Why Didn't America Become a Socialist Country?

[@TheGravelInstitute]

Thank you for watching! We launched this project to counter right-wing disinformation like PragerU. The problem is, they have millions of dollars in oil billionaire money and we have nothing but our supporters and our ideas. Consider becoming a patron of the Institute and making these videos possible: www.patreon.com/gravelinstitute. We will be forever in your debt.

[@argosgiovanni5988]

Dammit right winger why cant we have good life

[@Rommie26]

You can combine all the leftist channels and you won’t even come close to the subscribers and views that Steven crowder has 😂😅

[@sterlingmorse5409]

@@Rommie26 There is more than you think

[@Rommie26]

@@sterlingmorse5409 not even close I’m centrist so I’m subscribed to many channel from the right and left It’s not even close

[@bokuwatobi_]

We will win...eventually. However, it is to be seen whether or not we win in time.

[@caramida9]

Don't forget that the first time the US used airstrikes, was against striking miners trying to unionise in West Virginia.

[@rjframe4410]

yup this was a thing

[@ghostnoodle9721]

Dont forget the time the government massacred a commune of people because they had guns and lived off on their own

[@bell3287]

What the fuck!?

[@kenabbott8585]

They also juuuuuuuuuust happened to have killed a bunch of people, including cops, Blown a bunch of stuff up, and launched full scale assaults on mines for the "crime" of hiring people who didn't join the union.... but usre, let's pretend they got shot for "trying to unionise."

[@amrahmed7856]

Can I get a source on that?

[@Cucom1959]

Thank you to Emma for not doing the "when the government does stuff" meme unironically.

[@zed6740]

And if it does a real lot of stuff, it's communism!

[@RJH755]

@@zed6740 *ROBOT ROCK INTENSIFIES*

[@vladimirlenin3562]

And to those who are afraid of government doing stuff: Problem?

[@sten260]

are you guys stupid? governments are literal cancer leeching off people, you work hard and they tax your ass, print money, cause inflation etc all those things that make you poorer. if there was no government everybody would be better off

[@canadagoose8543]

@@sten260 You need a government under capitalism to enforce private property rights. The only way to have a stateless society is by having a worker owned socialist economy.

[@SkaTuneNetwork]

Just go ahead and ask anybody you know who isn't invested in socialist ideas to define the difference between socialism and communism. Most can not, and especially those who say they're evil. The effects of that suppression are definitely felt today, and the right is very good at taking peoples ignorance on what it is and making people hate it before they can learn about it.

[@imhappy5266]

Honestly I'm not sure most people on the right could tell you the difference between communism and liberalism

[@ingwerschorle_]

PSA - Join a union! It barely costs anything, and it'll help everyone!

[@sosopwsi829Jjw9]

@@imhappy5266 or addition and subtraction for that matter

[@flo090394]

@harlaudata Oh you mean capitalism that can not even work on paper in an ideal world. Yeah the left is bad for calling it what it is.

[@k12kyle]

@harlaudata you're right I'm not an economist you're wrong about one thing I have enough empathy to realize that we have one in four children going hungry at night in the usa and that is a problem. Yes capitalism isn't "evil", but to be a good CO it requires that you become a psychopath, and highly narcissistic

[@ZungaBungalunga]

In my view, the reasons are : Propaganda Repression A poor intellectual class

[@ZungaBungalunga]

@Tej the irony is you believing that you are living in a country free of propaganda and intellectual repression

[@cracky3931]

@Tej Im no expert, but I think those are different words..

[@cl5619]

Top reason is that the worker class became prosperous. It’s hard to get riled up for a socialist revolution when you have a job, house, car, you take family vacations in Florida.

[@cl5619]

@Justin Bradburn The profit motive, which these people detest, is bound in 2nd law of thermodynamics. Any living being must consume more calories than they expend in gathering it, aka profit. Human civilizations rose once there were enough agricultural surplus to afford specialization... more profit. And every step of the way towards human development, this process, this quest for profit from nature, has advanced. And now we have these idiots come along and tell us the whole thing is wrong... that they have a non thermodynamic type model that is better Then, of course, look at their track record of entropy wreckage and rot

[@korovabozha4963]

@babykuzi82 Ey there, I am actually very knowledgeable on Vietnam's situation. I wouldn't call it a socialist government after Ho Chi Minh died, more of a state-capitalist mix, and yea the government there is corrupt. I agree on your taxation. As for the larger federal government for the US, not going to sugarcoat it but we actually do not have a big government. We barely spend on welfare contrary to popular belief. Setting a national healthcare system will not cause a USSR style party member elite, it will in fact aid our doctors and increase them per capita, as in any other nation who has done such policies. As a Libertarian Socialist I am not really a big fan of Marxist-Leninist policies (which is a very broad definition mind you) , such as the USSR, and post-Ho Chi Minh Vietnam.

[@stilltmg]

"History isn't destiny." Super powerful words to live by. Stay strong brothers and sisters.

[@hydratanksamari]

Gave me a chill down my arms. We can always change, always improve.

[@loopiloop]

Very nice words with context, but it remembers me of people denying white privilege

[@comradefreedom8275]

True.

[@jacksmith-vs4ct]

Thank goodness because destiny is a liberal that thinks Palestinians are all terrorists ;)

[@ingwerschorle_]

PSA - Join a union! It barely costs anything, and it'll help everyone!

[@ReadmanJ]

"Socialism never took root in America because the people were taught to believe they're simply temporarily embarrassed millionaires" ~John Steinbeck

[@robertstan298]

This is exactly what Thorstein Veblen said in his books, particularly in "The Theory of the Leisure Class".

[@ingwerschorle_]

PSA - Join a union! It barely costs anything, and it'll help everyone!

[@notsure186]

Dude... That is just like the best comment I have seen in a while

[@ReadmanJ]

@BorisH I totally believe you, random internet person with a totally believable anecdote. I am very convinced.

