Wolff Responds: Ukraine, Sanctions, and Rising Inflation

In this Wolff Responds, Prof. Wolff looks at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from an economic and historical perspective by focusing in on how nations have often stoked fear of threats to national security to justify illegal international intervention and how sanctions have never been successful. Wolff goes on to reveal that way in which these sanctions will only come back to hurt the US economy.
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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[@patriciaanndemello4652]

I'm a disabled woman living in a car. I really resent the fact that our government spends so much money with war and sending money to other countries for a proxy war. Just a fraction of that military budget could end homelessness as we know it. We have our own problems here in the states. We need to focus in affordable child Care, Low Income housing and senior care. We have no business going into other countries to fight along side of them unless it has reached World War proportions. Our priorities in this country is askew.

[@Marxist2]

I agree with you 100% The U.S. govt.caters to the military Industrial complex,not to, WE the people of this country. We have to stop voting for these politicians from both parties who do not give us healthcare for all, plus all the things you mention, which are basic human rights.

[@Nonexistent.187]

@@Marxist2 basic human rights. People don't even know what Magna Carta is anymore. Much less Habeas Corpus and Due Process

[@leftykeys6944]

I could not agree more. And it sucks that you've been forced to live in your car. This system spreads poverty around like a virus.

[@sammysamir3037]

In 1978 China had 180 million homeless, in 2015 had 40 million homeless. China's population is 1.3 billion. With military budget of $209 billion. The US military budget is $777.7 billion.

[@hendrang1]

Congress proposes $500 Million for negative news coverage of China

[@Lilith2718]

I stand with the workers who are innocent in this conflict and who will suffer from this struggle between imperial powers.

[@beesplaining1882]

Well stated. There will be innocent victims, average people and families, on both sides in this conflict.

[@nowthenzen]

pretty sure Ukraine isn't imperial anything

[@beesplaining1882]

@@nowthenzen America created it in 2014.

[@millerstation92]

@@beesplaining1882 Look up Givi and Motorolla in yt. They had russian guns as well as russian intelligence. russia created the separatists

[@fallenswan1670]

Does this include or exclude workers of Donetsk and Luhansk? The ones who died and battled last eight years because Ukrainian authorities started "anti-terrorist operation" against them.

[@geraldmeehan8942]

Corporate greed fuels inflation.

[@jeremyrangel8138]

Riiiiight. It has nothing to do with artificially-low interest rates and government money printing. Yepp, it's just the "evil corporations'" fault. Because you're sooooo selfless, surely you don't own anything made by these evil corporations, do you? Like maybe the electronic device from which you posted that idiotic comment?

[@gorkyd7912]

No, governments who cause inflation fuel insinuations of corporate greed.

[@jetawaywithdisney]

“Inflation” otherwise known as corporate greed.

[@reubenmorris487]

Wealth transfer...

[@rjung_ch]

Exactly

[@stuckinthemud4352]

Can u tell me productivitys effect on economics? If you cant you have zero clue about economics or inflation.

[@ronniechew6566]

@@stuckinthemud4352 Stop defending corporate interest.

[@Stonecoldfrank]

@@ronniechew6566 He's not defending corporate interest, he's pointing out that it wasn't corporate greed that destroyed the Weimar republic, and it wasn't corporate greed that destroyed Hungary, and it's not corporate greed that's hurting Turkey. So why would it be any different in the US? Because you guys prefer cheap rethoric to actual knowledge.

[@horridohobbies]

Inflation is supposed to be around 7-8% but I'm seeing price increases of 50-100% for many of the goods I purchase. I know, the 7-8% is an average but this average hides the greater truth: we consumers are hurting big time.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@Account NumberEight or it could be that we paid people to not work. See thats the problem with Marxism its unproductive just like printing money and paying people to not work.

[@drumlessons833]

@Account NumberEight He's right actually. We paid the billionaire class not to work. We passed corporate welfare out to the tune of trillions to the richest people. See, that's the problem with capitalism. It's unproductive, just like printing trillions and paying the elite not to work. Marxism, on the other hand, is not an economic mode at all, but rather a critique of Capitalism, despite Stuck In The Mud's misinterpretation.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@Account NumberEight i am an open honest troll. I absolutely hate Marxism the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Yes im just here to argue i will openly admit it. I specifically come here because of yall. Let me ask you a question that gets at the core of the capitalism Marxism debate. How is value added or removed from an economic system. Im not asking about money im asking about value. Basically how does the pie we all eat from get bigger or smaller?

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@drumlessons833 i was referring to unemployment checks i can speak for myself thanks.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@Account NumberEight ownership of the means of production through force is a bad idea thats why im personally here debating it. I understand that Marxism is a critique and supposedly not a system but if its not a system why does it have rules like ownership of the mop?

[@celestialtreetarot4260]

Imperialistic powers always drag innocent poor and working people into their power plays. Thanks for this analysis.

[@oddespenjenssen2236]

In this case the only imperialist power in question is Russia, and the innocent working people are the Ukrainians, who deserve our solidarity.

[@eddiecheang1513]

@@oddespenjenssen2236 Russia is pushed to a corner with NATO's eastward expansion. It is fearful for its securities. Never forget this!

[@oddespenjenssen2236]

@@eddiecheang1513 As if Ukraine poses a threat to Russia. Don't be ridiculous!

[@oddespenjenssen2236]

@@eddiecheang1513 PS. Russia is so big it doesn't have any corners.

[@eddiecheang1513]

@@oddespenjenssen2236 Look fren! Ukraine is not posing a threat NOW. But I am talking about what if it joins NATO, then it decides to invade Russia to take back Crimea. Russia would then fight back into Ukraine territory which mean NATO would have to intervene and that mean full scale war. Another scenario is Ukraine allows its territory to carry nuclear arms endangering Russia security. Get it?

[@thepchaipoo6577]

In 1940-1941 The US imposed harsh sanction, boycott and blockade of Japan leading to sudden attack on Pearl Habour by Japan and WW2 began worldwide.

[@millerstation92]

lemme guess you think the nanking massacre is a western fabrication

[@MissCracker]

Japan slaughtered, pillaged and raped Asia and had a imperial government allied with Nazi Germany, but yeah, america putting sanctions on them is the REAL atrocity here. Please. 🙄🇺🇸🗽

[@mozambique9113]

well, I understand that the west is not the good guy here. However that, the Axis is not even good guy either. None of these imperialosts are, good guys.

[@DavidCodyPeppers.]

