Why elites are terrified of the working classes

During our recent interview with Grace Blakeley, she broke down the instances where capitalists shut down any hint of worker's empowerment before it was too late for them.
Grace's new book Vulture Capitalism is out 14 March.
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[@davehudl3593]

In the workplace l saw a production manager who was stunned when he discovered that the most productive shift he had, out of the three, was the night shift. The one group of people in the company that had zero supervision or management intervention.

[@edaleman2758]

I did 14 years of permanent nights for that reason, no managers interfering made the job much easier

[@xazarl3381]

@@edaleman2758Also you have a reason to do better so the manager never ever shows up lol.

[@user-un8tv1pp8m]

Not rare - a former boss of mine fell down a mountainbike and had to do reha for nearly half a year - her firm never had better earnings. Her not hounding us in her regular "productivity meetings" was a large part, her not getting in the way of the daywork was another.

[@user-no9ew9gu9z]

Absolutely, worked in a factory the management would come in through the day, make a balls of it. Things would get sorted. After they went home, and next day there they were, to balls it up again. They could never work it out, why the back and night shift were more productive lol

[@zoidberg444]

Yes. Work permanent nights. Despite the fact we get no support, we have fewer quality concerns and smash up less tooling than the other shifts. Its so peaceful on nights. Our supervisor doesn't care if we have our phones out or earphones in as long as we do our jobs and don't get injured.

[@davidmcculloch8490]

Grace's last book Stolen gives a massive clue to the main obstacle in dismantling neoliberalism. It's termed financialisation. Money is no longer used to fuel the real economy, but as a tool for speculation in the accumulation of wealth for the few.

[@Alan-Bstard]

Very well put.

[@idonthavealoginname]

In the old days it was called stealing!

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Money printer goes brrrrrrrrh

[@notagainsavari4831]

Just make sure the printer room door is locked! ;) @@evolassunglasses4673

[@davidmcculloch8490]

@@idonthavealoginname Indeed. And now these chancers have legalised it.

[@abrin5508]

Old saying - together we stand, divided we fall.

[@Tom-sd9jb]

But, but... "Diversity is our strength." We have all been divided in race, religion, gender, sexuality on purpose.

[@rokasdobrovolskis]

@@Tom-sd9jb 100% social engineering and it hasn't happened overnight. All these four you've mentioned were driven by lies, because if it was THE truth we would have been united.

[@robeagleR]

@@Tom-sd9jb You can have Diversity and still be a United Group against oppression, my guy.

[@Tom-sd9jb]

My guy, diversity isn't the problem. Weaponised and divisive diversity is the problem, and that is what is being used against us normal people.

[@stephenboyd4934]

Most things are staged, the spice girls band was created for a reason, remember the dance group diversity that won Britain's got talent. Both created for a reason.

[@jeffreycheng5984]

"The Federal Reserve System is not Federal; it has no reserves, and is not even a system at all. But rather an international criminal syndicate."- Eustace Mullins.

[@johnwilliams7653]

One of many - think tory party, Israel, Russian Federation...

[@stephenboyd4934]

Bank on England created in 1694 was the start of all this fiat currency, central bank of France created in 1800, central bank of Germany 1870, central bank of Russia created in 1860 but was nationalised in 1917 after the revolution, only to be created back too a central bank in 1990. Any country with a central bank are controlled by that bank

[@stephenboyd4934]

Of course not forgetting the FED created in 1913, all these countries are controlled by these very banks including Russia who also had the Jab ?

[@marionmclean3749]

That "protesting in the street" which the Tory party is Hell-bent on ending? I wonder why? 😂

[@user-yu8ps4no5e]

leftist adherents of Third-Worldism hope to use Islamism as a battering-ram to bring about the downfall of free-market capitalism and see the sacrifice of individual rights, in particular of women's rights, as an acceptable trade-off in service of the greater goal of destroying capitalism. Only evil people are protesting for a terrorist state

[@gazza595]

Only when it's someone else. Note that days before his idiotic presentation at the lectern in Downing Street, Sunak was happy to join a farmers protest in Wales who were stopping traffic. But Just Stop Oil or Extinction Rebellion not so much and of course protesting for peace in Gaza is somehow characterised as extremism.

[@Katy-sh3ru]

I think even that is a cynical move designed to create division. Do we think for one second that Sunak gives a shit about farmers? Divide and rule.

[@janetmalcolm6191]

Going back in history riots scared them. When people are as disgruntled as they are now nothing much left. So they think banning strikes are the way forward. So nieve it's untrue.

[@factstrumpprejudice6740]

"Govern ourselves" anarchists basic tenet and the obvious step forward from socialism for workers.

[@shaunm3206]

An old saying but still relevant: Organised people beat organised money.

[@sirianofmorley]

Until everyone starves.

[@BOZ_11]

@@sirianofmorley wealth comes from work, not capitalists. we had wealth before we had capitalism

[@sirianofmorley]

@@BOZ_11 wealth does not come form work. Wealth comes from adding value. There is absolutely no point working your arse off throwing rocks at other rocks. From your comment I'll make the assumption that you work for someone else. That someone else took all of the risks to employ you and takes all the risks in being able to sell whatever you produce for more than they pay for the materials and labour to make it. They invest upfront at potential complete loss. Proles like you (and that's not meant to be insulting) will never understand the system so just keep your head down and let everyone else do the thinking for you.

[@AbzScotland]

@@BOZ_11 wealth before capitalism was less distributed; monarchs/clan chiefs and similar not based on ability to drive civilisation.

[@AbzScotland]

Not what is playing out in real time...elites with money beat diverse people with different causes.

[@silondon9010]

Royal Mail declared war on its own workforce with brutal attacks on terms and conditions of Employment 😢

[@peterwait641]

And the idiot boss gave himself a big pay rise while making losses !

[@silondon9010]

@@peterwait641 money all went to the shareholders

[@stephendavies8510]

Shitholders is a more apt term.

[@GazFarleigh]

Royal Mail would be an ideal candidate for a worker owned company, the management are a shambles top to bottom!

