Socialism For Dummies.

Professor Richard D. Wolff explains in 50 minutes what socialism is NOT.
Where does the American fear of Socialism, Communism and Marxism come from?

[@itchaii4490]

41:35 “Socialism is when the government does stuff”

[@EagleRulerSiena]

Such a great clip

[@xymaryai8283]

"and when it does a whole lotta stuff, its Camjanism"

[@YM-zf8mt]

as opposed to "the government who does nothing but obey its corporate masters" like what's happening right now ? it's going so well at the moment why change it ?

[@xymaryai8283]

@@YM-zf8mt yes... very very well /s

[@Kingofturves]

Sometimes. But Socialism can be carried out by charities in relation to their cause, companies/corporations in relation to providing for their employees or society in general. It's just more efficient/sustainable for governments to perform socialist policies.

[@tristan5494]

came for the "when government does stuff", stayed for the nuance

[@stuckonaslide]

same

[@AnnaBurchuladze]

Same here 😊

[@Max0r847]

Nuance? NEVER HEARD OF IT

[@Plasmagone]

Epic profile pic based young Stalin

[@modernkiwi6447]

I came for the "make pee pee"

[@laughable6650]

SOCIALISM IS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DOES STUFF. THE MORE STUFF IT DOES, THE MORE SOCIALIST IT GETS.

[@captainjules6033]

AND IF IT DOES A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF, ITS *C O M M A N I S M*

[@thevoid4060]

@@captainjules6033 *C A H M Y U N I S M*

[@dirtycommie7770]

CAMjANASEM

[@caseyakasubzero]

And if the state is destroyed its anarcho communism

[@user-bl4oq7fd8d]

that quote but vocoded: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZ-7hnmOmJeMpNU

[@helengarrett6378]

It has been more ta a taboo to speak about socialism. As a teen, (I'm 79 years old) I was sent to the principal's office because I often brought other perspectives into social studies classes. I was taking advanced biology classes but was sent to a "remedial"social studies class in the same semester. I lost my job because I protested the McCarthy committee coming to my city and I was interviewed on television. I have been socially ostracised, spat upon, called antisemitic names. But I just persisted. Bernie Sanders is the closest thing to a socialist in my life that ran for President. But he was so badly treated by the Democratic party that he never really had a chance in either of his runs for the presidency. I don't know how socialist I am, but I think I am more socialist than Sanders and probably more militant too. Whatever it is, I think there is a better way than what we have now. I suspect the better way is socialism. Shocking!

[@modemmark421]

@@fluorinegas6944 *WE* *WON!* Bernie Sanders ALREADY *WON!* WE got his message OUT! *THE* *GENIE* *IS* *OUT* *OF* *THE* *BOTTLE!!!* M4A!!! . TAX THE RICH!!! . TUITION FREE EDUCATION!!! . LIVING WAGE LEGISLATION!!! . GREEN NEW DEAL!!! *WE* DID IT! *THE* *GENIE* *IS* *OUT* *OF* *THE* *BOTTLE!* Not MY opinion; just LOOK at what is happening in the Streets! Bernie Sanders has *EMPOWERED* *THE* *PEOPLE!!!* WE ARE THE REVOLUTION! WE ARE THE CHANGE! www. PatrioticMillionaires .org

[@ebruceii]

You are a true patriot, thank you for dissenting at all costs. That's something nobody can take away from you.

[@fluorinegas6944]

@Dim this dude never heard of the labor movement or the first red scare lmaooo

[@goofballpenny3233]

@Dim "The Communist Control Act (68 Stat. 775, 50 U.S.C. 841-844) is a piece of United States federal legislation, signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower on 24 August 1954, which outlaws the Communist Party of the United States and criminalizes membership in, or support for the Party or "Communist-action" organizations and defines evidence to be considered by a jury in determining participation in the activities, planning, actions, objectives, or purposes of such organizations." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Control_Act_of_1954 Even though it was never enforced ("The Act has since been ruled unconstitutional in federal court but has not been ruled on in the Supreme Court and has never been enforced.") that doesn't mean that it's existence wasn't a threat to all American communists during the late fifties and early sixties. Communism and socialism have not been mainstream for a long time due. They were only somewhat mainstream for a very, very short period of time between 1900 and 1930. Popularity fell in the forties due to demonizing from political figures who saw CPUSA's existence as a threat. Once support dropped enough, Eisenhower saw an opportunity to completely criminalize the entire party. Also, if you couldn't tell, communism and socialism are inherently linked due to Americans lack of understanding of either.

[@johnlopperman2161]

@Dim SO fucking IGNORANT !!!

[@vhr]

It's sad that some people will only see the meme (41:35) and unironically believe that's the full context.

[@Hazelnutz3]

Nobody who would be swayed by this speech would think that's the full context.

[@andydeckard]

@@Hazelnutz3 This is the first time that I am seeing the full speech - seeing the meme only. I just thought that this guy was another libertarian strawmanning the left. I was very confused to find out that he is based and breadpilled.

[@Hazelnutz3]

@@andydeckard a notable outlier

[@whatno5090]

@@Hazelnutz3 I was the same way

[@shlimon7667]

@@Hazelnutz3 so was i

[@hydecarolan4497]

I like how this is pre-trump and I can go without hearing his name every 30 seconds

[@crappozappo]

Yeah it's trippy, hearing Prof Wolff say "Bernie Sanders announced his candidacy this week."

[@moltengarnet3093]

Until you check the comments

[@maxonmendel5757]

fuck youfor ruinjng a perfectly good video.

[@FluffyOrionlol]

Fr

[@Polyglot_English]

Determinism is Freedom 🤙

[@4x4fronsc]

The "why" we can't have a debate on Socialism and Capitalism is simple. Americans would realize that they're getting screwed.

[@mellogo1d191]

You’re getting screwed right now. You see, right now corporations are taking bailouts one after another. You already have capitalism and socialism of a sort - these corporations capitalize their gains and socialize their losses. That is YOU the taxpayer paying for their losses. The whole point of capitalism is that corporations are allowed to fail to allow more efficient ones to prosper. The USA is stuck in an endless cycle of bailing them out repeatedly - 3 times in the last 20 years.

[@4x4fronsc]

@@mellogo1d191 I agree with what you're sayn. Americans have lost control of their government.

[@MrTiagoTnT]

Go to Venezuela and see who is screwed

[@4x4fronsc]

@@MrTiagoTnT but it's not because of Socialism.

[@mellogo1d191]

MrTiagoTnT no person who knows anything about economics blames socialism for this.

