Economic Update: Christian Socialism

[@mildredmartinez8843]

What a wonderful guest. I hope you will have him again for a longer interview. As a Latin American, I remember the great "Theology of Liberation" movement in Latin America where Christians, socialists, communists, anarchists and other groups worked together. One of their creeds was, "We have opted for the poor." And the concern that drove them to work together was justice. This is worth remembering.

[@patm6704]

Pope John Paul 2 was bitterly opposed to the 'liberation theology' which Archbishop Oscar Romero was killed for supporting. Pope John Paul 2 had regular contacts with the CIA which was involved with right-wing death squads in El Salvador, etc.

[@Zerpentsa6598]

If you're a Christian, there is no option re poverty. Only the poor will inherit the Kingdom of God.

[@mildredmartinez8843]

@@patm6704 I didnt say that the church hierarchy initiated or supported this movement. As it usually turns out, it is the lower tier of social institutions that usually take the more ptogressive stance on most issues. But thanks for calling out the disgusting actions of the Catholic heierarchy.

[@fluff5800]

Exactly the theology of liberation! Its a very popular ideology within former colonies like the Philippines too! Education here was mostly handled by priests and nuns jesuits and maryknolls who subscribed to the theology of liberation.

[@VincentBarbosa1986]

This is so refreshing to hear a comprehensive and direct application of Christianity.

[@Jordan-hz1wr]

@Garden State As a former American conservative… I’m afraid I must agree.

[@davetgra]

I'm pretty confident that the dominant religion in our country leaders is capitalism (worship at the altar of Goldman Sachs, an almost perfect metaphor for the golden calf).

[@larrybarnes7102]

Well said Dave!

[@kevchard5214]

Don't be fooled what you see today represents christianity from old. Capitalism was created by christianity in the beginning in order to increase wealth of the church.

[@carl94-h9h]

@@kevchard5214 original Christianity wasn't like that. it was co opted by Constantine of the Roman empire so he could have a state religion. That is one of the reasons the church was corrupted and became wealthy.

[@kenc8359]

It was either worship God or worship Mammon.

[@kevchard5214]

@@carl94-h9h Constantine and Rome created christianity so this makes it the beginning.

[@kathryntate6809]

Spot on Yorg!! You encapsulated the crux of what this fight is all about.

[@DeadDanDan]

love this inclusion to discuss another aspect of our shared goal and prospect, socialism

[@weston.weston]

I really appreciate, Dr. Wolff and his work here.

[@MartinScreeton]

Great stuff professor Wolff! --> “Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.” ― Barry M. Goldwater

[@jessejames4960]

Its class warfare and the people lose against money. The inegaulity goes deep into society. The end is near.

[@PoliticalEconomy101]

If you dont support huge corporations and their crony relationship with government, why on earth would you support religion whos denominations are even bigger than huge corporations and they are also in bed with the government. Its so easy to fool the common man, that its no wonder our society is so corrupt. Christian Socialism is the same as National Socialism. They are both exclusionary, homophobic, hateful, and imperialist.

[@chinafuture6484]

So many fake Christians in the US.

[@eryl7563]

They ARE the GOP, already; ' Nutters Anonymous.' invoke the godianity myth to grift billions of bucks from the deluded masses. Russian ex KGB, set up in Macedonia, 2016, goal to take over, control the design of christianity; Nutter Pastors, obscenely wealthy; if they believe the , ' gospels,' they are even more dangerous than if plain liars, carpetbaggers, charlatans... they rob the working class who hang on to some ridiculous bit of magical thinking.... John Lennon, with the release of, " Imagine," signed his death warrant..

[@geoffreynhill2833]

@@PoliticalEconomy101 Christian Socialism and politics generally have certainly baffled YOU ! Your reasoning certainly baffles ME... 🤔

[@buffaloval2812]

Thank you both for a wonderful conversation. I am reminded of the Hutterites which have been living in intentional communities since the 16th century. They still flourish and continue to show that we can live together without the need for capitalism. There are alternatives. Blessings on you both.

[@arthurraleigh5812]

The Hutterites here, participate in the market. They sell their food products, furniture, and I have seen them even make and install custom made cabinets for new construction. I think they are just resourceful.

[@l.lokman3137]

Always, love to listen to Prof Wolff. Reporting facts and opinions without no propagandas, bias and fake news.

[@Christy-myplace]

Thanks for the content on Christian Socialism, Proff Wolff! Very few platforms for it, yet truly at the heart of Jesus message to his followers.

[@blueoak116]

Thanks!

[@scottbaldridge165]

Thank you for having Joerg on your podcast Dr. Wolff! Presenting the diversity of thought on economics amoungst christians is a theological and historical reality!

[@bigsolo762]

In a 1 million Square foot warehouse it takes 5 or more minutes just to get to a break room so really it's a 5 minute break

[@tanujSE]

Red salute to Professor Richard Wolff

[@treefrog3349]

Christian Capitalism is almost a contradiction in terms. Christianity IS socialism in it's most noble form : concern and compassion for "the least of us". The "prosperity gospel" is the ultimate perversion and contradiction of that noble idea.

[@cl0udstr1fe]

Beautifully said!

[@ExPwner]

No it isn’t

[@patricialongo5746]

In Europe it's a dog whistle for urbane fascist and it's unbeatable! Christian Socialist.

[@941856]

Thank you! This was excellent. Please have Yorg on again! I think it is so important to appreciate the roots of the socialist ethic in our religious beliefs as well as how this ethic contributed to out nation's history.

[@gfujigo]

I can’t wait to watch this. I am a devout Christian and it seems many of the ideas discussed by Dr. Wolff resonate with many of Christ’s teachings.