[@chrisholland7367]

So did rail networks. That's why individuals like Mick Lynch drew a line in the sand and said enough is enough. For the first time in many years, Mick Lynch and others like him gave voice to the people he represents and to expose the greed and corruption that controls the rail network and Royal Mail . It may have also given a younger generation of workers a sense of what it means to have some collectiveisation and basic rights in the workplace.

[@martytrain]

She is bang on, we have examples of when workers stick together they can get favourable results. Despite the rhetoric about William Wilberforce helping to free slaves in the carribean the truth is the slaves themselves played a large part in their own freedom. There were countless rebellions where slave owners assets were burnt and destroyed, in the end it just could not work any longer in that format. So the plantocracy sat down together and worked out how to " reform " the plantation system.They told the slaves they were free but where could they go, they knew they had to return to the plantations to earn the little money to live off of and true to form the system had trapped the vast majority in the mindset no work no pay.The point is they stuck together when it was needed.

[@janetmalcolm6191]

The Maroons in Jamaica just left for the hills regarding slavery.If one rises up they all need to then to get a result. It helped to prove things can change and helped to prove the Govt should be scared of people power. Look at France and the revolution. Look back to history. We no longer like their governing style but despise it.

[@farallimacha]

The problem today is that people want money without work. Either you work on plantation or work on your own. There's no other way.

[@carolynholland291]

I don’t think people want money without work I think they just want to work with reasonable conditions, job security, and a wage they can live on. There are plenty of people who work in full time jobs that don’t pay enough to cover rent and employers who expect people to work long hours of unpaid overtime with no job security. The woes of baggage handlers at Qantas is a good example of how workers can be seriously exploited when profits are more important than people. Australia just passed a law making it legal for workers not to have to read work emails or answer work phone calls when their working day ends. I worked for years giving two free hours of work a day because I could only get my paperwork done when the phone wasn’t ringing before 9 and after 5. Workers just deserve a fair go, have their needs considered and not hus be a means to make shareholders richer.

[@colleen2671]

The world is run like a plantation! BRICS have had enough of this western plantation Regime! That evil US printed paper dollar has held the world hostage for too long!

[@markfarminer5319]

Why did you work for free?​@@carolynholland291

[@hardstylelife5749]

Compliments to the host: somebody finally allowing the guest to speak instead of keep interrupting their line of thoughts with silly opinions and irrelevant questions. Bravo. Nice interview, thanks for sharing it

[@deepayne1930]

Shame Grace had to talk to the top of his head while he read something "more important".

[@hardstylelife5749]

@@deepayne1930 pro and cons of interviews I guess :) still, comparatively speaking with some of the other ones available online (as for the interview of Varoufakis by euronews), that was a pretty civil and well conducted debate. Still, In my humble opinion

[@coolioso808]

When an interviewer is most interested in learning, rather than confirmation bias, the freedom to speak and inform is evident. Good job here! Abby Martin and Lee Camp with Peter Joseph do a great job of this too!

[@Funkensturme]

Even though the guest was talking pure bullshit.

[@coolioso808]

@@Funkensturme such as?

[@user-tf4vt9jh1c]

What an uplifting woman. The power of cooperation & cooperatives. Re Nationalisation & stop the greedy corporations lobbying

[@user-yn7ll3qz1p]

keep your communism and fascism to yourself thank you, we don't want digital ID's and CBDC's and those dreaded perpetual mRNA eugenics jabs...

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

Not everyone likes to take on responsibility, those that are able to take on responsibility of running a business, usually start their own businesses. Small businesses can grow into bigger businesses.

[@markmcnicholas9475]

Uplifting woman? Deranged self important maniac. Barely drawing breath throughout her rearranging of the economy, she moves on to the GLC, and how Thatcher “crushed” it because it was doing “democratic planning”, and then claims the Conservatives would have such a system, but couldn’t due to their belief in hierarchy. The fact is the GLC was run by profligate maniacs who couldn’t adhere to a budget, and like now, bankrupted the Council (not “corporation” as she quotes) and had to screw ever more money to pay for their delusional fantasies. We see this happening now across England, and Birmingham is about to relive Londoners experience. When the GLC was dismantled, everyone’s rates dropped. It was popular, and the fact that Bliar created another nightmare for London’s taxpayers is another reason to fear communist fantasy put into practice. When she talks of “democratic” control of business, of “creating” democratic anything, she must be aware that it’s only the people running her “democracy” that have ANY power. The rest of us are merely drones to coerce into paying for it. This is a perfect example of little girls wanting control without justification or ability. The demonstrations of the past few years, from BLM to Palestine are full of delusional harpies who spent to much time in further education, no doubt financed by daddy, and believe in this cult of centralised power (although she claims it “democratic”) and everybody paying for her (their?) fantasy. In more need of a proper shag than any white woman in history.

[@user-yn7ll3qz1p]

@@eliakimjosephsophia4542You are delusional, how can a small business compete wiith corporations and banks that are intentionally attacking small business'...

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

When I was running my own businesses the banks were incredibly helpful, although they were also impressed with what I delivered. Those were great days when your knew your bank manager and they knew you and your business. A lot has changed since then. The service that I offered helped brands to be successful. @@user-yn7ll3qz1p

[@rdh-daliasjb3796]

Wasn't Corbyn going to use The Royal Bank of Scotland for loans to worker co-ops? Funny how the people that Corbyn wanted to help most "kicked him in the teeth" for Mogg; Johnson; Truss and Sunak: Truly amazing!

[@clivesmith9377]

Most people are socialists but they don't know what's good for them.

[@soviet700]

The One Show did a segment during the Corbyn leadership. They went to a Tory stronghold. I think it was St Albans. And the reporter read out manifesto policies. Every last one of the people,said they agreed 100% with these policies. Then the reporter told them these were Corbyns and Labours policies. And EVERY last one of these people said - “oh no. I’d never vote for him or labour” ?????????

[@Mantastic-ho3vm]

​@@soviet700 Too much sugar rots the brain.

