Economic Update: Germany Shifts Left

[@teardrop-in-a-fishbowl]

Compared to US citizens I live in a (more) humane capitalist society (Note the contradiction!). Being used to the given rights which workers fought for, I want a more just and peaceful society. And I will fight for this not only at home but also for workers abroad, because I'm a proud socialist and internationalist. Stop dreaming, wake up and stand up for what's right and human! ✊🌹 Greetings from 🇩🇪.

[@haleybrown2836]

Having worked many years overseas, people here have absolutely no concept of how brutal the system is. The most powerful institution here is not Congress, The Presidency, Supreme Court, Federal Banking System BUT the American Stock Market on whose altar the lives of our military and 99%ers are sacrificed to make just one more dollar of profit.

[@emild579]

Rotfront!

[@InnerSunshine]

Andreas, your flag is too obscure. What country?

[@teardrop-in-a-fishbowl]

@@haleybrown2836 True that 👍. It's the altar everything is strapped under and sacrificed to.It's also the biggest lie they have to keep alive. BUT it's a given fact that the Stock Market will crash every now and then, no matter what they do to feed it. The brutal thing about this, capitalists will survive but people will painfully pay the price.

[@haleybrown2836]

@@InnerSunshine Germany - Schwarz, Rot, Gold = Black, Red, Gold

[@donnyray7015]

I live in Las Vegas and my rent is going up $400 on the next rental cotract. I am disabled and live on a fixed income. The whole world is going through a crisis and these greedy BASTERDS can not get enough money. They are a very large property corporation. It's time to take a stand. Who is with me?

[@rhonda6791]

I’m very sorry.

[@kevintewey1157]

Im with you, in Winnemucca Hope you have options Or ... contact me?

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Time for a mortgage/rent strike!!

[@juanmaprivi]

thanks Proff. for having us every monday

[@iart2838]

So thankful for your work Prof Wolff. You're a brave truth teller.

[@YellowstoneCommie]

Thank you Prof Wolff 🍎

[@DannyBear70]

@ProfWollf. I appreciate the comparisons and contrast of other countries’ policies, protocols, governmental parties, and laws to that if the USA. Thank you.

[@kevinsmith9013]

Thank you Prof. Wolfe! People need to know what you've got to share and we're so glad you're willing to do so!

[@brucetrappleton6984]

Thank you Professor Wolf!! You are a treasure for all us.

[@DerekSpeareDSD]

I own a very small American manufacturing company. We buy certain microchips. One chip used to cost ~3.00 USD each and are pretty much gone worldwide. For the few who sell them now, the profiteers, they are selling them for anywhere from $32 to $86 USD each. I won't buy them. We were buying them at ~10 but now the prices are insane...oh, did I forget to say they come from China? Yes, they do...oh, yes, and we've had to pay MORE money on tariffs, too...isn't that nice? I'm still waiting on a refund check from China for all the tariffs we've paid since the last guy said they'd pay for it........................................................................................................................................................

[@stevemora7845]

You don't have to tell me how bad american society has become. I'm living it professor Wolff! 😪

[@haleybrown2836]

A byproduct of a bought and paid for Congress is the stifling of innovations. Anything which may impact the bottom line in the slightest is blocked. The bill for this is yet to come and it will not be pretty.

[@JSB103]

@@haleybrown2836, _"...yet to come"_ we keep telling ourselves. When? That's the 64 pennies question.

[@georgefurman4371]

most know as well but don't clearly understand the reasons. A comparison may work well to realize with a rational reaction instead of the sad resignation most powerless Americans live an increasing destitution from human rights. That is the work we are thankful for in Prof. Wolff that gives a didactical clear exposition of the present economic and political issues of American capitalism.

[@ProleDaddy]

We stilll need it announced from up on high. Shout it from the treetops.

[@melaniel.s8990]

Agree , it's got pretty bad here . In the US people are under paid, little to no benefits like holidays, vacation and sick leave too. It's not a good place to be it's more a facade how great America is.

[@marygard4608]

Thanks, Prof. Wolff-a voice in the wilderness no longer.

[@JohnBrown010]

Respectfully, Dr Wolff, Yale didn’t sell-out to this billionaire as they’ve been an institution for the wealthy since inception. They simply maintained course

[@MrBlurpBlurp-hg3dj]

Thanks for the updates Sir.

[@DanBurgaud]

4:45 The Rich screwing the Poor... brilliant!

[@ProleDaddy]

*gasp* NEVER... *clutches pearls*

[@DerrickThompsondeebo]

Thanks for staying informative, Prof Wolff. Always a pleasure to hear you speak

[@lincolnabraham4695]

Americans lose their mind when I tell them how many days of paid vacation ALL working Europeans get.

[@shine-on-tv8082]

I get that hear in America I just work for a really good company. I get health insurance vision dental payed all federal holidays payed vacation payed sick leave my birthday off payed I get maternity leave for 3 months payed. And much much much more that I have to look on the union contract for. O yeah we get retirement after 30 years and will get it for the rest of our life till we die and then my wife will get it till she dies.

[@dinnerwithfranklin2451]

And yet they keep voting the same way. It is baffling alright.

[@Emidretrauqe]

@@dinnerwithfranklin2451 It's just Boomers living on legacy money at this point. The only question I have is what will happen to that wealth when they die...

[@maonyksmohc9574]

@@robertdownes793 are you in austria?

