Richard Wolff: The Economic, Political and Social Crisis of the United States

The Community Church of Boston: A Peace and Justice Congregation Since 1920
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Prof Richard Wolff spoke with Community Church of Boston on 4/4/21. Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Visiting Professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs of the New School University, NYC. He is the founder of Democracy at Work and host of their nationally syndicated show Economic Update. His latest book is The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself, which is now also available as an eBook. It can be found along with his other books Understanding Socialism and Understanding Marxism at www.democracyatwork.info.

[@brooklynborn]

I can (and sometime, do) listen to Richard Wolff talk about this material for hours

[@edcomettant]

@@mab7175 Hi, I think bringing the clarity of what is happening now is the first step for the change, I think he has clear that, what should come after is a revolution, a shift of the system. For that I believe are the people who has the solutions. Have a good day :)

[@edcomettant]

@@mab7175 I see what you mean, in that case I think Richard Wolff put clear knowledge in a very digestible way, but there is no new magical formula from it. But I would be curious if you have good name authors that propose something tangible new :)

[@beatezei3540]

You explain very intelligent and fine for us,who have to understand our place in die society and who have to act

[@phaZed9]

"Let me give you a few statistics, bear with me, I'm an economist... we do that sometimes." - Thank you Professor Wolff. 🙂

[@nightoftheworld]

32:55

[@phaZed9]

@@mab7175 On many occasion, Prof. Wolff does present solutions. On many occasions he simply presents his interpretation of the economic reality. Simply pointing out the sky is blue, trees are green and the temperature is rising - doesn't require "a solution". Also, humans need to accept that some situations do not have a "solution", especially situations that have been ignored, created, or are otherwise too far gone to do anything about - in any "rational way". Many of Prof. Wolff's "solutions" comes not from a concerted effort of a society, but from the chaos and misery - a solution is borne (Revolutions, Dark Ages, Wars, Atrocities). Prof. Wolff doesn't "call" for these things as a "solution", but rather as a historical truth seen throughout the ages.... a "solution" of a kind. Wolff and others point out the solution(s) all the time - it's the "getting there" that's the problem...

[@phaZed9]

@@mab7175 A stimulating read. Thanks for that. I don't fully agree - but I can fully appreciate your position. If we meet each other in the future dystopian hell hole forthcoming.. I shall share my bread ;-)

[@dianagwinn4335]

My favorite economist who explains economics in a way most can understand. Thank you Professor Wolff.

[@hassanhooshmand2710]

A populist is good for a simple brain.

[@jeffk464]

Yeah I like how he breaks the stereotype of crazy socialist college professors.

[@kayakMike1000]

@@jeffk464 He's a plant by the sensible people. He and zizek are so awful, these two turn more people away from socialism than anyone could, short of Mao, who just killed people...

[@zxcvbnmdb]

THE GUY IS A ROTHSCHILD STOOGE AND DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT FREE ENTERPRISE. HE IS A STOOGE FOR SOCIALISM.

[@andrewferg8737]

"explains economics in a way most can understand" ---- said the joker to the thief

[@alfredfleming5354]

Thank you professor. Your clarity clears away the current fog of American discourse.

[@alinoor6515]

Professor keep up.u make sense for those

[@annemorency3317]

Thank you for this excellent presentation. Extreme wealth, power, greed is what’s bringing America down down down down.

[@rhlopez2694]

They pulled out all the drinking fountains from parks and started selling bottled water. Evil

[@freedomlandcanada230]

that was a leftist idea I have no doubt

[@michaelhards9328]

I've seen our state parks remove restrooms and water and stop maintainance so as to keep the public out

[@vlndfee6481]

I can not see the comments on this comment

[@michaelhards9328]

@@madashell7224 hey my friend you forgot to mention pay phones...try to find one now, and thanks for responding

[@guyburgwin5675]

They would sell air if they could.

[@sebolddaniel]

I lived in Vietnam during the two years of Covid. They are an amazing people living on so little and working so hard and are so happy. They putt putt about on their motorbikes and rub shoulders in heavy traffic, cheeky young women in ao dai skirts and motorcycle helmets and huge spectacles rub shoulders with scruffy males and run about working and shopping. I have photos of men carrying gigantic loads on their motorbikes through traffic. When they crash into each other, they help each other get up off the street and go their way. The Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, the Mc Donalds, Burger Kings and KFCs, the only real remnant of the west---they all have hammer and sickle flags hanging on their fronts, sometimes draped up and down the front of the building. I have photos, incredible photos of this strangely deeply religious culture, people standing outside churches listening to sermons at five am in the morning--syncretic churches that look like Buddhist temples, with a Buddhist drum inside and a huge last supper scene behind the pulpit.

[@matthewclark9522]

I could find no priest here to baptize my grandchildren without a payola and a promise to raise them in Catholic school. This was impossible for me economically and their parents were indifferent. Fr. Kim at the Vietnamese parish was happy to baptize them...so gracious. I'm still member there, but my husbands illness kept me close to home for years. Fr. Kim wrote me that "All things work together for good...even being unable to attend Mass. I am impressed by their genuine faith in God's on the ground reality in the sacraments and in our everyday lives where almost anything can be sacrament if only we open our eyes. Thank you for your comment....my parish people return to Vietnam a lot.

[@shannonsnyder9]

53 yr. old white American. Born and raised in rural areas and lower middle class. I have never listened to this man before. I knew I was ignorant and nieeve in many areas but now I'm dumbfounded! It seems that most everything I think I know about the country and the world is a lie. Wow! Looking back on most of the comments I've made here on KZbin, it's starting to leave me feeling embarrassed and ashamed. Ignorant people like me, must amuse those who really know what's up. Lol! My bad.... I think I'll start reading more and commenting less. I have far more to learn that I do to share. Thank you sir, for enlightening me. Shift...👍

[@EnvironmentalCoffeehouse]

Shannon I just read your comment and you should never be ashamed. You should be honored and proud of yourself that you now are starting to learn history. Also very important to learn is about our change in climate due to men's activities. I personally was really happy to read your comment. This is a great history lesson, Dr. Wolff is amazing!

[@shanesambo5633]

Absolute GOLD. This should be today's Bible. This wisdom needs an ovation, and the highest accolades a country can offer to a citizen.

[@bonitajanssen745]

AMERICA IS MYSTERY BABYLON

[@AugustusOmega]

You understand this is communism right? its not a dirty word Amerikanski!

[@shanesambo5633]

@@AugustusOmega No this is not communism. Hes saying stop the greedy corporation from fucking everyone over and paying the CEO 100 x a normal person's salary then not paying a cent tax on it. Its destroying the US economy. Can you see that? Communist or no communist, the US economy is a lie. And he wants to fix it, he doesn't hate his country, he hates the greed of the 1%

[@jaegertiger384]

... so propose to rewrite the Holy Scriptures by adding Communism.