[@MrBillcale]

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” ― Isaac Asimov

[@DonnaBrooks]

When you quote someone, don't hide their name under the "Show More" fold. Or were you hoping to take credit for that statement being your own? Anyway, thanks for the great QUOTATION of Isaac Asimov! Those last 12 words really encapsulate the mindset that put Donald Trump in the White House & that has Americans acting against their own interests out of ignorance & arrogance. Trump is the king of ignorance & arrogance, so it's no wonder masses of people will defend him to the point of hating their fellow Americans and/or making him dictator. I've copied this quotation to my computer to use elsewhere.

[@peteconrad2077]

Dim thanks for proving you have no coherent argument. You make an assertion about the Democrats (which you’re too ignorant even spell) without any evidence or argument provided. You are the epitome of American ignorance.

[@theogkarenhunter]

Dim please explain

[@amygreen4983]

William Sands As an American I do agree, some Americans do not care to ask enough questions, bread, and circus appease the people these days in a more electronic way, but it's as old as western religion, you go to church, and never..ever ask too many questions.

[@non-standardproletarian3356]

@Dim wit - Heart and soul socialism is a working-class movement. What part of *working* class do you not understand?

[@captainjules6033]

This guy’s voice sounds exactly like my Uncle Tony if my Uncle Tony was BASED.

[@Hazelnutz3]

@neicu yes

[@pixeled9683]

but, socialism is not based

[@comrademax57]

@@pixeled9683 youre right. communsim is.

[@ilusions4]

Is this the same personality type that compares AoC to Rey Star Wars?

[@jeetadityachatterjee6995]

@@pixeled9683 in yo shit. It's based on facts and logic

[@latebloomer4755]

I dont see how anyone can be against workers controlling their own lives. Unless of course your in management and you think god sent you here to tell people what to do.

[@1997lordofdoom]

@Dim You control your life if you happen to be born into privilege, if not, you are completely fucked.

[@achinthmurali5207]

1997lordofdoom haven’t you ever heard of unions and employee owned companies? They exist under capitalism. In socialism, if you’re not born into privilege you have no chance. All attempts to create socialism have only resulted in elitism. And SOCIAL DEMOCRACIES are not socialism.

[@Diego_SanCA]

The Legendary Bob Dill Inn If workers are so anxious to be in control they can work for an employee owned firm and TAKE THE RISK too. And guess what, some of them will have to be managers or they can try and rule by committee, good luck with that chaos. Workers have the free choice to work at any company that their skill set is needed. The good workers will be in high demand and the slugs will be fired UNLESS you’re in a union and then the slug continue with the protection of the union. Now the quality of work is headed DOWNHILL. No you have a failure in the making.

[@63Limar]

@@Diego_SanCA Damn, you have a nice view of a worker, calling them a "slug". How you are so sure that when someone is underperforming a lot isn't gonna get fired by a union if the majority of people would agree that he is underperforming? And yeah, "good luck with that chaos" we are living in that chaos and it's called a government unless you are living in some authoritarian state where "king" does all decisions. You do you, but I would prefer democracy in my life, even if it's a bit underperforming. Because for an average worker it would be a much better situation. But then, suddenly, studies show that union enterprises are more productive www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/1995/01/1995_bpeamicro_craig.pdf So, we don't even need to make that sacrifice, isn't it awesome? Isn't it makes sense, when the average joe, call center operator, would be more informed and more interested in being a good worker, responding to calls with responsibility and thought, if he owns it, compared if he just a wage-slave to an authoritarian CEO who probably don't even know that he exists and don't Joe have no say there, he either stays for a flat salary, which is as low as it's possible for the CEO or gets out?

[@bcshu2]

Workers controlling the means of production through cooperatives is perfectly acceptable within a capitalist marketplace. Wanna convince a group of workers to start their own operation and have it completely owned by the employees, nothing is preventing you. This is achievable within the current system and would also be achievable within a more capitalistic system as well. The concern arises when outside forces use force to obtain this outcome. Its a gross violation of fundamental rights and liberties and morally is wrong. So by all means, using persuasion and cooperation, workers have every right to pursue this outcome of worker owned coops. Truth be told however, it is not an arrangement many desire. Israel with their communal farms demonstrate this fact.

I am 73 years old, Poli Sci graduate from UCLA and I've learned more in this lecture than 4 years of college having read Marx and Engles among others. Thank you for a great lecture and I'm looking forward to furthering my education through you. Cheers!!

[@Psychwriter1515]

Nice to know there is one person commenting here who actually understood what was being taught, instead of throwing around the same tired name-calling and prejudices.

[@johneric5394]

Worst channel ever, That's true but I hope you wouldn't be so incapable of nuance as to see it was Marx's solutions and not his critiques (some of them anyway) of capitalism that led him down the rabbit hole of failure. In other words, I think he identified the wounds fairly accurately but royally screwed up when attempting to apply the bandage.

[@fthechance]

73 years in the wrong direction huh? Keep at it...

[@skaruts]

It seems America needs a decade or two of full socialism, complete with gulags and millions of dead bodies, so that they too finally see how dumb of an idea it actually is (and how death is an inevitability with socialism/communism).

[@skaruts]

Nick B, where did capitalism kill more than 150 million people?

[@TheModernHermeticist]

“Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries unite!” ― Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto

[@SpaceWalkTraveller]

One of the biggest social disaster on the 20the century was communism. Read up on the history of it and it is responsible for millions of deaths. We know it fail and it failed really badly. As Einstein said, the definition of stupidity is repeating the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different outcome. Have a look at the South American countries that went down socialism, Venezuala is a basket case. The most suppressive regims are communist countries. How many communist Americans where trying to defect to Russia during the cold war? How many Russians were trying to defect to the US during the cold war? If you are so into communism why not go to North Korea.

[@TranscendianIntendor]

Transcendia Insurodollar overcomes flaw of Communism which has not worked. The System is the problem. Government is Systems Engineering.

[@darrenlyle3615]

Right on!

[@TranscendianIntendor]

The competition of locals in the international IATSE tends to show a hard roe to hoe. Far as uniting the Labor,, as Marx had it then what, was a middle class of the educated not as it went with unleashed peasants revolting in St. Petersburg & Moscow. I think of the new instant translation telephones for Business Agents to coordinate wage competition demands in the different nations these days as a great possibility. It is systems and Financial Engineering to get right now as we as labor are to be trapped on a crowded planet. Mars is no escape destination as was driving to California.

[@lolfemfaillol3933]

The Modern Hermeticist You forgot the starvation and death camps.

[@RetroRockGamer]

Professor Wolff is a national treasure.

[@juliusdean2765]

International treasure.

