Capitalism Hits the Fan: Dr. Harriet Fraad

This lecture from nationally known psychotherapist and radio show host Dr. Harriet Fraad, entitled "The Great Recession's Hurricane Swath Through Intimate Life: Social and Personal Transformation in the U.S. Since the 2008 Economic Crisis," was part of a two-day event at the University of Southern Maine on April 23-24, 2014.
"Capitalism Hits the Fan: The Personal and Societal Effects of the 2008 Economic Crisis" was hosted by the Department of Economics at the University of Southern Maine.

[@MartinScreeton]

I've listened to her husband many times and it was a refreshing other angle to get Dr. Fraad's take on the crash and our new, altered lives afterwards.

[@sponge6415]

I really, really like Dr. Fraad. She really puts it all together as far as the current status of our lives here in the US. She answers many questions with her analysis in this very interesting lecture. Remember the Talking Heads song that goes: "How did I get here!". Well, she answers this question quite well. The only criticism I have is her over-analysis of porn. In doing so she misses the basic point of porn: taking the lonely act of masturbation and making it slightly less so. If your single, divorced, without a lover, well, there's porn. Prostitution is illegal, even the arguably benign "happy ending" is illegal. (I certainly don't mean to insult the professional masseuse). So what is the lonely guy/gal to do? Is she advocating the abolishment of porn? The regulation of porn? She makes the point that homosexual porn is not offensive, basically implying that it's "ok porn". This is a peculiar logic also. So I'm a bit confused as to her overall point with this analysis of porn. Now, I will say that violent porn is disgusting. But, how do you regulate it? The "girl friend experience" is also limited to very, very wealthy men. So this is also over-emphasized in regard to its impact on overall society. I have the utmost respect for Dr. Fraad. She is awesome. But I'm confused over what her ultimate position is on porn. Abolishment? Regulation? Formation of a National Porn Board? I would assume that she would agree that we live in a sexually repressed society. Would she think that the abolishment of porn as increasing that repression? Does the criminalization of prostitution only push it into the dark alley and into the hands of organized crime with less protection of sex workers? Not all persons are in relationships. Are they to be forced into (hopefully temporary) celibacy? Ultimately, I feel that she is a nice mom preaching (and wonderful psychologist), moralizing here, insinuating that we better stop watching that porn. while making a convoluted argument that capitalism is making us watch it and leaving us with many unanswered questions about the overall issue of sexuality. Maybe well-regulated prostitution would protect women and be legally taxed? Now this would be a capitalist solution. So I'm getting more confused as I go, so I'll just stop. Let me finally end with this: DR FRAAD IS AWESOME! DR. Wolff IS AWESOME! I hope my criticism is constructive. Thank you.

[@lednerg]

4:40 - skip intro 14:19 - holy shit

[@sixsix7minus1]

Almost 4 years later and it's even worse. Some of us down huge from the continued highly regressive, highly egregious, unlawful upward manipulation of the stock market and still no meaningful bank interest for allowing banks to use our money.

[@MrSvenovitch]

24:48 this is a good thing. Life and the universe are a cruel joke, so less and hopefully one day by our own choice NO children is the best way to go. We were not asked to be pulled from the void. This is the final way to stop suffering for human beings and so I applaud it. You may cuss and hate me for it but think about this. In the next war, your children might be killing your neighbours' children or vice versa. My children...will have nothing to fear or to be cruel to because they won't exist ;-). Read David Benatar's Better Never To Have Been for a scientific approach.

[@MarkoKraguljac]

Mediocre critique of "capitalism" that quickly slipped into unintentional confession about her own emotional problems, pathology and complexes. She fails to glimpse and articulate the real depth and weight of human condition and human relations. As if everything would be just fine and harmonious without "capitalism" and porn. Transcendence of "capitalism" will *only* be enabled by accumulation of sufficient knowledge and its technological application. Till then, most of us are doomed to be stunted half-slaves. On the other hand, we are in that process already, which is fortunate.

[@JasonRoggasch]

Below average critique of this speech..That quickly devolved into fear based thinking. Or...."OH NO WHAT IF WE DONT have capitalism"..."OH NO"...We would all be dumb slaves without it...Which led you to attack her personally without KNOWING SHIT ABOUT HER..Good for you...You re doing capitalisms work for it. ATTACK THE MESSENGER fallacy MUCH?

[@sponge6415]

Mark, I think she makes a lot of good points about the stresses under-regulated capitalism places on ordinary people. I really like Dr. Fradd! However, I have to agree with you regarding her confusing analysis of porn. She really lost me when she lets gay porn off the hook, implying that gay porn is ok. Just doesn't make sense as she goes on her rant about the "evil" of capitalistic heterosexual porn.