[@undeadblizzard]

@BorisH Justice isn't Justice unless it is for everyone. I don't want to be rich. I want everyone to be rich. I want happiness for everyone.

[@tomio8072]

“The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening.” - Rosa Luxemburg

[@KcarlMarXs]

Bernie killed rosa

[@tomio8072]

@@KcarlMarXs ye I know lol

[@arby327]

rosa was a queen

[@tomio8072]

@Irked Imperial meanie

[@kittycatwithinternetaccess2356]

Freikorps voran!

[@ptpt8532]

Hi I'm from Vietnam - A Socialist Country!!! Ho Chi Minh!!! Wonderful country!!!

[@afgor1088]

RIP brother ho

[@Marc_0v0]

I clicked on this as soon as I saw that notification pop up

[@Wodospad_z_Deszczoskrzydlych]

+1 uwu

[@jax5683]

+1 ^

[@tylerhackner9731]

One of the greatest KZbin channels I’ve come across

[@ingwerschorle_]

PSA - Join a union! It barely costs anything, and it'll help everyone!

[@MrAustinhoch]

Donate to their Patreon if you can. They don’t take billionaire money.

[@aroace7913]

Same it is a great channel ^^

[@israelvaldivia2686]

kzbin.info/door/OInEMAm0Y4VXoAfbJMR3Wg

[@israelvaldivia2686]

kzbin.info

[@someesingh2827]

US had a strong Socialist movement but it was brutally repressed.

[@vladimirlenin3562]

Yes. By both bourgeois liberal parties

[@someesingh2827]

@@vladimirlenin3562 Holy shit that's V.I. Lenin!!!!! Big fan! Please 🙏 give me ur autograph 😉😁

[@vladimirlenin3562]

@@someesingh2827 ikr it is me

[@williamwrobel4928]

palmer sends his regards

[@sten260]

because it was evil, socialism is absolutely horrible and needs to die

[@thikang7781]

Americans used to achieve the dream on a single income. Then there wasn't a urgent need for it. But today is different, while executives wage increased with inflation the employees wages barely moved. As cost of living increases frozen wages are unsustainable. It won't be long before employees won't earn enough money to commute to work.

[@cl5619]

Government needs to stop taxing people so much… end the goddamn spending

[@blinthepannkek6173]

"History isn't destiny." These words will remain in my head as a valuable advice. Thank you.

[@suspicious2delicious]

but it's constantly repeating so it becomes destiny. lol

[@joshualittlewolfe8550]

@@suspicious2delicious Nah, it is as Mark Twain described: “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”

[@suspicious2delicious]

@@joshualittlewolfe8550 That's just a play on words.

[@joshualittlewolfe8550]

@@suspicious2delicious Not at all bro. It means that current developments may appear similar to historical events, but are never an exact 1:1 equivalent or copy. As you know, one letter at the front of a word can completely change it’s meaning and the consequences of its expression.

[@suspicious2delicious]

@@joshualittlewolfe8550 So you're saying there's never been an event that was ever exact? lol

[@yuliusseraph4973]

Babe, wake up, Gravel institute uploaded

[@whimpy_ghost]

Wake the fuck up samurai, we have a gravel institute video to watch

[@cl8804]

Congrats yurafag!

[@thepiggery7253]

It’s always nice to see the Gravel Institute out perform Prager U in views, like with David Cross’ video.

[@TheGravelInstitute]

Send this to your friends and we can get there!

[@mostlyfoldersabitofeveryth1989]

Pfft..if you break even with them they're outperforming massively. Manipulated...try on a free speech platform and see

[@allenwilliams7367]

@@mostlyfoldersabitofeveryth1989 free speech platforms? You mean the type that bans liberals? Lmao

[@mostlyfoldersabitofeveryth1989]

@@allenwilliams7367 if that's the case I'm not in favor of that. I haven't seen it, but I will admit it would not surprise me if there are some platforms that are right leaning and do ban or throttle the other side. And if so that's problematic, but it doesn't make it not problematic that trillion dollar corporations are doing it just because it favors your views

[@sosopwsi829Jjw9]

@@mostlyfoldersabitofeveryth1989 SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME WINNING??? MUST BE FAKE??? WAAAAAAA

[@patbrennan6572]

Maybe because America is a continent, actually two continents, North and South. The United States of America is the appropriate term.

[@drzoidberg2840]

"History isn't destiny" makes me think of that quote by Le Guin, "We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings."

[@tamirj.b.n9814]

Just need a few hundreds of deaths (Mostly news reporters and politicians) and we we'll get there Long live the socialist revolution

[@rodabanane]

@@tamirj.b.n9814 no matter which human beeing you give such power - hes going to become corrupt - not because hes weak, but a human beeing is just not made for this much power. imho anarchy is the only way to reduce centralized power and put the power into the hands of the community.

[@tamirj.b.n9814]

@@rodabanane giving power to the community isn't always good There needs to be a leader and if any Joe could just be nice to someone to convince the community to do something stupid, then what's the point

[@rodabanane]

@@tamirj.b.n9814 i guess you unfortunately didnt get my point, so again: a human ALWAYS gets corrupt with this much power. in the majority of human time there have been "leaders", sending their "slaves" into wars which often were driven by their own interest. capitalism is no exception. these system will always allow people to expploit others. this needs to stop.

[@tamirj.b.n9814]

@@rodabanane yes but I don't think the answer needs to be that radical

[@ironickrempt]

Can’t wait until the algorithm starts picking up this channel consistently

[@charlieputzel7735]

It won't, for mysterious reasons...

[@dizzymetrics]

Absolutely no chance. This carcass promotes where the money flows, so it will do them well to delist Gravel and other left outlets. Just another reason why socialism is based, wouldn't you love to have a public KZbin funded by everyone?

[@ARandomSpace]

@@dizzymetrics Yes, I would. I'd love to be able to use and support an Internet not of companies, but of people.

[@ARandomSpace]

I keep getting them in my recommendations after a new video comes out.