[@bonitajanssen745]

@@jaegertiger384 The first to coin “Let’s make America great again!” - RONALD 6 WILSON 6 REAGAN 6 DONALD 6 JOHANN 6 TRUMPF 6 “THE NUMBER OF A MAN” ONE AND THE SAME-SYMBOLIC OF CAPITALISM AMERICA IS MYSTERY BABYLON GORBACHEV (FIRST BEAST) IS ACTUALLY STILL ALIVE AND HAS BEEN PULLING PUTIN’S (SECOND BEAST) STRINGS ALL THESE YEARS! HENCE : “HE WAS, IS NOT, YET IS” “HIS DEADLY WOUND HAS HEALED” (Are you old enough to remember the birthmark on “Gorby’s” head that looks like he was “killed through the head with a sword”?) PUTIN WILL BURN AMERICA “WITH FIRE AND THE WHOLE WORLD WILL WAIL AND ASK WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE WAR WITH THE BEAST?” ! 666 NOW BECOMES PUTIN’S NUMBER! IT WILL BE COMMUNISM UNDER THE GUISE OF CAPITALISM! JESUS WARNED OF THIS DECEPTION! YOU MUST NEVER TAKE THIS MARK!!! ANTICHRIST “WILL BE DESTROYED, BUT NOT BY MAN’S HAND, BUT BY THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS COMING.” REMEMBER-THE HARLOT “RODE” THIS BEAST! (When Trump gets back in the White House, he will “CONFIRM” the Abraham “Peace” Accord he started in Isreal. Then he will proclaim himself God. ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION-then “sudden destruction”.) “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:36

[@Casket1488]

You make some very valid truthful points. I’m glad it wasn’t heavily political, this as a whole falls on both political parties.

[@davidlafleche1142]

Both Parties are evil.

[@josephyoung6749]

it falls on all americans, and if they don't get their act together and stand up to monopolists, then there's nothing a political party is going to do

[@thalesnemo2841]

@@davidlafleche1142 There is only one party, THE CORPORATE MASTER PARTY. The inverted totalitarian corporate coup d’état is complete and the master corporate party won ! The coming overt fascist take over on the 8th of November will spark the 2nd US civil war!

[@davidlafleche1142]

@@thalesnemo2841 No, quite the opposite. All this chaos is meant to set up the Antichrist: By PEACE he shall destroy many.

[@kevintewey1157]

This falls on capitalism and those who support it by voting in either party

[@sufferingsuccatash7720]

China will become a high wage country in 2022 by international standard. But the biggest testimony to the success of China's economic model and its inclusiveness is their rise in life expectancy. In 1949 China was one of the 10 poorest countries in the world. Life expectancy was 39yrs. By 1987 life expectancy in China was 77yrs. Only the Soviet Union between 1919 and 1939 was able to improve life expectancy similar to China. Life expectancy is the measure of the value of human rights within a national political and economic system.

[@chengtan5598]

Like everything history repeats itself. Empires will rise and fall. Philosophers like Hegel and Karl Marx quoted .The world exist because there is always good and evil like the Yin and Yang

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

I’d rather focus on my constitutional rights that are under attack right now. Freedom is more important than $ and America’s standing in the world economy.

[@හරිමගඋදෙසා]

Professor Wolff, Thank you very much for the fair and impartial analysis for one to understand clearly. Dr.Jayanth Pathirana Attorney and the team from Lanka

[@andrewferg8737]

"fair and impartial analysis" ------ ????????????????????????????

[@tekannon7803]

Not only are you a great teacher and lecturer, you are a humanitarian and believer in sharing the wealth. Your ideas will not go unheard.

[@jimmeier8048]

You and Bernie should run for PRESIDENT and straighten out our Country ---- the clowns we have in Washington supposedly running our country ARE only thieves and scoundrels wanting to get RICH and FUCK !!!! We have to elect HONEST and ETHICAL people who want to run our country for the advantage of all AMERICANS!! TAX the RICH !!! NOW !!!! H

[@davidlafleche1142]

"Sharing wealth"? What if a man is lazy?

[@tekannon7803]

@@mab7175 GGGGGGGGGGGGGreat to hear from you. It might surprise you to know that I have invented an alternative economic model that challenges the capitalist economic system. It's called The Treatise of Teknomix and it will be published soon at Austin Macauley Pulblishers Ltd. I am offering this system like the Linus Operating System: free for anyone to tinker with and if possible construct the sytem that will carry us forward and address the inequality problem. I am sure my system will not make it to page 1, but it's a step in the right direction.

[@lilypang7590]

We need your voice to educate our people, the truth !!!

[@MartinScreeton]

Thank you Community Church of Boston for presenting Dr. Richard Wolff! I've been listening to him for well over a dozen years.

[@CCBPeace]

Thank you, Martin!

[@vlndfee6481]

@@CCBPeace When I read the comments of people... Many time I do NOT see them all. Is not just here, but other Chanels too.

[@andrewferg8737]

@@CCBPeace Fear, anger, and envy are antithetical to the Gospel of Christ. Have you considered presenting the teachings of Christ, or do plan to continue with Marx instead?

[@karendalsadik7119]

Thank you Professor Wolf.

[@markgerrard383]

You ask Dr Wolff, why US infrastructure is not fit for purpose : The reason US infrastructure is collapsing is because the US has ZERO meaningful public sector & tends to regard disparagingly of all things paid from the public purse as either 'socialist or communist' Here are 4 areas where the UK has a taxation supported public sector which the US does not & yet which is precisely why our infrastructure is constantly maintained.. 1. Health 2. Education 3. Prisons & 4. Transport The iniquity of ANY of the above being left to the dog eat dog private sector is not only unacceptable to Brits but also to Europeans generally.. Unfortunately this is one lie which somehow never quite gets exposed.. We also don't bequeath 60p of every taxed £1 to the Military Industrial Complex Whereas US taxpayers are given no choice in this matter by either of Rothschild's AIPAC parties in Congress..

[@davidpretiz4439]

A good dose of truth about the reality of our situation for the most of the citizens of this "democratic" society called USA.

[@lindascanlan6317]

Adore this man...brilliance. ...

[@josephaziz785]

The Wolff of Wall Street. I propose giving all the power and money to Wolff to re-distribute to us equally. He has such an honest face.

[@jeankern2646]

I like it that you explain everything so that everybody can understand it !

[@boysiedent6149]

I AM AN OLD MAN - I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR PODCASTS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING - UNFORTUNATELY THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER - HAVE NOT …IT IS GREAT TO POSSESS WISDOM - VERY SAD TO SEE IT ALL GO TO WASTE,,,!!!

[@chengtan5598]

Me too an old man what a waste more people does not follow Wolff advice.

[@BishopRealTalk98]

This man is a bitter institutionalized charlatan.

[@slerickson01]

Hey old man. There’s a button that allows you to unstick your caps lock.

[@mamalapanda]

Prof. Richard Wolff and others with like minds should form a political party and go in for Senate and House Positions in the November General Elections. We need to get rid of these wolves and thieves we have in the US Congress and White House

[@timothyrday1390]

A pipe dream. Even if the likes of Professor Wolff were elected to Congress, it wouldn't change the policies of the permanent government in Washington.

[@NotAPacifist825]

Well, the DSA and the SA do run candidates you can vote for in many locations. They even get elected despite relentless dishonest attacks by the two ruling parties.

[@wongpohchan9485]

No way will any other political party can come into being. The oligarchs, the top entrepreneurs n the military industrial complex will not allow that to happen. The politicians of all shades are already in the pockets of the military industrial complex.