"Wages may not be able to keep up with inflation, however inflation has never had a problem keeping up with wages." DCP. Peace! \o/

[@stuckinthemud4352]

Red white and blurred KZbin channel does a video called labor and productivity. You should watch it takes 3 minutes. You have no clue what you're talking about. Please dont respond unless u take the time to watch it.

[@DavidCodyPeppers.]

@@stuckinthemud4352 I know exactly what I am talking about. Peace! \o/

[@stuckinthemud4352]

You know exactly what your talking about yet are not willing to even entertain other points of view. Lol good ideas can stand up to scrutiny. All good keep a closed mind and never grow.

[@DavidCodyPeppers.]

@@stuckinthemud4352 Let us not forget you began this comversation by invalidating my point of view. I am 54 years old and have been in business for 30 years. I understand exactly how pricing works in a monopolistic market. Prices went up in 2021 to increase profit NOT to cover higher labor costs. Peace! \o/

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@DavidCodyPeppers. you dont own your own business lol. Lmfao im 40 and i do own my own business. if you do own a business your a hypocrite. Why not give it to your workers seriously put your money where your mouth is and give up your capitalist business to your workers. Are they even unionised? Heres the part you are missing. when you print money and give it to people who are not producing anything and let them spend(consume) it things cost more. Think about it if i pay you to dig a hole and fill it back in without producing anything of value all i did was waste labor and create inflation. its litterally basic math stop trying to overcomlicate a simple math equation. Let me ask you this what happens if you print money and spend it without producing anything? In any economic system? You are right about wage increase this isn't about wages this is about spending without producing. Printing money increases consumption especially when you use it to pay people to not produce. You socalists amaze me how yall seem to think the only thing that causes inflation is wages and profit. The fact is those are miniscule to what is actually happening. Productivity is directly tied to the amount of avalable goods and services within any system if you are less productive you have less shit for everyone 👏 👍 This is why Marxism allways fails when competing with capitalism because its unproductive it allways creates less Productivity than capitalism thats why yall allways need force to implement Marxist ideas. Because yall cant compete in a open platform. Seriously if we pay factory workers to sit home not producing and consume stuff with printed money we have less stuff in the world and more money. Its litterally basic math.

[@revan5694]

Hello mister Wolff, i did not know you until now, i really want to thank you, very much for speaking the truth, and making sense out of this. We the people here in europe, are really worried about what is going to happen next. We in austria asspecailly. Thank you very much Sir. Greetings and best wishes from Austria.

[@rjung_ch]

A sane voice in times of many insane leaders in power. Thank you professor Wolff.

[@truthisforbidden5733]

@@cruisinusa5110 The Genocide you speak of began in 2014.....The United Snakes of America Funded and planned a Coup in Ukraine..... ask Hunter Biden and State Secretary Nuland...... Since 2014 The Pro Western Government with a Large N3O N4ZI element Created after The Coup .....Began a Militarily Bombardment of The Eastern Ukraine which was majority Pro Russian...... 14,000 Innocent Lives were lost in 8 Years......Predominately Russian Speaking Ukrainians (Theres you’re Genocide) In the past 8 years.....United Snakes of America created and funded N3O N4ZI Party’s (AZOV.....SVOBODA.....RIGHT SECTOR and more) During the last 8 Years United Snakes of America also Funded and Created 26 BioLabs Secretly in Ukraine..... All the Facts above can be Verified with simple research on Google......You May also wish to Research Why United Snakes Government own and Run a Broadcast Station In Eastern Europe called Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.... Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty CEO Jamie M. Fly is CIA and has worked in many Government Positions.... Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Broadcast Anti Government Propaganda in 23 Eastern European Countries in 29 Languages..... Talk about Causing Troubles And Interfering in other Nations Business..... With all the Evidence available......I’m Puzzled about one thing...... Where is The OutCry from The Jewish Organisations About United Snakes Funded N3O N4ZIS......? Not a Word Against N3O N4ZI ....AZOV......SVOBODA.....RIGHT SECTOR......in Ukraine......WHY..?

[@truthisforbidden5733]

@@cruisinusa5110 I’m sending you a Link providing Evidence of United Snakes Funding N4ZIS......see The Truth through The Media Lies.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rma4l2qXpNSrrKc Hope we can Enlighten Each other to Truth.....

[@aclark903]

Did Wolff endorse in 2020? I'm thinking he's more Bernie than Biden?

[@SurlyMontanan]

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeateding- I’m so tired of the United States’ “sanctimonious” behavior. We’ve sanctioned at least 20 countries since 1990 and it only hurts those who don’t deserve it.

[@rjung_ch]

@Account NumberEight true! That says it all imho

[@rjung_ch]

So spot on

[@victoews6842]

Master List of US Aggression By William Blum Instances of the United States overthrowing, or attempting to overthrow, a foreign government since the Second World War. (* indicates successful ouster of a government) China 1949 to early 1960s Albania 1949-53 East Germany 1950s Iran 1953 * Guatemala 1954 * Costa Rica mid-1950s Syria 1956-7 Egypt 1957 Indonesia 1957-8 British Guiana 1953-64 * Iraq 1963 * North Vietnam 1945-73 Cambodia 1955-70 * Laos 1958 *, 1959 *, 1960 * Ecuador 1960-63 * Congo 1960 * France 1965 Brazil 1962-64 * Dominican Republic 1963 * Cuba 1959 to present Bolivia 1964 * Indonesia 1965 * Ghana 1966 * Chile 1964-73 * Greece 1967 * Costa Rica 1970-71 Bolivia 1971 * Australia 1973-75 * Angola 1975, 1980s Zaire 1975 Portugal 1974-76 * Jamaica 1976-80 * Seychelles 1979-81 Chad 1981-82 * Grenada 1983 * South Yemen 1982-84 Suriname 1982-84 Fiji 1987 * Libya 1980s Nicaragua 1981-90 * Panama 1989 * Bulgaria 1990 * Albania 1991 * Iraq 1991 Afghanistan 1980s * Somalia 1993 Yugoslavia 1999-2000 * Ecuador 2000 * Afghanistan 2001 * Venezuela 2002 * Iraq 2003 * Haiti *2004 Somalia 2007 to present Honduras 2009 * Libya 2011 * Syria 2012 Ukraine 2014 *

[@drumlessons833]

@@victoews6842 Lmao and you actually MISSED a few on that list. Dear god, talk about Empire.

[@marybusch6182]

Its what the 10% does, they don't pay taxes and they send our children to fight their wars.... See history...

[@theprinceofcrows8691]

Excellent analysis as always Dr. Wolf! It is good to see you are doing well and thanks for the insight.