[@rdh-daliasjb3796]

@@soviet700 Just a short while and the corporations will have total control of Labour, who don't seem to be able to sell out fast enough, and the tories, the way they have of Republicans and Democrats in the states, then they won't care who wins. Politics will then be a distraction from the crap they are foisting on the country. Look at that over there while we rake in your money.

[@infrasleep]

@@soviet700 Total bullshit.

[@user-pf2vg2mp8r]

During the first miners strike in the 70s I went along to the Saltley Coke Works, more from curiosity than any political interest and I could almost taste the fear of the state of an organized working movement. It's no wonder that the elite set out to destroy the unions. Arise like lions from your slumber, Ye off unvanquishable number, Shake of the chains like morning dewFor you are many and they are few. Shelley could really write a good poem.

[@marksykes5434]

Thatcher’s destruction of trade unions in the 80s is why people are now struggling on the breadline !

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

Yes!

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Happening across the West. Decades of open borders Globalisation has hollowed out the West.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

They lost alot of good will in the 70s.

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

My dad was a trade union official in that era, he told us how he couldn't justify the demands of the men in the union, they were asking for 8 weeks paid holiday. The lifelong socialist, trade unionist couldn't justify their demands.

[@gamingbytetv665]

People like Lynch are part of the reason also. Idiot signed away the very protections he’s bitching about losing.

[@calibrepowa1762]

I tried to build union membership in my workplace, and although interest was very high in conversation when it came to actually doing something (signing up) nobody could be arsed. It was even free membership for 3 months at the time. It's not an easy thing to get people to actually take action instead of just sitting there complaining like most brits do

[@evolassunglasses4673]

I'm a strong believer in Unions but the leadership has embraced hypa Liberalism and pro mass immigration.

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Well said, nail hit on the head in identifying the problem. There is little solidarity in most workplaces and people are largely out for themselves. It was heart rending and very telling to see the recent BBC programme about the miners' strike where some of the participants talked about the principle behind striking for the entire year. Highly unlikely that many would have the guts to do that today, another legacy of Thatcherism. Grumbling is mostly the extent of it in the UK workplace, which is a total waste of time because not surprisingly it changes nothing. I was a union representative for 12 years in total in two different workplaces but in hindsight I regret it in many ways because despite everything I tried to do to make things better for everyone, the support was simply not there. There are a number of other issues, including the fact that unions are often unwilling to support workers against unacceptable treatment when the crunch comes.

[@david-pb4bi]

If they are anything like my work colleagues, who have been fooled into thinking they are middle class on minimum wage and are two pay packets from being evicted, then best of luck.

[@edmills9160]

While I wouldn't blame schools I would partly blame the education system/curriculum for this. There's no emphasis on the achievements of unions, instead we study a few rich men who changed things slightly and so people assume that's how it should be done rather than collective action.

[@jjskn93]

Tried the same thing in my old workplace. People just want someone to come in and save them without sticking their necks out. Really frustrating.

[@hilaryporter7841]

You are describing the UK I want to live in. I know it's possible. It fits in with the true nature of human beings. "Reactive and constructive" that describes who we actually are. We have been 'passive and beaten' for too long.

[@janetmalcolm6191]

UK people have let it get to this!

[@treefrog3349]

The stark division between the "haves" and "have-nots" and the disproportionate numbers in this two categories is a blatant refutation of the noble principles and intentions of America at its founding. The simple word "democracy" has become the equivalent of a soothing magical incantation that comforts the masses. We the People have been HAD.

[@sutapasbhattacharya9471]

Norman Mailer wrote that Socialism cannot work unless there is a higher sense of things (Spirituality) or else it is just a play of egos. A major problem in the modern West is that the semi-educated Marxians have dismissed the Spiritual as the 'opium of the masses'. However, those in the ecological, sustainable development type movements [as well as a number of other academic fields] are beginning to realise the importance of the spiritual which - when properly understood - without any religious BS as the transformations of consciousness [diminution of the ego] leading to gnosis (divine illumination) and mystical union with the Inner Light (aka the Witness Consciousess of Light of Conscience) [which can actually be explained scientifically - I have done so] - leads us beyond selfishness to a sense of oneness (inc. transpersonal empathy, compassion, etc.] not only with others but with all things.

[@Gabou_LeSpectreDuCapital]

Yes and democracy is actually socialism. Democracy still implies there are social classes, but the power is in the hands of the working class. Socialism means the state and the means of production are in the hands of the working class. Then once you abolish social classes and capitalism, the state becomes useless and you get communism. Which should be the logical step to liberate the productive forces and allow the next stage of human evolution.

[@sutapasbhattacharya9471]

@@Gabou_LeSpectreDuCapital Are you still at school or are you high on something. Did you know that Evolution is not teleological (or goal directed) but random and can lead to degeneration of faculties as well as advances. Do you remember the productive capacity of the USSR?

[@sutapasbhattacharya9471]

@@Gabou_LeSpectreDuCapital Do you have any understanding of empirical facts such as the fact that there is no direction to Evolution (no teleology) - and have you seen how productive and democratic Communist regimes are!

[@Gabou_LeSpectreDuCapital]

​@@sutapasbhattacharya9471 I said the logical step, not the inevitable step. Nothing is written in advance of course. Socialism is productive. Socialism allowed russia to go from an agrarian backwards society to an industrial powerhouse in around 30 years even though they had to go through 2 world wards and a civil war provoked by the imperialists countries. Socialism can lead to enormous progress. Now nobody wants to reproduce the bureaucratic takeover of stalinism, which does not mean we have to put in the trash the whole ideas around socialism and communism which is : power to the people. Real democracy and production tied to the needs of the masses, not the minority living on top parasiting the lives of others.

[@roymillsjnr5172]

It's not just a British thing ,workers across the world or just normal people , have had their communities ,rites ,destroyed , it's not happened over night , more and more dreconian rites have being fostered on the people . I think now there's a ground swell of people ,that have now woken up , and want change , and your right ,people can manage their own affairs , and they are sick of the corrupt old guard, take the rise of George Galloway , they don't like it .