[@gsthree9534]

How could anyone get elected without campaign contributions?

[@ALL_CAPS__]

@@gsthree9534 small dollar donations from people. In our system of bribery, it's better for the citizens to be the one bribing the politician than the corporation or well to do. We desperately need public financing of elections. Money is not speech, it's bribery.

[@sharkamov]

*Professor Wolff - What a treasure this individual **_could_** have been for his country - and the **_world!_** . . .*

[@DoberDudeProductions]

@@lepidoptera9337 lol asinine.

[@sharkamov]

@@DoberDudeProductions Lepidoptera is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths. They are harmless . . .

[@abetterwayblueprint225]

Absolutely Everyone needs to hear this! So well thought through and succinctly stated- it's impossible for anyone to misunderstand the situation after listening to this. Thank you Richard for posting this for all of us who have instinctually known there's a problem, but maybe not have been able to express it in such a profound manner.

[@colonel__klink7548]

I gotta give him credit. Three seconds in he openly stated what the marxist project is... neo hegelianism. Point out contradictions, often manifesting as flaws with the intention of instigating conflict between thesis and antithesis as a means of progress in the form of synthesis. So marx confronts the private property society which he called capitalism with the private property society he called socialism. The synthesis he argued would "be the final stage of history" which he called communism. I love how figures like wolf tell people to their face what they are doing. Forcing conflict, essentially getting people to live out an alchemical reaction of destructive distillation and everyone just sort of glosses over that and goes "workers own the means of production! Ya!"

[@tommackling]

Some Meandering Toughts ( on deep and important things ) ( Part 1 ) ( Capitalism and Our Troubled World ) It seems to me that some people work hard to "make a living" and yet live and die poor, while some people, "earn" tens and hundreds of thousands of $, and even millions of $, every day, without having to so much as lift a finger, because, through the artiface of "ownership", tens of thousands of people work for them. Such exceptionally wealthy people own a significant share of many corporations and companies, and as a result, they effectively receive a slice of wages of every employee of those companies. This state of affairs (that some men profit enormously from the labour of others who may not significantly profit from their own labours) may be "fundamentally" desirable or undesirable, depending, I suppose, on one's point of view. However certain undesirable, regrettable and significantly problematic "complications" tend to exacerbate and worsen the situation compounding the difficulties associated with this social arrangement. These "complications" chiefly stem, it would seem, from deficiencies, defects or weaknesses of human character, but also, to some extent, seem to arise spontaneously or be directly due to what we must conclude to be defects or defeciencies within the arrangement itself. Chiefly among such defects is a tendency for the "system" to become (even more) "unballanced". Yes, it could of course be argued that such an arrangement is unjust and unfair, that men (and women) should not be able to so exploit or subjugate others. But assuming that such an arrangement may be established, and those for whom no others labour (and who do not "earn their living" by profitting from the employment of others) may be convinced that the arrangement is adequately just, justifiable and justified, (such as in the circumstances which currently prevail), perhaps through the successful inculcation of ideological belief within society, belief that, for example, there is no better or fairer or plausibly viable better system even conceivable, well, under such circumstances, (as prevail in our society today), a number of undeniably undesirable aspects arise, as I will make clearly plain, for I will not simply name and list them, but will also help make plain (through the provision of an explaination) as to why they arise. Clearly there is inequity, for goods and services are to be allocated, at least primarily, obviously not on the basis of "fundamental rights", but on the basis of "being able to afford them". And of course, the exceptionally wealthy will naturally be exceptionally priviledged. They will be pampered and fawned over, for example, by well dressed and attractive young waiters at an expensive restaurant, perhaps at a fine luxury hotel, who will make every effort to see to it that they, the wealthy patron, is adequately pleased and satisfied. There is nothing obviously wrong yet, and so far so good, with the minor problem that there might be "poor" people, who begin to suggest that the pamperring and inequity, in the presence of genuine economic hardship, can not be justified. As an unfortunate consequence of this "antagonism", some form of "deification" of wealth and the extrordinarily wealthy, some form of "wealth worship" must be introduced into society to help the "ordinary people" "understand" or at least believe, that the extrodinarily priviledged do indeed deserve all of the special priviledges, all of the pamperring and "adoration" that they receive. They, the extraordinarily wealthy, must be deemed to be extraordinarily meritous, virtuous, tallented, capable, desirable, yadda yadda yadda. And as a consequence, "the pursuit of wealth" must, eventually, become socially identified with "the pursuit of excellence", and the rational goal of every fit and capable intelligent individual must become the pursuit of personal affluence. This development is regrettable, for it promotes the development of greed, selfishness and a contempt for others, and this sort of character is not conducive to a healthy society or republic, especially as regards the sort of character needed for those who must fill the role of "public servants". But the problems continue to spread from here. For the embrace of "money worship" as the cultural ethos tends to increase the power and influence that such a society will grant to the extraodinarily affluent, until the government itself becomes servant and hand maiden to those who most intensely represent and embody that wealth . And that power and influence will be used to shape society so as to best serve, legitimize and grow that same priviledge, power and influence. And our society will adopt and embrace mechanisms whereby relative wealth alone is adequate to ensure a strengthening and magnification of the relative wealth gap, and descrepency in wealth, power and priviledge. And so a democracy is inevitably corroded into a plutocracy, and government becomes the tool by which an empowered minority inposes its will on a dissempowered, intentionally deceived and subjugated majority. Worse, those who can effect significant social change, the "0.001%", begin to imagine themselves as actually superior, and to regard the "ordinary people", (the people who have "allowed themselves" to be manipulated, mislead, exploited and abused, without having taken any reasonable steps towards defending themselves or their future wellbeing) with genuine contempt, to the extent that those who are most effectively "pulling the strings" and steering our collective development , are actually an evil and malignant threat to humanity at large. Currently, the ambition of the 0.001% associated with the "principal stakeholders" of the WEF is the harmessing of technological capabilty in order to psychologically control and enslave humanity, all to prevent a "slave revolt" and ensure their continued role of "puppet masters". Extraordinary wealth induces sociopathy and antipathy towards the weak whom they chose not to help, and towards those who they exploited and abused. And as this sociopathy and antipathy is undesirable, it is undesirable that our current "capitalist" system amplifies and promotes both the concentration of wealth and also the power and influence it weilds (or is granted). So our current system is, at least arguably, problematic. But where did we go wrong? Surely power and wealth naturally go hand in hand. Should they not?, and if not, how should they be separated? Surely the only reasonable alternative to capitalism is totalitarian governance by an authoritarian government? How could millions, or even billions, of people co-exist harmoniously enough to benefit from collaborative, cooperative and complimentary interaction as would constitute a more perfect society, in the absence of an "iron fist" or oppressive and micro-managing government? Of course this is a question that must best be answered by a variety of minds representing a broad spectrum of humanity. But I think I can offer a hint towards the finding of this solution. And that is that the idea of the ideal society naturally arising from competative struggle between individuals is no longer tenable. And just a human hand and a human body are aggregations of individual cells and organs, which have not naturally arisen as a result of competetion between these separate cells and organs, but rather through their harmonious interaction, so too must our future society attempt the harmonious interaction and integration of diverse and disparate tallents, aptitudes, interests, characters and communities. (continued in Part 2, below) -------