[@Marxist2]

Prof. Wolff; your analysis is correct & I wish many people watch it.

[@yongzeehow2045]

With all the sanctions on Russia,a country Rich in petroleum. Currently the petroleum is over $100,we need to ask ourselves,can the international communities survive at $150-200. Be prepared to seeing foldings of all industries,which will literally affect everyone.

[@copacelu93]

We need more people like him in the world, man...

[@4ernopyshni]

Im from Kiev mr.Wolff, thanks alot for your work!

[@anthonyfong7714]

Greetings from Sunny Singapore Prof . I truly enjoy your videos and your honest opinion. Again thank you sincerely from Singapore

[@hsingkao2024]

Politicians and capitalists will benefit at other’s expense, domestically and globally. The world is a jungle.

[@jeremyrangel8138]

Every person benefits "at other's expense," including yourself. That's the very nature of free exchange, whether you choose to accept it, or not.

[@basook6116]

this is why America has so many rich people

[@thetruthandnobs2]

just love prof Wolff . He is THE BEST 💯🎯📸✅🤓👍

[@monophthalmus3254]

Excellent video. Towards the end, the justifications for raising prices is spot on. Many companies have had record profits, yet they are still raising their prices and blaming it on current events.

[@mozambique9113]

"gotta catch da wave" - opportunistic corporatist

[@fundamentos3439]

So clear and helpful. Thank you so much , Professor Wolff.

[@renatanovato9460]

Sanctions might not work all the time, but they strangling Venezuela and in a lesser degree Cuba, given that they are an island.

[@hernandojimenez2255]

I'm so glad for you all followers. Thank you and thanks professor Wolf

[@stuartsmith5146]

Thanks Prof Wolff for saying things so plainly. It’s very good to hear patient monologue. I feel it helps me think about what I can do for my family other than get informed to have an opinion, which is not exactly a way to plan for today’s changing world.

[@karlashoultz3157]

Right, I agree to the problems of Capitalism, however, We are just supposed to ignore the atrocities in Ukraine by Russia❓I did not ignored what US did in previous wars, I just didn’t know the extent of those, I was younger and news here were not headlines.

[@aungkthein9570]

Let's go back in memory lane to 1962. In October of that year USA and USSR were engaged in a tense political and military stand-off over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles in Cuba; threatening a nuclear holocaust. Thankfully the then Secretary of the UN, U Thant, mediated in de-escalating and then resolving the nuclear standoff. If the USA feels threatened by installation of Soviet missiles at its backyard, doesn't it follow that Russia would also feel threatened by US and NATO missiles at its backyard?

[@MissCracker]

Russia should be scared of NATO, democracy and capitalism has already been proven to be the superior forms of government and economy and the Russian authoritarian oligarchs are soon to meet their demise. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🦅🦅

[@Brett_S_420]

Sure, but we hadn't agreed to this with Ukraine, or even given them offensive weapons, until Russia invaded Crimes and Russia decided to invade the rest of Ukraine and kicked off this war. Instead, why wouldn't we say that Ukraine was seeking to join in the defensive pact of NATO for very good reason, seeing how Russia DID invade them.

[@everettthomas2058]

Thank you -- you are wonderful.

[@kd-mi4mi]

Thank you for the analysis prof wollff

[@maxsweetman6341]

The world would be a much happier safer place if America left us all alone went home and sorted out its own sick sad sorry mess

[@douglaskay9959]

I agree 100%

[@anneliu3816]

Then how could US make money 💰 😄 prayers to Ukrainians and Russians.

[@davespanksalot8413]

I love your optimism! And how I wish that were possible. But global politics abhors a power vacuum and the cynic in me says if it isn't the Yanks it'd be some other powerful nation or two swinging their weight about. I too want what every single Miss Universe has ever wanted: world peace.

[@bloodybonescomic]

In a very few years our interest payments on the national debt will exceed the Pentagon budget. What will the life of most Americans look like then? When the dollar is no longer the world currency we're done. Collapse will occur. There are stages to collapse. It can be relatively painless or a horrifying tragedy. We need to change the status quo. If we don't the suffering will be epic.

[@Dancelovecommunity]

Thank you!!

[@malcolmburn1113]

thank you 🙏!

[@thulomanchay]

"Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f... things up." - Barack Obama.

[@Brett_S_420]

"TRUMP IS A TRAITOR, AND SO IS ANYONE WHO CONTINUED TO SUPPORT HIM AFTER 1-6-21" Me - talking to you.

[@richardkhalife]

Words of wisdom!

[@brucew8798]

How correct. Sanctions do not work either way.

[@evanwilliamson3602]

Thank you for the truth, Richard.

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

GREAT TALKING POINTS PROFESSOR WOLFF AS USUAL SIR 💯👍🏾🌄

[@Mr1stcat]

Thanks for your insight on this Prof Wolff

[@eleonoraformatoneeszczepan8807]

I can't take this right now ... I'll have to come back to listen to this.

[@lesliewray9674]

Thanks for that. Richard very informative.

[@richdiana3663]

War is a hopeless endeavor in the nuclear era but that won't stop Mankind.

[@rishsab1316]

Professor, a question that puzzled me is whether rate hikes will cause interest payment burdens too heavy to bear for US treasury that Fed has to cease the operation against inflation? Give the balance sheet of Fed has not been reduced, and household debt level? Can you do a video to explain that?

[@Stonecoldfrank]

Rising interest rates is how you solve inflation. When rates are low, people borrow more money to spend, and the Fed supplies that money. This increases the supply of dollars and therefore reduces it's value, causing prices to rise. When the rates go up, people stop borrowing and start saving, which means consumption decreases and the demand to borrow too, which reduces the rate at which the money supply increases, and therefore lowers inflation. That's not the explanation you'd get from Wolff, but it's basic economics.

[@petermanuel5043]

Thanks

[@anhedonic-voting]

Thank you 🌎 ✊️ 🌹 🗽

[@Primordial_Synapse]

We're in for another Volcker shock. Interest rates are going up. I don't see any other way out of this.

[@LongDefiant]

Increase productivity.