[@mrgrumboldt]

I can't even ring the bell, like KZbin disabled it on this channel..

[@thathumanhayden2979]

Can we get some citations in the video description? This was one of the reasons why you guys have so much more legitimacy than PragerU, and I would hate to see this focus on using verifiable factual information to fade. Using sources is very important. Love you lot.

[@Cyanidal187]

Exactly, citing your sources is what differentiates the educators from the grifters.

[@celeri6497]

Boosting this excellent point.

[@qlexagain]

They’ve put citations in all their other vids idk why they’re not here

[@trevjamesc]

It’s 90% opinion in this video there isn’t much to link to

[@ricardobautista-garcia8492]

indeed

[@NDHFilms]

Where I'm from in Colorado, the largest coal miner's strike was led by the IWW, a socialist union. Over 12,000 miners went on strike in the autumn of 1927, shutting down all but one of the state's coal mines.

[@metalprogressive450]

Really important to bring up the parallels between how socialism and social democracy not taking off in America along with the Red Scare/McCarthyism. More people need to see this

[@TheGravelInstitute]

Exactly, the left has been brutally suppressed in the United States, often with violent force. This, more than anything else, is what has made it so hard for them to build even a basic foothold.

[@RobinHerzig]

Bingo!

[@wtfhah]

@@TheGravelInstitute Social democracy & Nordic model aren't really "socialism" though, it's more like social fascism Scandinavia maintained their wealth inequality & their class hierarchy & their monarchies... doesn't really sound revolutionary iyam

[@JukeboxTheGhoul]

@@wtfhah Yep, that's stupid. USSR had a hierarchy - of party bureaucrats. China has a hierarchy. Any dictatorship has a hierarchy. Also, another facet of this ludicrous idea of "social fascism" is pontential to fall in to fascism - real fascism. newsflash. Anything can fall to fascism. It's a cancer.

[@wtfhah]

@@JukeboxTheGhoul No, USSR had a much more flourishing democracy than USA ever had. China also has a more responsive & better functioning democracy than the US. Notice there was no storming of the capitol that took place in USSR or PRC. You are living under "dictatorship of the bourgeoisie". And it's only the "DotP" that can prevent this Fascism is far more likely to result from liberalism & capitalism

[@dominictemple]

And we also have the famous quote attributed to Steinbeck below. “John Steinbeck once said that socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” ― Ronald Wright, A Short History of Progress

[@dominictemple]

@John Spöner you’re missing the point, the quote is about how lots of US people see themselves as future millionaires and so vote for policies that benefit them instead of the average man or woman.

[@westg463]

@@dominictemple they say in capitalism man exploits man well in socialism it’s vice versa

[@dominictemple]

@@westg463 funny, but it is a shame that criticism of capitalism was for decades of the 20th Century very closely linked to murderous totalitarians who were more interested in ideological excuses to rule out kill than anything else.

[@westg463]

@@dominictemple and it’s funny how people blame capitalism for what’s happening now it’s not capitalism it’s GOVERNMENT filled with incompetent people

[@TheConstitutionFirst]

Historically Socialists have always been very fun! I am young and I love it! Join us watch this video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2PTqYCDZq2Yb6M

[@sillybilly4710]

I’m so glad the reaction to Prager U isn’t empty liberal platitudes and “gotchas” and ended up being actually leftist. Good. Fascism isn’t beaten with SNL.

[@connorschrock2883]

"Fascism" ok bud

[@syafsmith5085]

@@connorschrock2883 Yes. A bureaucracy that serves to give endless incentives to corporatists be it from the liberals to right wing “populists” is fascism

[@harrymail7]

Utterly hilarious. You simpletons throw around the word fascism like confetti. Anyone right of Trotsky is a fascist to you.

[@cyanryan1]

@@harrymail7 true and based. anyone right of trotsky is a fascist

[@austin5944]

@@harrymail7 the modern republican party is openly fascist, as is anyone who supports then blindly like Prager u and company.

[@mrskynet8800]

It's simple, greedy corporations, rich people, and politicians.

[@cl5619]

Americans already pay about 45% of their income in taxes, to federal, state & local authorities. For that, these payers don’t get much social services. And yet there are socialists within the Democratic Party who want to take more, to take much of their other half of income. All with the promise that *THIS TIME* they are going to get something in return.

[@Official_Doge]

Keep putting the pressure on our politicians. Don’t become apathetic from the harsh realities we live in. Stay strong, call your politicians, don’t let them keep you silent!

[@cbj4sc1]

I knew it was a good idea to look up to you, Dodge

[@Cyanidal187]

And this especially accounts to the elected progressive politicians that were funded by regular people to fight for policies that benefit regular people.

[@jb8408]

“The harsh realities we live in” Have you studied human history or traveled the world? 2020 western society seems to be anything but a “harsh reality.”

[@Official_Doge]

@@jb8408 I have, in fact, but have you considered that US politics affects people *outside* of the US, and that the premise of a harsh reality applies to other countries, including US client states? I see your argument, but there’s not much to it.

[@jb8408]

@@Official_Doge well, I’m sure your political ideas will bring the global utopia you desire 👍

[@Dylan-un5we]

I'm happy crying right now. Thank you for the informative content you publish. It is so refreshing and gives me hope.

[@PremierCCGuyMMXVI]

I’m glad we got the Gravel Institute. We need change in America.

[@Steve-zc9ht]

Socialist is NOT the answer the USA will never be socialist

[@visorij3374]

No

[@PremierCCGuyMMXVI]

@@Steve-zc9ht sorry we are already socialist lol

[@harrybarnes3539]

Yes we need more socialism to fightback the socialism that isn't working now and then we can put more socialism in

[@profmembrane1720]

@@Steve-zc9ht Neither is the Fascism both major parties have in mind.

[@Unanything81]

I love the music in your videos. Good job Gravel Institute!

