Wolff Responds: American Workers Have Had Enough!

In this Wolff Responds, Prof. Wolff talks about the awakening of the American working class and their fight for justice. Working class conditions have gotten worse over the last few decades, with stagnant real wages, economic crashes, inflation and a crippling pandemic that has left many unprotected and feeling unsafe. As the working class works longer and harder than ever and only the rich get richer, what are our options? Prof. Wolff has some ideas.
Wolff Responds is a ‪@democracyatwrk‬ production. We provide these videos free of ads. Please consider supporting our work. Visit our website democracyatwork.info/donate or join our growing Patreon community and support Global Capitalism Live Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff at / gcleu .
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[@brianneece4418]

Every job ive had since i graduated high school but two have been filled with cheated hours, unsafe conditions to work in, bosses trying the tough guy intimidating shit, bosses that were ignorant and less qualified than i, bosses doing drugs at work and putting people in danger (construction job), those same bosses throwing up from hangover all over the job site, and then one of them groped an african American woman at the hotel bar and then nearly starting a brawl with the group of people she was there with (also mostly african american). My experience with the workforce has been largely negative, and led to my having to explain why i quit so many. Like this if you've had similar experiences.

[@maxsweetman6341]

Seems to me your bosses and leaders are tarred with the same brush

[@brianneece4418]

@@maxsweetman6341 definitely. The whole system is rotten really. Everything is dysfunctional doesnt seem like people take pride in their work and just drone on till payday. Too problematic all around.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Most US companies are crap. Incompetent managers are scared of smart, intelligent workers. Which is why they try to keep Americans down.

[@jeremyrangel8138]

@@tenminutetokyo2643 How come the "smart, intelligent workers" haven't formed better companies and put all of the "crap" US companies out of business?

[@jameskulevich8907]

You should see how bad it is in socialist countries. You wouldn’t complain if you had.

[@mattchew6426]

American workers are tired of working their lives away for less and less. The greed at the top has caused there to be less prospect of upward mobility for everyone else. It's unsustainable...smh

[@baronharkonnen1217]

It is unsustainable. The wealthy in America have tried, and are still trying, to take as much wealth from the populace as possible. It's the beginning of the end when a nation starts to devour itself for the sake of making a dollar.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

And on top of that if you do work hard and build a industry by working 80 hours/week they will steal it from you and move it to some other country. Work hard and other lies.

[@jeremyrangel8138]

@@baronharkonnen1217 Okay, so what's stopping people from creating a viable alternative? You are free to start a business with whatever values you choose. Why haven't you done that?

[@brianjacob8728]

It's not supposed to be sustainable. You are now irrelevant and they want you dead. That's what covid is about, and that's what this war in the Ukraine is about. You're witnessing the beginning of WWIII, which has been in the works since the 1870s.

[@jonas7510]

speaking as a non native english speaker here ... what does "smh" mean ? you muricans use way to many acronyms ...

[@dennisyoung4631]

Worker co-ops may be the only realistic means of returning manufacturing to this country.

[@nicolasm400]

Jobs by and for us, not for idle opulent parasites anymore.

[@nil981]

Worker co-ops are nice and all but if they exist within a capitalist framework what will fundamentally change anyway? We need to rapidly move on beyond capitalism.

[@jeremyrangel8138]

@@nicolasm400 Okay, so what's stopping you? Why haven't you started a successful co-op yet?

[@jeremyrangel8138]

@@nil981 Why can't they exist within a "capitalist framework" (whatever that means?)? If co-ops can produce products/services at prices that people find agreeable, then they will proliferate... Have you started a co-op?

[@nicolasm400]

@@jeremyrangel8138 Why do you assume that everything that is good will proliferate, and everything that is proliferating is good? Are you that blind to the nature of centralized power?

[@itzenormous]

It's time that American Workers show the same level of discontent with the current cabal of war hawks that are about the plunge the world into a war of great magnitude. The Working Class needs to do SOMETHING to stop these sociopaths. We need a march, a continued demonstration in the centers of power, that eclipses the size and effectiveness of the ones held in 2003!!

[@AceofDlamonds]

Job guarantee desperately needed. How many times do new and the longtime unemployed need to get on their knees and beg for a job from corporate employers whose top executives are all filthy rich?? There's an entire industry dedicated to helping workers "sell themselves" to employers. Not everyone gets a fair chance at even an interview from picky companies. It can be your appearance, your voice, clothing, or your natural traits, that get you the job... It's absolutely insane.

[@augustusb3501]

Totally insane. You are absolutely correct

[@mE-zx7pt]

Also, age. Once you're over 50, no one wants to hire you.

[@spiritpeacefulrevolution3523]

Amazing analysis. Spot on with the worker cooperative economy

[@LONEWOLF..314-S-T-L]

GREAT TALKING POINTS PROFESSOR WOLFF AS USUAL 💪🏾🌄👍🏾❤️

[@TheMemesofDestruction]

“We’re Mad as Hell and not gonna take it anymore!!!”

[@tinalulumack378]

✊🏽✊🏽unity solitary and unionize!!

[@jwill5033]

And aint going do shit about it but be mad thats the American way. Get mad but still take the punishment and just bitch about it

[@michaeljackson8390]

@@jwill5033 🏖️I help expose our evil government (the Illuminati) i have 2,145,212+Total views💜[The about section will blow your mind]☄️! +

[@massivecumshot]

With the consolidation of mass media into 6 massive multinational corporations, most people don't even know WHO they are mad AT. They only know their lives are harder and less secure than previously, and are looking for someone to blame. This is why Fox News is so successful......they point the finger consistently and without veracity to government, while government has become irrelevant in the age of corporate consolidation. Politicians are merely the visible hired guns, hired by the elites to codify and distract.

[@tylerpurrden]

Solidarity ✊

[@VivaCubaRoja]

It’s about damn time that the working class stopped begging, hat in hand, for scraps from master’s table. The world is made by the international working class. When workers get organized and unionized, their strikes stop the world economy. Workers work for all, they feed all, and the time has come to stop asking for a fair wage and to take it all from the bosses. All power to all the people!✊🏼

[@MrHvieira]

Amazing content, particularly the part on how capitalism addresses workers fighting back. This is really important. Thank you.

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

I feel unions should demand coop or meaningful employee ownership with stipulated full voting stock grants as distinct and separate from pay for each worker contributing to a company.

[@kjames337]

Good luck. Just getting an union going is an uphill battle

[@moniqueboyke5879]

Great video Richard Wolff

[@nikoladathinker6319]

I have been seeking Economists for the past 2 years who skipped thru all the BS ... Mr.Wolff you are now my #1 candidate... thank you for not being afraid to talk about the CORE of the Issues...

[@lindascanlan6317]

You are simply marvelous .....

[@tolomas3721]

How?

[@notconvinced]

I really like this! I spend so much time angry and worried about the future and I usually see comments from people who don't understand that the fight isn't between us workers. This struggle is between the working poor and the FILTHY rich. It's always been thus and they've always pitted us against each other to distract us from the Truth. Workers of the World UNITE! I appreciate the comments I've read on here and I especially appreciate Richard Wolfe's comments as well. I'm really glad that there's another option here and that we can have hope, even though any success will most certainly initially be paid for with bitter coin😑 . Good Luck and Courage to us all. Check out the SUNRISE MOVEMENT when ya get the chance😊

[@patriciafichter4790]

I need to figure out how to be a union representative in my town🤔.

[@michaeljackson8390]

🏖️I help expose our evil government (the Illuminati) i have 2,145,212+Total views💜[The about section will blow your mind]☄️! +

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

Because the Smart Ones are waking up and I did two and a half years ago.. which is why I live alternatively now and I'm debt-free because of it not to mention I work for myself thank God..

[@stuckinthemud4352]

Debt free in a capitalist society?

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

@@stuckinthemud4352 exactly my friend that's free I have no bills out of them the bills you pay now like your electric bill. Because I have live out of my van we have been doing for two and a half years now and I do have a small base but only for 500 month I left my 1350 one-bedroom apartments two-and-a-half years ago cuz I refuse to pay high rent anymore.. and I've been Rich ever since so to speak..

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@skapunkoialternativeliving6522 what does that have to do with richard wolf and Marxism?

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

@@stuckinthemud4352 actually good people are complaining or wild-caught make it in a capitalistic system I'm poor quitting my job.. has a lot to do with it my friend I'm one of those people who used to work for other people years ago I'm in my van watching this Channel right now in the parking lot somewhere enjoying my life no rent to pay no Big Bill's no nothing my life is perfect I don't have to work hard for nobody and I work for myself.. my point is is all the ways of living you don't have to live the Catholics take away all the Socialist Way live your way and live on your terms.. the lesser lesser value you have the more you going to be working for someone else and reporter the more value you have you work for yourself and you get richer choice is yours..

[@jyotikumar1898]

@@skapunkoialternativeliving6522 I wish you the best😁

[@randybest9187]

I agree with with Richard. However it remains to be seen how Americans can respond. We have been too fat, dumb and happy for far too long. We are soft. The USA is following in the footsteps of the Roman Empire.

[@anhedonic-voting]

Thank you 🌎 ✊️ 🌹 🗽

[@scottluthy5828]

And both political parties have done next to nothing to fix this horrible wealth and income inequality. In fact, they love this existing economic system.

[@boltstrike2787]

That's because they benefit from it. Employers are paying politicians to look the other way through campaign donations and lobbying so they can protect their profits. The employers make more money by keeping policies that favor them, the politicians make more money from the employers, and the rest of us lose.

[@Illstatefishing]

My last day of work was last Friday!!

[@1911olympic]

Another gem from professor Wolff.

[@igorDobrowolski1]

Thank you

[@Oneshot8242]

Thanks again, Professor Wolff!

[@BBBarua]

In my opinion, there are three ways to correct the capitalist to keep its system going. 1) Just wait until Government forces them to change their way of doing things. 2) Wait for the Customer and Employees to take their own actions. 3) Be proactive in changing things the way the Capitalists want. I am sure the third option is very appealing to the capitalist. :)

[@factsmatter6625]

Thank you Prof Wolff for this excellent video and assessment of the dire state of the American working class. US should pull back on its aggressive foreign policy and focus on fixing its domestic economy and, particularly, the wealth inequality.

[@Ianpact]

Thank you.

[@diplomat249]

I knew that tossing folks from their careers & cutting off people's UI lifelines prematurely was not going to end well for the Gov and its corporate masters.

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

We need to make Striketober a National Holiday, a day of true Union Soildarity.

[@benjaminhenderson7059]

That would kinda defeat the purpose. Maybe if the day of the month is randomly determined. Otherwise they will just factor it in like all other holidays.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

Ok but what if i make an antistriketober group that works for free on striketober? Are you gonna stop me?

[@stoxarecool763]

@@stuckinthemud4352 Analyzed through Cipolla's Laws of Stupidity, that would make you a stupid person, as you would be harming yourself by working without compensation, as well as harming the workers you'd be replacing. A much less stupid option might be just treating it like a normal work day. 🤣 Anyway, I support a general workers' strike, as a single event, perhaps lasting more than one day, but not regular planned recurring strikes; if it needed to occur monthly, we'd have already lost the fight and would be better off trying something else. This has to be massive, unexpected, and unrelenting in order to have any effect. Which it still may not. My wages have gone down since 2019, both in terms of hourly pay and of course factoring in inflation. I have nothing to lose, and I know I'm not the only one struggling...

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@stoxarecool763 well that depends lol. Honestly i know im dealing with an smart person when they start the conversation by talking shit. Back in my day u got popped for that shit but its all good bro i got thick skin. Go ahead report me like a bitch. My point was that unions dont allways have to be Marxist. for example if my union will work for less than your union thats capitalism bro. When u start asking uncle sam to snuff me out thats when you become a true Marxist. Are you a wannabe or a real Marxist?

[@boltstrike2787]

Enjoy getting a canned PR response of "We support the striking workers on this Striketober!" and no real action to solve the problem just like Juneteenth and Pride Month.

[@37Dionysos]

Your point of true power is the daily workplace. That's where you pull your weight 1/2 day and the rest goes to somebody else's profit and advantages. What you do is crucial to the machine no matter how "small." But however you organize for improvement, be wary of people who rush in to "help" when you get a union going: before you know it they'll be taming down your demands and approach while cashing in on dues. Have seen that while the UAW is a strong hard-hitting ally with proven results, the SEIU is like putting your feet in heavy clay.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

Just curious but how do you stop financial inequality without force when some people buy stocks and others buy prostitutes? How do you stop inequality when some invest in farms and others buy overpriced racecars? Forget workers for a second are you ok with inequality of wealth as long as its created without exploiting workers? If i make a robot that coooks and delivers pizza anf then i use my profits to make more robots and i just keep making more profit are you ok with that? As long as i dont exploit workers?

[@37Dionysos]

@@stuckinthemud4352 How stop economic inequality without force? Abolish profit. The word designates value derived by taking more than you put into an exchange. It's the lie, trick or steal that begins all other inequality. Suppose you could work half-days to pull your weight and then be free to do what you please, incl. taking what you want from stores for "free"? (All who work/produce would have same access.) Would you then go crazy amassing piles of so-called wealth, or find a new reason to live, work and create? "Things" inherently do not satisfy. Humanity needs a new (actually, old) reason to exist.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@37Dionysos you realise you sound like you're off your meds right?

[@37Dionysos]

@@stuckinthemud4352 Insults are worthless. Maybe you should ask why you live for somebody else's reasons (profit) and support a system of fake scarcity so that a few pigs take everything? Think this is good for you?

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@37Dionysos you cant possibly even make sense to yourself

[@davidalexanderlourie4371]

Striking seem radical and militant while leaving a job seems passive. Striking allows management to negotiate to get the workers to return to work and keep the business operating. Just leaving gives management no room for negotiating. The fact that this situation has arisen shows the managers are not managers but dictators who do not listen and have no empathy for their workforce. How can such people be called managers, even farmers have to consider the material and psychological well being of their livestock to optimize production. When management for decades have treated their workforce as individuals as expendable and the individuals respond to being treated as worthless leave then industries face collapse. As this has become a systemic problem the whole system needs to radically change to save the current form of capitalism from itself. But is it worth saving. If we look at the state of the planet and how we reached this catastrophic situation we are in, it makes capitalism look like a death cult. Why would we want to perpetuate a death cult that openly destroys the life giving forces of nature while boosting profits through wars which destroy the cultural edifices, institutions, infrastructure, homes and communities of sovereign nations. Why do we support this death cult if we are not suicidal ourselves?

[@andywomack3414]

There is a simple reason why. It's the bipartisan policy called Supply Side Economics.

[@MartysFadingHand]

The best way to deprive everyone of ownership is to make everyone feel Ike they own everything.

[@mikeshen9293]

If people quit their jobs, how do they live on?

[@tonyfernandes2342]

Excellent lesson, Dr. Richard Wolff! You are absolutely right! By the way, do you know what would happen if everybody were rich such as, for example, Bill Gates? - I'll tell you: everybody would starve to death! -Why? - Because there wouldn't be any poor people to work for them. Am I joking? - No, I'm not! "Changing the System!" is the answer!

[@oldmansailor]

hey I just did that! The VP of operations was a major narcissist. It felt so good not to be controlled on everything.

[@globalblakafrakanempowerme4050]

Mr Wolff, what's your thoughts on eliminating markets

[@dmcdole7291]

Agreed. Maximum profits at the expense of the worker’s worth. No longer guaranteed vacation. You earn PTO. Which if you need time off within a year, for whatever reason. Like Dr appointments or your sick. Then you lose any chance at a true vacation after a year of service to your job. PTO is a way to force you to make a hard choice. Work more, or lose your PTO and forfeit a 40 hour vacation. Even when you have worked your ass off for a company. Like overtime and go above and beyond. No low wage job guarantees a full weeks vacation after a year‘s dedication of work. Know your worth and demand that you get a 40 hour vacation. We have been forced labor. I have been with a company for a year in May. I will not have 40 hours in PTO. So working the whole year for a weeks vacation is not possible unless I take some days of that 40hr without pay. Now they want to cap your PTO.

[@judyvaughn761]

It's the same as trying to find a better doctor there's no such thing they are all the same patting their pockets

[@jamesmorton7881]

More profits and fewer jobs = more inequality. They do not even need your labor. But you need to eat. make waves demand change vote for change need a new economics for stability

[@oitzingerpeter]

The US Empire is collapsing into the sunset.

[@kenaultman7499]

The 40 hour week was designed with the idea that one person would stay at home and handle everything else that needed done. When you force both people to do that, you're asking for burnout. They're not activists. They literally can't afford to live on these jobs. This is a capitalist system. The money being offered to compensate isn't enough. It is such a simple problem. THEY. AREN'T. PAYING. ENOUGH. Why am I going to work my entire life away for someone else when I won't even be paid enough to have a modest home at any point in my life? I say fuck it, I'd rather sit on a beach and let the bills pile up. Wages have been flat for almost half a century now. All the while, we have, let's be honest here, inflation around 25% because they fudge the numbers. All I'll say is this. I won't be the one to roll out the guillotines. But, I won't stop them either.

[@I_fuck_moms_of_CIA_trolls.]

Really? How come this video only has 6.5k views after a whole day? American workers who quit are far from having had "enough"!

[@DerekSpeareDSD]

#GeneralStrike

[@stoxarecool763]

#MassiveGeneralStrike

[@grovedas]

Thank you for another brilliant video. Professor, would you please listen to the song, "Straight to You," by Josh Groban (written by Nick Cave)? It reflects many of your teachings. You've mentioned Leonard Cohen's song, "Everybody Knows"-- and I believe you will also love, "Straight to You."

[@EdwinLuciano]

They had enough time to think.

[@puti2147]

When & If Manufacturing does return to US would be the Right Time to Rework & Regulate the Antique Structures & Laws of Worker Rights & Corporate Cultures. More Equality based on Corporate Profits / Stock Values which have till today have been Manipulated to Benefit only the Top Tier Class in Corporations.

[@billfrenger8955]

Read Lewis Powell's 1971 memo to the U.S. Chamber Of Commerce.

[@alloomis1635]

no use getting angry. the foundation of elite rule is the constitution. until you get democracy, the law will side with the elite. you'd think usa people would figure this out, they can't all be ignorant. but those that aren't keep quiet.

[@CarloBiondi]

What are your thoughts on the trucker convoy in Canada? Many on the left have claimed it has been co-opted by the right. I disagree, because the people on the ground are real workers with real concerns.

[@monsterous6152]

In case you haven't heard, May Day Strike is currently being planned! Check it out!!

[@btbingo]

FB declined to allow me to outline what happened to me in the past. Truth telling is not a civil thing to indulge in.

[@globalblakafrakanempowerme4050]

Mr richard d Wolff, I have an employer denying my right for a sabbatical or unpaid leave. What should I do. My family is in the Asante region and I want to visit them but they wont let me. What should I do.

[@MarkbyMarkAFosterPhD]

The American working class is, by and large, lumpenproletarian, not proletarian.

[@samkim8451]

Rich gat richer and poor gating drank

[@BBBarua]

Not everyone can see which group of people are working more and spending more to stimulate the economy. Whoever owns the data to see the birdseye view is always ahead of planning and capturing high profit. The government needs to step in and level the playing field to avoid the monopoly. In software eating the world age, powerful companies hide their monopoly power easily and they can also shape and nudge things the way they want with their invisible hands. This will create an unstable economy, and consumers ended up paying more for less vlaue.

[@daniellarson3068]

Could this be a symptom of capitalism working? The economics guys teach us that it is all about land, labor and capital. Seems like labor is in "short" supply for whatever reason. Could this unionization and slowly rising wages be the natural reaction to the situation following the laws of supply and demand? Even professor Wolff's assertion that the "owners" will flee to China may be a part of the changing situation. It seems like a lot of companies are fleeing China, they've had a real estate crash, they have power outages and the people in charge have changed rules where the returns have more risk. "Owners" want low risk and are less likely to dump capital into China in recent times. Either way it's positive news for a change. Thanks for the video.

[@wgreiter]

And cuckolds will welcome them back... they can stay in China.

[@boltstrike2787]

The natural conclusion of capitalism is for the big fish to eat each other until they own everything and everyone else has nothing, and we're pretty close to that. It just isn't sustainable anymore. As for why labor and wages are decreasing, it's because of technology. Computers have automated many of the essential functions of the economy, so human labor is seen as less valuable than it used to be. That leads employers to want to automate tasks with computers as much as possible so they can cut jobs and save money, and to lowball their employees because they can't compete with a machine. So that gives us the current state of the job market where we have a serious drought of quality, livable wage jobs. Capitalism just isn't compatible with a computer age economy, a computer age economy doesn't need much human labor so vast majorities of the population are going to be left unable to find a job to afford their expenses in a capitalist economy. A new economic system that's focused less on human labor and more on smart allocation of resources is the solution here.

[@TheWindGinProject]

The microphone setup is extremely scratchy.

[@mrparrehesian1742]

I've spent time with several union organizations, they are also the problem and are on the politicians side not the members. They will bend to political memes as fast as you can bend down to pick up $10 on the ground. Never think someone else has your best interests at hand.

[@kenaultman7499]

Sure you have.

[@mba2ceo]

Hello GOVT !!! then Tariffs & stop immigration

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Prof. Wolff: Can you please research & advocate for full intellectual property (IP) abolition? This is the most important activist aim for working class people! A worker co-op economy (& most leftist projects) has very little chance without first abolishing IP. IP is the most severe & oppressive tool of the rich & powerful. Please see the work of Stephan Kinsella, Michele Boldrin, & David K. Levine. These are the best experts on intellectual property in the world. Everyone who cares about seriously improving things for humanity needs to know what IP abolition is about.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

IP laws make no sense from either left or right politics. The ‘property’ in intellectual property is a false term used for propaganda purposes. Intellectual property is not property in any sense. It’s monopoly. IP actually stifles innovation & creativity. And IP seriously screws up our economy & stacks it for the rich & powerful more than any other tool (especially IP with digital tech and the internet). IP abolition is the most important aim to liberate artists, programmers, inventors, etc. and make them all better off financially.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

All 4 types of IP must be fully abolished in any & all countries ASAP: patents, copyright, trademarks & trade secrets.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

IP provides for censorship. IP is the main component of cultural control, propaganda, & advertising. Copyright does not just monopolize art- copyright also monopolizes all text, video, audio, photos, images, software & websites. And patents monopolize important aspects of media infrastructure. Therefore, IP is the main component which allows media conglomerates to “manufacture consent”.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

The 2008 economics book ‘Against Intellectual Monopoly’ and the 2001 essay ‘Against Intellectual Property’ are both as important as Marx’s ‘Capital’! Each has nearly flawless argumentation. All leftists need to read both (free online). If you can’t read them now, then write down both titles so you can tell others so they can read them.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

And Uniquenameosaurus has two excellent and entertaining videos from April 2021 about IP abolition. Patricia Taxxon has another excellent one from October 2017 about copyright abolition.

[@Turanic1]

if this had a billion views...

[@abbkell1195]

Interestingly, people forget the country is at war already whether abroad with economic and ideological rivals or at home between the party puppets that are the source of the division. For so long many disagreed with the only two sided ideologies the other one some kind of symbolic. The above content should have been at least 15 years back; a bit way before shipping and outsourcing everything for profits.

[@user-pq1ik1vo1s]

They had been employed by others who are capital in the thinking of democracies on academic school

[@ramonching7772]

Make the government work for the people. But good luck. It's one dollar one vote in America.

[@wgreiter]

I like your sentiment... but it's a bit more than a 1:1 ratio. At least 100 Billion is spent on campaign shenanigans averaged annually, dark money and above board. My ballpark guess.

[@piotr.leniec-lincow5209]

You have to be financially well off to just quit .

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

I got a solution do what I did I cut down my living expenses I cut back downside live alternatively. which means I don't have to work hard anymore..

[@buddyoo4942]

sounds like a great inventions!😆

[@stevecoley8365]

X-Files Earthling human beings (love) are not fond of being human capital (cattle) for the hostile alien vampires (greed) and their ignorance (hate).

[@stephenhoskins1532]

We already live in a more Socialist society than a Capitalist one Governmaent and Central Planning has become too big .Capitalism drives down the cost of goods due to compettion under a free market economy . The only way govenments raise money is by taxation and when there is not enough they print it and that leads to inflation . Worker co ops were tried in the UK in the seventies and they failed because major business decisions cannot be put into effect in a competitive market . Wage rises under unionisation then add more inflationand result in jobs going abroad anyway.

[@Krooksbane]

Too many workers in this country believe that they’ll join the one percent. Temporary embarrassed millionaire syndrome.

[@MrSanman28]

4th option. People start working for themselves just like you are doing on this video. People are leaving jobs because they had the time to stay home and discover self employment options that helped them become successful capitalist.

[@anab0lic]

the problem is not everyone can do this.... the world would not function correctly if everyone was working from home... there needs to be more incentive to leave the house and work in some of these places that cause so much misery.

[@MrSanman28]

@@anab0lic you contradict yourself. People should optimize the potential they have. In turn tough jobs will have to pay accordingly.

[@anab0lic]

​ I don't see the contradiction? I agree that people should optimize themselves... but that is very hard to do in a world where so many need to put so much energy and time into just staying financially afloat. It leaves little time to actually work on developing skillsets of value. Also, until we develop the technology for robots and AI to take over the shitty jobs of the world... they still need to be done for society to function. Shitty jobs should pay better... since they are such soul destroying endeavours, one should be compensated accordingly for such a sacrifice.

[@southhillfarm2795]

People that stay at home don’t make stuff that is saleable. People that can work from home are very dispensable.

[@MrSanman28]

@@anab0lic People ARE acvtively leaving for better opportunities and leaving the 9-5. They don't have to fill the shitty job and suggesting that they do is the contradiction.

[@chuckleaf8027]

wages went up until 1970? roughly when Nixon took us off the gold standard for good?

[@stuckinthemud4352]

Theres a video by red white and blurred channel called productivity and wages. Watch it. Your wrong

[@chuckleaf8027]

@@stuckinthemud4352 Wrong about what?

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@chuckleaf8027 did u watch the 4 min video?

[@stuckinthemud4352]

All im saying is wages haven't gone down compared to inflation.

[@chuckleaf8027]

@@stuckinthemud4352 I mean, what's not to believe? Nixon's promises were immediately broken, the biggest being the dollar would retain it's value. Todays dollar is only worth 17 cents compared to 1971???

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

Like I said a million times before if you want to make real money you better off working for your self that's the only way to do it.. I know everybody cannot do that which is why you're going to have poor people and people were homeless because they have no value.. the last value you have the less you going to make it..

[@benjaminhenderson7059]

The fact that you think some lives have lesser value just shows how little we should care about your opinion.

[@jeremypeterson705]

I think we should criminize anyone who makes "real money".

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

@@jeremypeterson705 you can't do that

[@jeremypeterson705]

@ska punk OI! alternative living Why not? It has happened before and can happen again. In fact, I would be willing to wager that public executions will eventually become a thing for these people. History rhymes.

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

@@jeremypeterson705 you really think it could happen

[@massivecumshot]

I'm heavily invested in A.I. and robotics companies, all of whom have AGGRESSIVE plans for investment and revenue in the next 3-5 years as employers target ALL repetitive labor for automation. Everything from stock pickers to burger flippers to retail sales clerks to delivery drivers, ditch diggers, framing carpenters etc is being codified into algorithmic behaviors that can be programmed into machines. The coming of 3D printing of houses will eliminate much carpenter and foundation labor in home construction. If you use your muscles and not your brain to make your living, chances are someone is studying your job and coding its decision trees into a robot somewhere. Think about this as your kids are choosing their educational/career paths.

[@schen7913]

In a society with that much automation, we should have more economic security, not less. Unless we lack enough workers to maintain the AI software, or repair the robotics hardware.

[@Tom-Travels]

Worker co-ops will turn into a Lord of the Flies organization. The alpha's will take over and the beta's will be slaves, or, cast out as they prove themselves to be weak. Among the Alphas, one man will emerge; and get the Lion's share of resources for himself. No, Prof, resistance to human nature is futile.

[@massivecumshot]

Alphas NEVER join cooperative organizations willingly, unless they are desperate failures. They either become lone wolf consultants, tradesmen or entrepreneurs if they have access to capital.

[@buddyoo4942]

Lion alphas certainly don't behave that way...what you have describe is the McGregor’s X Theory of human nature however there were time in ancient past where McGregor’s Y Theory was prevalent. There are ways and method to achieve this. We need to rediscover such knowledge.

[@heinomaland6744]

From the philosophy I've studied so far, yours is the most superficial. Marx's conclusion is that man is the sum total of all social relations. Without society there would be no man in the social sense, and without social sense there would be no human nature. Unions are just a formality, the Nazis had unions, the Soviets had unions, the Paris Commune had unions, the Spanish Civil War the Aragon Anarchists had unions, Europe had unions, The Americas had unions but the question is what did the unions do for the workers and how. Your argument leans heavily toward the anarchists, which is obvious given Americans' natural distrust of government. Yet history has proved that centralization was an extremely important tool in the Great Industrial Age and of all the worker revolutions of the second decade of the twentieth century, only Lenin's party achieved centralization. You American workers believe that government is not credible, but in the industrial age, centralization was one of the most important tools and the problem is that the efforts of the American workers in the twentieth century to establish credible worker government are nowhere to be found in modern times. It can only be said that the American elites are very cosmopolitan, but the American workers have no sense of internationalism. As a result, tragedies are repeated around the world, with the devil pretending to be an angel and the American workers acting as the lambs of the capitalists.

[@chuckleaf8027]

Wolff says greedy employers cause inflation. Milton Freidman said inflation is the increase in the supply of money and credit..(.like a zillion other economists.) During the laissez faire era, prices were dropping across the board. What happened?

[@oswarz]

When was the laissez faire era? Really.

[@chuckleaf8027]

@@oswarz End of civil war up to early 1900s. It wasn't truly "hands off" if that's what you're saying, but far less gov. intrusion than nowadays..

[@kevintewey1157]

🤪🤪🤣🤣🤣 FREEDMAN DEBUNKED BY WOLF, SEVERAL OTHERES

[@benjaminhenderson7059]

@@chuckleaf8027 and when was the labor movement exactly???? Just gonna ignore that part? Look how much socialism was allowed then vs it being eliminated in the early 1900's. Funny how it coincides with what you describe as a better economy, and when socialism was pushed out coincides with the decline you talk about. Interesting to see you ignore the one but embrace the other. A very western economics perspective, perhaps why they all agree on things that end up being incorrect so very often. Of course the western economic perspective massively enriching those who pay western economists so well has nothing to do with the popularity of that perspective you tout either. So given how profitable pushing libertarianism is, I wonder how much they are paying you? If not, doesn't that technically make you without value? Or are you more like chattel, a natural resource included when they buy the property?

[@chuckleaf8027]

@@kevintewey1157 If you say so.

[@D4G13]

Isn’t inflation a result of the more liberal “socialistic” policies? Money printing, stimulus packages, buying of stocks, interest rates, unemployment payments coming from free money, intense lockdowns destroying supply chains.

[@justcomp1]

I pick door number 3. And the prize: Bozo and Musk get a one-way ticket to the moon.

[@jeremyrangel8138]

I'm 27, didn't get my GED until I was 23, and was born of two completely broke parents. I make between $100,000-120,000 selling cars at a Kia dealership, and another $50,000 selling real estate. How come I am successful under the "evils" of capitalism? Could it be because I'm not a loser who just whines all the time?

[@tolomas3721]

So your experience is more valuable than millions others and facts? I dont think so, you just got lucky

[@TC-eo5eb]

I watch the Barret Jackson and Mecum classic car auctions all the time. Every month or so, thousands of every day average American's from all walks of life turning out to pay six figure and seven figure prices for collector cars. Countless average American's pay hundreds of dollars every weekend to attend professional sporting events and concerts. Countless Americans are spending money in Vegas at any moment. Countless average Americans across the country are in casinos at any given time. Countless average American's are on vacation at any moment. Countless Americans own private airplanes, yachts, sports cars and vacation homes/condo's. If you don't like being poor do something about like I did. Stop believing the same old socialism and worker cooperative rhetoric that Wolff has been peddling for decades. If you really believe profit is theft and exploitation, then you will live in misery your whole life watching Democracy at Work video's.

[@DualTasticToday]

I don't get the philosophy that you think anyone owes us a job. Help me understand this.

[@lesliestenta3084]

I’m so tired of people blaming the victim. They are lazy, they don’t want to work. So clueless and out of touch and condescending.

[@tolomas3721]

Who is lazy? The guy working 40+ hr a week being paid 30k/year or the guy doing 40hr/week an getting 20 million a year jusg fo being a CEO?

[@lesliestenta3084]

@@tolomas3721 actually that was my point, I think I worded it wrong. Exactly true

[@tolomas3721]

Sorry, my bad im as tired as you are apparently

[@UtubeAW]

Wolf talks a good game, but if you favor kneeling on necks to force an ineffectual medical procedure…

[@susanpetty4115]

"...as you know, costs money...." Hmmm. But do I know it, Richard? My 12-13 year old students put out youtube videos for NO MONEY . . . Could you share with us, please? Just how much money do YOU need to put out youtube videos?

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

Speak for yourself I'm doing fine..

[@StaticCollapse]

They're gonna send fast food to China? 😂😂 good luck lmao

[@BloobleBonker]

So why did these people vote for Trump, the ultimate conman.

[@Brian4Liberty]

Once we have Socialism and massive bureaucracies assign you your work, you'll think back fondly on the days that quitting was an option. Sorry to inform you but, you'll most likely be a potato farmer living in a 2 bedroom apartment with 4 other potato farmers.

[@tolomas3721]

What do you think socialism is? Its not abouf being assigned a work, its about lowering inequalities between social classes

[@Brian4Liberty]

Compare theory vs. practical application in every real world attempt. A lot of things sound good on paper.

[@tolomas3721]

Yes but extremisms is what doesnt work and communism and capitalism are extremisms (altough we are more in soft capitalism) socialism is more center like marxism

[@jackflack9004]

If you have had enough, then start your own business.

[@hectorcm2063]

"if you are homeless just buy a house"

[@sandybarnes887]

Pull yourself up by the bootstraps even tho you are bootless

[@jackflack9004]

@@hectorcm2063 if you're homeless, you probably have a drug or alcohol problem. Work on that first.

[@hectorcm2063]

@@jackflack9004 let's solve a systemic problem with individual action. I'm sure this time will work out, unlike the previous 40 years.

[@hectorcm2063]

@@jackflack9004 I don't mean that individual action can't help in individual cases, but that's not going to cut it when we are talking about hundreds of thousands of people

[@stuckinthemud4352]

This guy makes me so angry. Taking advantage of misinformed young minds.

[@benjaminhenderson7059]

You really live up to your name.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@benjaminhenderson7059 my wife's nickname is mud

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@benjaminhenderson7059 lol if u had any idea how many Marxists have made that comment you would have picked something more original lol.

[@mikeridgeview9557]

Professor Wolf is enlightening and inspiring young minds, he's a light in the darkness. Go be angry somewhere else.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@mikeridgeview9557 enlightening and inspiring lmfao. What does that have to do with economics?

[@MikenNinginThai]

Lmao they get what they deserve

[@hectorcm2063]

Found a bootlicker. As a good man once wrote: "If you want nothing before you are dead shake hands with your boss and look Wise"

[@kevintewey1157]

And YOU will loose to the workers 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤬🤬💄💄💄💄💄🐷🐽🐽 Were taking your wealth

[@hectorcm2063]

@@kevintewey1157 expropiate the expropiators!

[@Qmpz85]

Marx is a gay guy!