[@eryl7563]

Christ never wrote a word; neither did his disciples. Somewhere between 60 and 100 years after the ' christ death,' event story, Greek Scholars in Rome began writing the stories that later came to be called the gospels. There were more books of stories not included in the bible book, than the handful selected. Books written by women were ignored. John was written by at least 50 people. The, 'gospels,' vastly contradict each other; some, including ,' Paul,' claim christ was never an earthly body, rather a celestial apparition, only one speaks of crucifixion. If a single being/Christ existed he spoke Aramaic, he and the, ' disciples,' were uneducated, illiterate. The, ' gospels,' were written by highly educated people fluent in writing in the Greek language. Some good ideas for peaceful, loving coexistence, are attributed to Christ, but christians never follow those rules just use their cultish fetish to self aggrandize, self enrich, and bash, and slay, those they disagree with.

[@need-to-know-]

@@eryl7563 😴

[@gfujigo]

@@eryl7563 Virtually none of what you say is true and the evidence we have available contradicts virtually all of your claims or renders them mute. For example, it is not necessary for Christ to write a word for us to know what he taught and what he affirmed. Malcolm X did not write his own autobiography. Alexander the Great did not write his own history. Many historical figures never wrote a word nor did they create their own corpus of historical materials. That is the task of historians and biographers and researchers to build the accounts based on historical evidence and facts available to them. You are absolutely right many books were left out of the Bible - and with good reason. The New Testament, for example, is comprised of books from people that directly knew Christ, or if the book or author was validated by someone who knew Christ. It’s very logical. If I want a history of you, it would make sense to trust those who knew you directly, or those who could be validated by those who knew you directly. That just makes sense. Please start with any one or two of your claims and provide scholarly, peer reviewed research by experts in the field to support them. Thanks. I look forward to your reply and the evidence you will provide.

[@justinroyse4271]

@@eryl7563dawg, they’ll always be Christians at least for a long time. If they’re gonna be Christians at least I hope they’re socialist aligned, don’t alienate religious people they’re the majority of the population.

[@Yaniv_YT]

Thank you prof. Wolff 🙏

[@1feloniouspunk]

Brilliant lecture. Thank you.

[@johnnymentero6313]

I'd like to ask: There are like 140 countries that didn't sanction Russia, and we've heard of several important countries such as Brasil, India, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Argentina, Mexico. Just those amount to about half of the world population, and I've heard there are 27 countries in Africa, plus many asian countries who will continue to trade with Russia. The question is: All this trade will have to be done outside the U$D/swift system due to the sanctions, and because Russia already stated it won't be working with us/euro currencies. How do you see this reflecting in the US dollar as a reserve currency, and in the day to day life in the US and abroad?

[@jtjurje357]

Really good question Johnny. I hope to see Prof. Wolff address this.

[@need-to-know-]

Pose the question on his patreon.

[@qjtvaddict]

The crash of the USA

[@susanmercurio1060]

It's the classic "the US shooting itself in the foot."

[@sayunts]

Thank you, Dr.Wolff!

[@LongDefiant]

As a former pastor I doubt very strongly the ability of Christianity to make real contributions to human progress. No matter where the Venn diagram overlaps you'll always have some primitive belief or cultural fight that drags us backwards. The purpose of Christianity is the perpetuation of Christianity, not human thriving.

[@susanmercurio1060]

I learned that from experience. Speaking as a former Christian.

[@DigitalLibrarian]

A meme complex that domesticates people in order to copy itself from brain to brain, thereby surviving.

[@patm6704]

Religion burdens believers with needless fear, guilt and shame based on the religious concept 'sin'. It's like a quack doctor convincing you, you have an illness only he can cure. Religion lumbers humanity with needless division, hatred, warmongering, wars etc. Religion is a powerful tool of control for politicians, rulers and a mega cash-cow for its many powerful, wealthy vested interests. Religious institutions are firmly embedded with the ruling elites in every religious country i.e. the reason why religion still survives and thrives despite the fact the Bible is based on a fictional 6,000 year-old Earth where Neanderthals never existed. In the real world, most people have some Neanderthal DNA because our human ancestors mated with Neanderthals and Africans whose ancestors have never left Africa have no Neanderthal DNA. To survive and thrive, humans had to come up with moral codes and laws long before the Bible was invented.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

@grinningguise7679 - Well said, pasta.

[@georgefarrington895]

The problem seems to be the boss thinks they own the little people, there’s to many greedy bosses out there.

[@daviddipasquale5479]

International Workers Day May 1 Let's all celebrate including US

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

😂🤦🏽‍♂️ in us everyone has a six figure job

[@FleetaFleegalBuckFut]

@@Pyasa.shaitan I wish

[@kathryntate6809]

the Bible talks about the early Christian communism in the book of Acts.

[@gfujigo]

Yup. It’s amazing how conservative Christians take that and twist it into scorched earth capitalism.

[@Octoberfurst]

Isn't it funny how conservative Christians completely ignore the book of Acts? They pretend it doesn't exist. Of course they also ignore numerous other passages that talk about welcoming the immigrant, taking care of widows and orphans and sharing what you have with others. All they do is focus on anti-gay stuff that take up like three lines in the whole Bible.

[@gfujigo]

@@Octoberfurst Excellent points.

[@samp9418]

Yorg is Spot on!! Awesome interview ^_^

[@HBFaash]

The unequal distribution of wealth has been addressed by numerous Christians for nearly 2 millenia. From the earliest times through the middle ages, (France, German states, eastern Europe, Levellers in the British Isles, Society of Friends etc.) While not Socialist they viewed the accumulation of wealth as anathema to most of contemporary Catholicism. Calvinists, going back over 250 years elected their Ministers. Certain aspects of contemporary progressive, (as well as regressive aspects), have existed within the wider Christian theology for far longer than the 100 or so years mentioned.

[@bertnewton103]

Thanks for this.

[@미향주-j4s]

Tired or relaxing is for taking a sleep on listening this program in Richard Wolff professor English tonight.

[@anhedonic-voting]

Thank you 🌎 ✊️ 🌹 🗽

[@Huang59]

Amazon is a public traded company, so it's all the shareholders who agrees and support the abuse of it's workers.