[@helengarrett6378]

Germany moves left and we move right. We are on the wrong track. Just ask working people how well they are protected by their system in hard times in both countries. We are building a stronger oligarchy with greater distance between the richest, privileged, very few and everyone else. Our lives are becoming more precarious and the rug is being pulled out from beneath both working people and our shrinking middle class too. Sadly all the laws and all the money in America is flowing into fewer and fewer hands in America. Germany is still a very capitalist country with its own privileged class but with their parliamentary system and 6 parties they have chosen to try to give the German a people a floor they cannot easily fall beneath. Here we slip from one class to a less secure one in the blink of an eye and almost no effort will make you whole again. That holds true for all but the elite in America. You cannot fail if you are an oligarch in America.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Middle class is also shrinking in Germany and other western european countries. we are just 10-20 years behind on the curve compared to the USA.

[@Frank-wh8cm]

We also slowly move to the right. It's just that we are so much more left of the US that it's not noticible.

[@jeffsingleton88]

Its astonishing how ill informed you emotional ideologues are

[@Emidretrauqe]

@@jeffsingleton88 It's nothing compared to corporate media. Check out network programming some time.

[@corinachan8533]

One learns much more from this learned professor in 30 minutes than 30 months from other sources. Reason being, as the illustrious professor says, the other "sources" don't tell you much. Thank you, Prof. Wolff!

[@shaykespeeer7040]

Re: Product Shortage. Personally, I believe that the billionaire Capitalists see that there's an increasing number of citizens demanding wage increases, thus, in preparation for future wage increases, the Capitalist billionaires are creating "supply shortages" to justify jacking up their product/service prices. Then, in the near future, the billionaire Capitalists will act like they're being good people and increase wages a bit across all industries. Afterwards, the shortage supply will improve, prices will come back down a bit, but the billionaire Capitalists will make sure that they've not only appeared to be doing good by raising wages, but that they are also profiting a little more off of every item/service they sell. End result, the majority of citizens will be no further ahead and may be even a little further behind. The game is rigged and the wealthiest are screwing the rest of society every way possible.

[@jgalt308]

No the government is and has been...something you and your educator are totally clueless about...and continue to be.

[@catsmeow1630]

@@jgalt308 💨💨💨💨

[@abqmalenurse]

@@jgalt308 Bwahahahahaha!!!!! Of course, the government is owned by whom? Capitalists. You didn't even watch the video. You're just trolling. You spend your whole life trolling, don't you?

[@jgalt308]

@@abqmalenurse Ah, the "willfully ignorant, functionally illiterate" employs a label as a pretense that it is an "argument". You have no clue what any of the words mean...and for the first 6 minutes of this video, the significant word would be "inflation"...or to inflate, which means to increase the volume of. So now you have to define "money"...and "income" as well as "profit"...all of which the "government" has done...( and you have no clue what those definitions are, nor does Wolff ) But let me help you...and you can answer according to the "video" explanation...you buy a stock for $100 in 1972, and you sell in 1982 for $150...what is the profit "realized" and what is the tax owed? ( your answer will be wrong, but more than likely you will simply babble some excuse for not answering. )

[@ProleDaddy]

@@jgalt308 the fascist US Government would be owned and operated by capitalists. Go back into your cave, Galt

[@multipolarworldorder]

Very Educational - thank you.

[@KiraleosAkis]

Dr. Wolff, the SPD is not a socialist party. They're social democrats. Big difference there. Also their history is super sketchy.

[@dragonwest5844]

Probably more like a predominantly neoliberal party with remnants of social democratic elements mixed in there.

[@marygard4608]

It would be considered a leftist party in the US.

[@alpharius6206]

Let's just remember SPD's legacy of selling power to nazis in 1930s, so NSDAP has more resources to deal with KPD and remnants of recently-declared-illegal Rote Front, which was the only political group that had power to stop fascism in Germany.

[@marygard4608]

@@dragonwest5844 Paid sick leave? VACATIONS? Oh yeah, lets ask! This sounds like the majority of Germans like this stuff. And it IS affordable.

[@dragonwest5844]

@@marygard4608 If you compare the SPD to the US then yes it might really be considered a truly leftist party. For european standards though the SPD has been declining for a long time. The welfare state in germany is shrinking with each passing year. The SPD under Schröder implemented labor reforms that really hurt the working class.

[@namelesswarrior4760]

Enlightening as usual! Thanks Prof.

[@camiemengineer]

PROF. WOLF ... GREAT DELIVERY on well thought out ideas. I really appreciated the fact that you are well spoken but more importantly CLEAR spoken. I suspect that 90% of your former students would likely agree with me. Very relaxing which, of course, is key to understanding.

[@j.c.jeggis1818]

Despite all this talk of worker shortages, the jobs out there are STILL mostly shit. Shit pay, shit hours, no guaranteed minimum hours, no room for growth, and full of short-staffed, grumpy workers.

[@stayinalive9434]

My town is full of businesses that put low wage positions up front where they interact with the public. As a result, these positions are refilled about every other month. I the consumer am confronted with rude, uncaring individuals in a vast majority of all the places I do business with. Now I am taking a stand. My money will not go to these businesses in future. I will go out of my way to tell them why. In a time of collective stress and uncertainty do to issues like a pandemic, we are all a bit edgy. ALL of us should demand civility or stress the consequences to the owners, big or small.

[@itzenormous]

I see fast food restaurants with 'Now Hiring' signs up, everywhere. And all of the companies who are well known, locally, for being slave drivers and operating under near sweatshop conditions are also constantly hiring. But, unless you are paying your workers somewhere near $20 an hour (and that isn't even enough) then, you shouldn't be shocked when no one wants to work "for you." Can you imagine working for $10 an hour?