[@Sirlarrythecat]

Galloway is a grifter he cares only for himself and just jumps on the next bandwagon that will make him a few bob that's not individualism that's selfishness and self interest. Besides he's a one trick pony that's full of pony. What has he said he will do for the community that voted him in? He's not even mentioned them so using him as a reference point is almost laughable.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

He would be in Labour if he was just a grifter. ​

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

What we don't like is any politician campaigning for a foreign land instead of our people on our own land.

[@jgmediting7770]

They may want change, but the minority exploiting the majority have hijacked the anger of half of them and herded them further towards the slaughter house.

[@TheJakecakes]

​@@eliakimjosephsophia4542Seems to be a ubiquitous problem these days.

[@omaha2pt]

This is exactly why rugged individualism and "personal responsibility" have been highly promoted in the US for decades.

[@SlickSimulacrum]

Because it makes everybody dumber than a bag of rocks.

[@Dingo8MyMalloCup]

But with high self-esteem.@@SlickSimulacrum

[@218philip]

Sadly rugged individualism and personal responsibility have been eroded greatly. The middle class is a threat to the elite that seek to own and control everything, they use their minds and savings to better themselves and directly all classes. Free markets were the balance, today the giant businesses use politicians and regulators to protect their areas of interest. Free markets and individualism caused the greatest increase of prosperity that the world has ever seen. We are on a course to destroy that.

[@TJ-Judge]

Isolated people are easier to control

[@RikLeedsMusic.77]

@@TJ-Judge ...not necessarily...think about "herd mentality"

[@frankwilson3265]

Capitalism and greed cannot coexist without eventual social collaspe, and greed is indivisible from the human condition in the minds of those who invariably seek to benefit from a capitalist system. Capitalism with constrainsts/limits/safeguards is possibly the ideal answer, but capatilism by its very nature gives power to those who have benefitted from it, who then go on to remove those constraints by any and all means possible, including the suppression of democracy for the masses. It's failure for the vast majority (putting it as odds with democracy) is both a paradox and a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[@jgmediting7770]

Constrained capitalism is in no way the ideal answer. Constraining an exploitative economic foundation can never work, and it has numerous inbuilt bugs that ensure it never lasts. The only ideal answer is to address the fundamental cause of the issue.

[@joelww2501]

I fucking love Mick Lynch

[@londreslush]

Wish we saw more of Grace on the mainstream news , instead of all these tufton st' goons ..

[@davidharris4062]

You probably won’t, because she tells people what the Establishment doesn’t want us to hear

[@grizcuz]

I don't think it's just an oversight by the mainstream media, look at who owns the media, look at who manages the BBC and their politics. Why does someone like Farage become a permanent fixture on current affairs debates despite never winning a mainstream political position in this country? Why was a think tank like the IEA appearing in UK media an average of 14 times a day in 2023, when nobody knows and they won't say who funds them? It's by design, they're restricting the limits of the debate and what's possible. They're trying to make it look like only one way is possible and anything other than the rich owning everything and the majority staying poor is a fringe position.

[@Funkensturme]

@@davidharris4062 She tells exactly the bullshit many people want to hear. The kind of bullshit that gives you a false sense of understanding and belonging but has nothing to do with reality and how to solve current problems.

[@londreslush]

@@davidharris4062 .. she used to be on those TV news channel newspaper reviews and occasionally the daily politics on bbc , but havn't seen her on TV for ages ..

[@Funkensturme]

@@davidharris4062 She says exactly what a lot of people want to hear and that resonates with the feelings of disappointment that a lot of people feel and she even offers a culprit to point that disappointment to... Too bad is the same old socialist ideology that doesn't provide any real solutions and doesn't even addresses the real problems...

[@czarnykot22]

I'm Polish and this sounds familiar as Solidarity in 1981 managed to get a law passed by parliament on "Workers assemblies in national enterprise". One day before it meant to becoming a law general Jaruzelski introduced martial law. I used to do lectures on the subject. Happy to speak to Politics Joe about it.

[@simplesimonhadapie]

I am not a frequent commenter here but i appreciate the work politics joe does informing arguments and presenting many points pf view for discourse. Also f the Tories

[@johnwilliams7653]

Yesterday I posted "I wish to register as a toryphobic extremist" in response to a clip about suppression of support for Palestine. Within minutes KZbin threatened to shut me down & bar me from their site. This morning, in addition to ordering a copy of "Vulture Capitalism" I post this to test KZbin's resolve. I lived over 70 years without KZbin, I can manage my last few without them well enough if I have to; anyway there are alternatives available I'm told. I remember when Churchill was prime minister: not well liked in Wales, but worth some respect; this lot - no. While young people like Lynch & Grace herself are able to speak out all is not lost.

[@stephman02]

Strange, in my country there’s suppression of everything but . In fact I am amazed at how much of my tax $ are being used to undermine the values I thought we dear to all of us🤔🤔… Tommy Robinson is getting arrested every other day, whilst news about stabbing, shootings, kidnappings and hostage scenes are only important if they match a narrative …but I must be living in a parallel universe and you go on and get a bigger wrecking ball, that’s sure to fix it…

[@morpheus9137]

Churchill was a Zionist traitor.

[@julie-annhenry5664]

Well done Grace, I think people are desperate for a new way of thinking and being and this seed has now been planted, again 👏

[@MichaelShawcross]

I tried to organise a residents forum to discuss the management of the place and it was very difficult to enthuse people with the idea. I think must people didn't understand what I was trying to do as they presume all their needs and wants are being catered to via the authoritative bodies which preside over them. Or maybe I didn't explain myself well enough.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Perhaps it's because most people are apathetic, lazy, don't want to get involved and would rather leave it to someone else to do for them. Someone else is then to blame when things don't meet their expectations. Responsibility is just frightening for them. Perhaps I'm cynical or just a realist ?

[@paullegend6798]

You hit the laziness.