[@BL-db6xt]

Seeing from my humble angle: the ramification of the rising USD inflation is 2 fold: 1) As the CPI hits 10% a psychological double digit barrier. It's the sh** hits the fan for USA & indeed the world, since the USD is the world hegemonic reserved currency. the current FED published fig is 7.5% 2) Looking at the Russia map, any Private of US Army could see Finland & Sweden in the North & Ukraine in the South if joining NATO would form a Pincer Move against Russia. It's an Offense not Defense policy. Given the recent history lesson on August 2008 Russia invading Georgia, Biden's strategists knowing full well that Russia would react violently as the Whitehouse wooing Ukraine + Finland & Sweden into the NATO. If they don't, the former German Navy Chief Kay-Achim Schönbach had reminded them "the Putin Request over Ukraine deserves respect" . On top of this, thousands Russian Ukrainians died in an ethnic cleansing in Donbass, this alone could drive Russia into a military operation as we've seen. Regardless of whatever sanction, Russia has no qualm to do what she's doing now. I don' t condone any military conflict but I can see the reason what has driven Russia into action.

[@knyazigorthe8617]

👍👏

[@WindowsXP_logon_sound_25yrsago]

Nice summation. That's it. That's exactly what's going on.

[@user-yo5ee5kx4y]

You should also remember that Georgia conflict in 2008 was about it joining NATO. This whole situation was created by USA to stop Russia and EU becoming closer thus threatening american hegemony.

[@yahorkazlou6313]

big thanks

[@marktunno639]

Gasoline had risen by a buck a gallon before the Ukraine problem rose up. Inflation is a product of greed and monopolies

[@user-ep3zs4vd4j]

Common prosperity is the answer to the problem.

[@mattchew6426]

Your insight into current events is always appreciated, Professor Wolff...

[@john-lenin]

In wolfs world you’ll get to watch your own Family die squealing in their own piss and shit

[@stuckinthemud4352]

He is an uninformed propagandist

[@mattchew6426]

@@stuckinthemud4352 What is he wrong about?

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@mattchew6426 claiming capitalism is causing inflation.

[@stuckinthemud4352]

@@mattchew6426 claiming that the 1% are causing poverty. Claiming that taxes create economic growth. Claiming that china and the soviet union were acceptable ways of life and or remotely livable conditions. Over-all claiming that Marxism has ended up with a good outcome in any situation. Marxisum is like asking the children to run the farm. He constantly claims the rich are the problem when countries like Denmark have the highest income and the least poverty and the same amount of billionaires per capita as America. Let me ask you a question in a world were we have no paper money and everything is passed out equally what causes inflation? can u give me an example? I truly believe yall dont understand math. let allone economics. If you cant anwser that question watch some basic economics stuff before you dive into mr wolff.

[@narancauk]

Prof brilliant as ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Than you Prof.

[@ziyuchan7468]

We moved from a pandemic into an unnecessary war that has caused untold hardship for us in the ASEAN region. A positive outcome for us is the courage to bring democracy into enterprise. Capitalism has brought wave after wave of failure for us, Thank you for the years of drawing our attention to recognize the crack in the wall. This has helped us to be better prepared to put into place the solutions.

[@DavidCodyPeppers.]

Dont forget about the wheat! Next year will be interesting considering how bad Americas wheat harvest has been in the last 2 years. Peace! \o/

[@michaelfrith247]

The rich man gets what he wants!!! Except for a few years in the 1930s when the American working class said enough, the question now is whether or not if we have the guts to do what our grandparents & great grandparents did or knuckle under just like Reagan said to do & give the rich & powerful all they want , be happy with the crumbs they shove down our throats!!!! Put on your grown up pants & say ENOUGH!!!!!!

[@erincaitlin1655]

It's a repeat of what caused the 1929 Crash and the Great Depression when all the money was in the hand of a few extremely wealthy oligarchs. Although the US is supposed to be a "free market" it is resembling Russia more and more ...

[@slorter10]

good discussion sir!

[@pmmodickofindia8624]

Another great criticism from the wise n profound prof Wolff

[@ShragaMatate]

you are so compassionate to USA folks needing to deal with a slightly quicker inflation - and so uncompassionate to Ukranian folks who suffer much worse.

[@sivan1267]

Excellent

[@michaelmappin1830]

Ty

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

The debt / interest cycle has reached its apex, where wealth redistribution from labor upwards has slipped its leash. It will continue to extract more interest payment tribute that exceeds growth, and every shock to growth pushes this imbalance to its tipping point. National interest rates will not have any moderating effect in a world of turmoil and debt. Economic calamity is the direct outcome of the interplay of interest and indefinite money hoarding (money as property). It is wealth redistribution upwards and it always gets out of control.

[@CariMachet]

Right on > the elite eat the people

[@lingbojiang7784]

Richard is a man with true wisdom. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@daviddeveloper44]

Good analysis Sir

[@josephshatrowsky]

Life’s about to change

[@oddespenjenssen2236]

I'd like to remind Prof. Wolff that two wrongs don't make a right. Disappointing whataboutism. I say disappointing because, being a staunch socialist, I've held Wolff in some esteem until now. The people of Ukraine are fighting for their lives and it is the rest of mankind's damned duty to support that fight in any way we can. Inflation is a ridiculously minor concern in this regard. The Ukrainians are fighting bare-faced fascism, Prof. Wolff, fighting for their very existence, and they deserve our solidarity. "Oh, it's only a quarrel over two provinces. Is it worth it...?" Two provinces? Really? Then why are the Russians shelling Kyiv and Lviv? The good professor is being breezily cavalier about the lives of millions. How about some internationalism? The western liberal democracies are far from perfect, but who else will stand up against the fascists if we don't?

[@ObakuZenCenter]

Stop being so gullible.

[@oddespenjenssen2236]

@@ObakuZenCenter Stop the name calling and present a half-decent argument.

[@shortking3429]

Agreed

[@sotirmilivojevic6233]

"Then why are the Russians shelling Kyiv and Lviv?" Because Russia has no intention to wait for Ukraine to kick out all of the Russian nationals from their few hundred years old homes, just like another NATO protege, Croatia, did with it's Serbian population - half a million people expelled from Croatia in one day, and Croatia today celebrates that day as national holiday. Did NATO condemn that event? Nope, it actually wouldn't even be possible without NATO countries. Russia learned from history..

[@oddespenjenssen2236]

@@sotirmilivojevic6233 The Serbs weren't entirely innocent either, as I recall. Personally, I will furiously condemn any ethnic cleansing, whether performed by Croats, Serbs, Hutus or anyone else. But I fail to see why the Ukrainian people should suffer for alleged NATO-failures of the past. This kind of ceaseless whataboutism is getting a bit boring. Ask yourself this, Sotir: does ordinary Russians even support the aggression perpetrated in their name? Me, I very much doubt it. Ukraine has no plan to kick out Russian nationals, as you call them. (They're actually ethnic Russians, but Ukrainian nationals) That's just a thin pretext from the fascist thug Putin. Your argument doesn't make sense anyway. Nearly all of the Russians you refer to live in areas already under Russian control where many of them have grown increasingly fed up with their "protectors". It's the Russians who've kicked their own people out of their homes with a totally unnecessary evacuation, just to manufacture a crisis.