[@ProleDaddy]

@@itzenormous $15/hr is a joke, even $20 is living in a dump, with impossibly expensive insurance, and no avenue to retirement. In the current economic conditions, $30/hr is what it would take to even approach a decent living that wouldn't make me want to jump off the nearest cliff.

[@HarrySmith-hr2iv]

It is refreshing to hear Professor Wolff speak such good sense. I'm impressed Berlin is repossessing property owned by greedy landlords. It reminds me of a brilliant Chinese man......Sun Yat-sen....who around 1911 broke the greedy Chinese landlords, landowners and feudal Qing Dynasty. It's a pity we can't seize all the wealth stolen from the UK public by the Robber Barons and the Monarchy of Feudal Medieval times. Here in London UK rents are thru the roof. The economic model of the UK is twinned with the policies of the New World Order Banks in the USA. The USA was right to throw out the Monarchy in 1776. The military industrial complex of the USA and UK work in tandem endlessly, to keep invading other countries and steal their wealth and resources. But they control the MSM, BBC et al, so the air waves and sound waves are deluged with misinformation to deceive the public.

[@suzanneharris8339]

That report was so informative 👏 Thank you, Professor Wolff.

[@Chris-cq5pw]

I’m with you on pretty much everything…that said, meat prices *should* go up and we should stop committing mass genocide against animals. That’s the only point where it’s hard for me to find sympathy. Appreciate the analysis. Especially good news that a Kenyan judge ruled that work done in the home should be compensated.

[@lindamckenzie1537]

I agree, meat prices was the only dissonant note. No one should be consuming dead animals in 2022, for reasons of animal ethics, climate change and other environmental damage, and human health.

[@cosmicdiasporapoems2916]

I came here because I couldn't believe the title I was born in the UK, never thought this would come.

[@transsylvanian9100]

I live in Germany and i can tell you Wolff is wrong here. Germany has NOT shifted left, quite the opposite. The only significant leftist party in Germany (which is not even really socialist, though it has a socialist wing) lost massively compared to previous years, it only managed to get 5% of the vote. What happened is that the center-right neoliberal ruling party was replaced by its "opposition", a center-"left" neoliberal party. But the two are virtually indistinguishable in 95% of their policies, both of them are pro-capitalist, pro-market, pro-EU, pro-US imperialism and pro-austerity. Both are also very anti-socialist, they HATE the Left. What happened in Berlin is not representative of the country, yes some local governments do some good things every once in a while, but the overall political consensus in Germany is overwhelmingly, centrist, neoliberal and pro-corporate. The four major parties that make up for 75% of all votes cast are in almost complete agreement on most issues. Worse still, the far right fascist AfD party got more than double the votes that the Left party got.

[@cosmicdiasporapoems2916]

@@transsylvanian9100 Oh crumbs...

[@transsylvanian9100]

@@cosmicdiasporapoems2916 The ruling coalition that is currently being negotiated is an abomination and it shows exactly why this notion of Germany having "shifted left" is so wrong. The next government will likely be composed of SPD (who won the most votes) together with the Greens and FDP. CDU, the former coalition leader of the last governments which used to get most votes in previous years is now in opposition. At face value if you think SPD is left and CDU is right this seems like a "win" for the "left". Leaving aside all of the ways in which the SPD has constantly capitulated over time to the neoliberal consensus, or how they have even been in coalitions with the CDU before, it is enough to look at who their coalition partners this time are to understand that SPD have no intention of going back to even remotely leftist politics: The Greens are fake environmentalists, they support all manner of free market, pro-business legislation and only adopt symbolic stances "for the environment". They pushed hard for the closure of nuclear power plants (which are carbon neutral) and as a result Germany now uses MORE coal power than before. They don't do anything to hold big corporations accountable, or shrink the military arms industry, another huge contributor to climate change. The FDP is even worse, it is essentially a libertarian party, fanatically pro-free market, wants to deregulate everything and cut taxes on the wealthiest corporations and individuals. Even the mention of maybe imposing a speed limit on German highways (which would reduce CO2 output) is enough to send them into a furious rage because it threatens auto industry profits. The reason why such a party is included in supposedly "left" coalition is because they are socially liberal, pro-LGBT, etc. but economically they could not be more right wing. They could have chosen to include the Left (Linke) party in this coalition and then they would maybe not even have needed FDP, but they all despise the Left party and constantly try to keep it out of power almost more than they say they hate the fascist AfD, which they claim they will never work with but on the local level there have already been cases of mainstream party politicians working with them.

[@cosmicdiasporapoems2916]

@@transsylvanian9100 Totally agree on nuclear power especially Thorium sounds like there are. Outside economic lobbyists not minding there own do you think UK. Leaving EU did Germany a favour?

[@Bawdale]

As a UK citizen, I can't believe how poor US workers are and yet they still decry any hint of socialism.

[@glennc2144]

That is the Great American Tragedy. At the same time, we're watching the conservatives substitute nationalism for democracy. Unlimited political contribution is anti-democratic; gutting the Voting Rights Act is anti-democratic.

[@rovertdluag6648]

Its not true, everybody would be happy with better vacation pay etc . Its complicated because Corporations are treated as people and are fully protected by the constitution so its almost impossible to force them to do anything, but at the same time Corporations violate people's rights through fake consent by fine print .

[@itzenormous]

Being from the UK, you might appreciate this assessment; but I would posit that most American workers are "ragged trousered philanthropists."