[@ctrlaltdelmeir184]

What's more, the 'European way' isn't limited to Europe, countries with massive populations like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea have very heavily subsidised universal healthcare, strong childcare laws such as paternal, not just maternal leave, and public pension funds. The only developed country (apart from the US) is Chile and that's only because a US backed dictator wrote the consititution.

[@bogdangiusca7431]

And even Chile is slowly changing its ways.

[@ctrlaltdelmeir184]

@@bogdangiusca7431 They completely rejected neoliberlaism and are now rewriting the constitution. Unless this is forced down peoples throats through US backed coups or almost religious rhetoric, they opt for the social democratic way.

[@yuh1592]

You just named imperialist countries, literally the antithesis of socialism. 🤦‍♂️

[@ctrlaltdelmeir184]

@@yuh1592 Taiwan and South Korea, the most imperialist of all countries. Nevertheless, even if in the past they had empires, like every other nation, now they are liberal democratic states.

[@yuh1592]

@@ctrlaltdelmeir184 What are you talking about? Japan is imperialist today. South Korea isn’t even a legit country; it’s a U.S. puppet state established by the U.S. government. The DPRK is the rightful government of the entire Korean Peninsula.

[@incoherentramblings8451]

The Gravel Institute is the most important KZbin channel.

[@Wodospad_z_Deszczoskrzydlych]

Yes

[@zed6740]

Yes

[@aidanpak6373]

yes

[@jacobarcher1097]

Yes

[@djdesign_]

Ya

[@frogmctoad706]

Y’all should get Mark Ruffalo to narrate a video! He is a vocal progressive who’s name would bring a lot of attention to the channel.

[@ARandomSpace]

Hm? I didn't know big green mad man thought socialism is based.

[@mush1e979]

@@ARandomSpace Me neither

[@Sam_Hetfield]

Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) is also a good one. He's actually distantly related to Allende, the Chilean president killed by the US-backed coup that put Pinochet in power in 9/11/1973

[@1homelander179]

@@Sam_Hetfield what is the relationship between them? Some uncle grandpa cousin stuff?

[@Sam_Hetfield]

@@1homelander179 Directly from Wikipedia: "His mother was the cousin of Andrés Pascal Allende (President Allende's nephew through his sister Laura), the leader of the Movement of the Revolutionary Left, an urban guerrilla movement dedicated to Pinochet's overthrow."

[@atashikokoni]

Very interesting. I love these Gravel videos and hope a UK equivalent pops up.

[@Zach-jo5py]

Commenting for the algorithm! Love the Gravel Institute and what they’re trying to do.

[@Wodospad_z_Deszczoskrzydlych]

UwU

[@thehouse8891]

This is a sacrifice for the algorithm gods

[@Niclas-ui1fh]

Same, let's make this happen.

[@tellchoat8337]

Yupp that’s what I’m here for too.

[@LandoBando33]

Yeet

[@gibospartan6185]

Sacrifice for the algorithm

[@birdglasses8278]

Amen brother

[@thomasspartinos4992]

As a European citizen, I think that the term "Social Democracy" in U.S.A. means "Communism" for the majority of the people ... but both terms are completely different ...

[@i_likemen5614]

it's crazy how democrats are seen as leftist to americans, but far right to europeans

[@ameliah8164]

即使是中国，在我们的课本中，我们现在使用的也是中国特色社会主义，从1978年开始，共产主义被描述为无限遥远的理想状态。事实上是中国人在几十年的实践中认识到社会主义是真正符合人性和客观规律的生产模式。我们真的吸取了前苏联和中国文化大革命时期的教训。

[@cl5619]

Socialism requires state violence to institute a regime of confiscation.

[@Eric-ye5yz]

Another reason America was not socialist compared to Europe was it was not bombed. Bombers came over smashing properties, killing and maiming people. What health insurance company would want to get involved with that ?? The risk was just too great, the Government would have to look after the returning wounded soldiers so it was not such a big step to include women and Children survivors of the bombing. This was just too big a risk for insurance companies who prefer to challenge than pay where possible. They now looking to Bojo Johnson to change this because the risk has fallen.

[@michaelmiller7928]

Oh no. Can’t wait to be flattened by depression about how bad my country is. :(

[@zed6740]

I know the feels. As you learn more about how flawed our system is, it soon just becomes depressing tbh.

[@funnylittlecreature]

Not just the country. The world. Capitalism is everywhere, some systems are just slightly better than others. Cops still beat people to death in England.

[@zed6740]

@@funnylittlecreature Yea but the US is what I feel to be the worst. Many countries adopt some leftists policies like free healthcare or free education and the working class at least have a safety net above them. But in the US, anything even remotely close to the left instantly screams socialism to Americans

[@funnylittlecreature]

@@zed6740 Of course! What I’m saying is that we should hold other countries accountable too, lest we become like neoliberals or tankies.

[@zed6740]

@@funnylittlecreature Yea totally agree with you man! I think it would be best if we take both positives and negatives into account so that we can to a more reasonable conclusion on how to better overcome the challenges in our country.

[@evjohn13]

That point about how suburbs act to physically separate working class people preventing unity is a great one.

[@VoIcanoman]

The problem with that idea is that Canada, which is just as suburban a nation as America (if not moreso) has a fairly robust socialist party (the New Democratic Party, which has real political power at the provincial level, winning many elections, and forming the official opposition much of the time they're not in power*). Moreover, Canadians enjoy a lot of the social programs that Americans keep rejecting, including universal health care, paid family/maternal leave, as well as mandatory paid vacation days. And even amongst most conservative Canadians, there really isn't a push to get rid of these social programs. Most people realize that nearly EVERYONE is better off with them than without them. And while rich people do hold disproportionate political power here (as is the case pretty much everywhere), the situation isn't nearly as dire as it is in the USA. You are limited in how much you can donate to a party or politician, and (so far) our courts have not equated money with speech (a la Citizens United). No, I think racism has a lot more to do with why the US has rejected socialism. Back when socialism was gaining a foothold in Europe (and Canada), America was a deeply segregated, racist society. White people would've gladly embraced socialism...if it was socialism by white people, FOR white people. The fact that it would help EVERYONE was the reason it never took off (and IS the reason it is still not so popular today). *Even where I live, in Manitoba (which is a moderately conservative place, by Canadian standards), the New Democratic Party held power for 17 consecutive years recently (1999-2016) winning 4 consecutive elections, gaining 44-49% of the vote each time (with 3 major parties, it usually only takes around 40% of the popular vote to win an election here). And if they had strong leadership, I think they could easily win again next time (weak leadership lost them the 2016 AND 2019 elections - I think they would've stood a chance both times with a better leader).