[@532bluepeter1]

@@jjefferyworboys8138No. You are absolutely spot on.

[@user-ln9fk5ht9q]

Private profit, public risk. Same old sh!t

[@Irene-im8xi]

The City of London has a special status: it has its own government, its own mayor and its own independent police force so why not make it completely independent and then cut off it's water, sewage, food supplies, internet and transport! That will teach them not to treat the rest of the country with contempt. No more financial sector - problem solved! Goodby feudal overlords.

[@LynnMcRae-zi6yt]

Brilliant plan. Let them plant their own food and save rainwater.

[@Kellycreator]

Really? They’ve underground networks and wouldn’t make any difference to them. There are bollards that rise up from roads and big gates to lock themselves in. They’re not bothered about rebellion. They’ve strategically planned for it. From chaos comes order. Welcome to CBDCs and social credit system.

[@thefirm4606]

The people united can never be defeated ❤❤

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

That requires everyone to get involved which is either too inconvenient or scary a prospect.

[@andrewwotherspoona5722]

​@jjefferyworboys8138 There are significant issues. The rich own and control the legal apparatus. Real change I'm afraid would entail civil disobedience, multiple strikes, and even more ruthless attacks (the last of these is very unpalatable). But realistically it is becoming a possibility.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Immigration has destroyed unity

[@thefirm4606]

@@jjefferyworboys8138 absolutely, something that has been slowly taken away from us to the extent that freedom and true democracy are frightening concepts. It will get worse before it gets better.

[@thefirm4606]

@@andrewwotherspoona5722 agreed, a revolution is in order

[@Michael-zu1we]

Fascinating! I'm glad KZbin decided to add this one to my feed. I think I'll be listening to Ms Blakeley a lot from now on.

[@martinkerrmusic]

This lady is so much more, articulate, interesting and aware of the forces at work and possibilities inherent in our world than any politician I've heard speakmin any country.

[@mattliamjack3293]

Occupy is an example of individualism stunting a movement. In the 80s ot would have been more radical. Thatcher and reagan knew this(rather the people influencing them) politicians were harder to buy before them.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Identity politics destroyed the momentum

[@mattliamjack3293]

@@evolassunglasses4673 i just think people have forgotten how to coalesce around anything,with climate change, hunger marches will probably happen, unfortunately it may be a bit late then .

[@morpheus9137]

Nothing can be done about natural solar cycles. Humans are perfectly capable of lving with a 3 degree rise in temps. That you fall for such nonsense only shows why you shouldn't be in charge.@@mattliamjack3293

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

The philosophy behind Sure Start was to help young families, when the time came for the community to take over the facilities and run them themselves, there wasn't anyone that was willing to take on the responsibility, not everyone likes to take on responsibility for a such a project. So instead of having non-profit nurseries, there are for profit-nurseries for children.

[@CC-hx5fz]

There must have been another obstacle we don't know about, for the community not to take that over. It's not obvious but the reason is never that no one would take responsibility. Groups in our community have taken responsibility for a swimming pool, 2 libraries, a cinema and museum. The problem is usually how these can be funded or subsidised with other income and business. That usually takes the form of some kind of community hub and other services like running a post office. A nursery wouldn't be run with unqualified volunteers. Not for profit doesn't tie with exploiting mothers as cheap labour.

[@psikeyhackr6914]

How do economists manage to not talk about planned obsolescence and the depreciation of durable consumer goods? Why isn't double entry accounting mandatory in the schools? It's 700 years old. Older than calculus and Shakespeare.

[@JHatLpool]

A further example of a successful workers' co-operative was that of the motorbike manufacturer 'Norton Villiers Triumph' at Meriden. There is a wiki- page about NVT and there is a reference (a downloadable pdf) in the bibliography section.

[@nobbycheeseman2915]

Moog, one of the best synthesizer manufacturers, is worker owned.

[@BassBusMusic]

@@nobbycheeseman2915 That is not a good example. The workers of that company faught for unionisation in 2022 as they weren't happy with pay and conditions. It finally led to inMusic aquiring the Moog company last year.

[@Cleefbag71]

@@nobbycheeseman2915 Not any more it isn't. The workers only owned 49% of it and last year the management sold out to inMusic, who bought out the workers' shares and now own 100% of it 🙁

[@denzilfenzal]

Not anymore, they sold out I’m afraid

[@marcoliver625]

For collectivism to work the collective needs to be stong enough to take care of it's members when they suffer the individual consequences of collective action (a unionising workforce getting "downsized", members of a tenants collective suffering "no-fault evictions" etc.) That's going to be one of the tricky parts - the benefits go to the collective, but the "enemy" always make the consequences individual.

[@Asheanae]

Yessssssss! Gonna go watch the long version! 🎉

[@robwhite461]

This happened in 2001 in Argentina, when the economy collapsed, the workers took over the abandoned factories and set up this system. Eventually the economy recovered. Forja San Martin was one factory, there was a Canadian documentary called “The Take” filmed about it.

[@tobylerone7435]

Their terrified because they know the harm they've caused the working class. Where getting shafted left right and center. I'm trapped in a job working a 60 hour week, the only reason I'm not kicking off is I'm too knackered to start rioting. I've got a hernia and plantar fascitis from grafting to line other c unts pockets, but I can't even get a doctor's appointment, I haven't seen a dentist in 5 years. Life is pretty shit at the moment.

[@Councilhouseontheprairie-1]

Keep on keeping on mate. I had a bad patch that seemed endless and now I am getting my days in the sun.

[@Dmoriarty1993]

Bruh, find yourself a teacher and learn crypto. Seriously. One of the only hopes I recon we have is decentralisation. There's good people out there. Crypto banter is youtube site that's supposed to be good. You could make money doing airdrops which is where you stake crypto for a number of days then get a larger sum back for having given the platform use of your crypto. If you do make the jump, then go very carefully because there are a shitload of scams out there. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.

[@Gph0367]

Huge respect to Grace!

[@jennyboylan3087]

Phenomenal, really needed to hear this - thank you

[@Earth_to_Kensho...ComeInKensho]

Thanks!