[@matthewingerson]

Propaganda and indoctrination. The wealthy-class who kidnapped, bought, and sold Africans, also prevented those working-class Africans from learning. The wealthy-class, which controlled the government, propagandized and indoctrinated that working-class group back then. The wealthy-class, who did those things to Africans in the past, is the same wealthy-class which has co-opted the government in the present. In doing so, the wealthy-class has championed the defunding, deregulating, and destandardization of public education, thus preventing Americans from learning. The wealthy-class, which controls the government, has propagandized and indoctrinated the working-class of today. The wealthy-class knows, and has known for generations, that stupid people make better working-class slaves.

[@rogerburn5132]

In the USA and UK you don't have REAL capitalism anyway. And just to let you know the poorest people live in the socialist county's look Venezuela and North Korea and Cuba and the ex Soviet Union. So you are in the wrong direction

[@MrDXRamirez]

Time Stamp 20:40, ----The Supply Chain Problem. In its past life capital employed the largest number of workers to extract the largest amount of surplus-value for the least amount of payment in wages. This scenario has mutated into a new scenario of late. Capital now restricts the supply of products flowing into the US consumer market. The policy has backfired on the US. Our products, the majority of which are produced in China, a highly productive system of late, can change the direction of its production toward its own population’s needs while US policy is aimed at slowing down production in China has minor effect on China, given the manufacturing forces are largely controlled by China’s working classes under the leadership of China’s Communist Party. The Chinese economy has human direction and human goals whereas human needs and goals are subordinated in the US economy by non-human factors. The American labor force bears the burden for the policy of containment in the form of higher prices, and inflation, cuts and austerity, and greater power and concentration of wealth into fewer and fewer hands coinciding with higher unemployment, material deprivation and hunger. The policy makers in Washington are committed to maintaining hegemony devaluing the purchasing power of the American workforce as a means of restricting the flow of goods from China.

[@ratnabahadurgurung9850]

Thankyou professor we enjoy your lectured

[@chriskapou3519]

To call the SPD Left is an extreme overstatement

[@DrAnarchy69]

They are dead center at most generous, center right if we’re being honest

[@aprescoup]

@@DrAnarchy69 So where does the real working class conscious left organize, even if on the internet alone/for starters, around class politics?

[@peter_meyer]

@@aprescoup ...on the streets (or in front of the TV). They do not vote anymore. There is a party called "the Left", which claims to be the workers party but they do have serious problems internally with leadership.

[@chriskapou3519]

@@peter_meyer the issue with Die Linke is postmodern woke-ism ,that doesn't jive with working class ppl, imho.

[@aprescoup]

@@chriskapou3519 Inside it Sarah Wagenknecht is battling the "left's" identity politics of authoritarian wokeism and is, due to her support of the average working class schlepp and a brand of class-conscious socialist politics accused of harboring rightwing sentiments. smh.

[@chadtippapart7534]

Your art of communication message is riveting, big thanks to Prof Wolff.

[@amytaylor8487]

Hello there 👋👋,how are you doing? Hope you had a good day? God bless you!❤️

[@sherriinolywa]

Thank you for telling us about Germany and Austria! You’re right: I had no idea.

[@aprescoup]

Wolff has scant idea of the field of partisan play in German politics.

[@albertdittel8898]

And if you believe Wolff you have even less of an idea now. I am a German and Germany is not shifting left at all. The Greens and the SPD are the same as Clintonite Democrates it was them who introduced alle the neoliberal crap into Germany, saying that they are left is just like saying Joe Biden is a socialist. And the only real left although useless party in Germany lost hugely in the last election. I don't know why Wolff is BSing you, I guess he wants to create optimism or something.

[@Frank-wh8cm]

@@albertdittel8898 Not sure he even knows it. He has the same problem like everyone else: He is living in his own bubble. Didn't he live in Germany or something like that? Maybe he took his old feelings about the SPD with him. The neoliberal SPD is just 25 years old... maybe he is blind on that eye because of his old love. Or he read about the old SPD history and thinks that is still valid. The WERE heroes at some point. The only party coming to parliament while the nazis standing outside threatening them.

[@rogerburn5132]

Very good for Germany and Austria riots on the street new lokdowns mandate on v. a. x. and the police are beating the protestors "" Great freedom the Fashism Never Left Germany and Austria ""

[@howardbiel1958]

I subscribed to this channel and I “ring the bell”ed, yet never get notifications.

[@fizban5959]

The SPD is not the socialist party in Germany (that’s the „left“ party). The SPD is the Social Democratic Party.

[@severdislike4222]

There has never been any action that had a meaningful impact beyond direct action. Germany, Spain, Portugal, and France all know this implicitly.

[@williamshafer3199]

Bring back the Guillotine ;)

[@rogerburn5132]

Direct action by the European sentral Bank printing euros and buying Portugal. Spain. Italy. France. German government bonds. That is not capitalism Don listen to Richard Wolf BS.

[@Comrade_Broski]

IDK what is going on at KZbin, but this is the second time I've had to resubscribe to this channel.

[@michaelmetalhead1581]

Mr. Wolff, it is true that here in Germany it is not as bad as in the US but we are not shifting left, we are staying center-right. The SPD and the Green Party are both neoliberal partys who also want to ramp up the military budget and are obedient to the US oligarchy.

[@Kyravexa]

And they form a coalition with another neoliberal party, the FDP, so we can expect Germany to stay the same as always. (Also, the highest tax rate at 10:32 is not correct. Its 45%, not 51%.)

[@breft3416]

Great stuff as always. Very crucial at the moment.

[@MarkHopewell]

I linked this presentation in a BBC discussion forum about rent costs yesterday. If you, Democracy at Work, have noticed a spike in views since then that was due to me :o)

[@MrDannyHeim]

yeah very good stuff there

[@Harry-zc8rg]

The section on shortages should be made into a short clip. Very clear analysis there.