[@tommackling]

(Part 2) ( "The unballanced psyche"...) I think we need to abandon the idea that the world separately revolves around a great number of separate and competing " I 's ", and rather elicit from each " I " an acknowledgement of the existence and importance of that which is "other than I", along with whatever encouragement each " I " needs in order to enter into a viable healthy relationship with that "other than I". This "other than I" is of course the same thing as "all that I am not", and includes the billions of other inhabitants on our planet. In the ideal "balanced psyche", each individual not only recognizes the existence of this "all that I am not", but also its independent legitimacy and value, and in so far as the individual is capable of valuing and loving "all that is part of me" ( "all that I am" , or simply the "I"), ideally the individual is capable of similarly valuing and loving the "all that I am not" ( the "other" ). The aggregate of "all that I am" together with "all that I am not", the "all that is (and was and ever will be)" (although I have not made this explicit, in the notions of "all that I am" and "all that I am not", it is intended that these notions represent "entities" which persist through time, and "entities" which exist only for a moment, separate and entitely unidentified with that which was, only a moment before and that which will be, a moment later), should ideally then also be admitted, as an entity, into psychological reality, evidently an entity which commonly subsumes and extends each and every individual, and it too, (assuming that one should love him or herself), be valued, appreciated, and loved. But key to the notion of a separate "other" ( or "other than I" , or "that which I am not") should be an understanding that the appropriate domain of one's values, will and volition is only the "I", and does not include the "other". (And specifically, the "that which I am not" is a domain which should not properly be subject to one's personal will or governance... essentially because different people and things have different paths to follow.) It should be understood that differences between individuals are good and justified, that one can not subsume the "other", and one can not reasonably impose one's values or will on anyone else, because their values and aspirations may differ, but must nonetheless be regarded as of fundamentally equal value and legitimacy. It may, of course be argued that it only because (individual) men (and women) sought to impose their will on the "other than I" that man came to be able to modify and master "the elements" and his environment. But I think this perception is only naively and superficially true. That is, I take it to be completely plausible that individuals who clearly understood that "external reality" was not in fact, subject to their will, would still seek out to explore the nature of the possible interactions with these "independant" things, and still come to master fire and learn how to modify the environment (but with the understanding of effects as due to a causal protocol, "if I do this, then...", without any dellusions that effects were achieved through the application of sheer will... again some subtlety may be required for philosophical analysis, how will, desire and persistence interrelate and so on.) And we can also understand how people with "unballanced psyches" or "egotistical" or "self-centered" personalities might well assume positions of dominance over their more "ballanced" and "easy going" peers. For the individual who supposes "everything is subordinate to me" will seek to impose his opinions and will on everyone else, he will seek power and the means to control and manipulate everyone else. It is this sort of "megalomania" we should like to eleviate from civilized society. We want to basically remove the cause or source of a social ill, that social ill being tyranny and human subjugation and malicious exploitation. But what about "great men", men like Ramses, Alexander, Ceasar Augustus, Napolean and the like? Won't the active discouragement of megalomania prevent the emergence of such "great men". Perhaps, but such concerns may be allayed with the "consolation" that when men who can command the loyalty of tens of thousands emerge from within our society of free and essentially equal (in power and authority) individuals, they will necessarily be truly remarkable individuals, and not merely over-priviledged sociopaths. Of course, even given individual understanding that one should not be able to impose their will on another, evidentally individual personal wills and ambitions may well be infeasible, impracticle, or "unrealistic". They may also be mutually incompatible (with the aspirations of others). And the general goal and basis of any free society must be the harmonious reconcillation and cooperative synthesis and melding of these individual strivings and aspirations. It is the cooperative interaction between many individuals that is made manifest in a society. (continued in Part 3, below) -------

[@tommackling]

(Part 3) (On Free Will...) Every individual is capable, it seems of shaping, to some extent, the nature of the future. This is the idea of "free will" or "will". And the question of how "mechanistic physical process", from photons hitting the retina and being registered by optic cones and rods in the eye, and this triggering the firing of nerve cells and neurons within the brain, etc., this seemingly a "bottom up process", can lead to thoughts and decisions (seemingly indicating freedom of choice or will) which seem to exist within the domain of "mind", can then return to cause neural firings which trigger motor nerves and the contraction of muscle cells (in a seemingly "top down" manner) to ultimately effect a change to the material, physical world (within the domian of "matter" or "body"). How the seemingly mechanistic process could facilitate "free will" is an old puzzle. Perhaps it is as if the nature of the ever evolving present, the nature of the ever changing reality, were a bit like a bead rolling down hill over bumpy ground. But this bead could also pass, essentially mechanistically downhill within a human's brain or mind, seemingly at the "same time" and in "super-position" with its rolling down hill, outside the mind, and in the "real world", but that it can roll down faster inside the mind, and pathway determined within the mind, can shape and influence the pathway it travels in the real world. So perhaps there is no "choice" or "free will" as such yet. the marble simply "rolling downhill" within the mind. But what if our "free will" consisted not so much in able to actually determine, (by force of will or intention) the evolution of reality, but only in our ability to recollect and reflect on past experiences / scenario sequences and their outcomes, and to imagine alternative behavior, thoughts or feelings we might have instead posessed during this experience / scenario event sequence, and still, nothing necessarily requiring "free will", nothing that couldn't in theory be computationally emulated, but perhaps in addition, we had the abilty to decide, basically, what we wanted to want ( and in effect, had the opportunity to "reprogram" our "automatic responses" ). Ah, "what we wanted to want", um, I mean, basically, what if our "free will" did not, directly allow us to, for example, become a famous movie star (or a succesful brain surgeon or whatever), but only to desire (or not) to become a famous movie star, and in so doing, adjust our proclivities and interest in events and actions, accordingly. Yes, all I'm really doing here, with this "yammering" is "watering down" or "weakening" what might be the "incarnation" of "free will". So maybe, just maybe, we actually can "reprogram" ourselves in this way, by re-assessing and reformulating our desires, goals and ambitions. And perhaps this "reprogramming" is normally done in "idle time", when we are reflecting on things. But what if, somehow, we really were able to make such choices on our own. What if we really did posess "free will' in terms of our ability to choose our own hopes and desires. And to be able, perhaps not to alter what sort of events actually transpire around us, but only to alter how we will emotionally react to these events, like a creature that is sentient and conscious (or self-aware) but lacks volition (the ability to alter the data/stimulus being recieved). But if we posessed even this limited form of "free will", then, if the "marble can roll downhill in a mind faster than in teality" idea is essentially correct, then, even if we are not able to select our own responses in a fashion suitable to manipulate the liklihood of future development that is closer to our liking, in a very real sense, we really do have free will. And we help to steer (perhaps very ineffectively) the nature of our reality unfolding (in time) around us, and we are able to do this through our minds. In this sense, each of us is a co-creator, and a god. And perhaps if there were no other mind but our own, we would assume the role of god. But we are not the only mind. And of course, as we already observed, some individual's aspirations may be irreconcillable to another's. (For example, two young men might both seek to be some young women's first love, these two men seeking to court the same woman, who sadly, perhaps will recieve either of these two suitors.) And this "reconciliation", this grand synthesis and melding of the different " I 's ", their reality transforming wills and aspirations, this symphonic masterpiece is realized in the "all that is (was and ever will be". We each partake in a grand composition. Anyway ... (continued in Part 4, final part, below) -------

