“Winners Take All”: Anand Giridharadas on the Elite Charade of Changing the World

An extended web-only conversation with Anand Giridharadas about his book, “Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World.”
Watch Part 1: • Anand Giridharadas: Co...
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[@jessecool8623]

Well said, forget your "philanthropy" and pay your fair share of taxes, wages, benefits, etc.

[@agentsmidt3209]

Philanthropy == tax write-off.

Truth!!

[@1flash3571]

Why don't you work harder so you can pay more taxes?

[@Lewa500]

@@1flash3571 A lot of people do work harder and wouldn't mind paying more taxes if that money was used responsibly, but they're not paid what they're worth and their taxes are being stolen by the rich and the powerful.

[@1flash3571]

@@Lewa500Let me ask you a question. Who pays more in taxes, a wealthy millionaire, or someone like you? Let say a millionaire who is just 1 person pays let say 190k in tax in 2018, vs you who pays like 7k for that same year. You are 1 person, and he is 1 person. In what ways is the millionaire paying less than you? Regardless of the percentage of the tax, he is still paying more than you. Am I correct? You who pays only 7k, and him paying 190k is no comparison. So what if he is making more money than you or me? His tax money is paying for more services, more equipment for the gov't employee than what you contribute. The billionaire and the millionaire are abiding by the tax laws in this country just like you and me. If you think is unfair, then start your own business. Maybe you will make more money, and help contribute to the tax revenue.

[@mistercut8331]

"we have socialism for the rich, and rugged individualism for the poor" - Martin luther King jr

[@austin5944]

Easily my favorite king quote

[@mistercut8331]

@@austin5944 - it's sad that a lot of those enlightened quotes from MLK are as relevant today as they were 50 years ago - seems like a lot of things haven't changed for the better

[@austin5944]

@@mistercut8331 they really haven't

[@davidowens2067]

Anand is an important voice for these times! ✊🏻

[@workinprogress1822]

WIENERS take all!

[@tigertiger1699]

What an understatement 👍

[@kkpaine]

The deal is I WANT TO DONATE TO MY OWN CHARITY CHOICE. Pay taxes and support employees.

[@kkpaine]

Hillary was another leaner in. The most egregious example

[@Knuckles-4]

Very needed , smart and to the point speaker

[@wadap0]

"When you have foxes eating hens, Kumbaya is a recipe for slaughter"

[@majinvegeta7381]

Speak!!!

[@snoopy_peanuts_77]

truth

[@EGH181]

David Apeji well said

[@MrFoot1980]

That's a line that should go down in history. It explains our times and weak politicians so well.

[@billytheweasel]

Love that because I'm pissed.

[@ITNoetic]

"The people who have the most to lose from change cannot be in charge of reforming the status quo, but all of us have allowed that to happen." Facts

[@ronnyron007]

He doesn't want change. Even though he highlights the problems....he wants reforms.....

[@Photographyalex]

@@ronnyron007 re·form /rəˈfôrm/Submit verb 3rd person present: reforms 1. make changes in (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it. "an opportunity to reform and restructure an antiquated schooling model" synonyms: improve, make better, better, ameliorate, refine, mend, rectify, correct, rehabilitate; More

[@Sid-69]

@@Photographyalex Good bot

[@ishratfirdousi7182]

Anand, you make my day. Best regards.

[@Knuckles-4]

Ishrat Firdousi you say everything I feel but can’t express ,thanks for the voice

[@lpeterson8221]

Thank you for exposing that Lean In crap.

[@annejohnson8890]

What an interesting man, thank you. Finally, someone who does not sugarcoat it or pull his punches - it reminds us, by contrast, of how public discourse has decayed recently.

[@squamish4244]

And yet, things change so fast these days that since you posted this comment, a certain massive global event and a certain a**hole president and a murderous dictator have reinvigorated public discourse on elite philanthropy, wealth inequality and and many other burning issues, including the state of liberal democracy in general. I have lately been impressed with the human race!

[@lucianoocampo96]

Damn, Anand spilling the truth in this interview.

[@aleaiactaest8354]

Man this guy is so on point! Made my day! All the power to you. Mr Giridharadas you need to be in the next administration, full stop!

[@MikeGilroyMusic]

Not only is Anand smart but he is funny which is a great combo. Keep up the good work.