[@elchicovip01]

I worked at Yale as IT support Contractor for three months. The head of the administration is hostile to the workers. I never spoke to the students because I just assume they had been shielded from reality by their wealthy parents.

[@catherinegoodsett-wein3313]

You tell such great stories! Too bad it’s not fiction! I do love the way to teach!! Thank you for working hard for the rest if us!

[@dranzacspartan8002]

A Coopers to you Professor Richard Wolff. Thank you for illuminating the unfairness of the Capitalist System for the majority of the Citizens in a Country.

[@rogerburn5132]

So you think that socialism and communism is fair sistem you can go ahead and live in North Korea or Cuba and then talk about capitalism.

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

Everyone in America is a pending billionaire.

[@marygard4608]

Or a "temporarily embarrassed millionare" - John Steinbeck

[@yuriajones]

Haha. I just made a very similar comment above. I do believe that's the basis of the problem being discussed.

[@hansonwinx7843]

Even the homeless lol

[@rogerburn5132]

That would be after the Hyperinflation like in Venezuela and Zimbabwe

[@scottdavis3571]

That is our problem, yes. We were told by the Christian Nationalists that hard work would make us better off financially and rich.

[@randallnelson6695]

In the last segment you mentioned various cuts of meats that went up in price. All or most of these could be sourced from the USA. Many of them partially processed by a butcher back in the day. Which was a good paying job, back in the day. Now it's done on an assembly line. Just like cars, soon that assembly line work will be done with automation. And the displaced workers will be thrown into the unemployment lines like so many. Surplus humanity, we as a society really don't need so we kick them to the curb. The saying is true: The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. They get poorer by being kicked to the curb whenever we figure out how to displace them in the workplace.

[@ProleDaddy]

I'm not one to believe that mankind should waste away their lives, being opressed, doing meaningless labor. I'm more interested to see what the reaction of the rich and their government will be when the time comes that people truly cannot find a paycheck.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

@@ProleDaddy they deploy their paramilitary forces

[@allermenchenaufder]

@@TheSuperappelflap innocent animals in factory farming go under excruciating horror. Compassion and welfare for all (consider vegan diet). Decency people !

[@ProleDaddy]

@@allermenchenaufder while I appreciate your humane viewpoint, worry about capitalism. We have bigger fish to fry.

[@foodparadise5792]

Thanks for the no BS economic lesson.

[@lesliestenta3084]

I met many young tourists from German and Europe in Thailand. They were able to take a Year off before they settled-down, how is that possible. First no college debt, free college, no car became there a great metro transit system, We are lucky to get 2 weeks off in US.

[@TruckStopLayby]

I met a Yank while trekking in Colombia. I was there for three weeks he was there for one month. I asked him whether he had to leave his job to get that much time off, he smiled and said 'yes'.

[@ladymorwendaebrethil-feani4031]

Calling the SPD socialist is an exaggeration, mainly given the absurdities of a century ago, like them playing DNC and voting for a war, but not just any war: it was World War I. The other nonsense was that they omitted when far-right paramilitaries began to persecute party dissidents, who refused to follow the party's reformist and pro-war path and engaged in an attempted revolution in 1918. It went wrong and the party it abandoned its leftist dissidents to persecution of paramilitaries or to co-optation by Bolshevism. Among the victims of this persecution was Rosa Luxemburg, one of the greatest Marxist intellectuals of all time, if not the greatest. The SPD's omission to this type of persecution and the party's complicity with the war that devastated Germany alienated the German working class from the left and thus paved the way for the rise of Nazism. After World War II, the SPD recomposed itself, adopting at once the reformist ideology of the Frankfurtians. But it is an exaggeration to call this party socialist. They are what the Democratic Party should be, but American Socialists should not settle for so little, but seek inspiration from more left-wing European parties like Die Linke and Podemos. Talking about SPD is talking about reformism and a class pact.

[@debbino4249]

what is the music played (intro) on EU? Anybody know?

[@michealklee8844]

Support your local unions ✊🏼solidarity forever 💪🇺🇸🙏

[@amytaylor8487]

Hello there 👋👋,how are you doing? Hope you had a good day? God bless you!❤️

[@brog5330]

8:50 small correction here. The SPD or (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) is NOT a socialist party. They’re social Democrats. I can’t think of a single SPD member advocating for worker ownership of the means of production (there might be one or too but if so then I’ve never heard of them)

[@ratnabahadurgurung9850]

Thank you prof. For your analysis. I enjoy listening.

[@tickle296]

Law was and is always tilted towards the rich. Society, at large, looks down upon the poor. This is the tragedy. 🌲🌲🌲🌲

[@DocZom]

Law here. The US was founded by capitalists for capitalists.

[@ProleDaddy]

@@DocZom James Madison's The Federalist Papers have some interesting things to say in regards to the government the constitutional frames designed for the opulent minority and their disgust for democracy.

[@HarrySmith-hr2iv]

@@DocZom The USA was founded by the Christian Pilgrim Fathers circa 1616 to avoid religious persecution from the British Monarchy in the UK. The great depression in 1930 was one of the initial signs of economic mis-direction.......rulership by The Stock Market, which continues to this day. And after WW2 the USA went full speed into world capitalist economic domination because the old European powers...including the British Empire.....had been destroyed. So the USA had no opposition to capitalist world economic expansion, apart from the USSR. (USSR has since been replaced by the Russian Federation.) All Empires eventually collapse...eg Rome, British Empire. Time for USA to collapse or rebuild itself along new different economic ideologies/policies. But China now stands as the economic opponent of the USA.