[@tommackling]

(Part 4, final part) ( Returning To a Post-Capitalist Society ... ) I think it is time to recognize our interdepence (more so than is admitted under our current "market based competition between rational (and amoral) actors" model) , and the need for us to love and value one another. But of course I am rather ill equipped to properly understand your wants and needs, just as you are not well placed to know mine. So how then might a great number of quite diverse people manage to communicate their respective wants and needs in a way that would be conducive to cooperation, collaboration and a recognizable "drift" towards general satisfaction? ( A Hierarchical Model For Direct Democracy ... ) Perhaps people might meet and communicate in modestly sized gatherings (perhaps no more than a dozen or so), and each group might select one of those present to "represent" the entire group at a similar meeting, "one level up", and so on in a pyramid fashion, where the ideas and decisions, as well as their representatives, percolate or bubble up from the bottom and then back down, the "representatives" responsible for communicating back to the group he was temporarily representing, which decisions and proposals where "settled on" at the "one level higher meeting". Perhaps we will need to replace or "radically restructure" our "representative democratic governments" into something more like this (where "ordinary people" are periodically tasked with "the responsibility of governorship" and there is no fixed "political class"). I don't know, but it seems fairly clear that our current "representative democracies" are failing to provide actually democratic form of governance (despite all of our exercising our democratic rights by voting) ( Conclusion ) Those who currently exploit us divide us (e.g. into "left" and "right") and keep us from forming the kind of unity we need in order to secure for ourselves a future and a society where we will be sufficiently endowed with the power and liberty to establish through our own minds, by the power of our own wills, and driven by our own desires, a future of our own, collaborative making. I want liberty, in the truest sense of the word, to be restored to every one, where that liberty is not the power to enslave others, however, but the right and due priviledge to contribute to and participate in the crafting of the future. Of course we shall not all be identical, in our more perfect republic, but we will recognize, respect, value and love one an other, in both diversity and commonality. Yes, perhaps a higher, more enlightened form of human consciousness will need to be much more prevalent, but honestly, I don't think it would take very much in the way of "early childhood coaching" for us to make the leap. And I think its a leap we need to make, and I think its time for us to make it. (I know, I know, wildly wishful thinking, sure. But our "elected representatives" seem to somehow tend to be "Young Global Leaders" or in some other way affiliated to the WEF or some other billionaire initiative, and well, the "0.001%" certainly seem to be leading us down a path directly to Hell, our governments seem all too eager to betray us, and, for our own sake, it certainly seems that we really ought to begin to make some extraordinary efforts towards ensuring our governments are not going to become our "prison guards".) So how can I have managed to come from the "grand synthesis" in "all that is" to such petty concerns over the malformation of human unfolding, as a result of an unhealthy domination of "unballanced psyches". Yes, that is a good question. My answer I suppose, is that I simply wish to share and communicate what I have identified to be an impediment to a desired (by a grander mind than is mortal) "symphonic outcome". The desired outcome is, as far as I understand, basically guaranteed. And everything, I am quite sure, will "work out" and be more than fine and more than wonderful, in the end. But there is a distance to travel from here to there, and I would simply try to do "my tiny bit" towards making that journey more pleasant, and less "hellish". Cheers, Solidarity, Love and All the Best

[@kathryntate6809]

The same phenomenon as Socialist Russia happened to the early Christians in Rome; they had networks of worker cooperatives and were free of the Roman strong arm, so Rome quashed the cooperatives because they needed the workers to come back and work for the Roman system; the coops were a threat to the slave system.

[@NEMO-NEMO]

@Katheryn Yes!! The insiders who are holding high offices in our country and the world over have many more tools in their arsenal that everyone else. Most of these people are in the highest offices in the country and in each Industry. We are not fighting a political system, or governments. We are trying to find out who is in charge that can create such chaos from their leadership and who control all the levers. They control it all! So no one really knows the truth about anything, anymore. Karl Marx spoke and wrote about Market Capitalism. We hv Finance Capitalism.

[@sideshowbobrobert]

one o' the few genuinely honest economists willing to bring light into the darkness o' unchecked greed. i have long appreciated Mr. Wolff's ability to distill his wealth o' experience and insight into our predatory form o' capitalism so that pretty much anyone listening with an open mind can understand. he is one o' a shockingly small handful o' voices in our wilderness worth listening to. too bad too few are willing to hear what he has to say - especially in DC (probably because they benefit from the brand o' capitalism which has been permitted to flourish here in this country) !

[@kevintewey1157]

You are reformist and I say that because you look like you believe you can reform capitalism It all becomes crony capitalism because all the money goes to the top and controls the government

[@chengtan5598]

I have àlways respect wisdom of R. Wolff even though I have moved West.

[@Thewonderingminds]

By pointing out zillions on going events of __our predatory form of current existence__ does it mean also to be antidote and answer to the problem???

[@richardayala6915]

Richard Wolff is a fraud. He pretends that threats of violence against people who don't get a license to cut hair is capitalism. He disrespects the audience by positing that we live in a capitalist system, when it's obvious to any dispassionate analysis that our system in America is just LESS SOCIALIST than others.

[@kevintewey1157]

@@richardayala6915 little child you post some b******* and you don't post a citation you don't show proof you don't know anything about economics about capitalism or socialism and your typical capitalist sociopaths that's why you don't like Professor wolf

[@rjac001]

If the USA spent 50% less on "defence" spending they would be able to fix infrastructure and feed house and clothe the unemployed every year. And still have the largest "defence" budget in the world.

[@jaytsecan]

True, but the elite are not interested in doing all those things. They want to maintain the "status quo" and do whatever it takes to do so - while everyone else suffers.

[@artn2950]

A strong defense goes a long way.Paying for NATO countries while they tout superior social structures needs to be understood by Americans. Losing wars abroad's is crippling all of . Taking profit margins away from companies sends them overseas with all of those jobs!!!!😢

[@carolyn6780]

I get so much clarity whenever I listen to this man speak.

[@andrewferg8737]

"so much clarity whenever I listen to this man" ---- said Red Riding Hood of the Wolf

[@kathiewest5842]

With inflation running at a four-decade high, Recession is now the ‘most likely’ outcome for the economy. How can I grow my portfolio to outpace inflation and maintain a successful long-term strategy? I been reading of investors making over 250 k profit in this current crashing market, and I need a brief on how to achieve similar profits.

[@cylondon8374]

You’re right! The current market might give opportunities to maximise profit, but in order to execute such effective transactions, you must be a skilled practitioner.

[@lathamwilfred1181]

Get yourself a FA. Mine is really helplng my portfolio maintain an unwavering and a progressive growth this red season. I’ve had about $ 120 k in proflts since April.

[@yolandagriffin2030]

Latham, There's a decline in my reserve. lost over 12 thousan d this week alone. Can you link me up with your hand ler?

[@lathamwilfred1181]

@@yolandagriffin2030 The handler I use is “Dawn Marie Gatti,” she's verifiable, so you could just look her up.