[@jonathanpalmquist4894]

So in other words... vote, donate, and volunteer for Bernie!!!! And Justice Democrats.

[@ronnyron007]

Basically....hey, let me complain about the problems created by capitalism....but at the end of the day....lets make a few reforms.

[@65minimom]

Jonathon Plmquist - YES Bernie - case by case with JD

[@jonathanpalmquist4894]

Sandy What JD candidates have you disagreed with?

[@herooja]

Comrade Anand is the best critic of oligarchy this year so far, I am gonna buy his book

[@ronnyron007]

He is not a comrade.. he specifically stated that he wants capitalism to remain ....

[@Achrononmaster]

@herooja Anand is good at describing the problems. But try fixing some of your eye-ball time on The Michael Brooks Show and The Majority Report. Better critiques of oligarchy than Giridharadas. You cannot fix structural injustices through taxes and pay rises only, the wealthy will just get their business owner stooges to raise prices and funnel capital overseas where wages and taxes are low and exploitation is rampant. I did however like the way he described how to make education democratic and that tech should be used to catch the real fraudsters not just to help the poor live with austerity and pay their bills.

[@Achrononmaster]

@@ronnyron007 but he is right about the decrepitude of centralized economies (see the research by Kornai and others on resource constrained economies). For sure we should not love capitalism. What we need is workplace democracy, worker coops, a finance sector that is nationalised and "boring" (no speculation allowed). Government funding can be used for private entrepreneurs -- this worked for science & tech in New Zealand for 50 years, our DSIR create an estimated net 10 billion in wealth, purely government funded. Then neoliberals privatized it in the 1990's and it has never recovered that productivity.

[@Achrononmaster]

@@ronnyron007 ...and I doubt Giridharadas means he wants the inequities of capitalism, he likely simply means keeping private ownership of production, which is not really saying much, it's compatible with 100% worker owned cooperatives (a la Richard Wolff's recommendations for a social democracy). Workers should own the means of production for most industries, not capitalists, not government either - aside from commons goods & services like electricity, water, housing, schools, healthcare, internet service, police, courts, etc.

[@DanDeLeoninthefield]

@@Achrononmaster Agreed. His diagnosis is pretty much on target but his solutions are weak.

[@Jone952]

"We can't let the people who have the most to lose from change be in charge of it" (paraphrasing)

[@unitedstatesofmordor]

Correct. Modern day philanthropy and charity, is neither philanthropic nor charitable.

[@tomyau3482]

I am off to get his book right now.

[@saraelkassabany3735]

LOL LEAN IN 😂😂😂 i tried that and my manager basically told me to shut up

[@TheVFXbyArt]

Sara Elkassabany, thats what happens when they charge the individual to do changes that society should do. Henry Giroux talks about this concept of “individualizing the social”.

[@8beef4u]

I find if people have insightful input then others will listen, unless of course they're assholes but I don't think that's most people

[@lolazal1]

@@8beef4u Your name is Jack, I'm guessing you're not a woman...

[@ConsciousnessisRough]

This is spot on, extremely well stated and something that has needed to be said for a long time. I look forward to reading the book. Awesome segment.

[@anthonygiavia803]

So well said. This is why we need Bernie in 2020. Moderate dems like Biden, Beto, Kamala, Booker, etc will not work. We need real structural change not pragmatic half measures.

[@jimbob3030]

exactly

[@derekhieb7458]

Bernie Tulsi 20 20

[@mhkpt]

"The people who have the most to lose from change can't be placed in charge of reforming the status quo" - TRUTH!

[@moneybags999]

mhkpt This is exactly why Conservatives are Conservatives and why Conservatives hate Progressives. They hate change and have a death grip on the status quo.

[@androidbey]

He should open Bernie Sanders Rally with a good dose of reality.

[@jl.8137]

That would be such extra power bust for Bernie.

[@80schick1967]

"Charity is a cold grey lifeless thing. A rich man should pay his taxes gladly not dole out money at a whim" - Clement Attlee British Prime Minister 1945-1951

[@janwag6856]

So glad to hear truth to power spoken here.

[@rastaman39]

Jan Wag absolutely

[@antoniocalhau4711]

Thanks Democracy Now, thanks Amy Goodman, thanks Anand Giridharadas!

[@cozycomfy589]

Thank you, this was excellent, and coordinates with my favorite book by Thomas Frank, Listen Liberal which I encourage all to read. Anand takes it a step further and I never thought about it in this particular way.