[@stephs8665]

@@VoIcanoman You made a key point I wish the video would've also addressed, as to why socialism or any left party or even left policy failed to pass.

[@MustacheDLuffy]

It doesn’t make sense given unions exist in the US and the people without transportation to unionize are located in the cities where the jobs are located

[@ericayala7387]

So u wanna live among bumbs and criminals?

[@evjohn13]

@@ericayala7387 I think I'd prefer them over living near you at the very least.

[@nathandoornbos9199]

Great video! I think another thing to point out is that most European countries were absolutely devastated after world war two and needed to rebuild. This required a lot of solidarity and some kind of welfare program. In the Netherlands for example, the first retirement programs were introduced so people didn't have to care for their parents alone anymore. The US came out of the war as the world's super power and was relatively untouched by the war so they didn't need to rebuild and thus missed a lot of these social reforms.

[@houghton841]

Good points

[@pangiokuhli512]

this is a very good point tbh. I'm Singaporean and you just helped me realise that a lot of the "socialist" and "communist" policies that sg is famous for are themselves a direct response to having to build up the nation after WWII/colonisation/independence

[@uilustra6364]

Okay, your country lacked misery for you to be better than Latin countries, I could talk about that, but if your capital hadn't worked out right, my brothers wouldn't be dying to pass your border, things are very socialist around here. (I AM ASSUMING THAT THE AMERICAN SEA, OR ANY OTHER TYPE)

[@michaeld4861]

Yeah WWII catapulted the US to being the worlds economic super power because we didn't have to fight in the war until the very end out of self interest and therefore didn't feel any of the devastation that other countries did. (The only places attacked were territories that we didn't want to hassle of defending anyways, except Alaska and maybe Hawaii cause they could be used to invade the mainland.) The US got rich off selling supplies to the rest of the world while they fought and were devastated. Then the US demanded that the industries of all other countries retool to the US set standards (sizes for nuts and bolts, screw threads, standard measurements, plane parts, language, etc.) which further held back and costed all other countries while the US gained more monopolistic control. This further entrenched US control over the territories (even if they got their independence) because we threatened to cut off aid and trade if they didn't do/elect who we wanted and in places like the Philippines that had been devastated repeatedly by the Spanish, then us, then the Japanese, then us again, were utterly reliant on the US because of our foreign policy (and killing them all). This also happened in Europe to places like Greece. We essentially held them politically captive and threatened to starve their children en masse if they didn't cooperate.

[@TomisaLami]

People who criticize communism always overlook the fact that communist countries came from absolutely nothing. While the US came from untouched fast resources and land and the original immigrants after the pilgrims were exceptionally wealthy Europeans, the US had any Normas Headstart on any other societies that ever existed before and after its founding.

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

4:04 Isn't that the whole point of _The Majority Report_ , Emma?

[@theleftnetwork]

Another great video, awesome job Gravel Gang!

[@Rin-qj7zt]

this is a much better piece. it discusses school of thought without impressing conclusions onto the watcher. remember, the most important strategy is letting the one watching come to their own conclusions. don't tell people what to think.

[@samdoesvids1339]

Don’t mind me, just feeding the algorithm gods

[@Wodospad_z_Deszczoskrzydlych]

UwU

[@jax5683]

lol

[@comradefreedom8275]

Agreed.

[@mynamejeff3545]

Praise be!

[@jax5683]

@jvpiter thanks for the algorithm fact!

[@kaninma7237]

Good to see Emma's work here. She joins a list of distinguished contributors, including a personal favorite David Cross.

[@noahelbaraka1893]

Awesome videos as always

[@mush1e979]

I CAME AS SOON AS I SAW THE NOTIF! NOW I COMMENT TO BOOST THE ALGORITHM, GOD SPEED GRAVEL, GOD SPEED!!

[@omegahaxors9-11]

Your pfp looks like you just got caught trying to hide a body.

[@mush1e979]

@@omegahaxors9-11 i got caught trying to bury elon

[@omegahaxors9-11]

@@mush1e979 Epic.

[@antenna_prolly]

An anti-USSR capitalist dodo I know of ironically said it best: "as soon as you do something the rich don't like, you're labeled a fascist."

[@milesbrown2261]

yeah man, it is always funny to me how right wingers talk as if they're going against the status quo. by doing what exactly? lol, enforcing gender norms, keeping america capitalist, and trying to reintroduce other outdated shitty ideas.

[@kenabbott8585]

@@milesbrown2261 LOL. Acknowledging obvious reality and not stealing things is the 'status quo'?

[@korovabozha4963]

If your obvious reality is maintaining capitalist economic systems, not expanding on labor laws meaningfully, not regulating mega-corps especially on the emissions they produce, not supporting democratization of our current government assuming you're an American and don't want to remove the filibuster, not supporting an expansion of infrastructure as the progressives had wanted, then yea, you're supporting the status quo. You saying it is an obvious reality is meaningless. I might as well say Libertarian Socialism is a obvious reality and that stealing your worker's wages is why the status quo is bad. Overall it adds nothing to the conversation. Now when you say not stealing things, I get two reactions. First are you saying that socialism is when you steal things and the more things you steal is communism? If that's the case please read political theory or at the very least go back to middle school. If that is not the case, and you're dogwhistling to the BLM protests, well sorry to inform you but they were less violent than the civil rights protests, and most violent riots of the BLM protests were instigated by the police. So are you against the 1900s Civil Rights Protests, and you don't like MLK? Don't believe me? Then let Harvard show you how you're wrong. www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/news-and-ideas/black-lives-matter-protesters-were-overwhelmingly-peaceful-our-research-finds I know I have very few to go off with your comment, so I am just putting a few pointers out there, but eh. One last thing, if you support regressing things like removing social security, or reducing government spending on welfare (which we already neglect), or support regressive policies on social issues like making abortion illegal, and putting a chokehold on LGBTQ+ rights, well sorry pal you aren't for the status quo, you are by definition a reactionary. If you want to reply and to disprove anything I have said, go for it. I may remember to look back at this comment (probably not) and reply. @Ken Abbott

[@Tsuzana397]

@@kenabbott8585 you are clearly a troll, lol.

[@kenabbott8585]

@@Tsuzana397 "you are clearly a troll, lol." You clearly can't come up with an actual argument. LOL.

[@mr.lavander7145]

Hell Yeah. Keep em coming Gravel!

[@raybellows9851]

I became a socialist 14 years ago after college when I entered the corporate world. Proudly raising 2 kids under socialist ideals.

[@Wodospad_z_Deszczoskrzydlych]

UwU

[@jjared__19]

Good. Capitalism must fall.

[@suryanarayan2032]

@Ryan Alex college gives knowledge, intelligence must be developed through life experiences

[@JohnSmith-ex2pn]

Great video, super short but sweet. Looking forward to more because the Gravel Institute hasn’t missed yet!

[@whisperingsage89]

Excellent video as always! US education hasn't covered labor rights well, which has allowed the effects of the Powell Memo and McCarthyism to continue and grow.

[@thomaskole9881]

@harlaudata they'd no doubt get angry calls from parents about teachers 'indoctrinating' the children

[@xavierrodriguez2463]

These replies are giving me a lot of hope for the future of the country

[@KyleAnimates]

Great video as always. I'm thankful that channels like these always live on the prospect of hope, not just negativity. "History isn't destiny" are words to live by.

[@ArdonyxPagan]

Great video! Keep it up Gravel Institute!

[@Wodospad_z_Deszczoskrzydlych]

+1 uwu

[@quinnhunt8763]

Great video, can't wait to engage with the next one

[@aaronschannel373]

Thank you for ending such a video about such a grim and depressing story on a hopeful note.

[@henrywilliams4980]

Just so important to see.

[@Wodospad_z_Deszczoskrzydlych]

GUYS WAKE UP NEW GRAVEL I JUST DROPPED

[@donHooligan]

i wish Bernie and Mike had super-powers.

[@wtfhah]

@@donHooligan why? what kind of infantile shit are you on?

[@donHooligan]

@@wtfhah to stop fascism, ass-puddle.

[@helgecko]

Excellent video as always, Gravel. Godspeed.

[@ceu160193]

Because in US, corruption is legal and called "lobbying". Anyone who tries to fight against corporations will be either suppressed or bought.

[@Mythil]

I've heard it said that the up-and-coming generation is some of the most radical to date, and I certainly hope it's true.

[@cow1816]

And really it's not even that the younger generation is radical, they're just asking for more social rights like European countries. Our radicalism is European norm.

[@Wilkins325]

Why are you hoping for radical leftism

[@Mythil]

Because conservatism is an inherently self-destructive ideology.

[@Wilkins325]

@@Mythil I think you mean relativism

[@7swordmary567]

Same "horror" of "Radical Militant Youth" was exploited for "Law and Order" in the 60's~70s. Private Prison Industry Won.

[@scottstark_]

Fantastic video. Keep up the great work

[@RobinHerzig]

Great work on the history. Keep the conversations coming!

[@jessb4936]

Emma!! Good to see you here! 😀

[@alex0_graham]

"But that doesn't mean it can't now" Let's get to work comrades!

[@kazmark_gl8652]

no time like the present.

[@krabbykrabby8818]

Young people are becoming progressive and wanting real change !

[@YouCanNOTvoteOutFascism]

✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽

[@JohnT.4321]

You can blow out a candle but you cannot blow out the fire of the socialist movement.

[@jb8408]

😂😂🤣

[@senthan09]

Meanwhile PragerU : rObErT e. lEe wAs gOoD

[@jax5683]

He PuT DoWN A SLavE ReBElLiOn

[@9cwai958]

ThE GovERnmEnT Is NOt MEAnT tO ImPrOVE SoCiEtY

[@cl5619]

Meanwhile Gravel Institute: jOEy sTaLin wAs gOoD

[@Detonexploder]

Loved this video, it was very inspiring, informative and educative. Sounds like something I'd recommend to others as well.

[@SynthApprentice]

4:04 the problem is that this is actually a very real flaw in the first past the post electoral system used in the US. We saw this in practice with the Florida recount in the 2000 election. Nader was (unfortunately) never going to win, but Bush could have had a chance to lose to Gore. The solution isn't to pretend that we don't need tactical voting in a first past the post system. The solution is to replace first past the post with a ranked choice voting system that makes tactical voting obsolete.

[@missleo281]

Woah ... This was uploaded an hour ago 😮😮😮 ... Thank goodness for my recommended

[@alibushell6762]

"History isn't destiny" - a phrase that needs to be said more so that hope lifts people out of apathy and despair.

[@cl5619]

No, but discontinuity of American capitalism will turn the country into something distinctly inferior

[@shalyfemusic]

Yeah Socialism has failed everytime in history but it will work one day😂

[@alibushell6762]

@@shalyfemusic no it hasn't. That statement is you not having access to better information about socialism that you're drawing that conclusion. Socialism as an approach to running a society works fine in lots of places in the world (as the video says) but there is no successful pure socialist society out there, just as there isn't a purely capitalist system out there either. People in the US think they live in free market capitalism, but it's just a particular configuration of it with less socialism. Ask anyone who lives outside of the US whether they would want to have its medical system which is built of free market principles, and no-one anywhere would say yes. No other country in the world has the medical system that the US has and all of us outside that society know we want socially funded medicine because we have it. If the US was pure free market capitalism you'd be able to buy and sell people, human organs, create your own nations without any government to stop you, be required to pay for all public services (i.e. pay for a fire service to come to your home if there's a fire, and if you don't you won't receive any help). The US has in nearly every state a socialist education system, police force, fire support service, infrastructure system, military... You already have socialism in some ways, but it's almost always applied in a way that incorporates privatisation as well. It's that bit that fucks it up. Read "21 things they don't tell you about capitalism" by economist Ha Joon Chang, you'll have better information to base your opinion on and you won't just need to accept mine.

[@shalyfemusic]

@@alibushell6762 Not gonna lie you seem like you seem like a very smart guy. You are not wrong every country has some socialiist policies including the US. I think the key is balance but when you observe a more capitaliat country and the more socialist country, the capitalist ones are better. When a country turns socialism they always end up much eorse than they started, the opposite is true for capitalism.

[@alibushell6762]

@@shalyfemusic Thanks for the compliment, and what seems like a willingness to consider further your own position. What you're saying is, though, factually untrue. Quality of life is better in countries that embrace more socialism or integrate it into their culture and system in ways that work rather than doing it but not actually applying it properly. I suggest you do a bit of research about the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland). According to the capitalist mindset, they do things completely wrong, yet they have build societies in which people are not just happier, they have better social health outcomes (lower levels of mental and physical health problems, social exclusion and homelessness, poverty, teenage pregnancy - you name it). Finland used mixed socialism and capitalism skewed more towards socialism to rebuild their largely agrarian society that had been occupied and badly damaged by soviet occupation into a nation that is considered to be one of the best to live in today. If a socially democratic society didn't work they'd still all be farmers, rather than one of the leading tech and education centres of the world. The US by contrast? It is always one of the lowest of the developed nations in indicators such as happiness, social equity, access to political power, quality of life generally. Yes, it has one of the biggest economies in terms of the amount of money and GDP, but that model of measuring the success of a country wasn't supported even by the man who developed it (GDP was supposed to be a wartime measure of industrial output, now it's "how successful is a country?"). Are countries like Venezuela and North Korea places you'd want to live, or successful societies? No, but that's because they're essentially dictatorships with the first being corroded through mass corruption, and the latter being the personal property of the ruler who is more interested in his family reigning as a king than making sure the needs of his people are met. As long as they don't step out of line things are fine, if some people have to be disappeared to achieve that or they starve to death he and his supporters don't really care. So, again, it's not socialism, it's how it's applied. Finally, capitalism is the main cause of what we are experiencing as extreme climate change. Capitalist forces and perspective can't take responsibility for or care about how they damage the environment, or whether they do things sustainably, they just have to make profit, and that includes lowering their costs through not fixing the problems they create (environmentally or socially). I recommend you read the book "The spirit level" for more information on all of this.

[@scottcrain2428]

Commenting for the algorithm. Supreme content. Thank you.

[@comradefreedom8275]

For sure.

[@defundthepolice2007]

Who was shocked to see Emma workin at Gravel? Good to see her branch out from MR.

[@mastershake11434]

Also, US history kind of skips over the labor movement. I was an adult when I learned that turn of the century anti-Chinese racism was a deliberate tactic to pit striking American railroad workers against easily-exploitable Chinese immigrants.

[@MustacheDLuffy]

The US has had a lot of immigration in the 19th century it wasn’t just the Chinese, blacks, Irish, Catholics, Chinese, immigration upset people as the immigrants took people’s jobs away because they were either underpaid as they easily replaced regular workers creating anti-immigrant sentiments

[@kristoffer3000]

That anti-China hate is still thriving today, being drummed up by the US gov.

[@EpwnaExeter]

Nice video, but the yellow moving behind the blue type made my eyes hurt and made me feel like I was beginning one of my vertigo spells.

[@TheGravelInstitute]

Got it, we're working on our effects right now and I'll send this to our designer. We've moved past this style for future videos so this will be the last one with effects like this.

[@gueverdura6717]

@@TheGravelInstitute I'm gonna suggest different animators if possible. I always feel like the content is so dense and the animation only does a nominal job to enhance the understanding. Please keep your options open.

[@jax5683]

@@gueverdura6717 I like the animators style, and I think it gets better with each video

[@zigfreidbop]

Yeah, take a page from the Vox videos playbook. They have the best animations of any channel IMHO.

[@ARandomSpace]

@@zigfreidbop Kurzgesagt? Alan Becker? And many other channels I forgot?

[@godzillaworks4585]

Gravel institute time babeeeeee

[@MutualAidIsLove]

“But capital goes wherever there are men, poor enough to be exploited.” -Peter Kropotkin

[@DSan-kl2yc]

Makes sense. It went to Asia. Now it's in Africa I hear.

[@markuspfeifer8473]

Well, there’s one event that working people around the world commemorate every year: the haymarket affair. Americans don’t. That says a lot about what American anarcho-socialism used to be and what has happened since.

[@danku-chan]

i'm an american anarchist. i had to look up the haymarket affair, i'd never heard of it before. that seems like a pretty strong sign.

[@kenabbott8585]

That's because the Haymarket Affair was when a bunch of communists murdered some cops, and then pitched a fit because some of the cops dared to shoot back.

[@teajay1]

Great video as always!

[@spodefollower]

All of the presenters on this channel so far have done a great job. Keep up the good work!!

[@paulwitmer4611]

Continuing personal interests are subordinated to a broad non-specific pallet called freedom. You certainly have the freedom to be unemployed homeless and starve .

[@Niclas-ui1fh]

Great stuff as always. I always get blown away by the high quality stuff you guys put out.

[@taylorcarnell362]

Yet another incredible video. Keep up the good work, legends

[@blackflagsnroses6013]

The Wobblies strike back!