[@Palemagpie]

Rule 1 of capitalism in reality, not just economics. "The working class must never realise that we need them. They dont need us"

[@Funkensturme]

Great, do you feel better about yourself now with that deep "understanding" that you have? It is the only thing it might be good for.

[@paullegend6798]

4:00 It's interesting hearing a left winger call for personal responsibility. I totally agree local people organising themselves, not waiting for "govt" to do it for them. No sense of irony that smaller govt, decentralised power and personal responsibility aren't in the slightest concept the rest of the left wing tolerates or promotes.....

[@donHooligan]

far left is anarchy...pure personal responsibility. far right is hierarchy...being completely controlled.

[@jgmediting7770]

Um, yes it does.

[@CC-hx5fz]

But left wingers have always done this. Before the welfare state, workers set up their own benevolent funds. Before the professionalisation of social work, and teaching, schools were run by competent local people who wanted the best for the children in their community. Take a look around the mining towns. All the infrastructure of welfare and the places where people socialised, continued their adult education, and discussed politics were built by the communities. The middle classes contribution was a snotty attitude while they siphoned off the wealth.

[@paullegend6798]

@@CC-hx5fz It seems like you are claiming everyone is left wing, so all achievements in the past were left wing. But not worth quibbling, I think we are in violent agreement that communities don't come together now. The membership of groups / clubs / societies have plummeted in the last 30/40 years. There is less and less that brings people together. Even local pubs are disappearing now.

[@paullegend6798]

@@donHooligan Not sure I follow. You would have to explain more. I tend to thing of free markets being right wing (no hierarchy no central control), socialism is big government (central planning and control). So the opposite of how you described it. I am personally not opposed to anarchy. Whenever you centralise power it seems to end in corruption. I wonder what complete decentralisation would look like.

[@clive373]

\so few words, so much information! Thank you.

[@michellenorris8471]

Yes, we must insist on the renationalisation of our services & energy companies.

[@FieldDay-cj3tv]

YES 🤩👍 Bye bye capitalism

[@mikecook1537]

Capitalism is never end. Even Starmer doesn't believe that. Look at his policies.

[@paullegend6798]

We don't have capitalism now. The govt sectors is half of the economy (45% to be precise). Elites have bought govt and control the rules of markets in the other half to their own benefit. It's largely a series of rent seeking monopolies and oligopolies. There is no real competition in many markets.

[@FieldDay-cj3tv]

​​​​@@mikecook1537watch what happens... It's already began No stopping it now I apologise for your loss, just don't stand in the way like last time of what is coming

[@mikecook1537]

@@FieldDay-cj3tv can you explain what you mean please

[@FieldDay-cj3tv]

​@@mikecook1537you have had enough compliance from my part I will not comply with your request

[@garnetnewton-wade4091]

Power to the people, power to the people right on!

[@MR_POO2.0]

Grace Blakeley needs to be an MP

[@JamieAlice92]

She isn’t corrupt enough to be an MP

[@a.c.4732]

@@JamieAlice92 exactly , just what I was about to say . She has too much integrity / "real" knowledge as opposed to the clueless few who bark orders and deceive on an Industrial Scale .

[@Funkensturme]

She does not know anything about real world economics. The real reason you're unsatisfied with your situation might be because you buy into so many baseless claims about reality and then you're disappointed when the results are not what you want... The things she says might resonate emotionally with you but they do not provide a real assessment of how things are and how they can be changed or improved.

[@MR_POO2.0]

@@Funkensturme calm down

[@JamieAlice92]

@@Funkensturme you either didn’t understand her points and the examples she highlighted, or you intentionally ignored them.

[@stevendaly3680]

People are sick of it all...

[@AngelicusImmortus]

superb analysis. Fascinating stuff.

[@BanterRanterr]

Well Mick was pro Brexit other than that he is great speaker 😊 he could lead Third party Lucas plan could work as manifesto

[@user-st7wb3yf3d]

Anyone with any insight would be against the EU. It is simply unnecessarily bureaucratic, restrictive, and completely hypocritical. indeed, it is simply unnecessary. Nations should simply be open, they are delusions after all.

[@casslane3932]

where i work we dont realy have a manager there is a guy who organises the shifts but its largely left to the staff and we just talk as the day continues like one person saids i will do this you can do this.

[@AngelicusImmortus]

The worker on the factory floor knows how to do the job, the investors/owners often dont. if you want your factory to be a success you need to listen to the workers on the factory floor gain and use their insights. That way, you actually are talking to the people who know how it works, how it should work and what you need to do to improve.

[@sjbechet1111]

The Miners of Tower Hill Colliery is another great example of community based business.

[@rxbracho]

What an inspirational chat. It is obvious that capitalism has failed but the question has always been what could replace it, and how. The power is always in us, we just have to use it and not give it to institutions that have old paradigms crystalized in them.

[@Funkensturme]

First of all you have too get your facts straight: Market economies have not failed. We live in a world of unparalleled levels of wealth. Even the poorest people today have higher standards that people from only a few centuries before. The closest and longest any nation has followed the basic principles of Market Economies,the highest its material standards of living, including for its poorest citizens. Just look at indexes like "Ease of doing business" or the Heritage Foundation "Index of economic Freedom" and you will see clearly how each nation is deviating from the ideal conditions to bring about economic prosperity. Then you have a clear way of improving the system. WE KNOW what brings prosperity. WE KNOW what is THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. But people like the woman in this video do not know, they have wrong understandings and they stand in the way of applying the knowledge that we KNOW to bring WEALTH TO ALL!

[@indigoskywalker]

the city of london corp owns the tax havens

[@gerryleonard6291]

See the documentry The Spiders Web

[@petermarsh4993]

This all sounds like a breath of fresh air. I didn’t hear how these new enterprises fared when in ordinary citizen’s hands. Seeing off to the obscene director’s fees of traditional corporations would be enough to get my vote.

It is sites like this, and people like this that give hope. Hope the most beautiful word in the dictionary. The elite that rule us are terrified of this word.