[@DocZom]

@@HarrySmith-hr2iv "The USA was founded by the Christian Pilgrim Fathers circa 1616" Let me guess: home schooled?

[@williamshafer3199]

In a functioning democracy where people are prepared to vote for the benefit of their families and children; it does not have to be the tragedy you describe

[@Aikidragon_Prime]

@ 24:50 its called "Price Fixing" to create more profits.

[@jackolantern7342]

Moment mal. I wouldn't consider the SPD all that socialist or all that "left". If anything they seem more like the Chris Hedges' type of liberals who are more centrist and not looking to really change anything.

[@David-zx8hi]

just like the Portuguese "socialist" party

[@judymanning2538]

Thank you 🍀

[@dehua-2730]

Hey Richard, SPD is not a left party, it's similar to the democrats in the US. The name SPD says Social but it's not mean being left. CDU is similar to the Republican Party in the US. In Germany Republicans refer to the nazi party or extreme right wing party. My point is that names may be the same but has very different meaning.

[@Kinkle_Z]

The Ivy Leagues are completely sold out now. It's tragic.

[@IvoNeto1949]

I will have to tell you that saying that germany shifted to the left is an error, specially because of the coalition formed. This coalition makes this gov more or less the same as before, maybe a bit to the right, also, this green party acting as foreign ministry will greatly disturb germany political and social development, and for the worse, because the greens are cia assets and will do everything they can in order to not let germany look eastward, toward china and russia. Because of that, germany economy will not grow as much as it could, maybe even retract, if the greens could sabotage nordstream2 and boycott russian gas or chinese investments, this happening, it would trigger a cascade reaction that would make germany shifts radically to the right or to the left, more prob to the right, since they have more money

[@itowmyhome797]

Thank you

[@georgefurman4371]

Archaic , arcane, very proper term for the increase of issues piling up in the mind of the American working people. Translating soon in more distrust in politicians of old. The old think they will get away with everything they deny the people.

[@RubenBustosC]

Really great analysis and the clarity and simplicity of your explanation of complex economics phenomena is astonishing. I don't think there is somebody able to explain these same things and at the same level of clarity and simplicity but in spanish

[@LONEWOLF..314-S-T-L]

GREAT TALKING POINTS MR WOLFF AS USUAL .. 💯💪🏾❤👍🏾

[@jeff__w]

Some corrections to your description of the expropriation referendum in Berlin: • The initiative applies to those landlords that own more than 3000 units, not 1000 units. (Real estate owner, Deutsche Wohnen, which owned around 113,000 housing units in the city, was clearly the main target. During or just after the referendum campaign, Vanovia, Germany’s biggest residential-property firm, with an additional 43,000 residential units, acquired Deutsche Wohnen.) • The campaigners said the companies would be compensated at a rate “well below market value,” not at market value. • While nearly every media organization reported that the referendum won with 56.4% of the vote, it actually won with 59.1%-the percentage out of total _valid_ ballots cast.

[@MCJSA]

If if this were to happen in the US, I doubt the ability of the Federal government to administer a public housing system. If you consider how Trump has been able to degrade the US Postal system, in only a couple of years, even after being thrown out of office, imagine the damage that could be done to a public housing stock in even less time. Because of the number of infantile pseudo anarchists lurking in this country, the US political system cannot be trusted not to self destruct at any given moment.

[@alone-tt8dg6ic6f]

EXCELLENT ....Take my salute Professor.

[@herbertbelau4099]

German fan here, just correcting a detail: our standard work week is 40h as well. If you manage to work at some big companies in the auto or energy sector, you may have a shorter work week though. Sometimes 38h or even 35h as Prof. Wolff said.

[@amytaylor8487]

Hello there 👋👋,how are you doing? Hope you had a good day? God bless you!❤️

[@ricardocerrillo1897]

American political will is jellyfish spineless. Our American society has the motivation of a sloth when it comes to emulating the German progressive way of getting things done in their favor as a society.

[@0157matt]

Jacking up prices can be profiteering

[@amytaylor8487]

Hello there 👋👋,how are you doing? Hope you had a good day? God bless you!❤️

[@LL-wc4wn]

It is insane that society allows people to start rich just because of their parents. And then they act like they are successful too

[@ProleDaddy]

What's *really* insane is that wage slavery is accepted in society and this government is based upon it.

[@LL-wc4wn]

@@ProleDaddy i'm very happy to be an employee for someone who did not get financial priviledges from their parents. For example, if inheritance and gifting to family was 100% taxed...at least i know when i see my boss It WAS fair financially for the both of us from the beginning... Because it was. Taking the means of production away from people who got the means of production FROM their parents.. seems like a pretty fair version of society and good start at making capitalism actually fair from the beginning for everyone, if you ask me.

[@ProleDaddy]

@@LL-wc4wn The US Government was specifically designed to represent rich business owners and fend off and control us peasants in a free range prison. These people use the government to kill scores of innocent in the global South and East in order to spread their power across the globe, opressing wages and democracy here and everywhere. 85% of the stock market is owned by the wealthiest 10%. 60% of Americans live in virtual poverty, myself and my family included. You have literally zero control in your workplace. You're a slave that can run away and be a slave somewhere else. I can go on for quite some time. You're good with all of this?

[@LL-wc4wn]

@@ProleDaddy how much time have you spent studying and educating yourself in your free time (6pm to 12am) in order to move into a better paying job? Have you ever saved money and sacrificed things (cheap food, no netflix, cheap housing, etc) to save money over a decade of your life, for example, to invest it in your education (online courses etc) or invested it so you can move to a higher paying job or better yourself? What exactly have you done and sacrificed to better yourself, and yet you are still 'a wage slave'? Or do you just believe everyone should get the same as everyone else, even if one person has made a great deal of sacrifice and achieved success and another person has not made that same effort?