[@EGH181]

cozy comfy Thomas Frank is freakin awesome!

[@sistersnake4629]

a lot of old people also love this show

[@88omair]

I read your comment at the exact same time that Anand said "I know a lot of young people watch your show."

[@LA-kc7ev]

I'll always remember a dinner party in Spain at the age of 21, hosted by a psychiatrist who invited friends who were socialists and euro-communists whose parties were banned under Franco (this was right after Franco's death). There were several enlightening comments delivered to my young American mind by the man on my left, and one was his answer to my telling him, "Oh no, we have all sorts of charities." He said, "If you had a fairer economic system, you wouldn't need them.". I had never thought of it..

[@ronnyron007]

right...if only welfare was giving the poor just a little more money.....everything would be great....Oh wait, why do we need welfare in the first place....never mind.....end capitalism.

[@TheVFXbyArt]

Ronny Ron Actually bill clinton ended the welfare that we had since the ‘30’s.

[@jumpingeezus5080]

TheVFXbyArt How so?

[@julierozo]

Glad you had him on, glad you let him talk, but a better interview would have been to push him on more questions, like why would he want the private industry to continue making phones that cost a fortune, including lives in component attainment, and which demands we upgrade and throw away every year. Have him on again and have a longer discussion, PLEASE!

[@terriej123]

Julie Rowan-Zoch i don’t think that’s what he meant by that. I’m sure that he’s against those phones costing so much. But you do know that nobody’s forcing you to upgrade your phone right? I’ve had my phone for 5 years (iPhone 6 plus) & I plan to keep it for as long as it works (i paid it off in the first 2 years & have owned it ever since). I still think they’re too expensive but you don’t have to keep getting a new phone every year unless you want to. I could even take my phone to another cell phone service provider & pay $10 for a new SIM card.

[@ronnyron007]

He is not really against capitalism....he is a liberal at heart....meaning a few reforms is good enough for him.

[@ronnyron007]

Also, not realizing that the capitalist business making the phones only pay the actual workers pennies to build them.

[@jl.8137]

It's simple I buy cost effective phones and with good service. I try to keep my phone 2 or 3 years or until glitches start to occur. I never had any major issues with my cost effective phones. Try it Julie.

[@Anita-md9ze]

Planned obsolescence. France did a right to repair bill to alleviate that problem (probably in the face of our growing climate crisis and resource shortage no doubt).

[@SafeBrother]

Never heard of this man until this day. But i already love him.

[@chokinonashes61]

This man is a fantastic communicator, the only choice is Bernie, I am not American,, but feel so invested in this election, we all should be, around the world, who are affected by these policies, especially climate change.

[@bboucharde]

Check out the Doomsday Clock at the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. Worried about climate change? Try nuclear winter.

[@chokinonashes61]

@@bboucharde Worried about it all, not for me, but my daughters (19&24), it's really frightening.

[@theciakilledjfk5973]

Anand speaks for us all.

[@feliciasdova5373]

It’s amazing that he works for TIME, and yet speaks like he works for the Intercept.

[@ronnyron007]

He doesn't actually want much to change....he just wants a few reforms .... hence him specifically stating he wants private capitalists to produce stuff.

[@RetroBerner]

Bernie is the only logical choice.

[@ronnyron007]

Not really.... more like iliterate choice.... Read some Marx already.

[@RetroBerner]

@@ronnyron007 I've never read Marx, thanks for playing though

[@andreware6492]

Ronny Ron studied Marx intently in grad school. Having understood that Bernie is the only logical change

[@ronnyron007]

@@andreware6492 not too good at learn are ya?.

[@ronnyron007]

@@RetroBerner ..not playing steve, just point out how much of an idiot you are.

[@alanmcrae8594]

Wow! That is a laser beam illuminating the key issue of the 21st century; I must read his book to hear more of his analysis and the examples that underpin his arguments.

[@yesenia9794]

Thank you for having him on Democracy Now. I learned a lot in this video!

[@RIJU9285]

One of the best public speakers of our times

[@Pancake833]

Always nice to see someone a few weeks ago and think, “wow this guy speaks really well, hope he continues doing media” and later see him creeping into more and more recently published KZbin videos and having written a new book!

[@majinvegeta7381]

He has multiple books.