[@alwaysbusy7230]

Such a great tip, it was eas y to find your ha ndler. Did my due diligence on her before scheduling a ca ll with her. She seems proficient considering her ré sumé.

[@antonimonti6902]

Things can be better in the US.... But Dr Wolf is right... it ain't going to happen through the current ruling establishment...

[@wildthing3455]

Overthrow

[@Acode7940]

Refreshing. Thanks.

[@samsantucci1044]

Richard Wolfe's arguments are compelling, and I agree with almost everything he says are the problems with capitalism and even how to fix many of those problems. The problems inherent with capitalism are paradoxical as he states. The most ironic part of his solution, is it will take co-operation and power sharing to fix the litany of problems. There is only one thing he fails to take into consideration, which is the biggest problem of them all. We live in a nuclear world where mankind can destroy themselves and the planet we all live on. It would be very difficult for those people who have all the power now and who also control the use of nuclear weapons, to agree to the necessary sharing of power they have had exclusive access to. Until we solve this problem, fixing the world's economic problems is just an academic exercise. This reality is what distresses me the most.

[@YoMamaRice]

Thank you!

[@jason8077]

its always a great pleasure to hear your wisdom professor

[@haydock18]

There's a very useful new word: sopoec (social, political, economic). It' a good word to use to emphasize that all the three are interdependent!

[@majidaouladlhaj2266]

Once you completely give the state to the rich, a nation would start declining, the rich should be the last to govern, they should be like workers

[@Bisquick]

Indeed, hence socialism as a "dictatorship of the proletariat" ie a dictatorship by and for the _working class_ which can over time reify such authentic expressions of universal values to override the role of the owning/capitalist class entirely as their social _function_ within capitalism is one merely of maintaining class domination for the de facto bourgeois dictatorship we already have aka "democracy" undergirded by a material organization of capitalism. A point often taken entirely out of context and thus inherently being robbed of its entire point by right-wing/manipulative morons, but as you've highlighted, can be arrived at entirely indepedently with merely a bit of thought! Socialism or [continued] barbarism.

[@عبدالقادرابراهيم-ز9س]

a good for you Richard Wolff .

[@littlestone1541]

In a nutshell: Less competition, more cooperation. And we'll ALL benefit.

[@NathansHVAC]

Are you sayiing the global corporations need to become bigger and have more cooperation with the world economic forum? That seems to be what CNN says.

[@littlestone1541]

@@NathansHVAC Of course that's not what I'm saying. Did you watch the video?

[@NathansHVAC]

@@littlestone1541 I'm half way thru now. I have been watching wolff for years. He says the same bs every time. Coops good. Goverment jobs good. Actually making life better with new ideas bad, because all ideas were stolen from university.

[@littlestone1541]

@@NathansHVAC That's got to be the second biggest straw-man of socialist economics, and of the professor's arguments, that I've ever heard. lmfao! It's right up there just underneath: "Socialism is when the government does stuff and the more stuff it does the more socialister it is, and if it does a whole lot of stuff, well that's commulismem!"

[@NathansHVAC]

@@littlestone1541 Vietnam is selling out to the global corporations. All for bribes and more stuff. Comulism? Right? Or is it mondragon with most employees as non members that is real comulism?

[@artn2950]

A very interesting take on things... Empire decline is scary Cooperation is rather nebulous. Wish he had more specific steps to vote for

[@branimirofak8194]

Prof.Wolff speaks about the "self management", the sistem which was in power from 1950 to 1990 in Yugoslavia.His description is cooperation.

[@robinsattahip2376]

Australia became a locked-down police state to keep its COVID numbers low. New Zealand and Cuba are islands. The violation of anything that resembled democracy in Australia was not worth it to achieve a reduction in the effects of COVID. You do not give up freedom to battle any event.

[@niccolea2086]

Protecting society and the lives of all ppl is more important than the supposed “freedom” ppl over exaggerate. I’ve found most ppl who throw out concepts like “protecting our freedoms” are typically hypocrites bc when it comes to other ppl’s rights, like a woman’s right to choose, they all of a sudden inject their opposition. And New Zealand also went into lock down. They stopped all flights in and for ppl returning home when flights were coming back, they had mandatory 2 weeks isolation. You don’t have the right to spread a deadly virus in a society bc you think you’re entitled to an open ended leveling freedom. This country is falling apart because a lot of dumb ppl support ridiculous notions and corrupt politicians and policies that cater to the 1%.

[@robinsattahip2376]

@@niccolea2086 nonsense, live free or die

[@peace521]

Dear professor, your words are very reasonable and truthful, full of love for working people for justice. I worry may not be many Americans listening. The population of US is too ignorant. Hopeless.

[@sophosanthropos868]

Excellent presentation. Well articulated.

[@germatech]

Thank you, Professor Wolff.

[@tangabiang5282]

Democracy at work places, that is the issue, that is the solution.

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

The worker just works there why should they have a say in the business. They didn’t put up any capital.

[@realeyesrealizereallies6828]

Agree with all of this except a few points which I'll outline..The standard of living in America has not remained the same in some sort of fantasy stagnation, maybe for life long professors, but not for the average person, it's in decline, free fall....The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were remarkable successes, they were never meant to be won, they were meant to last forever so a small group of people could pillage the treasury..And there is no solutions for the collapse of this civilization, it's inevitable, as well as the collapse of the stable climate, biosphere(food chain), environment, the living planet as we know it....

[@wildthing3455]

Overthrow

[@tc7500]

The corporate leaders will never democratize the workplace because they have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders and not the employees.

[@redgimp]

. .and that is exactly why the current arrangement is so undemocratic--the executives and shareholders (who own all the wealth and create none of it) are obligated only to each other and owe no obligation to the workers (who create all the wealth but own none of it). Thankfully, this arrangement isn't sustainable because there are more of us (workers) than there are of them (bosses).

[@thalesnemo2841]

Revolution is inevitable!

[@tc7500]

@@redgimp That’s a total nonsense! The employee didn’t come up with the original idea, nor the capital and much less the risk! The more restrictions the less business and the less jobs! Less jobs less competition and less pay! Total oligarchs doing the thinking and monopolizing everything! A corporate dictatorship!

[@redgimp]

@@tc7500 Labor literally creates all wealth. Capital is nothing but spent labor. If the employer wants to keep all the wealth, they shouldn't employ (exploit) labor. Full stop.

[@tc7500]

@@redgimp The best system will be when the employees become share holders as well. Like Coops! You still will have issues but it will be a much fairer system. Everyone working for a common goal!

[@carlretter4263]

Prof Wolff is a star so bright we can see his light in the day

[@theresaahart167]

@@jochenarweiler9909 FOH.

[@scottbenson1961]

People like this are CAUSING the crisis and LOVE IT

[@hectorrodriguez9082]

Great lecture...says Hector Rodriguez school teacher for the past forty-two years.

[@andrewferg8737]

...says Mao Zedong, also a school teacher for umpteen years.

[@mumtazzafar1576]

Whatever professor Richard has uttered is an absoulute gospel truth. Its an absolute honour to listen to you professor. Please keep educating the masses sir of the education they never had. Salute to you sir from the bottom of my heart.