[@LL-wc4wn]

@New Perspective 没有昵称Your english comprehension is poor. Nobody mentioned "the poor" until you just did. We arent discussing "the poor" here. My point is that SOME people who are poorer than others, deserve to be. And SOME people who are wealthier than others, do not deserve to be. People who are truly "poor" because they were born into poverty or ill health and need food, shelter, water, medicine, etc should be helped by everyone else! But i waant talking about people in poverty. You are changing the topic. I was replying to someone who said he feels trapped in his job as an employee. So dont say i was shaming 'the poor'.

[@DavidCunningham65]

wow wow wow! thanks Prof

[@thomasdonahue9363]

Love the show. I was a little surprised that you would call Germany's SPD (Socialist Party Deutschland) a socialist party saying "The socialists won the recent election." Yes, they have an 'S' in their name, and they were more socialist years ago (perhaps in an FDR way), but today they are a neoliberal/capitalist, free-trade (pushed for CETA), pro-war party. In fact, the SPD under Gerhard Schroeder, along with the Green Party, introduced the harsh austerity measures called Agenda 2010 in the early 2000s, cutting the welfare and social systems, causing income inequality to drastically increase. They are about as socialist as the Democrats are democratic. The Linke (the Left) is the main socialist party today. And pacifist.

[@hatinmyselfiscool2879]

The spd never truly was socialist or left. In the german left, they are very well known for killing Rosa Luxemburg. So yk... Not very left.

[@cbx500cbx]

My god Henry Kissinger is still alive ?? The devil and his minions are planning a huge party when he shows up !!!

[@MysticKenji2]

the link for the story on 'wages for housework' doesn't seem to point to the right place...

[@IbrahimBelloSebutu]

Thank you Prof Wolff for this update. From these numerous brilliant presentations on issues that matter much to us all as human beings , some of us living in developing/poor economies tend to understand the working principles of democracy in the United States and the danger consitiuted through wrong interpretation by our policy makers of how to practically apply democracy to ease the suffering of the masses that are witnessing the worst inflation ever.

[@exhippie503ommp2]

I remember the plowing under of food crops & dumping in the drain dairy products now the price is soaring....who could have known?

[@dinnerwithfranklin2451]

I've often noticed that we create "demand" by seeing what is on offer but the manufacturers produce the things on our shelves a year or more before we see it on our shelves. That does suggest that the capitalists decide what we demand by deciding what is on our shelves beforehand. And this suggests that 'supply and demand' is a meaningless term today as they create both the demand and supply of the products we have available.

[@hollywoodj500]

That's what US always did to other nations. Blamed others for their failures.

[@Kinkle_Z]

What about if instead of stocks, you're left a house? Would you owe taxes on that?

[@satriojumeneng7055]

You can't expect the US does the same because the US has 800 military bases around the world which are not cheap to maintain. German only spent very little for national security.

[@jonathanedwardgibson]

You don’t understand balance of trade and Treasury Notes: the only way foreign countries pay back trade deficits w/America is those Bonds. Only way we accept payment. This folds support of military into arrangement.

[@satriojumeneng7055]

@@jonathanedwardgibson Do you think it's profitable to maintain military bases for the US?

[@dirkdriessen1133]

10:50 Payed sick leave in germany is NOT 6 weeks per year but 6 weeks in a row. You can be 6 weeks ill with a cold, work one day and than be sick with a broken leg another 6 weeks. work one day and than ne sick with anozjer illness for 6 weeks. etc etc

[@Emidretrauqe]

That's because they actually check to make sure you're sick first. In other words, you're allowed to be sick for as long as your actually sick. You just can't be sick for a living. What a crazy system those Europeans have!

[@dirkdriessen1133]

@@Emidretrauqe You have no clue

[@Emidretrauqe]

@@dirkdriessen1133 Thanks for clearing that up.

[@markuspfeifer8473]

You’re spreading fake news when you call the SPD a socialist party. Even though their program still contains references to socialism, they are a Social Democratic party that has gone staunchly New Labor. Their last chancellor was a neoliberal nightmare and the likely next chancellor had advisors from black rock when he was finance minister. The Austrian Graz roots thing is more interesting.

[@noelliebtsie]

Do you think there are genuinely exciting political developments in Berlin at this time? Or the capitalists still ultimately have a stranglehold there?

[@markuspfeifer8473]

@@noelliebtsie Well, I guess this referendum will go the same way the Greek anti-austerity referendum went: into the toilet. The left will ultimately cave just like in the US. But the people are learning from it as far as I can tell. The views people on the ground hold become more and more realistic and clear sighted. E.g. many people don’t regard the SPD or the greens as left parties, some even question the usefulness of the Left party. That *is* exiting.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

@@markuspfeifer8473 all the traditionally left parties in western europe are now just neoliberal crony capitalist parties that work for the multinational corporations and billionaires. they just lie about it more than the right wing parties. there is no actual difference. the propaganda works very well, plenty of people will tell you that the reason for all the economic problems is that government is too left.

[@Frank-wh8cm]

@@TheSuperappelflap It's bad but not THAT bad. Yes, they cower and take bribes. But a lot less than the CDU. Their electorate is also not that forgiving, compared to the conservatives.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

@@Frank-wh8cm to give an example, all the left parties in europe want to subsidize electric cars. electric cars are still much worse for the environment than bikes and public transport. but they gladly take money from the car industry to promote electric cars. because theyre full of sh*t.