[@emporioalnino4670]

Intergalactic treasure

[@kpp7684]

More like a National embarassment

[@jwaj]

@@kpp7684 KPP is an international disgrace

[@duckdickerson9494]

@@emporioalnino4670 so your saying the aliens are based

[@MrBillcale]

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” ― Isaac Asimov and knowledge is = truth

[@ThePeanutButterCup13]

@Fabroni Giordano To hell with workers! Power to businessmen and paper pushers only!

[@ghoulenthusiast5731]

ThePeanutButterCup13 what do you mean we wouldn’t be able to function without workers? bah humbug!

[@lancethumel1216]

Meanwhile majority of successful Americans over history were highschool or middle school Educated and some how were creative and intelligent without being endoctrinated into society circles threw european type universities

[@stefanmetzeler]

@@ThePeanutButterCup13 That's what communism looks like! What do you think a communist regime looks like? Paper pushers assisted by brutal bastards who mass-murder anyone who dares contradict the paper pushers. Pol Pot always chatted cheerfully with those he was going to have executed by torture. Charming. And Chomsky defended Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouges - who murdered more than 3 million Cambodians!

[@greenpyr]

@@stefanmetzeler did you know that Pol Pot was back supported by CIA (and China) against Vietnam? Or that the CIA (China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran too) did the same with Mujahideen (predecessors of Al-Qaeda) in Afghanistan against the soviets?

[@quagmire444]

The most important point he made in this video was that the revolution didn't bring Socialism with the Soviet Union, but State Capitalism, where the State became the ruling class, instead of the Capitalists/Private Business Owners. We went from Kings and Queens ruling, to the Owning Class ruling, to the State ruling, to what we have now which is either in most countries. The State Ruling, the Owning Class(business owners) ruling, or a mix of both. Sadly within the American political spectrum, the points Wolff made in this video will never be clearly understood by most people. The right-wing of this country is so pathologically disconnected from reality, and so ignorant, they make it their goal to eternally brainwash their sheepish cult into believing communism, socialism, and nazi mean the same thing, and that they are the ideology of atheists. I used to be conservative when I was younger but education and reading history and books from the people I learned about, instead of learning about them from people I thought were honestly, lead me to be less conservative more and more over time. The conservative mindset is what ruins this country. Not necessarily conservative principles, but the conservative mindset which is basically close-minded as fuck.

[@linspenmenn3658]

Market != Capitalism. Learn what it is before you love it.

[@nancythecat1079]

They mostly say they have to because there's no where else to go.

[@josephjagusah8668]

Thanks for your honesty. The sad truth is that someone will always rule (with one exception, but it is certainly not worth striving for), and the best you can do is try to pick the ruler who seems most reasonable. Just because we have seen how fucked up nation-states can get, it seems that the best we can do is live under an absolute monarch, or at least under an aristocrat who's involved in the planing of his estate (different from estate tax). Anything else, and you get a short, strained period of stability followed by a mad dash to take as much as quickly as possible.

[@josephjagusah8668]

You're wrong. There was always a choice, and people chose walmart. Those stores don't exist anymore, but no ones stopping anyone from opening one. It's just that it would go out of business, so no one bothers.

[@Tespri]

Socialism is state capitalism by definition. It's economical system where government owns means and productions and provides the goods. Your utopia will never come true because it always fails for same reason. Too much power in same place.

[@ekat2468]

I have learned more from this 50-minute lecture than I have in the entirety of everything I have ever heard about Capitalism or Socialism in my entire nearly 17 years of existence

[@Landos_Places]

they try to hide it but one day it will all fall together don't worry

[@angelamossucco2190]

Hopefully you will do some more reading. Maybe start with feudalism to understand what it was like before capitalism. And then reading about the system of American slavery to understand capitalism based on land ownership and forced labor. And from there reading about the way workers were treated in the north beginning with Sam slaters treatment of child workers all the way through Ronald Reagan’s breaking of the air traffic controller strike and with a middle focus on the strikes of the 1930s including the GM sit down strike. All attempts by workers beginning with enslaved rebels all the way through the 1980s air traffic controllers are met with propaganda and diversionary tactic’s as well as state violence using militias and/or the National Guard. The boogeyman is communism/Socialism. Before they could deny reality to millions via online bots and cult minions they simply said that the other reality (socialism) was WAY worse.

[@sint0xicateme]

38:31 "Lenin would have and probably did, turn over in his grave." Nope. Lenin was never buried. He's been embalmed since his death and has traveled around lying in state since his death as a puppet, basically. The 'Ask a Mortician' KZbin channel did a fascinating piece on Lenin after death. I highly recommend it.

[@Michael-uo8yv]

I think it's just a figure of speech, pretty much everyone knows Lenin's body is tourist attraction

[@jamesblueking9720]

@@Michael-uo8yv not anymore im pretty sure. edit: nevermind they removed stalin`s body not lenin`s.

[@pbjwizard]

well if he's above ground, attach a dynamo to his feet and make a generator

[@gelatinocyte6270]

Uhh... The video isn't serious.

[@theslightlyhillyrider969]

@@gelatinocyte6270 it is but that bit isnt

[@milesedgeworth132]

Fun Fact: He was the teacher for the Greece PM who imposed the worst austerity program in Greek history. This isn't a dig at Wolff. He's a badass. It's just sad how a student didn't take anything with him.

[@KrishnaDasLessons]

Yeah if that student actually listened to Wolff and took his stuff seriously Greece would have been a superpower by now, (or at least not stuck in an infinite stagnation). Austerity never works during recessions.

[@theslightlyhillyrider969]

@@KrishnaDasLessons the problem is also the previous socialist party didn't actually enforce the tax laws properly, which meant they didn't manage to deliver on their promises and got kicked out. So the problem now is the Greek people don't trust their socialist party

[@linussinus4949]

The austerity program of Greece was forced by the Euopean Union after the financial crisis of 2007. The former German finanical minister Wolfgang Schäuble played a major role in this.

[@catsantos353]

Shifu had once taught Tai-Lung

[@nathanbuhr1286]

"b-but what about v-vuvuzuela??"

[@homiixide]

Sneed

[@nathanbuhr1286]

@@homiixide how do you mean, coward

[@homiixide]

@@nathanbuhr1286 i cant sneed

[@nathanbuhr1286]

@@homiixide well i can't argue with that

[@erikcordova1713]

It's a case of destroying economic freedom...Chávez was an idiot

[@zwiebelface185]

41:35 here you go!

[@sentientsaladstudios6326]

Yo thanks so much

[@josephbevan1036]

Wait, i don't get it, there's no robot rock.

[@kazmark_gl8652]

do listen to the rest of it as well, its pretty good.

[@TheOGDominic]

I haven't read the comments but I guarantee people have said "Socialism IS for Dummies".

[@puhpuh3037]

They did, multiple times.