[@bbbanks6912]

Childhood Development consultant, Joseph Chilton Pearce said to the Scandinavian countries - if you financially support women during the first year of a child's life you will see your prisons empty out in 20 years. They took his advice and paid for new mothers to be at home with their child that first year and he WAS CORRECT, that is exactly what happened 20 years later. I had the great fortune to hear him speak live, it was standing room only and it was the best lecture I've ever heard. Pure genius.

[@reginaldmorton2162]

God damn, he smoked it!!

[@cb4017]

I love Anand! Thank you for thinking!

[@kiskeacity]

Anand = breath of fresh air.

[@CandaceLeAnne]

I’ve got to get this book! I totally agree with Anand. Those who have benefitted from rigging various systems in this so called democracy need to be made a little uncomfortable. That means they need to be taxed more and their dollars should go to making public schools systems equal across this land for starters.

[@eeltauy]

Great argument.

[@markaaron9957]

I was still just a kid when I realized that all these TV commercials where insurance companies and banks tell us they care about you, your family and it's goals as much as you do, are pure BS.

[@ritamariekelley4077]

Absolutely brilliant! This feels like something huge will come from this. I have long questioned The true philanthropy of Gates' Zucherberg, Clinton Foundations. The wealthy consider philanthropy attending galas for fundraising. It's ever so clean. High couture, French cuisine, write the check, deduct...I am so thrilled to hear this and we need to vitalize this.

[@Youalreadyhaveitall]

Amazing conversation. Wake up peeps!!!!

[@AzEagletarian]

Anand said something to the effect that putting the people who have the most to lose in charge of change, you're not going to get the change necessary to fix major social problems. I agree wholeheartedly.

[@fallroster5280]

Love that Elon Musk burn!😄

[@Stroporez]

Absolutely brilliant deconstruction of whole TED ecosystem.

[@ritamariekelley4077]

This is so very important. Back to the critical thinking skills. We have to question. We have to be skeptical. We're as propagandized as any other totalitarian country.

[@RACKITBALL]

Anand is brilliant, someone speaking publicly on what I think of often THANK YOU

[@davidfaubion1720]

Anand speaks rather surprisingly delightful insights and vision from a zTime mag man. Keep it up please.

[@David-tn3tw]

Great segment. Anand is killing it on his book tour (i suggest searching his name on youtube for more of his talks/Q&As/etc.). His profile is clearly on the rise right now as an expert on the topic of social/economic injustice.

[@0trynewthings0]

Anand is a genius. What an excellent interview.

[@michelleamatulle6378]

This man is an American hero

[@scottreid7254]

Boy, Anand is a great synthesizer of myths perpetrated by the 1%.

[@kmaher7688]

WOW! Anand freaking rocks! He is so concise and precise about his viewpoint and ask long overdue questions abt inequities.

[@liloleist5133]

💥CHANGE COMES FROM THE GRASSROOTS UPWARDS💥

[@ronnyron007]

Not really, according to this guy. Change comes by keep the current social makeup, but with just a few reforms on it.

[@jennyb4222]

about time someone says it as it is

[@PeteSwagg]

Absolutely loved this !

[@oddvardmyrnes9040]

This is so good to hear. Thank you.

[@Quarin12]

Super informative and sold on getting this book.

[@SH-bw5fx]

Anand ❤❤❤❤ from AFRICA

[@maxman-357]

The truth makes some feel uncomfortable.

[@jillylove101]

max man “If you’re going to tell the truth, you better have one foot in the stirrup” 🐎 Mark Twain lol

[@lindarodriguez5806]

Love this guy! Just so real!!! Approaching the problem from another angle, perhaps more philosophical - I think the essence of the issue here is that these people (billionaires)are emotionally dependent on projecting a false self image to appear superior to the rest of humanity, because they're terrified of the actual truth. That in fact they are just like everyone else. Fragile, flawed and vulnerable. The only way they can maintain this illusion is by buffering themselves with enourmous and obscene amounts of money. This serves a double function - one to deceive themselves and another is to deceive everyone else. They are in fact very sad individuals who's narcissism impedes their capacity to empathize with their fellow human beings or any other beings for that matter. They are simultaneously protected from the truth by their enourmous wealth and their capacity for self deception. They see the rest of us as an abstraction that they can't quite relate to, therefore empathize with. In order to feel a brotherhood with other's you need to share something with each other and they simply don't know how to share. Their world is so removed from the everyday problems that we experience that they simply can't understand us. I think they are nothing more than a symptom of our times and a general reflection of how we have lost our collective way. The byproduct of this situation is manifold and it includes environmental devastation - Climate Change among other's. Make the change in your mind, in your heart and then in your world. Where ever that may be. Anand has his role to play in this necessary transformation that we need to make and we have ours, each and every one of us. No matter how small it may seem. Start with your heart!