[@Frank-wh8cm]

just a couple of remarks. 1. He talks about german deaths by guns. These include suicides. Without these there are only 70 or so death by gun killings, third of that by police. We have a quarter of US population. Just an advice, if you ever come upon those numbers: The sum of bullets shot by police compared to the deaths, or the average distance of shot bullets reveal a lot more about the mentality of a people than mere deaths, because it shows how hesitant guns are used. Sorry to say that, US comrades, but you have reason to weep. 2. The SPD is NOT the socialist party! Mr Wolf, you do that all the time. They are SOCIAL DEMOCRATS. They make that difference. Its like the (non-progressive) US-Democrats won. Hussah, what a win for socialism. There are critics left to the SPD who use this slogan (rhymes in german): "Who betrayed us? - The social democrats!" I AM a german left and I can tell you, I feel something from indifferent to worried. The SPD is a more or less capitalist party, just with a little social flavour, but nothing fancy and sometimes they make it even worse than the conservatives. The real socialists (They even call themselves "The left" (german: Die Linke)) got 7%. And Germany also did not make a "shift to the left". We just thought it's someone else's turn now (the conservaties will get to power in 4-8years again anyways) and they took the least terrible candidate. He will be a weak chancellor, I'm sure about that. Sorry to say that, but if the US-Media did not tell you about Merkel's Oh-so-socialist-Junior-Partner.... well, there was no need to. They were not worth mentioning. Who betrayed us...? *sigh* But I don't want to hide the fact, that those critics are still critics from a very german perspective. Of course everything in german politics is far left from US politics. But the general course of Germany seems to be the wrong direction... I don't know, just saying that I'm worried.

[@matthewzhang2640]

My god, I gave up my game time to listen to Prof. Wolff ......

[@antonywerner3018]

the 24 workdays Vacation is for a 6 Day workweek if some one have a Workweek of 5 days he get 20 days. And if you are longer than 42 Days ( 6 Weeks) ill you get 70 % of your normal Income from the Public Health Insurance for 42 Weeks.

[@jetstream3528]

A true American Hero

[@spiritualeco-syndicalisthe207]

The SPD leader is heavily involved in corruption scandals and the party itself has become increasingly centrist or even neoliberal (something like the New Labour in the UK), so it's not like we were moving towards democratic socialism in any way, but besides that I hope for empowered unions, which I think is more important than party politics.

[@itzenormous]

Speaking of corrupt, how about that trade-union leadership? The good ole AFL-CIA and such? Yeah, we can sure count on them.

[@spiritualeco-syndicalisthe207]

@@itzenormous I talk about german unions mainly, but yes, they're not radical enough as well. But I trust them more than I trust parties..

[@y0884]

I mean the SPD in the 2000's and 2010's was very neoliberal (and so were the greens), but the current leadership is quite left wing (for the SPD) despite the Chancellor candidate Schulz being a boring centrist type. People in Germany and Europe usually refer to Social Democrats as "socialists" and their parties as socialist parties.

[@spiritualeco-syndicalisthe207]

@@y0884 Right. That makes it kinda hard to even talk about this if you're virtually the only country with two separate parties for socialism and social democracy each.

[@y0884]

@@spiritualeco-syndicalisthe207 lol they’re not virtually the only country to have that. Most European countries have sizeable socialist/communist parties

[@noelliebtsie]

Prof. Wolff, speaking of the malfeasance of the ivy leagues, I would love for you to cover their manipulations in Russia; how they helped create the post-Soviet (mafia) economy. I enjoy your looks at Germany! Perhaps I should try and move to Berlin after all :). My recent degree thesis was on the post-WWII history of socialism there (as well as similar revolutionary movements: environmental, anti-nuclear, eco-feminist, artist, punk, squatter) before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall: how these movements were derailed and maligned in the so-called capitalist democracy (contradiction in terms) and where they're at today, still trying to rise from the ashes. As you say, these concessions to the wage-slave workers in Germany would never have happened without socialist pressure. The thing is, these concessions are still in the vein of New Deal: there to prop up the capitalist system, keep people from rioting against the rich. Lastly, I hope meat becomes so expensive no one buys it anymore and all the slave animals are released from purgatory. 🐮🐷🐣

[@northpole9311]

The most revolutionary thing one can do is grow your own food... I was once told years ago...it's true.

[@uniagon]

the figures of inflation will be more stunning if you included OCT 2021

[@rogerburn5132]

Yes they will be more stunning if the government doesn't manipulated the CPI

[@starvalkyrie]

"If the political will were there" is basically the catchphrase of this era.

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

is it possible to shift so much that one falls off the table?

[@Jamal-Ahmed786]

On capitals gains tax, that's exactly the same situation in UK

[@josiahsuarez]

what's really important is the fact that they have removed the thumbs down button :(

[@mabellegall]

I realize that…. Very interesting

[@InnerSunshine]

One of very sources of world news of progress in economics and politics :)

[@jollyyeholiver1578]

Richard is painting a rosy picture, as a person who lives in Berlin I can tell you there is just as much corporate capture here as everywhere else.

[@vicoilsteems9764]

Not like the US

[@gerryhouska2859]

Hang on, US, Australia is catching up fast!

[@Ashdad99]

Wealthy own the schools and decide which way to nudge the students and the cycle continues. A lot of poor and middle class students want a more fair and just society but the power will always be in the hands of the people who come out of the ivy league schools.

[@markherron6374]

Right after WWII the assault on the worker started. It's insane to work 30 years for a life that's never paid for.....in debt for life.