[@craigholman1161]

This is a really outstanding presentation. I had told my brother that I was interested in Bernie Sanders agenda. His immediate response was that Bernie Sanders is a communist. I told him that wasn't true but it was hard to explain. This is so helpful at making more clear an understanding of socialism. Thank you. I will send this to my brother. I also look forward to Part 2.

[@charliemarks3145]

Craig Holman here's part 2 recorded a couple of days ago.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn64pqqVgJKer5I

[@adamcortright3445]

Craig Holman Sanders isn't a socialist either. He's a liberal Democrat, like FDR.

[@craigholman1161]

Adam Cortright You can call him whatever you want. He calls himself a democratic socialist. FDR may have called himself a democratic socialist. I am not sure it really matters. Sanders is interested in the welfare of the society as a whole rather than the individual. If you have time look at his platform on his web site. Sanders would more likely be considered a progressive. As for being a member of the Democratic party he acknowledges the need to belong to one of the two parties to allow access to a means of participating.

[@adamcortright3445]

Socialism as defined by Marx and Engels has, at the very least, the workers owning the means of production, with control of distribution and exchange democratically decided according to a rational plan based on human need, and not private profit. I just wanted to make that clear re: Bernie doesn't support that.

[@craigholman1161]

Adam Cortright If you go back to his agenda he does support cooperatives which is essentially what you are describing. He also is very much opposed to corporate America and all that they pursue related to profits. Note his position on climate change. Certainly it is profit of the fossil fuel industry that is the great barrier to addressing this issue. Note his position on election reform. Certainly it is the great profits of corporations and the elite that distort our democratic system. I think he is very much in line with thoughts on cooperatives and their value. You are wrong that Bernie doesn't support workers owning the means of production. Again go to his web site and see for yourself his agenda. Just go to a search engine and you will easily find his site.

[@peteconrad2077]

An outstanding lecture. The truth in a concise, accurate and reasoned form.

[@captainzork6109]

I’m so glad you still dare to call a 50 minute lecture concise ^^ Good that you exist

[@peteconrad2077]

Captain Zork some of us have attention spans greater than that of a goldfish. It’s a gift.

[@charlesbearden5131]

Pete Conrad - sound bites are easier.

[@peteconrad2077]

charles bearden .. for the dim.

[@harrisonbrand8985]

“socialism is when the government does stuff” so outstanding wow

[@dunningkruger352]

18:20 how come it changed from "doing the best for yourself without hurting anyone" to "doing the best for yourself and not caring"

[@corvax8644]

pretty much the natural progression of that first idea. If you live for only yourself long enough to start caring less and less about other people.

[@martinsoukup562]

@@corvax8644 pretty much just misinterpretation of Smith to push an agenda.

[@rker321]

This explanation of this subject should be mandatory in all High School classrooms in this country. yes, we are extremely uneducated on this subject.

[@DillaryTrumpton]

rker321 That's what the top few want; dumb people who won't fight back.

[@musicmad1]

rker321 I agree with you. The reason it isn't is deliberate, to keep youths stupid, uneducated, to allow brainwashing with right wing rubbish later

[@richrd0001]

musicmad1 We should be so lucky. Left wing rubbish is what they have to endure now.

[@PURPLE.REIGN.1999]

rker321 We are extremely uneducated on many subjects, unfortunately. Most US school,s both public and private, are failing. Too worried about passing tests that all the other subjects fall away. Very sad.

[@brucet7965]

Aaron Solomon That's a good point. Either of them are an abhorrent system of government.

[@lurkinganonymously]

Had no idea this was a meme. I looked up “what is socialism” to educate myself.

[@joseluispcr]

bad place to learn it. Learn it from a anarchocapitalist. If you learn from a socialist you won't notice he is sayng that basicly socialism is the ideia of robing the entire nation

[@pubjubz]

@@joseluispcr does this mean I should learn what anarcho-capitalism is from a socialist?

[@birthdaydinosaur]

@@joseluispcr anarcho capitalism is neither anarchist nor capitalist, its just fascism with extra steps

[@Horatiusxa]

This video radicalized me

[@kissgergo5202]

I came for a meme and stayed for a great hour of education

[@gelatinocyte6270]

Have you read the description?

[@TheFartGod69]

@@gelatinocyte6270 good point. Maybe they still learned what it isn’t but good thing to check it

[@stefanmetzeler]

"Education"? Seriously? The utter nonsense this old Marxist is spreading? Wow, you have a long way to go to be educated!

[@TheFartGod69]

@@stefanmetzeler I can tell you listened to this in good faith. How epic.

[@stefanmetzeler]

​@@TheFartGod69 Unlike all the fools who listened to this old Marxist like he was a new messiah, I actually know all of this socialist bullshit and I've seen it FIRST HAND. I've seen communism in Eastern Europe and I see socialism every time I hop the border to France, which is one of the most insanely socialist countries on the planet where everyone is indoctrinated with Marxism. The government schools and the media spread Marxism, the entire justice system is dominated by an openly Marxist union. In short, they all know Marxism and they do their very best to implement it and the result is misery. Horrendous unemployment, especially for young people, ridiculously low salaries with exorbitant taxes, VAT etc. Yeah, sure, hand control to government, this is what it will look like. All this guy is doing is repeat the utopian beliefs that if somehow they managed to overcome all the economic and social constraints of reality, it woudl be paradise 😂

[@DH1986]

I'm the only member of my inner circle that has an interest in socialism. I still wouldn't consider myself a socialist, but I am willing to listen to other view points - How do you know what system is best? You study it.

[@enbyennui]

I could FEEL the meme coming as he built to it. I could feel it in my bones

[@stefanmetzeler]

Like a violent desire to pee, right?

[@zestafpv427]

I love this guy. I love the way he explains things.

[@yasovarman]

Probably the best economics teacher I have come across on the internet. His approach to the subject is simply the best. Appreciation from Colombo, Sri Lanka.

[@valsotto27]

Printing money does NOT CAUSE inflation... printing money IS inflation!

[@Oners82]

+irwin leonardo No, that is just wrong. Printing money does not cause inflation if it is in line with the growth of a countries economy.

[@ReallyLazyMe]

+Oners82 firstly it is impossible to manage the money supply to keep it in line with economic growth by central bankers and constant tweaking causes the boom n bust cycles ... 2ndly if economy grows without printing money then the value of your currency goes up which raises the standard of living for everyone which I believe is preferable..

[@Oners82]

puneet rajput Firstly, no it isn't. Second, that is just so retarded it is unbelievable. The value of the currency goes up but there is less of it so no, standard of living does NOT go up. Standard of living improves with GDP, not by how much money is in circulation.