[@ferrice]

another banger by the gravel institute

[@addyhadmelike655]

Emma knocked it out of the park

[@dilyn6166]

Amazing video as always. Super informative and interesting. I love you guys!

[@atharvavadeyar5157]

History isn't destiny And Destiny doesn't want to know about history The circle is complete

[@pelayocf4558]

Every country has large corporations. In the US, large corporations have their own country.

[@OhWellWhatTheHell1]

Emma is a champ! Love the whole TMR crew honestly

[@easyflamer]

I always gotta watch these the same day they come out

[@jacobr5627]

The problem with the sprawl theory is that it was never a problem in Canada or Australia.

[@philpottkentucky4802]

Neither Canada nor Australia have very good social support programs either. Medicare in Canada for example, is very minimal, and doesn't cover a lot, like long term care, dental, ambulances, vision and hearing, physiotherapy, prescription drugs, mental health, and a host of other things.

[@havable]

@@philpottkentucky4802 Medicare in the US doesn't cover dental, ambulances, vision or hearing. There is a gigantic donut hole which makes prescriptions cost an arm and two legs, and whole host of other things. Bernard has tried to improve it but he has to fight two political parties just to move forward one inch.

[@thomassankarasspirit4293]

3:38 is incorrect, yes in the 19th century the most dedicated socialists were European immigrants but in the 20th century, it were black people. The most successful American socialist organization was the Marxist Black Panther Party and BLA, they had strong connections with socialist countries, frequently traveling to them the most prominent American anti-capitalist leaders were Malcolm X and MLK. Overall, this video is very white and one other thing, Werner Sombart should not be quoted.

[@randybutternubs4492]

is there a reason why closed captions aren’t available on this video and the last one? because i feel like that’s important to making these videos more accessible.

[@nahnan2278]

I wish community captioning was still allowed so I could add them myself, it should be a requirement for posted videos honestly

[@TheConstitutionFirst]

Historically Socialists have always been very fun! I am young and I love it! Join us watch this video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2PTqYCDZq2Yb6M

[@hello7032]

Good point

[@Komnen0s]

I resent this misconception put forward by neoliberals that socialism was never as popular in America as it was in the rest of the world, as it always comes across like a way of obfuscating the fact that those movements just "didn't catch on" when really they were actively suppressed. Here in Minnesota during the 1920's and 30's, the Republican-Democrat duopoly was interrupted by the rise of the explicitly left-wing Farmer-Labor Party. Despite intense resistance from both parties and most of the press, the FLP went on to be enormously popular for a time before it was tragically absorbed into the Democrats and all the radicals were kicked out of the newly-formed union. The most famous FLP governor, Floyd Olson, was an IWW member in his youth and he had copies of Lenin's books on his shelf. One of his grand political ambition was to nationalize all of Minnesota's electric utilities, iron mines, and oil fields, which you would never hear from a milquetoast lib like Tim Walz

[@cantstanja]

Very scary to see city/state/federal government own utilities. Your house can be taken from you if you don't pay your water bill for a city-owned water company, but you won't have that problem if it was privately-owned

[@Komnen0s]

@@cantstanja How TF can you say that with a straight face when mere months ago there was that catastrophic power grid failure in Texas because it was all privately-owned and the companies didn't maintain it properly because it was cheaper than winterizing it? Public utilities aren't something that should be run like a business because it leads to disasters born of neglect and greed. Profit perverts purpose. When the Nazis coined the concept of "privatization" by selling off Germany's state-owned industries to their wealthy industrialist friends, they weren't doing it because they thought it would be more efficient. It was all to enrich the oligarchs at the expense of everyone else's well-being.

[@LawrenceEsq]

Very true. There is a rich history of support for the Socialist Party and for socialists active outside of the SP. It is remarkable just how effective socialists have been despite the Democratic-Republican joint efforts to weaken the movement. Duly elected socialist legislators were expelled from office for simply being socialist. Yet over 1000 socialists were elected to public office in the U.S during the first 20 years of the 20th century. Take a look at a map identifying successful socialist campaigns at depts.washington.edu/moves/SP_map-elected.shtml But for the bipartisan conspiracy to keep socialists out of office coupled with the "red scare", Socialists would have been even more successful.

[@sodabread7956]

@@cantstanja lol no, pretty much all communities here run their own water treatment plant and I've never heard of that happening ever. Also in Saskatchewan we have provincial phone, power, natural gas and insurance companies. What a joy. Thanks to Tommy Douglas.

[@SharienGaming]

@@cantstanja you mean like the privately owned housing millions got kicked out of during the pandemic because they couldnt afford the rent due to being unable to work due to covid? yeah privately owned essentials really protect you well

[@TheMisterGuy]

Emma's awesome! And I didn't know her body had a part below the ribcage! Great content, I hope she and the Gravel Institute go far.

[@harrybarnes3539]

it does??

[@joshbigz8440]

I think at least one of the reasons why America has never adopted socialism is because in Americas past many businesses were small businesses so although there were a few monocle wearing rich people in Americas past there are not as many as they're are today which is why I believe that America is taking a closer look at Socialism it now.

[@dragontyron]

now that's a well-informed video, good stuff

[@willhiggins9563]

A truly informative history lesson. That part aboutAmerican workers moving around kinda stuck out to me? It sounded like an early equivalent of the modern gig economy? Workers moving around that much would make it easier to see Human labor as just another despicable part of a uncaring machine.

[@fleebertreatise1063]

This is a sign of economic activity though. I'm guessing there were opportunities as well as turmoil that lead to this.

[@alekseimaccleod3899]

Great stuff as usual, Gravel! "Death in the Haymarket" by James Green. If you want to read more about the factors touched upon in this video, read it. It is at times heartbreaking, but it shows just how committed American power structures were in their repression of socialists, anarchists, and organized labor.

[@rodabanane]

PLEASE make a video about the anarchy movement in the early 20th century in europe, especially spain and italy! keep up the good work, greets