[@anglo-irishbolshevik3425]

The basic problem is we do not live in a democracy but in a plutocracy. Just imagine what could be possible if the dictatorship of capital was done away with. And that can only happen by means of a socialist revolution.

[@Funkensturme]

Hahaha well, at least you were courageous enough to say out loud that you expect a socialist revolution as a solution. You're completely misguided, but I give you points for not beating around the bush and trying to hide what you actually believe.

[@anglo-irishbolshevik3425]

​@Funkensturme : why do you say I'm completely misguided?

[@Funkensturme]

@@anglo-irishbolshevik3425 Socialism does not work. But seriously, we don't need to have this discussion.

[@anglo-irishbolshevik3425]

@Funkensturme Rubbish, there's a ton of evidence to show that it did work (for the social benefit of millions). In a great social experiment like the building of a socialist society, there are bound to be mistakes and set-backs BUT with any experiment, lessons need to be learnt in order to make progress. That's how it is with any experiment. The success of any great advance in human endeavour is often preluded by many setbacks. And, my dear misguided friend you also need to bear in mind that human progress cannot advance without revolutions: eg agrarian revolution, industrial revolution, technological revolution AND, of course, political revolution (from primitive communism to slavery to feudalism to capitalism to socialism). Right now, as far as you are personally concerned, the only thing not working is your brain.

[@Funkensturme]

@@anglo-irishbolshevik3425 Hahahaha, at least you're a funny guy.

[@oldschool3670]

Sound

[@flaneur5560]

Vision

[@UkSapyy]

Touch

[@commonwunder]

As long as the bread and circuses in the West stay this luxuriously enticing. The computer games ( killing ) are that immersive, the footy ( tribal ) is that exhilarating. The social media ( virtue signalling ) is that addictive and transformative. The cinema and TV ( escapism ) that compelling. The elites will always remain in power.There is a reason they're so omnipresent... The hordes in the West are hooked. Their only sense of meaning in life is inextricably linked to the entertainment the West offers. Religion and all other forms of tradition and homogeneity have been devalued and demeaned. Only the West's entertainment keeps the West functioning. A socialist revolution in the workplace would rank very low on a list of peoples priorities, if these 'circuses' were ever likely to be cut off. Life for all Westerners would suddenly be left meaningless.

[@ellr4650]

blaue Ffestiniog, i picked up slate from there just this week 😅...lovely place

[@kosmicspawn]

The words with "ism" at the end of them work on paper or theory, but when it comes to practice or reality with people there is always a few that ruin it for the rest of us, and these people need to managed in a correct careing manner, but if that does not work then there is always the alternative for them that we have been using for centuries.

[@Funkensturme]

Socialism does not work even on paper or theory. Look it up how Marx's Labor Theory of Value was downright wrong and can't even explain the Economic Diamond-Water Paradox. Well, this Labor Theory of Value is the fundamental principle of all of Marx's theory of exploitation. The fact that it is WRONG makes ALL of his theory WRONG.

[@watch-Dominion-2018]

Grace Blakely is exactly like the 100,000 women who went on strike in Iceland, and how the absence of women working not only didn't have a negative effect on the system, but actually made it work more efficiently

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

?????? Evidence that the system worked more efficiently without women, please.

[@watch-Dominion-2018]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/noOqp4ewhdGlg5I

[@jgmediting7770]

Shill or bot, which are you?

[@watch-Dominion-2018]

neither, why@@jgmediting7770

[@watch-Dominion-2018]

shill for who? bot from who?

[@merlesmith6794]

Nationalization of firms is a terrible idea. It has been shown many times.

[@Jaiken451]

Read anything by this brilliant woman!! 😃

[@SeventhCircleID]

...the thing that really concerns me here is the conflation of 'individualism' with excessive competition, toxicity, lack of morality, hierarchy etc... this position is simplistic, it doesn't hold up to historical analysis, and it doesn't hold up to critical scrutiny. I find it intellectually lazy to be honest and historically, contextually myopic. A group of people can decide they collectively want to be ultra competitive, or hierarchical, or toxic?! why not, what mechanism prevents it if that is what they collectively wish to do?! Any trait 'assigned' to the individual can just as easily be applied to a collective by this argument, and in such a collective of ultra competitive agents, for anyone to choose not to be ultra competitive would be to become, by definition, an 'individualist' to that wider collective, only within a completely different set of guiding personal beliefs to the traits supposedly being assigned en-mass to 'individualists' in this video... and that's the point, the frightening thing about collectives is they lead to groupthink, the group forces the individual to conform, even when the individual is correct they are forced to do things that may not be correct, and this leads to the polar opposite argument appearing to the position being given here. Ultimately, a complex society is neither one nor the other, it needs both to be in balance, i.e. 'sometimes' you need a group, and 'sometimes' you need an individual. It is the interaction between these two contradictory positions that gives rise to the complexity societies need to grow, adapt and function, and narrowing that argument to look only at one or the other side of the equation (with blinkers on) is the fundamental mistake almost all intellectual movements over the last century and a half have made. The argument becomes too simplistic, not enough things can happen, the degrees of freedom are too reduced, and the system fails by result.

[@petersimms4982]

Maybe you haven’t noticed-- -- big British companies are hood winking the public into doing voluntary work for free for their multimillion £ companies! Happening everywhere in Britain 😢😮😢😮😢 how can we be so thick 🤪

[@markbeard2285]

You’re talking about anarcho-syndicalism Grace, which is good to hear.

[@phax71]

Love Grace. Regardless of book promos, etc I’d really like to see her given more of a platform as she’s disappeared from our screens over the years. Theres enough New Media platforms around now, lets get her on more often. And yes, I will be buying the book.

[@pcrockett5967]

Gar Alperowitz has written so well about the need for communities to develop cooperatives and how successful they can be and how much better they are for the local community. Start small to allow time to learn and grow. Build coalitions. Run for local office. It’s clear after the price gouging, pollution, climate crises, AI job insecurity and, viewing people purely as capital expenditures that capitalism eventually becomes predatory with billionaires now paying openly for favorable legislation. We can now see how unsustainable and cruel this is.