[@ReallyLazyMe]

"Firstly, no it Isint" lol solid argument. Secondly you need to read some eco fundamental b4 you start commenting on KZbin and calling arguments retarded. standard of living is directly linked with the value of your currency. GDP can be upped by govt borrowing, printing and spending, pretty much the opposite of what one would ideally want. You really need to read someone apart from Paul krugman if u really wanna understand how an economy works. Honest advice.

[@Oners82]

puneet rajput 1. It is not impossible because there is no logical contradiction. End of story, you are just wrong. 2. Wrong again, GDP has got NOTHING to do with amount or value of currency, the currency in whatever amount is merely a reflection of the strength of an economy. Standard of living improves when you can produce and sell shit that other people want. Supply and demand, simple. My honest advice is that you take your own advice and take an economics class. www.economicshelp.org/blog/2671/economics/factors-affecting-economic-growth/

[@SuperFra2002]

I hate how the internet turned this into a Anti-socialist meme

[@tuckertooley174]

when i was young i was told that communism was when the government owned everything and socialism was when the government controlled the whole economy i now know both are wrong

[@corvax8644]

Time to sort comments by new

[@johnrubensaragi4125]

No, don't. It's a mess.

[@nicholasb8799]

The problem is here that no party rules the past 200 years like the Banking party, aka "Bankism" - that is where we are now.

[@petersenglish]

I had to laugh when he said, "Poor Stalin!"

[@stefanmetzeler]

Poor Stalin - he only got to murder 62 million people.

[@lepthymo]

​@@stefanmetzeler You have to wonder if he would ever have said "poor Hitler", even though the argument applies there too. Hitler would have never been able to appease the German peoople after versailles without some kind of enemy to point their anger to. If you seize power over a fucking state, you better be ready to take responsibility for it too.

[@Tetragrammaton22]

@@stefanmetzeler 62 million? That seems like a lot of people. Surely you have some credible source of that number and not some anti-communist quackery.

[@johnhall7522]

As a communist myself I use the terms socialism and communism interchangeably, because while a socialist society and a communist society are different, the ideology that brings you to either is the same. Socialist societies being ones in which the means of production and distribution are owned by the workers and communist societies being a type of socialist society that exists without classes, currency, or a state. If you describe yourself as a "socialist," that is, an advocate for socialist society, it follows that you must too be a "communist," an advocate for communist society, as communism is simply the next logical step after socialism, just as socialism is the next logical step after capitalism. It's true that many Americans need a lot more nuance in their definitions of socialism and communism but to think of them as the same or at least similar isn't entirely unfair or untrue.

[@Nossody]

make pp on socialism

[@puellanivis]

me awake at 2 am: I should be in bed already… but… I really should finish watching this…

[@MasterGeekMX]

At leas it's something productive, not like seeing red hot knives cutting through random stuff.

[@bethanyhunt2704]

He's being a bit bloody generous to Stalin! If Stalin declared that State ownership was Socialism, it was NOT because he was concerned about the morale of the general population! It was because he was a power-crazed psychopath, and it suited him very well to keep power of all business - just think of how much power that would give you! - in his own hands. And the sick thing is that in declaring, "This is Socialism," he was telling the population that everything was done for their benefit, that the workers now had the power - so when they felt they didn't have any power, they'd have to doubt themselves, or start to hate and distrust "Socialism". This is the con done on the workers of the whole world: everyone equates Socialism with State control aka totalitarianism, and so ignores a means of gaining their share of power in society. And of course Stalin inspired other arseholes who wanted to take all power for themselves: or if they didn't in the beginning, they soon did, as the sheer amount of power they'd have would corrupt pretty much anyone (who was it said, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"?). But otherwise, a brilliant lecture! beautifully clarifies how and why Socialism ISN'T what they did in the USSR.

[@SuperShanook]

Interwar anti-communism was a huge part on why there wasn't a anglo-french-sovjet alliance. Here in Europe anti-communism existed since 1917

[@nmeister007]

Imagine the way the world could’ve been if the French and British had agreed to form an alliance with the Soviets... ...Hitler would’ve been stomped a bit faster at the very least.

[@andbelov]

@@nmeister007 Imagine the world if German socialist revolution would have won in 1919.

[@brucemccrae4961]

This is a very clear lecture. I believe many of the adverse comments were written by people who could not be bothered to listen to the whole presentation.

[@RedSaint83]

@Dim Seed was already sown in the 40's like was said in the talk, people already decided that "-isms" = bad. Not to mention that the economy wasn't as screwed up then as it is now. I'd like to have economists explain today how socialism isn't the better way to go now that the distribution of wealth is so skewed you need second or more jobs just to keep the light on. EDIT: Personally I'd prefer we moved towards a system of technocracy where the interest of the people is handled by experts. That doesn't really happen atm. experts are present, but often ignored. Surprisingly 80% of the Chinese communist party members have a engineering degree, and they're booming.

[@RedSaint83]

@Dim I can't believe you're saying that praying capitalists exploiting the developing parts of the world is a positive thing. Capitalists are like locusts, eating everything in their way, only to move to greener pastures, which is what we're seeing in the news all the time, what with the entertainment industry catering more and more to the Chinese market. You're kidding yourself if you think the elite has any geographical or national allegiance - they - just - want - more - money. I do agree with you, however, that capitalism is great if heavily regulated, but the fact that someone can come and buy out a vital part of the country's assets and run it into the ground (neo-liberalism) DISGUSTS me to now end, that's my take on why I'm not a huge fan, because I see the injustice it brings. And then you say millionaires and billionaires are self made. Yeah maybe through inflation they are. Numbers keep getting bigger and bigger, and in 20 years you'll say "look, selfmade trillionaires!". It's sad that you equate socialism with something horrible, like it'll force you into labor camps, wear the same clothes etc. It's more about owning the means of production for the shit that the people around you need, instead of waiting for a capitalist to come around and do it. BBC and DR (Danish Radio) were created because there was a need nobody else would fill (as we're not as big countries as the US). In unison we rise to the occasion. You see socialist stuff in the US as well. Like how communities install and run their own internet in their town.

[@DillingerEscp]

Although I am a libertarian - purely in favor of true free-market capitalism, this professor is correct. Anyone advocating for more government is not inherently communistic. In fact, communism is anarchistic at the end of the day. They look forward to the end of government. I have a whole host of reasons why communism or socialism will never work, but on that point - this guy is correct.

[@puppy8125]

Of course it’s not inherently more communistic, but it is inherently more socialistic. Nothing wrong with that though.

