, of self-determination, by self-determined means, using sovereignty in demonstrated interests, and reciprocity in display, word, and deed, thereby limiting us to productive, voluntary cooperation adversarial markets in all walks of life whether associative, cooperative, productive, reproductive, commons, polities, or wars. The dirty secret of western civilization is that this formula - the group strategy of western civilization - is the most consistent, correspondent and coherent with the laws of the universe (including the formal, physical, behavioral, and evolutionary), and as such is the most rapidly innovative and adaptive of all civilization. This explains the bronze age expansion of the Indo-Europeans, the iron age of the Mediterranean, and the steel age of the north sea peoples. And that across these ages, the Europeans have dragged primitive mankind, whether African, South Eurasian, Indian, and now East Asian, out of their failure by 800ad, to discover and adapt to those laws. Why? Because the cost of adapting to those laws is the continuation of natural selection by the suppression of the reproduction of those unfit for the constant stress of constant adaptation: the underclasses. The development of Every civilization was halted by the expansion of the underclass - and justified by the elites that parasitically depended upon them. The entire sequence of the marxist, neo-Marxist, postmodernist, pc-woke, anti-west&anti-white movement is simply a revolt against darwin's explanation for the disproportionate rate of evolution of Europeans compared to all other civilizations. And in particular a revolt against the abuse of this strategy by the germans during the second world war. Ergo this is the reason for the vast expansion of pseudoscience begun by Marx, Boas, Freud, Bohr, and Cantor, exacerbated by the Frankfurt School, Gould, Lewontin, only refuted in the past decade by economics, genetics, neuroscience, and what passes for artificial intelligence. In and of itself, Democracy is the slow path to communist tyranny, decline, and death. The maximum value of democracy is the middle class (people who produce) voting to veto the members of the government for their policy failure under rule of law. There is no wisdom of crowds. There is wisdom only in a tradition held by those crowds, and even so, there is no durable wisdom in any tradition other than the scientific rule - rule of law by the European traditional natural law - and all other traditions failed by 800ad. No man is a hero to his debtors. No civilization is a hero to its debtors.

[@marshallsweatherhiking1820]

As you can see above... fascists like to obfuscate reality by casually reversing cause and effect. A growing underclass is a consequence of capitalist decline, not a cause of it. When everyone is middle class, the rate of profit flatlines (as it did in the US in 1970s, leading to stagflation). Capitalism needs a constantly expanding global underclass of worker drones to keep the profits flowing. Fascists just want to keep that underclass out of site, confined to the Global South. Stop lying and fuck your racism.

[@TheNaturalLawInstitute]

​@@marshallsweatherhiking1820 Stop lying. The west has practiced deliberate eugenics in the form of (a) manorialism (b) aggressive genetic pacification (hanging), for well over a thousand years. SO that by the early modern period most of Europe above the Hajnal line was genetically middle class. A growing underclass was made possible by the sequence of the classical restoration, the rise of north sea trade, literacy, the empirical, agrarian, commercial, financial, industrial, scientific, medical, and technological revolutions. This ended both the use of manorialism to constrain the reproduction of the underclass, because the underclass were more profitatable as consumers. the underclass bred up to the point where the average IQ has lost 15 points - one standard deviation - in just under two centuries. Unfortunately, because of hitler's abuse of eugenics, the eugenics program was halted, and the anti Darwinian pseudoscientific revolution begun by marx, boaz, freud et al was successful until 2010. Capitalism like Communism is a fiction. One has either rule of law by self determination by self determined means and the continuation of natural selection by the suppression of the reproduction of those unfit for market civilization - the proxy for environmental selection - or one has rule by man to violate those laws of nature. Deal with it.

[@jamessmith1785]

@@marshallsweatherhiking1820 there are many kinds of fascists it seems created daily, the original controlled capitalism, which kind are we discussing now?

[@jamessmith1785]

Europeans lead the colonization of the planet because they were first colonized and regimented by the Romans when they themselves were "barbarians", by the romans who coined the term.

[@TheNaturalLawInstitute]

​@@jamessmith1785 Ancestral north eurasians. Counter clockwise rotation (climate). hybridization of the spectrum of European hunter gatherers. neolithic european civilization. Anatolian Farmer migration. Hunter gatherer reconquest. Indo European migration and incremental conquest from spain to china. These people diverged into the south (italo-celtic) the central (germanic) and the eastern (balto-slavic) populations. They spread in all directions from the top of the black sea, counter clockwise into greee and anatolia. Their political system was the result of their steppe origins: pirates, and the only possible government for pirates: contractualism. Which we call democracy and rule of law - for the aristocracy. These IE group's tradition, law, political strategy, surviving in written history only as the Spartans, evolved under the Athenians due to trade, reaching high point under the Athenians. The Romans invented bureaucracy and the administrative state. The romans over-expanded into the middle east as had the greeks, and discovered the same problem - IQ84, low trust, divrse tribal people cannot be as cheaply organized as IQ 100 high trust relatively homogenous europeans. And so the cost of administration per person was too high, despite the 'addiction' of north African food production (like we have with china in industrial goods today.). The romans had committed a near genocide against the celts who were cousins, and metalworkers, and competitors. This opened space for rotation of the germanics from the north across the south. The romans could not defeat them. And Christianity like woke today, was an appealing cult for the women and underclasses, who could be governed by cults but not by reason law and duty to one another. In other words, homogenous european rome could not maintain the culture of heterogenous roman empire, nor could it recreate it after the invasion and plauges. However, the group strategy of the Celtics, germanics-scandinavians, and balto-slavics was the same as the group strategy of the itals of rome, and the dorians(?) of Greece. So greece and rome provided new technology that's affordable with waterborne traide that wasn't available on the continent, but didn't alter the group strategy of the west indo europeans that was relatively homogenous across the european plain. We can give our technology to India and china and Africa and the middle east but they still retain their group strategies and largely retain their religions. All our status networks (values) are embedded in that group strategy normst traditions and values. The European group strategy, the strategy of pirates, steppe raiders, vikings, and world conquering europeans is the same: an aristocracy that through force of arms, reciprocally insures the self determination by self determined means by demand for sovereignty in demonstrated interest, reciprocity in display word and deed, and thereby limiting us adversarial markets in all aspects of life, at the cost of the suppression of the reproduction of the unfit to share that burden. It's the last phrase that terrifies the world who are unfit for that burden. and that burden is the price of rule of law, and the sovereignty, reciprocity, and self determination that result from it. That is the 5000 years of strategy that unites the european people. And it explains the rate of development of the european people versus all other peoples combined in the bronze, iron, and steel ages, interrupted only by semitic Christianity and the dark ages of superstition and ignorance they created by the destruction of the arts, letters, and culture - the technology - of greco roman civilization, and impose mandatory illiteracy and ignorance on our people by force of arms. So no.

[@HouseofGausss]

This guy speaks half turths, but believes in 'whole lies', sad to see such elderly people so disarrayed in their reasonings

[@captaindave88]

wookie rage lolz

[@AudioPervert1]

going to sleep ... f this verbiage and inconsequential blabber. Ps - Read Antonio Gramschi or Franco Bifo Berardi (Light years ahead of this state)

[@ynotlearn4190]

According to dhoruba bin wuhad here ib the USA we have democratic facism.