[@joshuahernandez3216]

Well said. I haven’t heard one of your programs in a while. It came up, so I thought I’d tune in. Glad I did. You give people like me, the poor, voiceless, unnoticed, unimportant people of the USA a voice. I lived in China for 5 years. I have my options about the place, but I do think there is a fire there lacking in most people here. That being said, I still believe in many of the people of the USA, if not always the masses and the system. People like me have seen that “to no avail” sign so often that I don’t think about the American Dream because I never knew it. I’m 2/3 Native American by the way.

[@kevga2758]

Thank you, for taking the time and sharing your knowledge

[@nyquil762]

Spot on brother.

[@tomassanchez4137]

Thank you very much. I learned a lot.

[@steventan2550]

I think it's time for US to join China's Belt and Road Initiative to upgrade the infrastructure and construct high-speed rail. Money is no issue because US can just print them.

[@kevintewey1157]

Is it me or is Google so crooked? I looked up USA belt and Road and I could not find any map Surely there must be a proposal at least please help

[@alanchriston6806]

Superb talk A Economic and political realist 😊🏴‍☠️

[@elkissjackie5398]

Personally, think people should venture into trading since the economic meltdown, having one stream of income is not really a good idea cause your job doesn't secure your financial needs

[@jacksonmagnus2876]

Well I totally agree with you... It feels like people hate everyone with m oney like it's their fault that they are rich but it's funny if you want to remain broke, the world is changing rapidly

[@ryanconnorlucas7579]

Investing in this economy crisis will be one of the best thing to do this year.

[@richardbalint2582]

Done been broke but when tried trading on my own it only left me chasing shadows... Too much procrastination. I think this is the right time for me.

[@ronicamampuya2954]

Investment is that tiny line that separates the rich from the poor.

[@tsiyimonroe6206]

@@ronicamampuya2954 I truly agree with you on that,

[@theresapelham1918]

Thank you Richard Wolf

[@stephen7yu]

Whoa，full of wisdom, Professor.

[@Lagunaticmom]

This is why we need more leaders like Rep Katie Porter (California) and her whiteboard method of questioning corporate decision makers.

[@ofoghladha2110]

she needs to run for president

[@borasca0107]

It is always a great pleasure to listen to you, professor Wolf. Knowledge, wisdom and this rare fine quality of explaining complicated issues with such an ease that even I understand :) Thank you for yet another brilliant lecture on things that power hungry politicians love to exploit to the maximum in their favour, pretending they know what they are talking about, or what's worse, they really don't know what they are talking about and just chose to throw everything in one pot, divide people while fear mongearing, and basically practice 3rd grade bullying of anyone who does not agree with their 'falsehoods' - I'm talking about Canadian Conservative Harperites / an equivalent of American Trumpists. While I can't find any Canadian scholars talk about those important issues online, I value your online presence even more. THANK YOU! Warm greetings from Canada! 💚

[@realeyesrealizereallies6828]

The Trudeau regime is no better, even worse in many respects...Trump is a horror, I agree, but Trump wasn't doing his best to end this world in mushroom clouds like the leaders at the moment...Both sides suck equally, don't be divided....

[@glrywins]

MAGA 2024

[@tommackling]

@@glrywins lol, on my interface, under your 'MAGA 2024' comment there is a 'translate with Google' link, and when I press it, it translates your comment to "YOU 2024". So 'MAGA' is 'YOU' in some language? That's wild. 😆

[@tommackling]

👍

[@666norouz]

Thank you for your contributions

[@GDawg2K2]

Let it collapse! I just got back from China. If I was 20 I would’ve stayed! It’s clean, there’s no tents, people are knowledgeable they are completely clear on who is responsible for Ukraine! You can see everywhere the excitement of a unified country making huge strides everywhere!

[@Watch4Me]

Profoundly relevant!

[@Alleycat1921]

I am a dilgent student of Professor Richard Wolff's "You Tube University" seminars.

[@johnviktora6014]

Our national degradation and trauma continues unabated as long as the people do have the power that is theirs. Will it take a revolution? Most likely, YES.

[@kryori]

On the one hand, I agree with your points and even with your suggestions for societal change. On the other hand, I don't see this changing and would appreciate advice that I could practically bring to bear in my own life, ways that I can survive during the decline of capitalism.

[@ofoghladha2110]

buy a rental property

[@annettezaleski]

It starts with fighting for ALL of Americans n their families, to succeed together!! We must stop looking at us as individuals to start! Then read his book "The sickness IS the system"...for steps to take in this direction...🤠🇺🇸

[@rettro6578]

Check out Chris Martenson’s channel Peak Prosperity. He talks about how to build resiliency and community, parallel systems to the declining empire.

[@nightoftheworld]

19:39 *Hegel on infrastructure* “An infrastructure, as Hegel would have enjoyed telling us, is both a producer of good results in sustaining our society and a deteriorating entity that undermines it. It is, as Hegel liked to say, _in contradiction,_ or experiencing or expressing its own dialectic.”

[@luisaharkey4046]

I have few questions about decision making, when people are not educated quite enough to make the right decisions away from exploitation of humans and environment. How would the workers know that certain decisions they vote on are not beneficial to them until they actually experience the damaging effects?The change at what we teach in our communities must be at the very beginning of this proposed change.

[@kevintewey1157]

And this video Professor wolf made an excellent reference to dialectical materialism That is your answer teach children critical thinking get them in the habit

[@NathansHVAC]

Teach the children that expensive energy costs are a good thing and that they should ride bicycles more.

[@kevintewey1157]

@@NathansHVAC how do those boots taste? The reason energy is expensive is because the oligarchs want it so

[@rettro6578]

@@NathansHVAC “ride bicycles more” isn’t a solution to our energy crisis, decades in the making. It will touch every aspect of life as all gets more expensive. Need for community and resilient systems outside of corporate system are going to be vital.

[@susanlippy1009]

Very true. It would have to start by educating the masses. Main issue tho will be who gets to decide what's right. Let's face it even educated individuals do not agree. What will solve the issue of mob rule. If all choices are made by majority vote what is to stop the minority from refusing to participate? How would any buissness effectively function if a vote is needed to do anything? if you elect those who make decisions are we now not at representative governance yet again? Professor Wolf brings up very interesting points but does not talk about the downside to his chosen method. As with any system of governance there are many. Which is why you see so much variety in systems of governance. Each system has different strength and weakness. We as a nation need to decide once again which good and bad we want.

[@xxxxgrinxxxx]

alright thanks Rabbi

[@shukoorbanu3612]

Very beautiful socialistic dialog - prof ,Richard Wolff

[@nasreenakhtar8521]

I love listening to this man. He breaks it down soo well.

[@terryoneilp1421]

Interesting speech.Telling it like it is.We need more truth !

[@KingCocaGold]

What a BRILLIANT Man! 👍

[@sweetshell2585]

Incredible video thank you so much

[@CCBPeace]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gillesandfio8440]

“The way to cure poverty is not through inflation, “share the wealth” schemes, and socialism, but by precisely the opposite policies- by the adoption of a system of private property, free trade, free markets, and free enterprise”…Henry Hazlitt.

[@gillesandfio8440]

@Chris Wen There is no ultimate goal or value other than life to which a person can pledge his allegiance, because there is no fundamental alternative other than existence or non-existence with which a person is faced. Life or death is it: A person either strives for self-preservation or courts self-elimination. In order to live, he has to pursue values; in order to die, he does not.