[@IndiaHeathIRL]

Really enjoyed this. It's been something I've been interested in for a long time but never properly knew enough about, had to keep looking up the difference between socialism and communism every few weeks because I could never get a definitive enough answer that'd stick with me. Makes me want to look into world political history a lot more.

[@chunkyjoe8673]

@Dim care to elaborate on debunked

[@RedSaint83]

It's kind of cool what you can accomplish if you work together. In Denmark where I grew up, was right next to a beach with a lot of vacation homes, the plot of land was bought in cooperation, just a lot of people pooled their money together and bought it, then built "summerhouses". It's really cool how much we accomplish if we're not greedy and "sell out". Read more about it here: translate.google.com/translate?sl=da&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.of-fritid.dk%2Forganisation-og-historien.html (translated from Danish to English via google translate) EDIT: Btw. I had a paper route in the area, so it created jobs as well 🤣

[@littlesailor1533]

My school teaches about Marx in philosophy class (which a very rare class in my country)

[@delve_]

As an Alabamian, I really enjoyed that joke at the end.

[@zenswashbuckler]

As an Alabamian, you might enjoy "Hammer and Hoe" by Robin Kelley. For all us northerners look down our noses at y'all, there was some important and powerful socialist and communist organizing in Alabama - where it was *really* f'in hard - that can inspire all of us everywhere today.

[@alienc]

I feel like we are already naturally moving towards a more socialist and communist way of thinking thanks to the internet. Most people now understand that if we want to move forward as a species we need to work together so some form of hybrid free market capitalist socialist communist theory way of life imho will naturally develop as it already is now. The only question or difference we can or have to see or predict or debate now is whether we will go full socialist or communist or where we will draw the line.

[@alienc]

?

[@Camelotero]

Just try and remember the good times... Ive been thinking about it quiet a lot of time: How internet is going to affect political mindset of people, points of view and so on and help people to achieve communism? There are models like open source code, backing applications all together like Kickstsrter, the pure internacionalism of the youtube is also quite socialist. Trying to spread the message that all the lower classes of the world must remain unite to fight together against work explotation is way more easy. Certantly the internet is going to change politics in some way or another. Cheers from Spain!

[@alienc]

Oh wow I forgot I had already been here I totally forgot

[@RickyHarline]

I really want to see the second video he alluded to. Does anyone know if it got recorded and maybe have a link?

[@untitledunmastered5427]

its up on this channel i believe

[@RickyHarline]

@@untitledunmastered5427 Ah, it is! Rad, thanks

[@LordSoviet]

I would like to watch his speech from the following June. Anyone got a link?

[@LordSoviet]

I think I found it its just part 2

[@mikeyG25]

Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek

[@margyrowland]

mikeyG25 My hero. Love from Australia 🇦🇺

[@abandonedchannel281]

You mean the guy who admitted to using the UK’s NHS and though UBI was needed for the survival of capitalism because he himself admitted that the most Americans are unable to have the same buying power as the rulling elite.

[@wesleyw.terpstra1902]

Wow. This was really educational. Thank you for posting it.

[@MENDLER1]

No One has ever crawled over barbed wire or swam across rivers to escape free market capitalism........... no one................ever...........

[@AzelfandQuilava]

Probably because it's never happened.

[@TehIdiotOne]

Retarded comment. First of all, any real socialist countries has ever existed, atleast on a relevant scale. Here's the basic definition of socialism- "Socialism is a range of economic and social systems characterised by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production" Socialism is defined as having the workers own their own workplaces. This has not been the case in any major countries in the world. Now, using the definition of socialism you americans love to use, you're probably thinking of social democracy. This is still capitalism, but with essentially band aids on it's problems. Now, still using your definition, there's PLENTY of examples of people fleeing to "socialist" (social democratic countries). There's countless of people that try to make it to Germany, Norway, Sweden etc.

[@MENDLER1]

The farther you drift from a "free market (not crony market) capitalism" the more corrupt the government and the worse the people become.

[@TehIdiotOne]

Splugen pass Wrong. The further you drift towards a "free market" , the more exploitative the corporations will be. In countries like Bangladesh, corporations are setting up shop and forcing workers to work for a few dollars a day, with 19 hour work days. The high wages of the west didn't happen beacuse we drifted away from "free markets". It happend beacuse the workers protested and unionized. Laissez-faire economics is pure nonsense.

[@mrdeleted]

we know you are wrong.

[@alejandroga666]

@18:45 Hold the phone. Thomas Hobbes wrote the Leviathan wayyyyyyy before Adam Smith wrote the Wealth of Nations. It's really disingenuous to argue that somehow Hobbes argued against Smith's individualist arguments. Hobbes after all was arguing in favor of a strong monarchy in the feudal sense, not for a strong community in the modern sense.

[@billymoran3138]

State Capitalism! A concept los in time which explains why the failiure of the soviet union. The problem is not socialism nor communism but still Capitalism, state capitalism.

[@bcshu2]

state capitalism is a complete misunderstanding of what capitalism is. There is no such thing as state capitalism. He many be referring to cronyism, which again is not capitalism.

[@tylerrice7145]

bcshu2 state capitalism absolutely exists. It’s just instead of private ownership, the state/government owns the capital

[@bcshu2]

Tyler Rice your describing China.

[@tylerrice7145]

bcshu2 yes, China is state-capitalist...that’s my point.

[@bcshu2]

Tyler Rice my contention is not that it exists but it corrupts what the intention of capitalism is.

[@carlguenzel1447]

I'm trying to keep my comment totally professional. Deep inside me I scream out, this is so fuck'n cool.

[@CAPDude44]

Lots of people in 2020 need to see this

[@eliotmontesinopetren1764]

Protect this man at any cost

[@orianarodriguez3889]

I'm sharing this on facebook!

[@PetadeAztlan]

Oriana Rodriguez Good! We should have a mind open to exploring the merits of socialism, without fixation.

[@orianarodriguez3889]

So true, Bernie Sanders won me over big time! some ass from my friend list STILL posted about Nazi's and Lenin blah blah blah blah.....I said to the how stupid their going to look when people who actually watched the video see's your comment, they erased it the next day!!! hahahahahahahahahahahah that was fun!

[@craigholman1161]

Oriana Rodriguez Anyone who looks at Bernie Sanders site www.sanders.senate.gov will see an agenda of a Democratic socialist. He is very interesting and I think appeals to much of America IF they understand socialism.

[@orianarodriguez3889]

ok

[@martinko40]

Craig Holman Socialism is STATE capitalism or very close !! State owns everything and you NOTHING . YOU CANNOT quit your job without STATE approval .It is like a modern slavery. Everyday you are going to listen how much you owe to "society " .