[@zhcultivator]

Distributism and Christian Market* Socialism ✝️ should be the ideal imo

[@DawnLowery-or8se]

Oddly enough I get that. I could see wide spread cottage industries localism 3 acres and a cow artisan agrarian local markets. Safety nets in place with food distribution , Medicare for all. All major industries prone to monopolies nationalized. I can see the 2 political economic thoughts merging together along with high regard to ecological issues so I’d throw in a a huge thrust of real environmental pursuit not the fake carbon capture boondoggle of course.❤

[@daviddipasquale5479]

Number one problem in the world: Corruption

[@petersepall2590]

The human tendency for self-serving self-delusion.

[@RussCR5187]

Greedy sociopathic oligarchs who, by definition, are narcissists having no empathy, no guilt, no remorse for what they do to the "unwashed masses".

[@fishinghuntingfool]

#1 greed #2 religion never forget greed corrupts,absolutely

[@lenuvian]

Humans

[@patricialongo5746]

Yes-. Just a few bad apples. Ignore that system behind the curtain.

[@DownMichael]

Throw the money changers from the temple.

[@FrancisMetal]

As Christian (Anglican) and Communist I'm happy for that

[@kellelane9307]

One has to wonder... who really implements these hardship? Executives? The boards? Or is it the actual day 2 day over sight management? And if it is the later... then where is the indignation at these persons? Much like the black slave drivers whipping their fellow man when this colony was being developed for the elite... arent these same persons as culpable? A mind set of the day 2 day slave drivers must be addressed in tandem with the accountability of the upper echelon... yes?

[@Darkmatter321]

Great interview

[@jeffworob3453]

"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven." Jesus Christ

[@jl8942]

This is elitist propaganda to convince slaves and peasants that there is "moral virtue" in being poor.

[@jakobsmith4046]

@@jl8942 So you think Bezos or Musk or gates are going to heaven?

[@jl8942]

@@jakobsmith4046 no, I don't think anyone is going to heaven because there is no evidence that heaven exists. Why do you believe in heaven and why do you care if Bezos or Musk "get in"?

[@jakobsmith4046]

@@jl8942 Why are you incapable of understanding we are talking about a Christian perspective here? And all the suffering they caused is reason enough! you seem like a "new atheist" more than a leftist.

[@jl8942]

@@jakobsmith4046 I understand exactly what the delusions of Christians are. I. Don't. Care. The concept of heaven and hell are stupid and boring. Keep your stupid -isms to yourself because you don't know me and I am not a "new atheist". I do support reasonable and rational thought over superstition when organizing society and in governance, it's called enlightenment.

[@wadap0]

"conservative Christianity" is an oxymoron.

[@brucehitchcock3869]

Had to think but that's so true.

[@AdamGeest]

You mean a pleonasm ?

[@theodore8178]

What's meant by conservative? Christianity is socially Conservative in the extreme. However, capitalism and Christianity are incompatible.

[@theodore8178]

Nicaragua 🇳🇮 ❤ is socially conservative but communist

[@theodore8178]

Christianity and zionism are also incompatible

[@spanky7277]

And Yes I have said ohe thousand times In many outlets reminding people the Companies are nothing without the workers and the people who buy their Products . The largest success of any company is the people who buy their Products . and the people who work for their Companies . So this is how they treat us after we have made them Billions of Dollars .

[@chrisbacos]

I now have a similar perspective as both John Lennon and Mahatma Gandhi. In my own words, I love the Lord but can't stand many Christians. I guess that makes me a hypocrite. Live with it.

[@pipster1891]

I don't have to. YOU have to live with it.

[@CornFedZ06]

Christians have nothing to do with your god you don't have to stand with them. They deserve to be respected, however.

[@Weiner-Worm]

@@CornFedZ06 respect is earned. I have 0 respect for the Christians who hate LGBTQ people, hate brown refugees, hate the poor, etc

[@thalgott3]

@@Weiner-Worm Hey, those are "good christians"!!! /s

[@susanmercurio1060]

Not a hypocrite, you're honest. As compared to the hypocrites that turned you away from their system.

[@portalarizona]

From 4th chapter of Book of Acts: "Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need."

[@shambalkaran9258]

The beast shall issue amark that noOne shall buy or sell unless they received the mark. Think. Sanctions?

[@janosmarothy5409]

@@shambalkaran9258 that gets interpreted a thousand different ways. back in the 70s, that was interpreted as being about credit cards. always remember that the prophecies were couched in references known to the audience to speak in a figurative language about the political context of their day. the scholarly consensus is they were talking about the various world empires of antiquity -- they didn't have credit cards or sanctions in mind, nor did they have UN or NATO helicopters when talking about locusts, those are latter-day fringe sectarian innovations

[@klytouch7515]

I just want to create a species... for the challenge ahead of conquering space and time... hmmm... I don't do analytical research into political directions... I just don't.

[@portalarizona]

@@janosmarothy5409 The Beast was the Roman emperor Nero Caesar, who was discriminating against Christians. Biblical prophets were not fortune tellers. They were justice warriors.

[@EroticInferno]

I would share all I own with everyone if I knew everyone was just as open. I'd leave my doors unlocked if I knew it were safe. But I'm selfish. I'm physically scared. It hate that about myself. I want nothing more than to be overly generous, but I'm scared. And that fear makes me sad.

[@nthperson]

What are the true teachings of Christianity? Thomas Paine provided many answers in his book "The Age of Reason".

[@martinrangelflores1750]

Boycott Amazon? I do.

[@susanmercurio1060]

Have done since forever.

[@treefrog3349]

The innocent malleability of the modern day working man is a function of both desperation and naiveté. They NEED to survive. That is the biological imperative. However, they have been so intentionally intellectually deprived by an exclusive education system that has been designed and operated by the very forces that mean to subject them. The same forces that are at work in modern America was perfected by slave masters of yore.

[@MatTheHack]

too many people have died in the Name of Christ for anyone to hear that word

[@DJWESG1]

In some beleif systems you are not even allowed to name the cause of the deaths.

[@treefrog3349]

Amen brother! The utter hypocrisy of it all is enough to make any thinking person vomit!

[@MatTheHack]

@@treefrog3349 I think the only "religion" that never sought to kill another is Buddhism? ✡☪✝☯☮🕊

[@TheDilemma76]

@@MatTheHack you’d be wrong there. Just look at Myanmar.