[@kayceehuang3044]

if usa had left ukraine alone many years ago, none of this would have happened. the russians would have been more than happy to let ukraine act as a buffer between and NATO and russia

[@transsylvanian9100]

That's exactly what Ukraine was prior to 2014, a neutral buffer state trying to play both sides equally. Then the US went into Ukraine and orchestrated a regime change. They installed their own loyalists in there who implemented a program of neoliberal reforms that impoverished Ukrainians, put them out of jobs, devastated its economy, dismantled its industrial sector and sold off whatever it could to western corporations. Furthermore it proceeded to implement a discriminatory regime of russophobic laws repressing the 40% of Ukrainians who are native Russian speakers. As a result Crimea, majority Russian province, voted to join Russia while the two Donbass republics declared independence upon which Kiev began waging a brutal 8 year long war on them. During all this time the US and the west emboldened, armed and assured the Kiev regime of their backing. They assured them they didn't have to abide by the ceasefire terms of the 2015 Minsk agreements. They pushed them and egged them on to try and join NATO. Meanwhile Russia was warning that this is a red line. That the Minsk ceasefire agreements were the last chance at peaceful resolution. But Kiev didn't listen. The west, the US and NATO spat in Russia's face claiming they have no right to stop NATO expansion - an existential threat to Russia's national security. So as a result we are in the sad, unfortunate situation that we find ourselves in today.

[@user-zy4wv7yx1z]

Regardless, Ukraine is an independent country. It doesn't have to act as a buffer, the f kind of logic is that? Do you want to be a buffer between two aggressors and have no free will of your own? Less wealthy countries aren't pawns of thr more wealthy countries. Some smooth brain logic right there Edit: grammar

[@drumlessons833]

@@transsylvanian9100 Thank you for speaking the truth with accuracy and concision

[@drumlessons833]

@@user-zy4wv7yx1z I agree with your ideals 100%. Realistically, the sad state is that Ukraine is a pawn between superpowers. That's why we toppled the government in 2014 and installed a puppet regime.

[@kingyipchan6724]

Well said sir!

[@neilcolley25]

good to hear the truth

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

In the end, capitalism is a term too overloaded with its ideological content. Stripped of the exact economic methods, we are facing the eternal struggle of plutocracy vs the people, the incentives of the former to exploit the latter and in particular the incentives and the cyclic ruin of economies through interest + money.

[@gorkyd7912]

A broken clock is right twice per day and Wolff is right about the ineffectiveness and overall hypocrisy of modern US foreign policy. But trying to put it into a greedy capitalist oligarchs against workers framework is where I have to tune out. This isn't 1890, we don't need worthless class struggle divisives added to our problems.

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

@@gorkyd7912 Buffet himself said class struggle exists. The wording from another era might strike us as overt sloganeering, but it is a reality. I don’t much care for it, but it’s reality. Let’s remember that in 1933, US wealth sought to stage a coup against FDR. The constant pressure to reduce labor costs arises mostly raise profits in large part to service creditors / investors. Much of the motivation fades in coops and employee stock holding, but the prospect diminishes greatly only when the monetary system is reformed. The Money Syndrome goes into the latter topic in detail. The author makes it quite clear why labor is increasingly impoverished as the debt cycle matures.

[@gorkyd7912]

@@GhostOnTheHalfShell It's not a reality it's a religion, it has many believers and they transcend all the actual levels of wealth ownership. Can you tell me who this "US wealth" is who sought to stage a coup against FDR? Was it a coalition of every wealthy person in the US? Or was it like the previous civil war; a specific group of people who found themselves adversely effected by federal policy. So labor is increasingly impoverished as the debt cycle matures... therefore we are facing the eternal struggle of plutocracy vs the people? If you want to talk about the issues facing modern semi-capitalist countries that's OK but let's just dispel all this religious nonsense first otherwise we'll get absolutely nowhere.

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

@@gorkyd7912 You can look up the White House Putsch yourself. The reason slogans feel off is because the shorthand misses the point there are always factions. Koch and Mercer are long time pro fascist billionaire camps. Soros is in a different camp as a promoter of critique of capitalism and of open society (which the Koch camp misrepresents). If you are not somewhat educated wrt to the critique of capitalism, then you are not i; position to declare anything religion or not. you are saying so on your own faith

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

@@gorkyd7912 Also by presuming I necessarily conform to what you have been told is “the religion” you’ve simply *presumed* what I have read or what I think or that I ascribe to some orthodoxy. I say check your fking assumptions.

[@lubakaczmar3198]

An honest man. Speaking the truth and Jewish

[@jakelee170]

Your prediction is correct.

[@willbl6185]

very clear

[@gking407]

Suggesting two small provinces are “a small price to pay” is…. probably not the professor’s best argument. The larger point of greed leading to inflation stands, but his assessment of this war is misguided in my humble and respectful opinion

[@gorkyd7912]

I have the opposite opinion. The idea of greed leading to inflation is frankly embarrassing to hear from anyone claiming to be an economist. It's an example of someone in academia saying things that academia likes to hear, despite the actual truth. But if you have been following the destruction of Ukraine over the last 2 decades you may have noticed the growing schism between the side that wanted close ties to the EU and NATO vs. the side that wanted close ties to Russia and its closer allied states. So granting this schism exists within the country, and granting that neither Russia nor the US and EU have been tolerant enough to let the other side live in peace within Ukraine, it seems perfectly reasonable that some part of Ukraine would break away. Places that speak Russian and their whole economy is primarily dependent on Russia have a lot more to lose if the country's EU-backed leadership decides to cut all relations with Russia, so of course there were rebel groups that Russia was happy to support and these groups have been fighting for eastern Ukraine for years.

[@hareimhassan8165]

I am disappointed for the first time with Dr. Wolf’s video. It is not just about 2 provinces. It is the about invading the whole country and possibly invading other countries if the US and the rest of NATO members decided to do nothing.

[@roninviking]

Thanx captain, your a sane voice in an increasingly insane world

[@MegaKootz]

No, I should not be worried, Because every single fucking day carries a new crisis. If every day carries a new thing to worry about, Survival means not caring.

[@robertwilliams-mv9ok]

Sad to hear this normally intelligent and interesting professor talking such crap. Sad to see that he is só pro russian. Adios amigo!