[@-ED-]

Great speech. I hope more and more people listen to this and open their minds to the real truth about socialism and not just that, I hope the people in capitalistic societies learn also about what type of system brings to them in the long run also. People need to be informed and not just be brainwashed sheep. And I have to admit, I didn't know a thing or two about it myself, and I grew up in a socialist country (now I live in capitalist one, so at least I have seen and felt both, so I am not biased). State Capitalism... that's the thing I didn't realise it existed till now. Thank you.

[@christopherrodriguez7225]

Where does this guy lecture?

[@FrancoisT1]

So, if I understand correctly, versions of #Socialism we saw in history, e.g. East Germany, USSR was not Socialism at all, but a form of State Capitalism? What is your take on the kind of Socialism that prevailed in the former Yugoslavia? Amidst the USSR, Romania, Yugoslavia was considered to be the more "bearable" socialist countries to live up to 1989/ 1990's.

[@Manuellaborer]

I was watching in youtube and I couldn't help but clapped my hands when Wolff was finished!

[@Dubravko49]

In my view (the only one I can have, by the way), there are two fundamental questions that clearly differentiate between what is generally called capitalism and socialism, respectively: (1) what motivates individuals to create new value and (2) on what basis is personal wealth created. There are two extremes as the answers to the first question: direct material gain and direct needs satisfaction; and two extremes as the answers to the second question: property and labor. Take the two sets of answers in the stated order and you have a crude definition of the difference between capitalism and socialism. Sure there are many other differences, but they would most likely derive from the two basic ones.

[@Christian_Prepper]

VIDEO SUMMARY: 11:16 - 11:24

[@TW0T0M]

Very good lecture, thanks for the up

[@Sasoripwns]

This needs billions of views

[@dimthecat9418]

Phil Swift educating the masses

[@christron5368]

Holy crap, I didn’t think of that. It all makes sense now.

[@Zaza-eq4ss]

Hands down the best explanation for what socialism is not that I've ever heard. Thank you Professor Wolff!

[@nonono4160]

Professor says plenty of interesting things (well, for people who are completely unfamiliar with subject at least), but he is missing on oh so many points, starting from his misrepresentation of Adaam Smith, who was actually one of the first significant critics of capitalism, and on whose works (and Ricardo's) Marx builе his own economic theory, to the completely uneducated opinions on USSR, saying that it didn't transform it's economics from capitalism, which is as wrong as it can get. By the end of the 30s, all industries except food production were transormed to planned economy which means there was no longer any commodity production or profit motive, which is what is expected from socialist system. All, except some like agrarian sector where there were which consisted mainly from kolkhozes (basically agrarian cooperatives) and distribution and small commerce sectors, but even they were embedded to some degree into planing system. For example kolkhozes recieved an expected plan for some produce like grain, according to that plan they were supplied with vehicles like tractors along with specialists who can repair it, fertilizers, pesticides and stuff like that, for that they would recieve salaries, but everything they produced above plan they were fit to deal with as they like, selling it on the market or distribute it between peasants or selling it in bulk to the government (andplan was set up in such a way that most of the times they had decent portion of produce remaining). As you can see even cooperatives (which Wolf likes very much) despite being a profit enterprise to some degree, in many ways were pulled from commodity production, because they were supplied with tractors and stuff not according to how much money they could pay, but according to plan, plan not built on profits, but on use value of the products produced. And actual industries were completely rid of the commodification. Money lost one of the important roles it has in capitalism - the ability to direct the labor. As a result - full employment by the first half of the 30s. Anyone who knows even remotely about marxism knows that it's not that big of a stretch to cvall it socialism.

[@goirish2816]

I can listen to Professor Wolffe lecture for hours. The man is amazing....love him🤗

[@jimmyhaze8631]

amazing presentation i wish everybody could watch this. thank you !

[@theasdazx]

hey! I want to add subtitles to this video to show my people in my country ? I believe you need to enable the video for adding subtitle. Can you do it please. Thankss

[@MaximC]

8:04 - I'm glad Wolff mentioned that, I've heard some anarcho-communist say that Bernie was their entering point into socialism/leftist idea, but that they later realised that he's more of a reformer than revolutionary, in any case they say they are now more leftist than Bernie ever was.

[@irishgoldstacker8018]

I heard the idea of democracy at work from this guy. It's also his opinion that we shouldn't have a UBI. (Universal basic income) I thought a UBI was a good idea until I heard the professor talk about it. I feel his ideas- and there are other people in America talking about socialism- I feel in the not too distant future we are going to inevitably get to somewhere near where professor Wolf wants us to be. Here in Ireland people are looking to socialism more and more. We have a big party here called Sinn Fein. A socialist party. The only reason they're not in power now is because of a lack of self belief. They didn't field enough candidates in our last general election. I'm sure they've learned they're lesson. They are in a power sharing government in the north and have been constantly- barring one or two hiccups- for a very long time. Sinn Fein will transform Ireland and were Ireland leads, other nations in Europe follow. Tiocfaide ár lár.

[@gioiacobucci]

Prescient comment

[@bomtrek]

Great stuff. Agreed with everything 100% Cheers from Europe

[@stefanmetzeler]

I'm Swiss and 100% of what he says is bullshit! If you are "from Europe", you SHOULD know better. Maybe you go ask the people who lived under REAL Socialism until the fall of the USSR in Eastern Europe. THEY don't want that terrorism back. I've seen it all, first hand. It was an absolute nightmare. Even the level of Socialism I see in France, Italy, Germany, the UK etc. are scary shit. The EU is a nightmare run by Marxists. How is it possible that are so ignorant?

[@knixie]

so kind to make a video for 2020 Libertarian party voters

[@forkevbot]

The world is absurd. It isn't even that complicated. Luxuries should be capitalist and necessities should be socialist (and if you look at successful societies the trend is the this is true, more success means more socialized necessities). AND the more important the necessity, the more socialized it should be. And to deliver this, the government is the best means. Clean water, plumbing, electricity, education, basic transportation, and healthcare should all be heavily socialized. And the reason for this isn't even a human rights issue. Society that has socialized these things performs better because it is more efficient. Socialism can streamline things which are basic more easily than capitalism. Instead of 400 water companies figuring out the best way to deliver, clean, and store water and remove waste we can just have ONE standard for the entire nation. The same can be said across the board for electricity, healthcare, transporation, education, and honestly even things like internet potentially (as long as the internet is not censored by the government)

[@satori-in-life]

They're are so many Americans that need to watch this talk.

[@prod.winterxphool6227]

wow what an amazing lecture.

[@arlaghdoth4434]

I like how each thumbnail has him flailing his arms like a madman.