[@MrMurfle]

A bit off with regard to Amazon. It's not just Bezos benefitting, but corporate executives and stockholders (primarily, of course, the wealtny) and, to a barely perceptible degree, consumers of Amazon products. Should always make clear who the 2 sides are.

[@earlfreeman93]

Professor Wolf we the security guards are not getting any raises we are still being paid the same wages as we were two years ago; and we are told that agencies is trying to negotiate with the client a raise for us but we hear that the client already has agreed to the new contract and we still have not seen a rise in our paid; it is believed that higher up are getting the extra money that the client is paying.

[@cl9826]

Of course they are. Same thing happening in my business as well. Thanks guys for your hard work, company made record profits. I asked for a raise 3 times and nada.

[@simoncharacter01]

eminem/50 cent type beat on the intro. 100%

[@ramonorestesmendozaahumada9440]

Brasil, Paraíba, João Pessoa.

[@TennesseeJed]

Jesus was not a neoliberal, he was more of a Marxists by the stories in the New Testament.

[@TennesseeJed]

Seems like every good philosophy and or theology gets perverted to consume and manipulate people.

[@garysmokesmeat]

Almost all of his parables involve private property and profit.

[@TennesseeJed]

@@garysmokesmeat He took time to braid a whip then walked into the debasing money market lair and started taking names and whipping ass! I wish he'd visit Wall Street today.

[@DJWESG1]

Im not sure king james had any sort of special knowledge of jesus that wasnt already suspected. Assuming the stories are correct that is and not simply metaphores and alagories all ppl can relate to.

[@garysmokesmeat]

@@TennesseeJed well, he ran them out of the church, not off the planet. Jesus was not in favor of using state power to force people to do things his way. That’s what socialists do.

[@sizzla123]

Mark 12:29 Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

[@hurobiont1054]

Could you discuss the "warmth of Feudal Socialism vs the Indifference of Capitalism"?

[@hurobiont1054]

How much inflation do you consider acceptable to match an increase in input costs? If we ignore company profits for a moment, if input costs increase and prices don't increase to match that, it would lead to shortages, so, what is your alternative?

[@johnkoester1733]

Christianity fills the need of many people for an undemocratic framework. They are free to chose only conformity. I think there are many of us who are only comfortable in that social construct. Exposure to other frames of reference will seem threatening at first, but education can lift us out of the darkness.

[@thalgott3]

How much property is owned by christian churches? How much property tax are they contributing to the common good?

[@michaelfrith247]

As Christian; I would very much

[@GuitarJimBourke]

Acts of the apostles' Funds offered to them were spread evenly to help the communities, no one would profit from other human beings. Of course, this would fall into conflict with Rome's system of ancient Capitalism. The First Christians we're what we call, today Socialists. Down through the ages, the 1st message would get distorted and twisted in the religious institution of Christianity.

[@TheAmericanAmerican]

As a former catholic, I say amen to that, Comrade! JC was the OG Socialist 😎

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

'My temple should be a house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves'..GET OUT.! - quote: Jesus Christ Superstar ;)

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

Prof Rieger is doing a task long past due. Every denomination of US Christianity has been shouted down for the rightwing supporting variants. It is long past due to have the MLK style take bake the flame and their voice in political discourse

[@ReparationsForImperialism]

Yeah, just what we need another MLK to take the revolutionary mood of the people and channel it into ideology and tactics that stand no chance whatsoever for liberation from capitalist class dictatorship. If misleaders like Wolff and MLK didn't exist, it would be necessary for the rich to invent them. At a time when the Black Panthers had the correct vision to effectively combat capitalist dictatorship and white supremacy, MLK did nothing but help his rich buddies reinvent themselves and capitalist dictatorship and white supremacy still rule the day.

[@DJWESG1]

@@ReparationsForImperialism seems and odd take on things.

[@ReparationsForImperialism]

@@DJWESG1 See Fred Hampton of the Black Panther Party here on youtube, on the topic of "On the importance of education prior to action". There's nothing odd about what I put forth, unless you consider revolutionary science to be odd. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJfQmGmfZdGplc0

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

@@ReparationsForImperialism they all got shot dead and is anyway besides my point. just as mccarthyism effectively erased the political liberty of the 1st, authoritarian billionaires also co-opted and then molded evangelical pastors to serve them only, then drowned out anything critical of Mammon.

[@waynehanson6872]

Which is best believing or knowing, know thy self or know thy Religion ?

[@busysaru888]

I can only listen to Dr. Wolf at 2X's speed. Otherwise I fall asleep.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

Does anyone know what the intro music is?

[@sanca5982]

Prof. Wolff, I couldn't agree with you and Prof. Rieger more about Christian socialism. Like the Apostle Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, 4; Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. We are living in a time of apostasy and spiritual decline and the love of money. We see this happening before our very eyes.

[@susanmercurio1060]

St Paul himself was somewhat guilty of this problem, which he described. Many men quote St Paul to support their misogyny. They act like he was god.

[@irabraus9478]

Does Dr. Rieger believe that the CSU would be sympathetic to the Institute for Christian Socialism?

[@spanky7277]

They all complained about the 15 dollar minimum wage and they managed to have Manchin and Others Vote against the Wage hike . But i don't see anyone stopping the Inflation we are now witnessing . so how can the Government stop people from Making A larger wage But they can't stop High Gas Prices and Inflation . Fascist Republicans Point fingers at Democrats and Blame them for the Inflation , when the one they should be pointing fingers at Is at the corporations . or companies .

[@onceupon3805]

I'll take my socialism sans religion, thank you

[@GenoG6]

Vote 3rd Party or you are the problem.

[@TennesseeJed]

I wish that would work...I have for 40 years much to my chagrin.

[@DJWESG1]

Like a woman with three breasts, you just increase the clevages.

[@MrDesmondPot]

@@TennesseeJed you’ll go knowing you did your bit though. Head up high and chest out proud. Principles matter and you should be proud of yours.

[@TennesseeJed]

@@MrDesmondPot I suppose I am, but often get shamed/blamed for getting the worst people elected. I wish we could do a ranked choice type of election, but we always have GREAT difficulty counting votes properly. Never mind we count trillions of dollars to the penny every microsecond of every day, but can't seem to count votes. The carrot on a string is made of plastic, but I am plowing to keep the farmer from killing me.

[@RussCR5187]

@@MrDesmondPot Someone once said: "I don't care who gets to vote, as long as I get to pick the candidates." And that is exactly what's happening. Only those candidates who pass the billionaire oligarchs' vetting process get the kind of support needed to win office. The electoral process has been captured by big-money interests. We know this because we can plainly see that elected officials no longer represent the will of the people. They represent the interests of the donor class. So in today's world it's no longer sufficient to vote in order to do "your bit" in upholding democracy.

[@karl9x]

More people, less resources. There are simply not enough resources to maintain our standard of living.

[@jerryhung1953]

The Russians have no Euro to buy LV bags, The Europeans have no gas to cook. The Russians have no Mercedes-Benz to drive, The Europeans have no wheat to make bread.Hahaha 😂 😂

[@romanyarkov8426]

an ordinary Russian will not suffer without an LV bag and without a Mercedes. I have a Chinese bag and a Russian Lada Vesta🤣. The oligarchs and their mistresses are likely to suffer. I don’t see any reason to buy expensive brands at all, because they are made in China🤣 Nike sneakers tear even faster than no-name sneakers made in China

[@joevlogs4473]

As a socialist I think Lenin shouldve embraced the catholic church. Its one of the most powerful institutions in the world. If he did I think socialist revolutions wouldve been far more sucessful. I think even Pope Francis seems more left leaning then right leaning

[@pipster1891]

You must be joking.

[@joevlogs4473]

@@pipster1891 The USSR cracking down on religion led the church into the hands of the fascists. The church and religion in general couldve been used as progressive change. Yes there is disgusting things said in the bible but Marx and Engels also had discrimination. There would be no christian right in america if we didnt crack down on religion.

[@brucehitchcock3869]

@@joevlogs4473 Yes . Socialism or anarcho syndicalism or communism must still have freedom of religion, speech , and personal property, but with sane and just limits . Or you can just kill a bunch of folks that disagree like the theocratic fascists do .

[@floro7687]

Well, Christianity is about power and exploitation most of the time. Especially in the US.

[@Charles-tt3jr]

there are NO Christians in the us!

[@ReparationsForImperialism]

The bible is a grab bag that anyone can find something in to fit their own morality. Fire, ridicule, and rage is the only proper response to christianity.

[@jameshardin4895]

When i put a 13 year old Pug, put her on the 5-2 Diet... She stopped Snoring, she was so quiet, i have to touch her to see if she was alive... before, she was so loud, it was amazing how loud she could be... she lived to 17, but the Covid got her... Later, i did the Keto Diet with her, she lost 7 pounds in 6 weeks... mostly feed her Hamburger Meat... and not pouring off the Grease... Fat does not make you Fat, Sugar does... Things they don't want you to know!!! If all of America did Fasting, 5-2 or other Fasting, there would no Type II Diabetes... The Medical Industrial Complex... doesn't want to loss Profit...

[@hurobiont1054]

Is it fair to say that Capitalists like to fight war? Can it not be that a Capitalist Economy has leaders who want it to go to war?

[@Jordan-hz1wr]

Saint John Chrysostom, one of the holiest of early church fathers, made Karl Marx look tame.

[@jessecooley1580]

CAPITALISM done right is perfectly acceptable ; hoodwinked to defend otherwise ; supporting to their own detriment

[@vikitheviki]

Capitalism done right is what we have today and nothing about it is acceptable. It's a disease that must be eradicated if we're going to survive on this planet.

[@Pyxis10]

Capatalism done right is still exploitation.

[@RussCR5187]

Perfectly acceptable ... to those who own the capital.

[@ExPwner]

@@Pyxis10 no it isn’t

[@georgenelson8917]

It is MAMMON ( private property, wealth , land , material wealth): The Golden calf is not mammon, but a Caninite god idol in Old Testament. Jesus is much later.

[@patm6704]

Jews being persecuted by the Roman Empire believed a Jewish warrior messiah would come and they would defeat Rome. To weaken Jewish resistance, Rome invented a Jewish messiah who preached peace, "turn the other cheek", "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's", etc. It failed to convince the majority of Jews but succeeded in sprouting a new pro-Roman Empire religion which gradually grew in numbers and strength. Two centuries later, as the Roman Empire began to crumble, in a desperate effort to reverse its decline, Rome adopted this new Christian religion as the official religion of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire became the Holy Roman Empire. Popes appointed kings, funded armies etc. Church/state mutual backscratching. Religious institutions are firmly embedded with the ruling elites in every religious country. Tragic for truth, facts, justice etc. Tragic for humanity.

[@gerrys6265]

That was interesting, but the last comment the guest made needs some explanation!

[@codyclark2518]

When you discussed inflation, you mentioned the increase doesn't go to the government to provide public services, and that is entirely FALSE because as prices go up 8%, sales taxes that are collected by the government increase as well. Income tax increases are very minor compared to the amount of sales taxes the government is currently collecting because income taxes are driven based on earning a specific amount, while sales taxes are based on spending a specific amount, with most of Americans being in debt (spending more than they make), the government actually makes more money to spend on services with a high inflation rate because of the amount of sales taxes the government can pocket.

[@helengarrett6378]

Well, Cody Clark, you are assuming the increased sales taxes are spent on services. Not necessarily so! They might be spent on inflation increased costs, like food for school lunches no extra or better food. Just the same inferior food at higher cost. Or more expensive gas for buses or heating and cooling for administrative buildings. Increased sales taxes might go to administrative salaries for officials, not ordinary working people. Who knows where that money might be allocated?

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

World trade was contingent on stable and agreeable international relations .As they deteriorate, the foundation is dissolved. The indulgence of malefactors, of oligarchy at home and abroad, the tax havens, the money laundering by the institutions of finance, has guaranteed the destruction of stability and agreeableness as vanity and avarice for ever higher stakes is nurtured, has undermined that foundation. It has also meant that the inevitable sanctions erodes the reserve status of the dollar as a money laundering tax haven asset. The reason nations have a single currency is to benefit commerce. Same on the world stage.

[@christophercotton7149]

Great interview! There is alot of untapped solidarity between the left and certain Christian sects.

[@eryl7563]

' sects,' yes.... synonym, " cults." John Lennon was murdered for promoting, true christian values, in, " IMAGINE;" promoting the end of religions, churches, countries, ( christ was anti churches,) the end of ethnocentrism. Xenocentrism... end of wars, hatred based on race, appearance... the very things promoted, and monetarily benefited, by christianity.... we stand with Ukrainians but allowed Russia to do far worse, SCORCHED EARTH WARFARE, against 2 million slaughtered CHRISTIAN Syrians, elderly and babies; Israel's fascist elimination of Palestinian, elderly, children, infants, the disabled; a large percentage of whom are CHRISTIAN...... ,' selective christian love..' we only stand with, love, WHITE CHRISTIANS. Promoting and Committing CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, is the past and present legacy of religions, including Christianity sects.

[@art-of-techno]

Really you can't tell what's true or not in this conflict?? The truth is no matter how right you are about something you don't invade a country and kill people!

[@art-of-techno]

@@karls4948 So there's no way to solve this problem without killing children and causing human suffering? Also, perhaps we should ask ourselves why these countries wanted to be part of NATO in the first place?

[@art-of-techno]

@@karls4948 There were no nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

[@marybusch6182]

Say 30,000 times 8% inflation is almost ten percent. Actual dollars 2,400. Then wage increase is 5% or 1,500. For a difference of 900 to the owner managers. Read about the Osage Indians and how they were murdered by their “guardians and spouses”. For about 15 years. Sad sad sad. But no reparations and no justice.

[@jerryjones7293]

The first Christian church in Jerusalem was Socialist but Rome changed that.

[@PoliticalEconomy101]

No it wasnt. Christian Socialism is the same as National Socialism. They are both exclusionary, homophobic, hateful, and imperialist.

[@eryl7563]

I am always greatly impressed by your fact based, broadly drawn considered conclusions, drawn into salient focal points... That said, I had assumed that you are non theist, divested from that magical thinking nonsense. Christianity, from the time it invaded these north and south american Continents / " Turtle Island," is what I can speak to with some knowledge, christianity, the most devastating weapon of ethnic cleansing known to human kind. Somewhat replaced now by Wagner and Blackwater merciless mercenaries, resource extraction felons historically used clerics and missionaries to render indigenous Peoples impotent to their coming genocide, and, in fact, join forces with the brutes against their very selves. I am therefore saddened that you have included Yorge Rieger, a christian prosthelytizer in today's program. Christianity, a myth based cult, did not go wrong just a hundred years ago, it never, ' went right.' It has been a murderous mob mentality cult from the get go; cannibals, infanticide perpetrators, inventor of sex trafficking, rewarding criminal lascivious warfare, from it's inception. I am certain all of the enslaved victims, on par with chattel and cattle, Black, Brown, White, women kept as a subhuman lot, not 1000 years ago, 10,000 years ago, 100 years ago, for white women, 60 years ago for women of more brownish complexions, wish to thank, christianity. Whites sold their own, ' excess children,' each year on New Years Day, and at the Maypole Festivity, into slavery/indenture... My Indigenous ancestors, who lived here 20,000, 40,000, years before the christian god myth was invented, 90 million , murdered by white chistians; the same white christians that toil slavishly to ensure they continue to OWN and MANAGE, this ' Monopoly Game,' keeping poor whites poor, uneducated, ignorant of truths that would set them free, and the other skin shades at fear of being slaughtered on masse at any time, because the white massas keep them full of vile hatred for, and terrified of the non whites.... Peoples , ' of color,' still have to fear their extermination at the hands of the white christian, ' massas.' I maintain that the greatest christian crime, damage, is the psychological warfare aimed at manipulating the survivors of their pointed genocides to join the christian army aimed at totally eliminating them from existence, exterminate themselves.

[@transsylvanian9100]

You're not wrong. But we have to prioritize. In Marxism we recognize what are called primary and secondary contradictions. All of these represent struggles, conflicts which must eventually be resolved, but in order to get to the secondary contradictions one must first address the primary. In our present circumstances in the world imperialism and capitalism are the primary contradictions, of which imperialism is the main modality by which capitalism perpetuates itself and therefore must be our number one priority. De-colonial struggles are an integral part of the anti-imperialist struggle of course, and it is true that christianity represents a form of mental colonization. But it is also a fact that we cannot magic away overnight the strong emotional and cultural attachment many people have to christianity, and as such it remains a powerful weapon. By neglecting to turn it to our own advantage we abdicate its use to the class enemy, the imperialist, the colonizer elite, who will ruthlessly deploy it against us. The correct Marxist understanding of religion as a whole is that it is both a coping mechanism against social alienation ("opium of the masses" and so on) and a tool of social control for the status quo. The task of the revolutionary therefore is to make religion a tool of liberation instead, and once the material conditions have been sufficiently improved and alienation of human beings from one another and from the product of their labor is eliminated in a socialist society, religion will no longer have a social function to fulfill and will wither away on its own much like the state as we approach communism.

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

Profits should be given the label of a tax, or how about tithe? All hail the Virtuous Lords of Business! The ongoing demonstration of Their Great Virtue grants them rightful beneficence from employees and consumers everywhere! Raise prices! Glory in the tireless Efforts Day and Night of the Hard Working, Risk Taking Lords! Whose very existence is Brave Risk of Life And Limb to Ride in Low Earth Orbit! They Risk Everything for YOU! Work harder, Like They do!

[@DJWESG1]

I dont know about a 'heavenly CEO', but i bet my bottom dollar there is a ghost in the machine. And he isnt nice.

[@RussCR5187]

Arthur Koestler

[@TheReaderOnTheWall]

Marrying a movement based on Historical Dialectical Materialism and one where God is at the center of a world vision can only lead to confusion. But, if it'll bring some people to oppose Capitalism, good. If it'll bring back some conservative christians from actively harming our cause, great. But let's remember that their vision of peace on earth is a theocracy. I don't know if it's the case with the christian advocate on this show, but I hope it's not the case.

[@dennisyoung4631]

The theocracy happens later. It can only work *after* people get straightened out from the inside. You cannot have mere men be in charge of such a government. It would turn Fascistic/Authoritarian/Totalitarian in a very great hurry, e.g. the current goal of current Reprehensibles is that precise form of government. Until that time, I strongly suspect that some form of democratic “socialism” is our current best bet, and I see Christianity and “Democratic Socialism”as being *complementary, and not adversarial.* The goal of both should be helping one another, and fair treatment for *all.*

[@RussCR5187]

@@dennisyoung4631 If "mere men" cannot be in charge of government, then it must be "mere men" who interpret the instructions of the higher governing power. And we've seen how variable that can be. Show me a "mere man" in a leadership position who has his head on straight, and I'll show you five with sociopathic tendencies.

[@cl0udstr1fe]

I am a communist and a Christian. Why would any leftist worth their salt want to replace one oppressive structure with another?

[@tsg2009]

people don't stand up for each other or their rights so whats the problem here??

[@salmurantha80]

What you guys thinking of Jesus Christ position in Political Compass?

[@TheAmericanAmerican]

Obviously a pacifist socialist. I like to tell cuckservatives that JC was the OG Socialist 😎

[@drawingdraws618]

When you see WWJD remember flipping tables, whipping money changers and being executed by the state will always be options…

[@DJWESG1]

The symbololgy suggests he was more the pointer toward the way rather than a position on the compass.

[@TheAmericanAmerican]

@Thor Crowley It doesn't really matter if JC was an actual person or not. All that matters it that his followers realize that the idea of JC was to push for equality for all, take care of each other, and don't be a selfish/rich POS who oppresses other. If his followers ACTUAL do all this then who cares if he was real or not.

[@harrylime9611]

Rick??😂

[@postmodernmathematics333]

Professor, I do not agree with those numbers of GDP. The GDP of America and Russia are just numbers and none eat numbers. Money has more to do with resources. In this context, Africa is n.1 in the world (the problem is, Africans do not have a gocernment). Secondly, Russia has more natural resouces than America. So, it's important to clarify here: Nominal economy is far different from Real economy. Russia is much more than the world thinks. And the most important is, Russians know what they have.

[@patrickholt2270]

For me the key concept for Christian politics is the kingdom of God on earth, as exampled in Jesus' parables, in occurences and practices shown in the Acts of the Apostles, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Jubilee decrees in the Law of Moses in Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15 and the social justice demands and prophesies of Amos, Isaiah, Micah and other prophets which all refer back to the Jubilee, or denounce its non-enforcement. Many know that Marx's key terms such as alienation and fetish are transliterations by Hegel of theological terms. Alienation explains a large part of the meaning and effect of sin, fetishism renames the theological concept of idolatry. Commodification and dehumanisation are their logical corrolaries, again arising from theology if not directly from the text of scripture, where the processes are described and alluded to but not named. If you track the uses of the phrase "kingdom of God on earth", you find a picture which is both spiritual and material, transcendent and politically revolutionary, because it centers the scriptural concern for human living conditions and material needs, and that Jubilee prescription for routine wholesale redistribution of wealth as the solution to all the evils of inequality, poverty and income insecurity. Jesus and the disciples drew the inferrence that the way to do this without state power, which under Roman rule and the corrupted Temple authorities they did not have and couldn't conceivably obtain, that the way to manifest this new kind of society and life was through spontaneous, spiritually inspired surrendering of private property in favour of common ownership so as to eliminate class inequality among themselves and as widely as possible. What I think is new in Jesus' teaching compared with the Old Testament tradition of the Law and the Prophets concerning class society was that step from redistribution of wealth to abolition of private property, as the logical implication of the divine commandments for wholesale redistribution of wealth, and the practical method for doing it without recourse to force, as a subversive spiritual renewal movement in an occupied colonial periphery.

[@michaelmcgoldrick7909]

The Jews worked with the Romans from 200 bc

[@DJWESG1]

The Roman empire enslaved the entire region. 'Worked with' isnt quite the right terminology for a entire group of ppl spanning ages and places, some of which extended well beyond the empire. Its true to say everyone under Roman rule 'worked with' the Romans, and its also true to say that Rome was a slave based empire that relied as much on its fascism as it did its trading routes.

[@my1vice]

The OP has a loose grasp on history.

[@bicyclebookster6510]

Jesus taught by the example of his life. Heal the lame, Cure the ill, Feed the poor, Devalue personal wealth. #Jesuswasasocialist

[@biometronome7010]

Some inflation is from price-gouging, some from stock speculations. But we also have inflation that's direct result of the prices of supply, many businesses have no choice but to raise prices just to survive. Not sure why professor Wolff puts it all in the same basket and blames "employers" categorically. This isn't helpful for anyone trying to understand economics and leftist politics. I'm a Marxist and I also recognize that we have both cost-push and demand-pull types of inflation.

[@transsylvanian9100]

And who raised the price on the supply?

[@biometronome7010]

​@@transsylvanian9100 You don't see how some employers are at the mercy of other employers? In other words, price-gouging/demand-pull by some employers causes inevitable rise in the prices of goods and services by other employers. Supply chain is a real thing. I really don't understand why Richard Wolff is distorting obvious facts. This is basic stuff you don't need an economics degree for. Check out articles by David Dayen in The American Prospect for detailed analysis of supply-chain issues that caused inflation during the pandemic.

[@biometronome7010]

@@transsylvanian9100 Also, check out some interviews on C. Derick Varn channel

[@transsylvanian9100]

@@biometronome7010 "price-gouging/demand-pull by some employers causes inevitable rise in prices of goods and services by other employers" So you admit that it is ultimately still some employers who choose to raise the prices somewhere up the supply chain which causes prices to rise further down the line. Hence Wolff was right.