[@fleurishadvisors232]

YES! Circular, cooperative, decentralized, re-localized systems are the way forward! Woo Hoo!

[@tonyshortland8812]

I worked @ Lancing bagnell, in Basingstoke in early 1980's forklift truck manufacturers. They introduced a scheme caked "quality circles" basically, it was to tap into ideas from the shop floor, blue collar classes, to benefit company. It was a great success, but we were doing middle management job for them, they kept their company cars, and suits. While we were doing this during lunch hour, and after work, as well as our primary tasks. We got nothing for it, except criticism when something wasn't a success.

[@CC-hx5fz]

So how do we strengthen our democracy in a party that refuses to back Proportional Representation?

[@glasperlinspiel]

I can confirm that as much as executives loved the results they were threatened by the implications

[@jimweights8908]

Institutions have been infected with seeing people as groups rather than individuals

[@Truthkindnesslovefunhealth67]

This is amazing - very important information and insights. Excellent

[@generator6946]

This is a problem all over the world and the reason is rich people relentlessly saying workers have no rights and no power.

[@stuartsutherland7664]

Even in a co-operative there are managers and a hierarchy who will eventually dominate the organisation. Not everyone wants to be independent and make their own choices. Some people prefer others to run their lives.

[@marvinbrock2572]

You are quite right and they know this. Parliament is currently redefining extremism, and I think what they intend to do is ensure no small group can contest their control.

[@evilryutaropro]

They genuinely see the working class the way the Spartans saw the Helots

[@SahilAli-fs2ye]

Here in India due to Extreme Capitalism things are going down. Irony is that most of the people have forgot East India Company so they are repeating same mistake again.

[@albertbrammer9263]

I have thought for a few days on what Grace has said. The conclusion is that (the unsaid part) it requires a revolution. Those with power do not give it away. They write the rules. Unionisation can become worthless if rules stop you striking as the Tories intend to do. So, she has no real solution at all.

[@LynnMcRae-zi6yt]

The power is in unity, sadly that's rare.

[@Anarchy4Angels]

Most managers can barely cope, let alone manage!

[@dougiesweeny4833]

Government delinquency increases as they become more of a service provider in many jurisdictions at the publics added expense rather than a superior authority working for the greater good of us all

[@user-jl3br4ng2c]

Here in the states, 80 percent of earners making 7 figures or more annually are not paying nearly all of their taxes owed. Our president lobbied congress to increase funding for the IRS to combat this injustice. The Republicans on Capital Hill keep blocking any attempt to increase funding for the IRS. This is going on even as there has been a 50 percent increase in the number of earners making over seven figures a year since 2020.

[@duanenavarre7234]

demanding more power... I can see where this is going.

[@SeanWork]

LOL this is what I suggested to Boeing (to the dept head) the last day I worked there. He actually replied and didn't agree with me. Not so much of making it an employee-owned company but changing the direction towards building more useful products for society (public transit etc.). On to employee-owned companies: I'm totally for them. I think they should exist. I think like-minded people should try to start them. However, taking an existing company and trying to turn it into an employee-owned business is risky. There's a chance that it's going to sink the ship. The management, the culture, operations have all been incrementally designed over time to work a certain way. A radical shift in operations can just burn it all down. Then people are out of the job, loss of benefits, the whole 9.

[@gaspode505]

Great interview, very informative. I wasn't aware of many facts. It's just stunning that France can run public services, community owned. Swiss and many others? Why not copy the model that works somewhere else????

[@michaelwells8412]

This is why Grace is my favourite political commentator... I probably should get her book

[@lucybecker8]

Mondragon, worth 20 billion. Evergreen Cooperatives in low income area in Cleveland, Ohio ( 3 coops: Evergreen Laundry, Evergreen energy- solar, Green City Growers).

[@stevecoppin6396]

the rolls royce engine works in glasgow , during ww2, was run on marxist ideas , an interesting documentary about the manufacture of spitfire engines that i can't find now , perhaps someone else can recall it ?

[@spirosmanisalis3463]

Brilliant interview. My summary is that ordinary folk are waking up to the failures of the neo-liberalism experiment thrust upon them over the last 40 - 50 years, whose main pillars are free-trade, privatisation of state assets and indeed the state itself, as well as open borders. We've had a mature discussion on the first two pillars, but not the third. The third pillar helps to suppress wages and support massive profits for the elites, all the while rendering working class and in truth, middle class living standards unliveable. It is also unsustainable from an environmental and infrastructure perspective and threatens the sovereignty of the state, because in a neo-liberal world, there is no state. Immigration is necessary, but unsustainable immigration is a way of lining the pockets of the rentier class and it impacts both the citizens of the state as well as those emigrating to it. The elites know this and will perpetuate it ad-infinitum under the banner of social justice.

[@mopz]

knows her onions, fascinating

[@steviegwhizz345]

We need to vote for policies not parties or individuals. A new system is needed the old one is too corrupt.

[@FredFlintstone738]

Spot on.

[@anthonywilson8998]

There will be major problems with this in practical terms and overlapping issues like pensions, nonpayments,who gets paid for what . Local markets and swap shops are good will be easy but many other aspects like power and energy will be hard to achieve.

[@MrPalmadores]

Always interesting to hear diverse viewpoints to discuss in a civil forum. The opposite of individualism is I suppose collectivism. And Grace seems to head straight towards the grand mistakes of the 20th century. Collectivism \Marxism\Leninism have there appeal of course, but we've tried them several times. If we don't learn anything from our mistakes then are we doomed to repeat them? Marx's fundamental mistake was a misreading of the human condition. We strive to better ourselves, to find the best partner, to provide the best for our family. We are at heart individuals. Once personal achievement is deemed worthless and we are part of a collective then why strive at all?

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Great point. but it's like trying to convince farm animals they don't need a farmer.😊 Productive working people can self manage, but many other city jobs cannot.