[@allstarmark12345]

Where is next video? From June? I want to hear this when you “unhook” socialism from the state

[@stickk6066]

I came from the meme but this is actually a pretty interesting talk

[@sarahbezold2008]

on the off chance someone sees this, does this mean worker co-ops are the definition of socialist? that this whole socialism thing is just about making every business a co-op?

[@Coneboi]

Worker co-ops aren't necessarily the definition of socialism, but that's pretty close! The general definition of socialism is when the workers own the means of production they use. That is, they own the tools, the land, and the capital. This can take the form of worker co-ops but there are other possibilities

[@jamiel6005]

every business is a co-op + largely nationalised resources like electricity and water. Communism is like this but there is no state or money.

[@philipriesling3897]

I see know, this world still has a chance if people like Prof. Wolff exist

[@AuraFPS_]

I may not agree with what he is saying, but I am glad that there’s a discussion about it, finally!

[@IntelligentHorseworldofrandom]

This comment section is interesting as fuck, very entertaining! thanks for providing the video! I enjoyed it and the comments!

[@charliemarks3145]

You're welcome , yeah the comments are ranging from complete ignorance to interesting additions to this lecture. I was very much inspired by this talk a year and a half ago.. (Bernie had just announced his candidacy two weeks before) and I had been a fan of Richard Wolff (and Bernie Sanders) for a long time so I figured people could start to get interested in socialism. Never thought I would get 231.000 views though...

[@ipbelton]

19:29 "A society? Based."

[@CodaMission]

I don't know why socialism is more palatable when explained to me by an old dude from New York, but it is

[@klausbje]

Thank you for the presentation.

[@skaruts]

Sophistry For The Dummies.

[@steppenwolf3252]

Semantics for Sillys

[@certaindeed]

Did he say Amtrak at 44:00? If so Amtrak is one of the biggest examples of government failure. First, the government seized control of all the rail lines during WWII, wore out all the tracks and machinery and returned it to the companies. Then built the interstate highway system to nail the coffin lid shut on it. Then when the passenger lines struggled and eventually went under, it took control of all their assets sold ***all the rail lines*** that the once great passenger services owned to freight companies ***dooming our passenger infrastructure forever*** and formed as government funded entity "AMTRAK" that operates at a loss (leasing the same rails back from the freight companies with second priority to freight) and consumes tax money to operate. The JAR is another example of the largest railway in the world that operates at a loss and is always on the brink...last I checked Japan was desperately trying to get it back into the private sector to survive. Right here in Boston the MBTA is the most heavily used public transit system in the country and yet it is at the point of collapse in 2015 This is the first video I have seen from him, but so far this guy's belief in government companies is uninformed, and misguided to say the least. It is true that town utilities do tend to make a go of it... I know of a few...but at the state and federal levels, all public systems are generally a disaster worldwide. The reasons for this are many fold, but generally they are: 1) Government red tape and regulations only benefit 40 cents on the dollar toward the infrastructure because... 2) Government employee salaries and pensions must be added to the cost of the infrastructure over time. If there are 10 people maintaining a bridge...every 5 to ten years in it's later life a person retires, in the last 10 years there may be 30 people on salary for that same bridge or infrastructure and only 10 are actually working 3) The lowest bidder can never win to do an outsource or contract. All the math must work out to "prevailing wage" and "prevailing rate" for all work done. on, Therefore even if a contractor can do job for 1/2 price for whatever reason, this will NEVER HAPPEN. The unions have made sure of it. 4) Government employees are immune from prosecution or financial damages resulting from any failure or mistakes they make when doing their daily job or performing their duties. If a private company or contractor messes up they are liable to fix it and for damages. If a government employee screws up, the taxpayer must pay to fix it. The list goes on and on we can talk all day.

[@lindsayschutz]

Amtrak is losing money because they deliberately set fares below cost to boost ridership (same with many mass transit systems here in the US, including the DC metro area where I live). And honestly, it's a heck of a lot cheaper and more comfortable than flying across the country if one has the time to travel that way (and yes, they've upgraded their cars to include cafe's, wifi, charging stations, and comfy sleeping rooms- I've never had to use the sleeping rooms and showers because my trips on Amtrak in college were pretty short since they were within the same state, but they're leapfrogging on the backs of European rail travel).

[@certaindeed]

@@lindsayschutz I ride the Amtrak North eastern corridor all the time. It is the only break even section of service in the usa however unless they own the easements which they do not...they will never make money. If they have to operate at a loss to boost ridership then like the T in Boston they are a failed business model,...which is my point

[@lindsayschutz]

@@certaindeed Amtrak isn't designed to make a profit. It's designed to provide a service at a price that people can afford and access relatively easily. Sure, private passenger train service is nice and profitable, but it's also incredibly expensive and they don't cover as much territory as Amtrak does.

[@certaindeed]

@@lindsayschutz its charter was designed to make enough money to operate without being subsidized. That it cannot do.

[@certaindeed]

@@lindsayschutz the JAR was the most advanced and most heavily relied on train system in the world and they had to privatize to become feasible. Right here in Boston the T was the only break even public railway in the nation through the 90 s..but now they are going under and falling apart even being propped up by tax subsidies because they now have to pay the pensions. You catching on yet?

[@samualhouren379]

I really want to see this guy debate Milton Friedman on Socialism vs Capitalism

[@lorddunsparce9425]

Ok I came for the meme and stayed for the talk this was really fucking good

[@user-xw1yh2py4j]

And when was the initiation of violent force ever moral?

[@MarkusAldawn]

I lost at scrabble

[@thetetons744]

@@MarkusAldawn LOOOOOOOL

[@chrisknorr1326]

Misquoting Thomas Hobbes. He did not warn that capitalism would make life nasty brutish and short... He said that was the nature of life BEFORE civilization... before people created a civilized way of allowing individuals the freedom to cooperate and create wealth pursuing their own interests (capitalism).

[@wernerheisenberg6464]

+Chris Knorr -- I don't think he misquoted Hobbes - he said that the idea that everybody does what's best for him 'as a principle to organize society' would put us in danger and then referred to Hobbes who pretty much said exactly that in Leviathan - granted, he made this confusing since Hobbes pre-dates Smith, but I guess he was trying to make the point that the idea that Smith was trying to pick up was already criticised by Hobbes.

[@chrisknorr1326]

Perhaps. As far as I can tell, I think this guy is typical of liberal intellectuals. He is drawing from misinterpreted, scattered sources and speaking in terms of rationality while making irrational, half-baked conclusions.

[@abandonedchannel281]

Chris Knorr He ain’t no liberal, to left for that garbage

[@v.bryant4705]

i'm crying tears because listening to this just...i just appreciate hearing more about this extremely complex topic.

[@only1gameguru]

I am studying at CU Boulder, one of my required courses required the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital