Wolff Responds: France's Working Class Is Challenging Western Capitalism

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“This is not a pension reform, this is a pension rip off” - Prof. Wolff
In this Wolff Responds, Prof. Wolff discusses the recent working class uprisings in France and what this historic moment may mean for other countries.
Check out Prof. Wolff's discussion of the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse at: • Wolff Responds: Why Di...
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[@lucianfiul3035]

' Not a wheel turns, Not a phone rings, Not a light shines, Without the kind permission of the working class. Once this enormous power is mobilized, nothing on earth can stop it.' Ted Grant

[@gollygosh40]

so, mobilise it.

[@emd180362]

If A.I gets going..?

[@gollygosh40]

@@emd180362 doomed

[@scroopynooperz9051]

Lol they have almost cracked Artificial General Intelligence with developments like GPT4... when they embed that AGI with Boston Dynamics type of nimble, dexterous robots, they wont have need for all the surplus people on the planet. You think that all these p(!)andemics and wars and attempts to lower agricultural production is unrelated? These are designed to cull the middle and working class before they can coalesce and figure out they're getting snuffed 😂

[@MP-ut6eb]

✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼

[@kissoonkissoon1355]

The working class in the US should learn from the French and stand up against the atrocities if their own government

[@UniDeathRaven]

USA doesn't really have working class per say, most of them brainwashed into believing capitalism is gods system. They truly believe they are just 1 year away from becoming millionaire or billionaire. The mentality of americans are laughable.

[@seijacharles4004]

@@YTcensors And the middle class has disappeared and the others up from there are under a steel dome.

[@carycunningham9510]

Now even the French can't stand up - they just lost two years of their pension.

[@Fritz999]

The US workers are a lot worse off then European workers.

[@TyroPirate]

The French will never inspire the US. The media will NEVER cover any of this, and if they do now, it will not be in a positive light

[@danielburetti4711]

Meanwhile, here is the USA, our leaders increased the age of retirement to 67. Not so much as a PEEP from the people of this country. We are a complacent people who have never had to learn to fight. Wake up, American!

[@danielcrafter9349]

People in the USA are cowed into obedience Mass shootings, thousands of children dead every year... and yet.... nothing

[@williamdenton6317]

The american citizen in general has no clue what makes the US go round and round. They are brain dead, clueless and respond only to shibboleths like gun rights and the 2nd amendment, abortion, the border. It doesn't even bother them that the dish washer they just bought was made in China and assembled in Mexico. Besides that, almost 1/3 are obese and have diabetes.

[@sheldonscott4037]

Check history we were not complacent prior to WWII.

[@seijacharles4004]

When a digital device is an extension of human body, it's stage one transhumanism: in the iPad we trust, what do we need to fight for!

[@fairybuddy-angel2035]

Same in the UK. Deference to power and wealth even when the system that created that power and wealth has been demonstrated to be corrupt, self-serving and hijacked.

[@Pointiegoat69]

The French working class, "NO MORE AUSTERITY!"

[@emhu2594]

It's only austerity for the poor but excess for the rich

[@robertheap2911]

Genuine Austerity comes about, through war and severe natural disasters that effect everyone. Some years ago when western capitalism was really starting to fail , the neoliberals invented Economic Austerity. They told the public that austerity was necessary to recover the country from economic disaster. We have had a constant cycle of austerity measures since, all coupled with “Harsh “ reforms, necessary to put us back on track. When did we ever get back on track : one step forward, two steps back and a skip to the side. Too many people were gullible. Arguing with each other : right against left , neighbour against neighbour; not seeing the real problem, which is the System. Real democracy does not exist unless you fight for it. And in Layman’s terms there’s a very simple calculation : Austerity ( for the masses ) = Prosperity ( for the rich ) . That is a cold hard fact. You’re money doesn’t disappear into thin air. And where there’s debt there are creditors. People have been taken for fools

[@marcv2648]

Austerity is only possible in a society dependent upon the state.

[@briangarnier5714]

Capitalism isn't the solution to our problems it is the problem

[@LookDeeper]

As is communism, we have yet to develop a superior system.

[@oscarwindham6016]

Reformed capitalism on the basis of recognizing the reality of quantitative easing (QE), QE3infinity, 2012 specifically and or what I call Equity Spending or ES is the solution to the problem, but no one, but little ole me, is willing to publicly discuss QE.

[@limitisillusion7]

Reality is more complicated than that. Capitalism is what led you to the conclusion that capitalism is problematic. Without it, you can't say where we'd be, and in essence, without it, *you* wouldn't be. History is cyclical to an extent that will surprise you one day.

[@austinpage9463]

@@limitisillusion7 yeah when every revolution ever has been sabotaged by the US, it may appear that we’ve reached the end of history and capitalism has won. But I beg to differ, I believe the workers of the world will unite one day and demand change. It’s coming sooner than *you* think

[@limitisillusion7]

@@travisbiko8990 I'm saying that the collapse of capitalism is part of the cycle. This isn't the first time advanced capitalistic economies have approached collapse. This may be the end of a cycle though. We will rebuild though. Whether we rebuild with 8 billion or 8 people has yet to be determined.

[@lykaojalao2733]

Every time we see any government talks about retirement pension…the topic has always been “Increase the retirement age”… I like to see “decrease the retirement age”. The governments are bs

[@truthaboveall7988]

Burning the stock exchange was MY FAV especially Blackrock

[@LuisAldamiz]

They didn't: it was a mere occupation with bengals. They burnt nothing... not yet at least.

[@madashell7224]

Proud of my ancestors!! When will Americans wake up??💪

[@alterego157]

Americans are woke

[@marcv2648]

The French are entirely dependent upon the state for their survival. What is to be proud of?

[@katiestans2824]

@@marcv2648the US just borrows money from future generations to prop this country up. Over 30 trillion dollars in debt and only taking in about 5 trillion dollars in taxes makes it sound like our government failed math class.

[@madashell7224]

@@marcv2648 Americans are dependent and enslaved. Only a few large corporations control the news, telling us what they want us to hear. A few large corporations own our food supply. They destroyed the family farms and own almost all the agricultural land. Now they've raised food prices to a high level. What can you do about it? People living in a city can't grow their own food. Large corps control almost everything we buy. If an entrepreneur becomes successful their idea is stolen or they're forced to sell to the large corp ( See the story of Ben & Jerry's ice cream and the guy who invented pulsating windshield wipers. *A country is supposed to take care of its citizens* That's why we pay taxes. If you think America is the land of the free your brain has been marinating too long in the propaganda of the rich ruling class. The 1% who own way over 90% of the wealth in America. Stand up for your rights.

[@CrapKerouac]

Something people keep missing, In France the difference in life expectancy between the working class and upper class is 10 YEARS and the upper classes get all the tax breaks and bail-outs when things go to sh*t! So the working class is working longer FOR THE RICH, so the rich can lead their long lives of luxury and leisure.

[@cathjj840]

Also, 62 at full rate is only for those who started work very young, often under 18 and so have accumulated enough trimesters. These people are usually low wage, manual workers who are affected physically negatively by their jobs. In realilty, most people have to wait to 64 or 65 already. Retiring even a little bit early is very penalizing as the system is very degressive.. It's also unfavorable to women whose situation will be even worse under Macron's so-called reform. Reform is in fact very much needed, but the current plan doesn't address the real issues at all.

[@davidpeppers551]

I figured most countries were that way to some degree. Life expectancy here is closely tied to income. Poor people live shorter lives.

[@bma1955alimarber]

The name for this socio-economical system, is pseudo slavery or modern slavery

[@paulyandle6081]

Full pension retirement at 62, 35 hour work week, 2 hour lunch break, 3 plus weeks vacation, and last I looked still in the top 10 of most productive workers. French people Defend the rights and benefits THEY'VE WON for themselves, while American and Brit workers have spent the last 43 years rolling over as the gains made by their Grandparents have been clawed back by the unscrupulous "ruling classes".

[@soonv5732]

in fact 5 weeks vacation

[@jrebar]

Sounds like lazy

[@hermanmunster714]

Now you talking!

[@OrlOnEarth]

I'm so proud of my country. Power to the people!!

[@faa9261]

Tell them to get out of Africa

[@alexanderkarayannis6425]

Two years may be nothing if you are in your 20s, but being told at 62 after you are counting the days to retirement, that you'll have to wait another two years to retire and enjoy the fruits of your labor, can be a matter of life and death...If you have that long...Now, when the numbers don't add up for a respectable pension for the millions in this position, this becomes a serious social issue the implications of which are being fought over in the streets of France for now, but the rest of the world will follow soon enough, as it is not in a much better position.

[@matthewjackson9615]

I'll say this much for the French , they'll raise hell out in the streets and work their grievances out of their systems. They at least give a damn and care enough to do something. The proles in other countries won't follow suit though. 😕

[@rogersmith7396]

Its not that big a deal but once they get 64 they will want 66, then 68, etc. They will attempt to balance the budget on the backs of the old people while giving away the store to the rich.

[@AlbertoGarcia-wd7sc]

Even if it is nothing, the sooner you start the fight, the better. Because if you don't do it, you'll end up with a retirement age like the one in Spain or Germany, and poverty pensions. When they say "we must reform our pension systems to make them sustainable" they are lying.

[@summerisonthursday5239]

​@@rogersmith7396UK has been raised to 68, now they want 70. Ridiculous.!

[@AlbertoGarcia-wd7sc]

@@hydroponichomesteader6852 even though France doesn't control its currency, that's not how it works

[@renzo6490]

Kudos to the French people for understanding the situation and for responding with unity! They must have a freer press than we do.

[@j.c4007]

Press is no free anymore in France : the leaders of Big firmes bought 99% of the press media in France : Bolloré, Draghi, Arnault, .....etc. They know each others. They don't want journalists make wawes. So there are many and many events journalists don't report. People know those events through social "nets".

[@73foue73]

Unfortunatelly no. Our press is 90% owned by 7 billionnaires. All information is formatted to defend the ultra-rich

[@hermanmunster714]

Canada has a freer press than US. The US is extremely isolated, not by peoples choice but by govt design. They do not want Americans to wake up and realize what is being done to them.

[@rebelwinds]

Richard Wolff, thank you so much for your clear analysis, as always

[@oscarwindham6016]

He doesn't know what he's talking about with this being evident by Wolff not recognizing the reality of quantitative easing (QE), QE3infinity, 2012 specifically and or what I call Equity Spending or ES.

[@MrMarinus18]

Though while I agree with a lot of what he is saying I do think he falls into the trap that many old Marxists fall into which is excessive materialism. Materialism matters but Marx was wrong in dismissing things like ethnicity, nationality, religion, sentiment, culture and other such social forces. The Bolshiviks took this to heart and were culturally very destructive which made them appear as the enemy of the average people rather than allies and the backlash of this cultural destruction let to things like the American evangelicals and the German Nazi's. If socialism is to succeed we should learn from the past and not repeat the same mistakes. Non-material things matter to people, the idea of European solidarity regarding Ukraine matters, French culture and pride matters, French heritage and their memory of the revolution matters. A big reason why capitalism in the US was able to become so strong was because instead of crushing protestant religious ideals it rooted itself in them with the idea of a "work ethic". Capitalism became something that transcended nationalities rather than something that tried to crush nationalities. The main reason the Soviet empire fell apart was it's oppression of the cultural expression of eastern Europe. If France is to become more socialist the socialism will have to work with France and not against it. It will need to justify itself by the ideals of the French revolution, the ideal of protecting their cultural heritage, the ideal of themselves as a people, all the other things besides capitalism that the French people use to define themselves. In Germany socialism should try to root itself in anti-fascism, a rejection of Bismark's militarism, a push for solidarity with all, a search for universal prosperity, a pride in their own skills in engineering and other German ideals. In Poland it should try to root itself in the lessons of the Polish aristocracy's destruction of the country, the centuries of oppression and endurance, the Catholic church, the strong nationalist sentiment, the social conservatism, the anti-Russian attitudes. We need to acknowledge that Karl Marx was also just a man with flaws and only able to see the world from his perspective and with the information available at the time. We have the benefit of hindsight now to know where 20th century socialism went right and where it went wrong and as socialists it would be foolish not to use that. We also need to use the consumer culture rather than try to instantly overthrow it, focus on things like planned obsolecence, hinderances to repair, conditions on usage of items, microtransactions, morgages, artificial scarcity, price gauging, pushing unwanted products, offensive and intrusive advertising and other consumer complaints. While capitalism often has overproduction with people not able to afford stuff Soviet communism often had the opposite problem. With people having money but nothing to spend it on, this is a flaw that we need to be sure not to repeat.

[@davidpeppers551]

​@@MrMarinus18I would say having collaborative control and ownership of the workplace is more than materialism. It expands freedom and democracy.

[@MrMarinus18]

@@davidpeppers551 It does but things like religion and sense of identity matters too. You also have the consumption culture that won't just vanish overnight.

[@annebeignatborde1832]

I live in France and his analysis is simplistic to say the least.

[@AbtinX]

Solidarity with the working people's of France. I think we should follow their example.

[@georgegates526]

Looks like France's workers has is together.

[@kevinschmidt2210]

This will not end well for the French government if they don't put the retirement age back to 62. My advice to them: Don't lose your head over it!

[@The_First_Sean]

⁠@@raymondgillespie2169No, give them more French women. The working class only want sex.

[@adinahaun6001]

The number of workers striking is a good sign in the US. The French workers /demonstrations are our role models. This hollowed out, corrupt neo- liberal system must be changed as it’s a disaster for our country and the world. Many signs globally that is happening. Who would have thought that sanction mania would backfire so spectacularly for the West. Thank you always Professor Wolff for your astute, timely analysis. I depend on it!,

[@kellikelli4413]

This socialist blames capitalism but completely neglects to blame GREED of the alleged elite and bad SOCIALIST policies (take from the middle class & give to the rich) & poor which bad govt policies created.

[@carycunningham9510]

"Many signs globally that is happening." What are you looking at?

[@cathjj840]

@@carycunningham9510 Among others, all kinds of major strikes and big demonstrations in both the public and private sectors in Great Britain, actions which are quite unusual for that country.

[@carycunningham9510]

@@cathjj840 👍

[@LuisAldamiz]

Not just demonstration after demonstration: that's the tip of the iceberg, it's also roadblocks, port blockades, diverse strikes (from reffineries to trash collectors, etc.), gathering in action committees (proto-soviets?), railroad blockades and sabotages, occasional violent actions such as burning the gates of public administration or attacking the cops with cobbles, etc. It's a huge movement (and one that has been going on for years already in various forms).

[@aliterogasolini6401]

CBDCs will be devastating for the working classes.

[@kevinschmidt2210]

@@aliterogasolini6401 People will not tolerate them. They will use crypto instead.

[@cathjj840]

A lot of the actual violence and destruction is from the usual suspects - oportunistic bad boys who like violence and chaos. The unions usually have a good security service honed over the years that know how to keep it in check, but the large crowds of Monsieur and Madame Everyone don't and the police don't seem to realize whose side they should be on.

[@jpenneymrcoin6851]

I was in Tierce around this time - 6 months ago - and even got stopped by the police at one point in a "routine check" that seemed suspiciously designed to prevent protesters from getting through. I was just on vacation. I also rode with a cabbie who told me he was in favor of the change to retirement age because he couldn't afford to retire at the younger age - i wonder if this is a widespread opinion. People don't always vote in their own best interest, so i figured this guy didn't understand the problem.

[@treefrog3349]

The history of the human race for the last 500 has been one of brutal exploitation of innocents under the aegis of Nobles and Clerics. Little has changed. Except for the fact that we should now know better. And we do KNOW better. We just don't do it because our contemporary Nobles and Clerics won't allow it.

[@aliterogasolini6401]

CBDCs will be devastating for the working classes.

[@andreaterraschi]

And now we have influencer and celebrity that,keep the people down whit the religion of identity politics.

[@Glumclam]

It’s only a matter of time before everyone is following the lead of the French because capitalism has to keep taking.

[@LuisAldamiz]

Or it can continue its blind path to "Armaggedon". There's a growing chance that we humans don't make it to post-capitalism, maybe machines take over or more probably ecocatastrophe will cause nuclear war. It's extremely urgent to make the revolution(s).

[@marcv2648]

France doesn't have capitalism. It has state backed corporations. Price controls. State control of the health system, the food system, housing and everything else.

[@boombot934]

Viva la Liberte! ❤❤❤

[@baronsamedi8956]

Vive* la liberté!

[@byteme2685]

In my country, Portugal, this has happened multiple times where the required age to receive your pension has been stretched out multiples times to 67 years 4 months old. Hats off to the French, which culturally speaking, stamp their foot down because lets be honest, its the only thing left to do. The House of cards needs to fall, because there is no changing from the top down.

[@goodwill3649]

Thank you for explaining the relationship between the rich corporations and the government who are on the same team

[@knowbuddee]

Whistle blowers/Leakers Are Heroes! Crush Corruption With Truth! Be Smart & Brave! Have Faith & No Fear!

[@SimpleCommuniste]

Bonjour de la France !!!

[@paulroberts8071]

Good on you Prof Wolf ! Blackrock manages trillions of dollars of investors money. All these rich investors want the same thing / a nice passive income coming in why they sun themselves on their lazy boys at their mansions or on their yachts in the Mediterranean/Bahamas / being waited on by servants from the working class .Plus enough money so their kids can lead the same privileged lifestyle.

[@jamieg.2578]

This was a fantastic breakdown. Much appreciated Prof. Wolff.

[@oldfan1963]

So. The French populace never lost the spirit of rebellion that created the Republic. What happened to Americans' spirit of rebellion?

[@LuisAldamiz]

Maybe it was never there? France has gone through many struggles since the French Revolution, which is what I believe you have in mind. This is the 5th Republic in fact, there was a 2nd Republic which became monarchy, there was a 3rd Republic which crushed The Commune with some help from Bismarck, there was the 4th Republic after WWII, which was better at democracy but shattered by its own diversity, which was changed by the current 5th Republic, a very authoritarian hyper-centralist and hyper-presidentialist format by Gral. De Gaulle. How many republics, how many revolutions, how many communist uprisings, how many general strikes even have there been in the USA? What you guys call "the American Revolution" is for the rest of the world, France included, just "the Independence War of the USA", nobody thinks it was any "revolution" proper.

[@mikelloyd520]

It was directed against the indigenous first Americans, then slaves, the most every country on earth. USA been at war with someone since 1776……

[@eddiekulp1241]

In a system that is imbalanced things will not work right

[@julietcunningham852]

"There are only two classes of people-those who own, those who work for them. There are only two classes of people, those who own, those who labor in boredom. Under stand when I say own, I don't mean a telephone, Or a broken-down house on a pot-holed road, on a thiry year loan. By economic deduction, it's the means of production, Own the means of production, own the means to our end, Our future is dire, our hearts are on fire." From "Windfall" by Maxine Klein

[@didforlove]

so whats he solution has it always been like this ?

[@getreal7964]

Prof you're a diamond 👍

[@Joy3269]

May God Bless Professor Richard Wolff For This Video. Very Nice & Eye Opening Video Indeed. May God Bless him For Speaking The Truth. Thank You. ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉💐💐💐🌹🌹🌹🌷🌷🌷🌺🌺🌺🌼🌼🌼🌻🌻🌻🙏🙏🙏🙂🙂🙂.

[@roddychristodoulou9111]

Something similar could never happen in London as the English lack critical thinking . However the French do have critical thinking which is the reason for these large scale protests . To prove my point , the current pension age in the UK right now is 66 and the government are debating wether to increase this to 70 . If they ever do I guarantee we will not see any riots whatsoever .

[@roddychristodoulou9111]

These stronger balls of steel you refer to are also known as critical thinking . We have suffered years upon years of dumbing down in the UK and have been stripped of our critical thinking skills .

[@a.duncan6791]

Capitalism would work if capitalists were willing to add one more group at the table when profits are divvied up - the workers. Plus, when workers earn a share of profits, magically it seems, everyone becomes more efficient at their jobs.

[@suzanneharris8339]

Fans & supporters of Prof. Wolff get the truth about world events. These incredible protests in France 🇫🇷 are barely covered in the American press, or not at all.

[@umu-i-d2785]

In America we have a different approach when we are dissatisfied with the government. We loot! We also post videos and say how unhappy we are. At times we even post comments and type in all caps.

[@Pinstripe6666]

France's pension reform protests aren't really about those two years, it's borne out from the entire dissatisfaction of the Fifth Republic.

[@jayboegs6268]

“borrow from the rich “ is a shockingly stupid statement. Who creates the money?

[@user-te1ot7ux7c]

banks lend money from the central banks, capitalists from the banks and those in turn pay it back by appropriation of surplus value from the workers, no? All around this is basically speculation

[@deselby9240]

the workers who produce the goods.

[@x-bar8033]

Prof Wolff, thank you for explaining the issues of economics within capitalism in a very simple way. I usually have a good understanding of political issues but didn't fully understand the little details about economics.

[@gregorysagegreene]

Americans here will never get the kind of guts the French People have - left, or not.

[@punkypinko2965]

The French are putting Americans to shame. Americans like to brag about how tough we are ... and yet.

[@gregorynuttall]

Love this. Thanks for the update and education.

[@KD--sj8eo]

Brilliant stuff as usual 👍

[@sandollor]

We need to start using the terms working class and nonworking class. The categories should be descriptive. Defining these people as nonworking, which is exactly what they are, can not only help the cause but also the conciseness of our argument.

[@lours6993]

In France, it is not just the working class, it's the middle class as well.

[@kennedy6618]

I heard in China the retirement for the ladies are between 50 to 55 years old and meen 55 to 60 based on which province they live. Most of the retirement pension in the West barely cover the living cost and that's why there are so many old people living on the street and so many shop lifting occurring daily. It's getting worse as the days go by for the lower income workers!

[@golightly123456]

Hi Prof. Wolff, I, and perhaps many others, would appreciate your analysis of the current historic strike of Canada’s public service. I believe a successful outcome may set a new precedent for workers, and allow for a restructuring of the Canadian public service in regard to real estate holdings, government expenditures, and better work-life balance for workers in their home communities.

[@babyl-on9761]

It's great how the working class is demonstrating. But, alas, it is all for nought, the retirement age was raised anyway. Much more work to be done.

[@heyzues8363]

The French have been protesting anti-labor laws since 2015, laws which were written by the then minister of business and labor Macron. They protested right up to the general election in 2017 at which point they elected Macron president. They continued protesting as the Yellow Vest movement, then continued protesting right up to the next general election, at which point they elected Macron president, again. Clearly the French enjoy protesting, or are insane.

[@danielcrafter9349]

You mean, most of the electorate were duped into nonsense because of a Right-wing-owned MSM and donor-backed Right-wing parties Like... let's not beat around the bush; people want change, they want fairness for the working class - and the Right-wing manipulates people into believing their rhetoric.. so they get voted in and cycle begins again

[@LuisAldamiz]

"They elected"? Remember that not-LePen always collects many extra votes: anything against fascism. The issue of LePenism, French neo-fascism, has been a serious problem distorting democracy since two decades ago or more. While LePen gathers enough votes to reach 2nd round, whoever is not-LePen will win, no matter who. It's that fifth of French society voting LePen again and again which is turning the (restricted) French democracy into madness. Satan vs LePen? Satan wins no doubt. In the end the problem is that the system is not or poorly representative of the diversity of voters (and all bourgeois "democracies" play that game one way or another, even if by merely not representing those under 5% of vote). The problem derives from the resulting president or government being elected among limited choice and getting legal superpowers out of that sham election process. This last has been enhanced by deploying new emergency powers, triggered by various fearmongering psy-ops, or resorting to old ones that had never been used out of caution and respect for at least the pretense of democracy. Better or more real democracy is needed and that's largely what the French are protesting now, the law as such is what matters the least, what matters now is how it was implemented: by dictatorial means.

[@medhinekadi2929]

The people protesting aren't fools, western elections are an undemocratic farce. Macron is unpopular but the far right is strong and provoked yet another "lesser evil election" where we had to choose between a neo liberal and a self-proclaimed white supremacist. Mélenchon is more popular than both of these clowns but we don't live in a proper democracy.

[@medhinekadi2929]

and also yes we do enjoy protesting

[@heyzues8363]

@@medhinekadi2929 it says there are 4 replies, but I only see yours. Manifesting one's disapproval of policy is good, but it is far more effective when one votes for a different candidate/party in the following election cycle. In America we only have two choices, but in France you have an abundance of choices.

[@LoudMouthsPodcast]

Always such a great orator, sir. Love your work.

[@VeganTrove]

Good to hear Richard.

[@existentoneness]

Thank you for this video. Very insightful and informative. Factual as well.

[@jamespurcer3730]

Governor Brown of California tried to raise taxes, but he was blocked by the state legislature and he warned them ahead of time that he would begin cuts to the state budget and that is what he did, but he cut budgets across the board so that all sectors of the state were impacted equally. It effectively created a surplus of state funds about which he warned before being voted out of office that the surplus should be saved for emergencies. California has had many emergencies and is still being affected by the ongoing drought and the increasing corruption in the state government.

[@cathjj840]

And it also still has surpluses. But the (real) powers that be won't let the government spend on dealing with homelessness for real and affordable housing for the working class, among other essential but unmet needs.

[@bharatc.sampat6406]

Fantastic. I support your truths

[@peternyc]

The American working class' awareness of their relation to capital is once again destroyed by identity and culture wars, unlike the French. A recent poll of Republican voters shows that they value "anti-woke" politics more than protecting Social Security and Medicare. This is how the American working class is able to vote against its economic interest generation after generation. Woke politics was created as a weapon against the Bernie Sanders primary campaign in 2016. Bernie and his supporters were accused of being sexist, homophobic, racist, and so on. It worked. Supporting Bernie was considered right wing by many/most liberals. The fools bought into the lie. The net effect? When the Republicans vote anti-woke, they will be voting in actuality for candidates who will cut the social safety net to smithereens. Who's to blame? The Democratic Party is. The Democrats will have been able to do what the Republicans have been trying to do since the New Deal - return the country to its laissez faire roots of the 19th century. Good job, Democrats.

[@pjschroeder76]

I appreciate you.

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

It takes something big like this for people to fight back France is a country that usually fights back always the 1st ones in line to fight the rest of the world especially in America people are distracted with a nice cause nice houses and 2 they get disturbed when they come pay for stuff anymore then they complain but other than that most Americans are distracted and complaintant and this is why nothing gets done until it's too late...

[@summerisonthursday5239]

UK people are lost. Not even worth talking to them. NPCs

[@JM-xd9ze]

If the French Greens are anything like the German variant, they will do nothing for the French working class

[@73foue73]

The short term defeat of population against it's government decision on retirement will increase frustration, anger and could lead to election surprise in the future.

[@DANINREDDY]

If everyone else does the same thing as the French; we might be getting somewhere...

[@samallen3740]

doctor Wolff I can rely on your knowledge

[@The_Mighty_Red]

this is a good overview, a lot of people just believe the govt lie that the pension system is unsustainable. But the workers are the ones who brought them the wealth they are stealing

[@GlobalDrifter1000]

Let them eat freedom fries

[@GlobalDrifter1000]

Cheese, eating surrender, monkeys

[@jessieyap211]

Hi Prof Wolf, how I would like to sit down with you to hear what’s more in your mind. I do enjoy your very informative videos and surely I will share your channel.

[@merbst]

This "no" concept fascinates me. I would like to study this linguee d'Oil to understand how to say 'No'!

[@doriswrencheisler4386]

The working class, and that certainly includes women bearing the next generation of workers and working in the home for nothing - deserve far more of the pie than they have been allotted. What about: everyone gets a reasonable pension at 58, for a start, but have the option of continuing working? This gives people who have worked at jobs they hated a new start, and hope for the future: they can take a chance or two, maybe work part time? Write a book? I'd opt for socialism first, but this might work.

[@clickx8845]

I hope the French have a successful revolution and throw out the capitalist class.

[@gerrardstones4246]

The cops are going around picking people of ..nasty

[@martintorn2303]

In Denmark you are only entitled to receive pension when you are 70 years old, and you also need to have a job for the last 20 years with income, before you reveice ANYTHING from the public system. I think that the french people are ridiculous if they think they can affort to receive pension when they are 60 years old...............there is not enough tax income to pay that kind of money to the population🙄

[@javalam7769]

About bloody time

[@alec.g.w]

Muy potente!

[@edwardgarea7650]

Mon Cher Professeur - Thank you for your insight into the French battle for survival. What we are seeing in France is nothing short of the old shell game. It seems like such a small thing, increasing the retirement age from 62 to 64. Why not? I’ll tell you why not. It’s nothing less than the foot in the proverbial door. The proletariat gives in on this and in a year or two, the retirement age is raised to 65. Then 67, then 69, and so on. Never give in to the piggies. They want more and more and will not rest until they get it.

[@ruicapela224]

Good job😁

[@paxwallace8324]

I love this about France. I think France terrifies Black Rock

[@davidpeppers551]

Wait two more years----- Two years later: Wait 3 more years Repeat.

[@ivanangeli]

watching with 1.5 speed makes it better

[@carminefragione4710]

After the Great Depression began , tax rates on the rich in America rose to about 90 percent, but that did not help solve the problem.

[@didforlove]

in america you work 40 years of your life to end up at a trailer park in your golden years

[@carminefragione4710]

@@didforlove There are allot of nice trailer parks, you can have a good time , you can move your trailer all around the courntry and have allot of fun. God Bless America,

[@didforlove]

@@carminefragione4710 trailer parks are associated with poverty in todays day together with old rvs

[@Moonheart2]

As a french, I wouldn't say our claim in the recent events is "You won't solve capitalism problems on the back of the working class". It's more like: "We refuse you to solve ANY MORE problems on the back of the working class ALONE" Our country has for motto "Liberty, Equality, Faternity". If the working class has to make efforts to make our country get better, then the elites should get the same amount of burden, feel the same amount of pain, than the most tired factory worker when he ears he must work 2 years more. We do not refuse capitalism, we refuse inequity. And we have been far too lenient until now. If capitalists can't propose a way to be more equitable, we will soon or later, reach a point when angry people will start to consider remember them what a revolution looks like. We already have more and more people in the protests starting to talk about "legitimate violence": if the gouvernement doesn't listen to the people, and just wait for it to be tired to spend their days marching in the streets, then the only solution they feel they have left, is to start to burn things.

[@DLTyrus]

French people in 1789: overthrow the upper class French people in 2023: I'll fucken do it again

[@hipstershep]

Please talk on the current writers and actors strikes in America and explain what a workers co-op model might look like in this situation? Thanks :) edit: solidarity with the actors too

[@ArnoldvanKampen]

Pension will not even pay the rent. Rent 1100, retirement 1300?

[@eddiekulp1241]

The problem is that the money that should have been used in taxes for the Common good of a nation went to frivolous luxuries that benefited very few

[@bma1955alimarber]

Very good and instructive expose by a brilliant professor Richard Wolff. Thank you very much! However I didn't understand why the green party in France didn't join the united left coalition of Mr. Melanchon? IN ANY CASE FRANCE AS WELL AS OTHER CAPITALIST COUNTRIES ARE IN A DEADLOCK! question now: how could the people of the world would have united themselves to overcome the capitalism in its last phase of development?

[@selimbennouir6238]

I wouldn’t say so knowing most of them accepted the furlough scheme and to remain at home. now the French government should seriously re-evaluate the benefit of Frexit, as this could help reduce the country’s debt and solve the increased retirement age

[@MrLouladakis]

Thanks also from me!. Same in every country!.life is meaningless for these people!. Lot of people depend on that informations!.

[@AlbertoDG]

Tax the mega rich and have an early retirement? preposterous! 🧐

[@danielcrafter9349]

People seem to forget that tax thresholds were a LOT higher up till the early 80s There was a 90% threshold in both the UK and the USA in the 70s

[@willem3103]

In 1792 the French took care about the oligarch problem in a way that is still remembered today....

[@alissonburgers5329]

voice of our time

[@NeoFreshair]

What is Western capitalism? What I have learnt at schools and from books that capitalism is free market, freedom to trade, work and earn a living!! But in Europe mainly socialism sort of exist with some sort of freedom! European Union has been an obstacle for American trades and businesses, relying so much on Russian energy and natural resources plus trading with China worth over $700 billions!!!! And the US under Obama,Trump and now Biden wants to replace Russian energy with American LNG, and because of higher energy prices the US is offering German and European manufacturers to reallocate to the US instead of China!!! And the US is using Chinese balloons and Taiwan to deter Europeans from investing and even asking them to pull out of China and invest in the US!!!! But there's a problem here: US labour isn't cheap like in China, businesses will require to obey American laws and can get fined and pay lawsuits, sickness, training, pensions and so on! And in China businesses pay none of that!!! So German and European businesses need to be very careful as the US is the enemy of world peace and everyone in general, and the US has no friends!!

[@xavierh658]

Correction, neither the green party, the communist party or the socialist party backed Melenchon on the first turn of the election. If they did, Melenchon would have been at the second turn easily 7:03

[@carlastarkey4775]

Vive le France! Show us a way!

[@rafflesiaandfriends]

Yeah correct but France is still a better capitalist country that most out there, it's even better than my country new Zealand and it's not bad either although i do dislike how it is run

[@danielburetti4711]

There is a REASON for this- the French people have historically risen up.

[@PinkStalin]

France was the first to imperialize Africa. They robbed them dry. African wealth built France, and it still does. Concessions are only affordable in imperialist nations, though even then the USA doesn't get those concessions. That, along with the great class struggles of the French people, has given them their "good" (aka concession) living standards.

[@didforlove]

@@danielburetti4711 rise up or nut up

[@dantefekete7617]

Over time we have forgotten that work is partly a social construct. While the French and soon enough here in Italy are challenging a form of capitalism, I do not believe that capitalism is being challenged.

[@KhanKhan-fw9fb]

OK ready France

[@sylvaintaif8128]

A little error from Richard at the end of the video : the leftist parties didn't coalesce behind " Insoumise" (Melenchon's movement) The voters did. And it was not sufficient (Melenchon fell 400k votes behind Le Pen). Left parties did regroup AFTER the presidential election, during May, to prepare the legislative elections of June. And then they gained the first share of the electoral pie - before Macron and Le Pen's parties. (But still rather weak I must say... to think the left is only 25% of the electoral expression is devastating... I personally blame former president Francois Hollande - supposedly a socialist - who betrayed many promises to the left and build the ladder for Macron to step into the Elysee Palace... )

[@IkomaTanomori]

It's been less time between the time the current french republic was established and now than it was between the time the previous one had been established and when the current one took over after the one before it fell (though in that case they had help falling from a certain mid-20th-century invasion, but it was several years after the war that the new republic was established). We could easily have a new one. Something the USA could stand to do more often too.

[@jayakumarkaarikuzhy4713]

I don't understand your argument regarding extending pensionable years of French workers from 62 to 64?Here in India also state and central governments used to resort to this kind of extension when their finance is in direstraits. Here pension amount is fifty percent of monthly salary. Therefore if pension age is extended the government workers will be happy as they will get full salary for the extended years instead of the 50% of salary as monthly pension. Till the completion of extended periods government can use the large one-time pension payments and the workers also will be happy as they will get one-time pensionary benefits after the extended period in addition to double the pension amounts as monthly salary for the extended period. So both the employees and the employer are happy here.

[@matthewjackson9615]

OK professor, didn't Marx explain all this years ago ? Marx said that every class struggle is a political struggle. This means that, if the proletarians and capitalists are waging an economic struggle against each other today, they will be compelled to wage a political struggle tomorrow and thus protect their respective class interests in a struggle that bears two forms.

[@MrDXRamirez]

That is not a correct drawing of what Marx said in your diagram. He meant contradictions drive the social relations of capitalism. You are missing the logic of dialectics that makes it fluid, in motion, in a process of always becoming.

[@paulbeatts]

Alternative economy unions and credit unions by land and assets.