[@biometronome7010]

@@transsylvanian9100 No, again, supply chains, domestic and international. Not all inflation is by choice, despite what the professor is saying here. If you don't understand what I'm saying and refuse to research it, don't put words in my mouth, talking about "admitting." Have respect for yourself.

[@my1vice]

It is both humorous and sad to watch the left discussing Christianity..... Actually, it is more sad to watch the right discussing Christianity.

[@patm6704]

While the majority of religious believers are good and sincere in their beliefs, the powerful, wealthy religious institutions are firmly embedded with the ruling elites in every religious country. Humanity will be much better served when the majority rejects divisive religious myths based on the Bible i.e. a fictional 6,000 year-old Earth where Neanderthals never existed. In the real world, most people have some Neanderthal DNA because our human ancestors mated with Neanderthals and Africans whose ancestors have never left Africa have no Neanderthal DNA. But religion still thrives because of its very real attributes for its many powerful, wealthy vested interests i.e. mega cash-cow and powerful tool of political control. All because, no evidence is required to support religious claims. Tragic for truth, facts, justice, peace etc. Tragic for humanity.

[@helengarrett6378]

Russia IS a smaller country but its autocrat is very wealthy and he is playing his autocratic games with the entire GDP of the nation he has under his thumb. When you talk about Russia being a small country you aren't talking about a democracy of sorts wherein the people of the country can, and sometimes do, balk at huge miilitary expenditures. You are talking about one guy in power forever through fear and intimidation, who has taken a huge nation and stripped its wealth for himself. He controls his oligarchs absolutely and uses all that money to beat up Ukraine and massacre its people. Even if Ukraine has corrupt oligarchs and even fascists that does not excuse Putin's deeds at all! Besides, Russia has nukes and fancy missiles that blow things up from far away. He used them to turn cities into rubble,, then bounced the rubble around some more. Putin's toys are numerous and expensive. Russia isn't a weak power. After the massacre I doubt Putin has withdrawn permanently and is going to forget about his expansionist and imperialist aspirations. There is certainly more horror to come. And the lies, the lies, the damned propaganda about Ukraine being a Nazi stronghold is even more sickening when it comes over a state controlled media. No other voice is allowed. The free press is abolished! O.K. Enough of Russia. My stomach is turning over and my blood pressure is dangerously high. But Christian socialism? I don't care what myths and origin stories people believe. I leave all that biblical stuff to them to read by the hearth on cold nights. Same for all the other religions, most of which puzzle me. I wasn't raised with that stuff. I prefer logical thought, science, and the hope that I can have some, maybe even more control over how my life and those of my loved ones can play out. But if there are socialists that buy into all that, we'll go for it, just don't impose that on me. I'm never going to be Christian. Not a Christian capitalist or a Christian socialist. My kids aren't going there and my grandkid either. My old world roots contained enough of that and my parents left all of the religion of my grandparents in the old country and kept the ethnicity without the belief and obligatory ritual. I'm a socialist who won't tolerate religion being shoved down my throat. My ethics are derived from a deep seated ethic based on doing no harm and I wish Christians would stop trying to force me into their preconceived notions of how to behave. I don't force them to give up interjecting God or Jesus into every conversation. Give me the same courtesy. Keep your religion in your home and church, not in the rest of my life. Like sex, religion is a personal thing. Keep it private and personal. With autocracy, racism and ethnic insularity growing everywhere, including here this is not a conflict between capitalism and socialism. It is not even a conflict for territory. It is a conflict that looks a lot like some of the horrors that Nazis perpetrated. It might have started with a desire for hegemony and that is bad enough. If I dislike how the United States looks at its own hegemony and is arrogant and imperialist then how can I excuse what Putin is doing? Now I'm not claiming ethical purity for Ukraine. I am not even claiming purity for us in the United States. Putin's decision to simply invade Ukraine is just wrong. First he snuck into the Crimea, now a frank invasion to gobble the rest. Why? Because he thought he could and because he wants everything controlled by the USSR but HE gets to be the leader of it all. It's worse than a fight for national security and hegemony. It is a fight for Putin to glorify himself as a conqueror to restore Russia to its former greatness. Ooof! That sounds like Trump. Gaah! "Make America Great," what's wrong with this picture? Then in the process HIS army pulls off a Nazi style massacre and he tells his people it is fake news. It was staged? Aw, come on! The guy is pernicious and a liar on top of being an egomaniac and cruel beyond words. My opinions of Putin have sunk from revulsion to horror and beyond! Frankly, I don't give a damn who the SOB is allied with. That does not elevate my estimation of those leaders a bit. Yes, I am a moralist. I believe in goodness and decency and I see none of it in Putin's behavior. Whatever people think his reasons for this invasion are they do not justify what his army has done in a deliberate and organized way.

[@cliffjamesmusic]

Our economic system is built on cooperative abuse and exploitation, which is presented as a quasi- natural law. Our main schooling systems help to consolidate belief in this law, conditioning people into accepting their role in the status quo. This is consolidated through the use of debt, as a control instrument, avoiding the need for direct violence within so-called democracies, whilst accepting raw materials and products from countries with regimes where direct violence may be more prevalent. Theist religions are compatible with top-down, hierarchical power systems. Hence, we see arrangements between politics and religion, such as in USA, Hitler’s Germany, Putin’s Russia or straight authoritarian systems, where the political leader is a quasi-God, such as in, but not exclusive to, Kim’s North Korea. Assuming a desire towards change in the direction of living peacefully, respectfully and sustainably on this little planet, then leaving behind the fantasy-based aspect of theist religions (knowing God and what “He” wants and has told us to do) and building on negotiated, humanistic qualities would be helpful.

[@susanmercurio1060]

That "quasi-natural law" is stated in Genesis, where the good old Hebrew boys who wrote the earliest texts stated that "women [were created] to be the helpmeet of men" and that "God created all of nature for man's use."