[@jansettler4828]

He works for RT. Fascist enabler

[@DeathStarLuke]

Not that I approve of the US's foreign policy and frivolous wars, but I don't think the world should just sit idly by as Russia attempts a complete hostile takeover of a sovereign nation that poses no significant threat to them militarily or economically. It's either do nothing, aid militarily, or aid economically. To sit idly by as Russia attempts to take back what it lost when the USSR was disbanded (make no mistake - that's EXACTLY what they are doing, despite the mountains of propaganda suggesting otherwise), is not only morally questionable, it is also dangerous. Russia is a danger to the rest of the world, and it is in the entire world's best interest to prevent them in the safest manner possible from marching into whatever country they feel like, opposed only by the weaker opponent they are bullying. And right now, that safest manner possible seems to be with aggressive sanctions, despite how much it will hurt our own economy. Our economy can and will move past this. Russia's, however, will likely be devastated for years to come considering how aggressive the entire world is acting against them economically. So as you've stated an issue with the current approach by the U.S. and its allies, what alternative do you offer?

[@saulalvarenga9589]

You are missing the point that Ukrainian gov. its been attacking the two new republics that are trying to be free from Ukrain. Don't you rememeber 2014?. Do you realize that Ukrainian Gov is allowing heavy forces into Ukraine and its borders with Russia, thats a threat to any country. Its the president of Ukrain the one that came into power in a shady way and after massacring thousands of people, he is losing chances to stay in power so he needs all this conflict and the power of media to stay in power. There's a huge propaganda to make everyone believes Russia is invading just because. Russia is attacking only military positions. The US should show maturity by take a neutral policy because right now the US Gov is dragging every other country into more economic distress.. meanwhile the US by printing more dollars is looking like the false hero and false hegemony in a world that is multipolar, with many important actors not just one.

[@iversonmatthew]

I wish people were this fired up about 30,000-68,000 people here begging for medical care before we let them die for profits. Of course, bombing shit is what we are about.

[@drumlessons833]

_"I love war usually, but now that my TV is telling me to care, I'm deeply concerned. We should go to war with Russia."_ ~The American Mindset

[@joshua.veit.europe]

Looking forward to the update video - much has changed in just a few days. No longer just a few provinces, and sanctions much more severe than the usual hand-slaps. It's inflationary; is that what matters most to us in thr face of this, though? Will Americans finally see their actions in Iraq/Afghanistan through sober eyes and repent?

[@Tony-rw1yj]

US is bombarding somalia as we speak. Talk about double standard.

[@MissCracker]

The U.S. was asked by the Somali government to airstrike terrorist, this is incomparable to Russia invading Ukraine. I can’t tell if you made this comment out of malice or ignorance. Probably both. 😪

[@SalvatoreStefanelli2739]

Professor Wolff, although your analysis is on point as usual, I wonder what would you suggest the international community should do to "stop the bully". This is an unprovoked aggression on a peaceful population. I don't believe you suggest we just stand back and watch it happen.

[@danthemansmail]

Who is the bully? Russia defending it's national security or the United States who has spent the last decade fanatically trying to make this war happen? A knowledge of the history of the region, especially the violent color revolution in the Ukraine in 2014 when the US helped overthrow the duly elected democratic government of the Ukraine and replaced it with a bunch of right wing nutcases....nutcases that the US has been encouraging and arming for years.

[@transsylvanian9100]

You are wrong. Russia isn't the aggressor and Ukrainians are far from peaceful. Russia didn't start this war. The war didn't start this week. It didn't start this year. It started in 2014 with the US orchestrated fascist coup in Kiev. That triggered a civil war in Ukraine. A war which Russia has been attempting to end diplomatically for 8 years. They have urged Kiev time and time again to abide by the terms of the 2015 Minsk ceasefire agreements. Kiev instead received weapons from the west and proceeded to escalate their aggressions, only this week - barely days before the Russian intervention - ramping up the shelling of civilians in the Donbass. Not only that but they have passed laws repressing ethnic Russians and turning a blind eye to and even arming and integrating neonazi militias into their armed forces. Said neonazi militias have spent the last 8 years terrorizing and committing atrocities against ethnic minorities in Ukraine. Meanwhile the west has constantly emboldened the Kiev regime and assured them that they didn't need to listen to Russia's pleas. Not just that, the west tried to further expand NATO, after repeatedly breaking its promise given in 1990 to the Russians not to do so. The Russians warned that this was a red line, that NATO troops and weapons in Ukraine pointed at them would represent an existential threat to their nation. Yet the west ignored this. We ignored all of Russia's concerns and pleas for binding security guarantees, ignored their requests to get Kiev to cease its attacks on the people of the Donbass region. Russia has not started the war, but they are now ending it. Their patience ran out and they understood that they were being led around in circles, diplomacy was getting nowhere. The west refused to compromise in any way. Kiev refused to compromise in any way. And why? Because the US wanted this conflict. They were eager for justification to impose sanctions. They were eager to halt the Nordstream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany so that America could sell its much more expensive natural gas instead. The bully who needs to be stopped is the US. I live in Germany and my energy prices are going to skyrocket as a result of the US instigating this conflict. The US sacrificed us just like they sacrificed Ukraine, telling them they would back them up and now abandoning them. They do not care about us, only about hurting Russia and China and increasing their own profits.

[@liquidragonfu5546]

So what do you want? a nuclear war?

[@SalvatoreStefanelli2739]

@@danthemansmail Whoever starts open war is a bully by definition in my view. If Russia felt threatened by a neighborhood state, they should have used other means.

[@SalvatoreStefanelli2739]

@@transsylvanian9100 I would agree that the US policy is nasty to day the least. For as I see it however moving tanks across borders is never a good solution. They could have used other means. Half of the population in Ucraine speaks Russian, a good propaganda (or truth revealing campaign if you like) maybe would have spurred a counter-coup without a full blown invasion. Besides I agree 100% that the profit motive is behind these West generated tensions.

[@Walks-With-Pride]

Professor Wolff is always at the top of his game, but he has left me in awe with this commentary. This is beyond being a masterpiece. This is so great that I don't know how to describe it. This was incredible...absolutely incredible!

[@whatapp6303]

Feedback appreciated🚀 Wanting more info and insight? WatsApp the number above Endeavour to reach out❤

[@deanbromerg8000]

I'm a disabled man living in a shelter in Ohio, because my disability isn't enough to get an apartment and the list for low income housing is over a year !

[@AA14CBF]

Ukraine is on her own. Don't expect US or NATO to come to rescue.