[@therealtoni]

A few years ago, I believed that people could cooperate to benefit all. I no longer believe this, now that the people have lost their minds and all sense of right and wrong. So , this story will not have a happy ending as we destroy ourselves.

[@flovv9357]

I have come to the same conclusion. Seems to be the faith of all empires. History repeats itself.

[@banzobeans]

13:52 "A society in the downside of Empire is a very different place from the society on the upswing towards its Empire peak."

[@ratnabahadurgurung9850]

Thank you professor Richard Wollf sir. I absolutely agree with you what you explained.so i learned a lot from you i appreciate so much.

[@DobeMom]

Thank you Professor.

[@littlestone1541]

We've got a new crop of kings, we need new king slayers. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

[@bonitajanssen745]

There IS one. Jesus, the Christ ~ KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS

[@THEROOTMATTERS]

We have a now reigning king, Y'shua Ha Maschiach (aka. Jesus) we could hear him out and observe his ways. We are not to conform to this system of things.

[@bonitajanssen745]

@@THEROOTMATTERS WISDOM! “Conform no longer with the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind.” “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I, also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10 May God be with you always and forevermore, Lynda Valero. 🕊

[@gsthree9534]

How does Christ help us here? Is he going to eliminate human greed? It's been a while since he showed up and we don't seem to have made much progress.

[@bonitajanssen745]

@@gsthree9534 Think of it this way - We have had a couple thousand years to do things right, and we continue to do everything wrong because we are “evil continually.” And because of this fact, we destroyed ourselves No flood needed, this time. And this is just the “BEGINNING OF SORROWS”. “Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Jesus The book of Ecclesiastes

[@tientlam1589]

Thank you for a great 😂 about 🇺🇸 debts trapped..I kept hearing on the news that 🇨🇳 created debts trapped via BRI projects..At least the BRI projects are helpful to those underdeveloped countries that none of the Westerners including NA wanted to lending helping hands..I would love for you, Mr. Wolff to take a deep dive into 🇺🇸 healthcare nightmares systems and hopefully you are not drowning in it like peoples who are drowning in healthcare bills..Best wishes to 🇺🇸..😊..

[@zefengc]

These media often frames the so called debt traps set up by China, while not mentioning underdeveloped countries have very few choices in terms of borrowing from the west. China offers better deals for them. They might be poor, but they are not fools.

[@andrewrx88]

Recently researches have found that the universe as a system is build from complexity. Not chaos and order. I think this challenges alot of our philosophical debates. Especially how natural systems come to be created

[@phyllisjackson4322]

Thank you for validating my gut intuitions.

[@youwaiyap2708]

IMO it's a good lecture by Mr Wolff, but can't see e.g. how the social cost will be more fairly distributed across the board, at least in the US in the near term. In fact things will likely get worse becoz those who can wield power at the top e.g. large biz corps and the plutocrats will quicken their desire to grab more before the pie gets smaller? Sigh 🙏🙏

[@brendanbrown8704]

He says it over and over again: taxing companies & oligarchs at a much higher rate than current tax laws allow. Also, stopping the subsidizing of fossil fuel companies & bigAg would free up billions to help in social policy. Unfortunately, oligarchs here have decided that they are not responsible for positive social re-alignment. Many right wingers would love to defund the IRS, so that tells you what their focus is: more and more wealth

[@youwaiyap2708]

@@brendanbrown8704 also the biz corps have gotten the members of Congress & Senate in their pocket? 😜😜

[@woodysdrums8083]

excellent points. spot on.

[@peterjol]

It would be far better if we democratically decided what work/jobs we NEED to have done and then make it financially worthwhile for people to SHARE those jobs and work much less....no more working and doing anything FOR money...no more an infinite growth system on a finite planet. No more useless jobs...no more bullshit jobs. ..just all of us sharing the jobs we agree we need to have done.

[@wiebranddebacker2393]

when it comes to investing, we want our money to grow with the highest rates of return, and the lowest risk possible. While there are no shortcuts to getting rich, but there are smart ways to go about it

[@isabellawells4138]

many of us don't know where to invest our money so we invest it on wrong place and to the wrong people

[@norrishamilton9504]

Talking about been successful. I know I am blessed if not I wouldn't have met someone as spectacular as ma'am Alexander Valentina

[@niamhmartin3075]

Yes I'm a living testimony of ma'am Alexander Valentina

[@tobywarrenhawkins6419]

she had really made name for herself

[@byronwells5996]

+14243

[@hewhosback9699]

This was very powerful ty for sharing

[@margaretames6522]

Our government has chosen to enrich corporations that produce military weapons and intelligence gathering. It’s a choice! These corporations keep our leaders in office by funding their campaigns. The government could choose to do the right thing and invest in infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation and education but would lose the dollars (essentially bribes) they are getting.

[@WeedTacos]

Twain has a company called tsmc that makes more semiconductor microchips than anywhere else in the world and this company is worth $44 billion. This causes the rest of the world to be dangerously dependent on them to make these computer chips and that is the only reason the U.S. government even cares about Twain.They have a lot of leverage over America because of every greedy multinational technology company that wants a piece of the profit that they would lose because that company will be earning a $1 trillion in 10 years which is being caused by the microchip shortage.

[@kevintewey1157]

So why are there not more factories built especially in the USA? For fucksake a tiny little Podunk town named Kalispell Montana has one industry in the entire town and it makes the washing machines for silicon chips I always thought the name was funny because it's called semitool

[@timothyrday1390]

The French and British empires weren't destroyed by WWI, although that war did weaken them and lead to their decline for the remainder of the 20th century.

[@susanmcgeedean6282]

Wonderful , thank you for sharing your great insight.

[@caiomh7605]

just a quick note. 05:00 actually, the dollar isn't used to back currencies today. Dollar backing stopped in 1971 when the USA dropped out of the gold standard. Nowadays countries use Dollars to settle international balance of payments between themselves. however, while most countries have to EARN dollars before they can spend, the USA literally prints its money from thin air. This is what economists call the American free-lunch. Also knows as Super Monetary Imperialism. There is a very good book about it; title: Superimperialism author: Michael Hudson

[@HISBestLifeCoach]

Would like a guide book by Mr Wolff to help support the efforts of those of us who want to begin to turn it around for the common good, this country and the planet!

[@LexiH36]

He does have a few.

[@E8146419]

The Americans need to wake up to their appalling politicians. Stop being the worlds police man and start looking after their own country and rebuild their society. Australia has a much better society than the USA

[@woodysdrums8083]

I disagree about the voting however. we have a duopoly run by the electoral college. there is zero chance the elite have to worry about the popular vote. that's a fact.

[@nathanielthomas184]

Chess not checkers, the set up is obvious but welcomed in a sick mannor..

[@jaym10918]

Why do you disagree? Prof. Wolff just said that the way out is NOT electoral reform.

[@NathansHVAC]

Except Trump. They worry about Trump.

[@terrystraker2459]

All praise to Almighty God . If the human family can be so charitable then there can be true democracy and peace among people’s. All praise to Almighty God amen .

[@michelledavies2197]

The imaginary sky daddy has nothing to do with it.