[@AvalonMisty]

2 Labor Laws that, when changed, will affect the lives of Workers: ~ the end of the legal use of Mandatory Overtime as protected in the 1938 Fair(?) Labor Standards Act ~ Overtime pay after 8 hours/day...not 40 hours/week

[@MSmochalicious1]

Brilliant and extremely accurate with regards to foundations and organizations

[@peterprimes497]

Great interview.

[@MsLuath]

Its so nice to hear somebody tell it like it is.

[@simuliid]

This is brilliant!

[@AxmedBahjad]

Lean in.

[@yozy4996]

Great Job!

[@peggyclinton8343]

Yes, we'll said. Excellent analysis of the system.

[@dr87815]

Excellent

[@eliyahbenysrael3903]

Great interview with an excellent thinker

[@Brembelia]

Thank you for caring enough to answer our request for you to post the second half of your shows.

[@michaelk622]

Brilliant!

[@jntj3007]

Very well said Mr. Giridharadas. Thank you.

[@feralvicar5698]

Anand Giridharadas speaks 100% truth everytime he opens his mouth.

[@vibefrequencyable]

Annand ..chris hedges...noam... john pilger...prof wolf..my 5 societal truth tellers.

[@Jraymiami]

Brilliant

[@geekthegirl6961]

I need to hear Anand say is full name. I don't think I've ever heard it pronounced the same way twice.

[@BuntFencer]

That's true, everybody gets it wrong. Since I am from India, I do know the correct pronunciation. Break up the last name into 3 parts and say it, Giri-Dar-Das. That's how you say it. :-)

[@moneybags999]

BuntFencer Thanks for that. I think I got a bit closer than Amy.

[@MustacheVerra]

A breath of fresh air...

[@HBrowe]

He said they “Columbus change”. Nice 👍 I am taking that to my vocabulary

[@siddhartha_1]

I love this guy, he explains this so well

[@rastaman39]

Much respect for this brother

[@deerocker6987]

Anand is the new leader of our time.

[@GuenevereSchwien]

Well said!

[@Alvicbar]

brillant love everything this man says!

[@nickpeterson6647]

This guy is tapped in

[@pohakumana4288]

Who? #TULSI2020 The MOST POSITIVE Candidate. ALOHA

[@ConsciousnessisRough]

I agree, Tulsi is the best candidate by policy and integrity. She has been repeatedly slandered because she has the guts to oppose war and call out the insanity of current military actions.

[@TC-lj5qu]

Please donate to her so she can be on the debate wagon. Thx.

[@pohakumana4288]

@@TC-lj5qu I already did, the girl is from my state. www.tulsi2020.com/splash/war

[@yellowmonkee0]

In my country we get 6 months of maternity leave. It can be split between the parents. The father has 2 week of compulsory leave and an additional 2 weeks of optional full pay leave. I had 2 months of paid leave when my child was born.

[@grievingmom]

what country? in canada we get a year and it can be split between parents...my brother and his wife split theirs.

[@yellowmonkee0]

@@grievingmom that's even better.

[@ashurbanipalofassyria5038]

Wow

[@juicewon]

love

[@survivaleconomics]

Thanks for telling the truth, Anand!

[@ecr4377]

Now that's talking truth to power. Raise up. Wake up. Speak up. If they can't hear you or choose not to hear us. Gather a group of friend and yell louder together. It's time to act instead of internalizing things and listening to commentary. But rather let's do something about it. Now!

[@racerx3669]

494k. Keep it up, we’re listening.

[@Garland67]

I went to my public library website and saw that there were 50 copies of Anand's book and 310 holds!! A good sign. But I guess I won't be reading this book until September......

[@moneybags999]

Garland5 You might just have to break down and just buy it.

[@mdkvisions]

This guy gets it 100%

[@bikefixer]

"(In the 2020 election) Kumbaya is a recipe for slaughter." I'll remember that quote.