[@Nonexistent.187]

Sad but true I think. Growing pains of a new century and new way.

[@mrzack888]

it may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal.

[@ItsTristan1st]

Ukraine was setup, used as a sacrificial lamb.

[@Nonexistent.187]

@@ItsTristan1st exactly

[@AA14CBF]

Another 7000 US soldiers to Europe, ZERO to Ukraine. Brandon is pushing so hard on this one. Putin might have to thank him later.

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

I watched your video with growing disappointment at your very one sided perspective on this war in Ukraine brought on by the Russian invasion. There are a few points that I want to address about your video. The first part of your video you described the invasions the US has conducted in the past for the purposes of national security. Okay that is one thing in this video that I agree with. But then you go on to state that since the sanctions executed against Russia for taking Crimea and other actions taken by China resulting in sanctions which in each case did nothing to alter the behavior of those parties. In fact I found your criticism of sanctions as a policy to be little more then an expanded version of what Trump said recently criticizing the US use of sanctions. In both cases both you and Trump ignored the differences in these sanctions compared to what was done before. The sanctions against Russia are from a much larger part of the international community. In addition there have been sanctions of the assets of rich 1 percenters in Russia. And there serious talk of using the SWIFT policy which could directly inpact Putin in a serious way. Your overly generalized comments didn't even address those issues at all. Another point I feel that you failed to convince me of was that Americans would not be very supportive of these sanctions because of how that might effect the economy. And you added that Americans probably won't support such sanctions against a country who has invaded the country of Ukraine that most people couldn't find on a map. That last part might be true that most Americans couldn't find Ukraine on a map, but I look at these comments on videos about this war and the vast, vast majority support the Ukrainians in this fight and many if not most also support the sanctions being initiated against Russia. What's more your critique offered no explanation about what you think should be done in leu of sanctions. Why not even a statement that you would entertain such an idea at a later time?? But no we didn't get anything. I felt very disappointed in this video for all the reasons I gave. I am less inclined to watch one of videos cuz this is the second time I have been critical of your videos. I don't know if you have changed or I have, but I know poorly done video when I see it now.

[@Brett_S_420]

The best economist ever!

[@michaelneal900]

Well heck. I guess would just lay down and say its all good.

[@stayinalive9434]

I missed the part where you made an alternate plan on how to deal with putin waging a ground war in Europe. Okay, you say sanctions are bad. So do we just stand down and distance ourselves from it, giving no support? I am having to guess because you didnt offer a solution. My input is this: For every dollar we give to support Ukraine the exact amount is given to help our own citizens in need. No more unrestricted financial aid until ALL the problems are fixed here first or simultaneously.

[@zoomzoom3950]

Unless NATO starts WW3, get more popcorn and watch Russia assimilate Ukraine.

[@s7robin105]

This video didn’t age well considering Ukraine now faces a full blown invasion from imperialist Russia. I don’t know why they uploaded this almost a week after it happened

[@ewalker1057]

The true imperalist invaded in 2014. The US backed coup overthrow of democratically elected president of Ukraine is the why. The president was pro Russia and was replaced with a pro western, US president. Since then the citizens in the Donbass have been attacked by their own government with weapons supplied by the US. The two republics in the Donbass reached out for Russian assistance as did Syria. That's an invitation and not an invasion.

[@rcmrcm3370]

Apparently you didn't listen, or are unable to understand it, it "aged" perfectly. However I can see why you grin, you're looking at the idiot in the mirror and you see a joke.

[@s7robin105]

@@ewalker1057 Believe whatever you want but invading a country and annexing it because Putin believes the USSR made the mistake of giving the area independence and that it belongs to a Russian empire is pretty imperialist last time I checked

[@ewalker1057]

@@s7robin105 Well then. You should have no issues. He's not invading. He's there at the request of the citizens of Donbass just as in Syria. He is not annexing the Donbass. They declared independence years ago after the 2014 US backed coup overthrow of the democratically elected president of Ukraine. They were attacked by a US installed pro western president. They been attacked since.

[@s7robin105]

@@ewalker1057 HES LITERALLY BOMBING ALL MAJOR CITIES IN UKRAINE

[@andresjimenez8520]

Hello, my name is Andrés Jiménez and I am a Political Science student. Greetings from Bogotá / Colombia. 1. This message is to ask you what academic works can allow me to understand what factors explain the famines in the Soviet Union and Mao's China and why these experiments led to authoritarianism or totalitarianism. [Some philosophers would say that totalitarianism is an impossibility and that there is in any case a sacralization of democracy, a so-called "democratic fundamentalism", see the philosophical school of the Spanish philosopher Gustavo Bueno]. Regarding the famines: Were they deliberately caused or the result of other factors? In other words: Are these phenomena the result of the "inherent" relationship of socialism-communism with "evil" and the "impossibility" of economic planning? (As the opposing ideological spectrum would say.) Or on the contrary: did these phenomena have causes that have never been explained in the dominant discourse? (external sabotage, isolationism, etc...?) How can we understand the phenomena of Cuba and Venezuela? 2. I would also like to understand if there is evidence to link capitalism with the practices of imperialism and interventionism (in Latin America as in the Middle East, the phenomenon of military intervention by the United States and the United Kingdom is clear) On the one hand, these issues interest me because I want to be able to analyze history without ideological dogmatism (but always from a critical perspective that is not submissive to the hegemonic political, cultural and economic order, since I consider myself a person on the political spectrum). leftist) without giving more weight to politicians I disagree with (right-wing libertarians, new right, new conservatism, neoliberalism, Austrian economists, or pretty much anyone who says that capitalism and liberal democracy are the end of the story) 3. Since I began to study and become interested in politics, philosophy, economics, etc., I have been told that communism only means hunger, death, authoritarianism and misery. All political discourse is focused on the fact that there is nothing beyond capitalism and that anything that pretends to be different will result in the aforementioned elements. However, I see that Capitalism being the global system is leading us to an unprecedented ecological crisis, where phenomena of scarcity, conflicts and even authoritarianism are beginning to manifest (of course, in the IPCC or United Nations reports the problem is reduced to the aspect technician of greenhouse gas emissions, but no one mentions production and consumption patterns, growth and accumulation dynamics, etc.) 4. I understand that the concept of progress and development cuts across capitalism and the "really existing socialisms" for which Latin America has made proposals beyond development. An example of those who question it are the Colombian anthropologist Arturo Ecobar and his text "The invention of the third world" and "The invention of development" or the analysis of the ecological economy proposed by Joan Martínez Alier, the analysis of Eduardo Gudynas on the “ Good Living” and post-extractivist economies or the works of the various decolonial perspectives that deal extensively with the issue of colonialism, capitalism and dependency (political, economic and cultural) in the Latin American region (Rita Laura Segato, Anibla Quijano, Enrique Dussel , Walter Mignolo, María Lugones, Santiago Castro Gómez, Ramón Grosfoguel, Bolívar Echeverría).

[@annetcell-ly4571]

Not just America and not just in America! Reverberations are world wide.

[@asking4afriend311]

Equivocation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine with U.S. war in Afghanistan and Iraq is just not a serious comparison at least not as stated in this video. What's Putin's exit strategy in Ukraine? Please, he wants nothing less than total takeover and not just the two separatist provinces.

[@warrenenglehart4900]

defending russia ultimately and calling Ukraine "small, hard to find on the map," and ignoring the fact that they are a somewhat modern democracy whereas Russia is a Dictatrship and imerpialist is sorta messed up

[@noahranz-lind3413]

Agreed. There is an unfortunate reality that at this point isolationism is not an option for any country. The security and sovereignty of most countries are intertwined, and in a globalized world countries don't have the option to just "sit by and focus on themselves". Russia's global imperialism has caused this conflict, and America has no choice (both morally and pragmatically) to play a role in stopping it. While I acknowledge the US helped create this mess, part of good leftist analysis is acknowledging and working within the current material conditions, which say that, in this case, the world must come to defend Ukrainian sovereignty.

[@ericdoran24]

@@noahranz-lind3413 and where were all the defenders of national sovereignty when NATO lead by the US destroyed Serbia, Ukraine, Iraq , Afghanistan, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria. Nowhere to be seen because THEY were the perpetrators.

[@drumlessons833]

@@noahranz-lind3413 Russia's imperialism? Russia is just defending border concerns. The USA is waging empire, hence Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Niger, Venezuela, South America, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, et al. Russia has less than a dozen military bases outside the country. That is not the face of imperialism. The USA has nearly 800. In fact, the current Ukrainian government was installed by the USA following a coup. We violated numerous agreements to get to this point, pushing Russia into war. Stop beating the drums for USA to go to yet another war, please. How can we defend Ukrainian sovereignty when we already destroyed it 8 years ago? That's like defending Iraqi sovereignty by supporting Hussein, who we installed, or defending Venezuela's sovereignty by supporting Guaido, who we installed. It's sad enough that we spent millions propping up the neo-Nazis who have engaged in ethnic cleansing for the last eight year. Now the people of Ukraine are in the middle of a US/Russo proxy war.

[@ObakuZenCenter]

The Ukraine is not a democracy. The democratic government was overthrown in 2014, in a US instigated coup. A fascist dominated government was put in place and that is what has ultimately led to war. Wake up.

[@sandybarnes887]

What's the alternative to sanctions?

[@thisiskevin1000]

Emerging nations should trade with each other. Look up to Asian countries like China, India, Japan, Korea and SE Asian states

[@Boris-iz6wd]

One thing to add George Bush the first made an agreement with Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO would not move one inch east. And all they have done since is move east.

[@ajiththomas2465]

That is BS. Bush and Gorbachev never made an agreement that NATO wouldn't move one inch east. There wasn't even a verbal agreement to that idea. It was briefly suggested during the talks and quickly discarded. Gorbachev even said 2 years after the talks that there was never any agreements made on NATO not moving eastward. NATO's expansion is perfectly above water and doesn't violate any treaty. NATO is a defensive treaty.. Countries petition to join NATO. And even if we were to entertain the hypothesis that the imperialistic Russia makes about NATO expanding, that doesn't justify them invading Ukraine. It is Russian imperialism, pure and simple. The only reason why NATO expands is because Russia keeps on trying to invade its neighboring countries.

[@Boris-iz6wd]

@@ajiththomas2465 If that helps you sleep at night. Go with it. Not that nato should even exist or has been of any benefit.

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Professor Wolff: Can you please research & advocate for full intellectual property (IP) abolition? This is the most important activist aim for working class people! A just 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.

[@ssake1_IAL_Research]

You're losing me with the argument, "Is Ukraine worth it, when most Americans couldn't even find it on the map." That's an amoral argument, and it's completely out of place with the rest of your presentation. I'm not impressed, but I think it's revealing somehow.

[@user-tb7jq8vv1u]

it is not an argument and it is not immoral. American capitalism is just as bloody as Russian capitalism, the professor's argument is that there is no difference

[@ericmoore2236]

Professor Wolff what should we as a country do if anything about this mess ? Should we just let the aggression go and since sanctions don't work is there anything we can do ?

[@fannyalbi9040]

no unfortunately. american can’t demand their leader to improve internal problems neither can change what foreign countries do their own things. your voting does make you feel great but can’t change anything. delusional

[@xelkim9666]

Prof👍

[@Xenoyer]

I am extremely disappointed in Prof. Wolff right now. I have viewed many hours of Prof. Wolff's lectures and presentations. I've learned a heck of a lot from this man. But all along there has only been one thing that has bothered me. Prof. Wolff's involvement with the Russian State TV channel "Russia Today". I have commented many times on Mr. Heartmann's KZbin channel my disapproval of his involvement with RT. Now, RT is being blocked by social media companies. Now Prof. Wolff comes out with a video explaining his ideas about the situation. We all know that war profiteers will try their best to profit off a bad situation. Politicians all around are also trying their very best to profit from the situation too. There's a lot at stake. We all know about how effective sanctions are, but what else is there? Shall we do nothing? Shall we go to war? For good or bad, mostly bad, we live in a world that is largely ruled by capitalists. It seems to me that in a world ruled by money-grubbers that the first thing they would think of short of war is economic punishment. So I ask you again, what would you have them do, nothing? When people are being slaughtered, and they are begging for help, shall we sit on our hands? Shall we just watch and do nothing because we might suffer economic pain? Our people suffered a hell of a lot of economic pain in WWII. It's a darn good thing they did too because the Nazis were developing a nuclear bomb and the intercontinental bomber to deliver it to New York. Maybe we should do nothing while Russia expands its empire in Europe? They say Putin wants to rebuild the Soviet Union. I don't think so. He wants something quite different. What would you have us do, Mr. Wolff, nothing? I'm really disappointed in Prof. Wolff. What about that RT connection? (Of many, one) 14 Jan, 2021 15:07 HomeBusiness News Like it or not, US no longer holding world in its palm, China is - Professor Richard Wolff to RT’s Boom Bust www dot rt dot com / business / 512509-us-china-world-in-palm/