Economic Update: Rebuilding a Labor and Left Movement
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 19 сен 2024
- [S12 E05] Rebuilding A Labor and Left Movement
This week on Economic Update, Prof. Wolff presents a critique of US Megacorp merger (Microsoft and Activision Blizzard), China vs US on inflation and economic growth, and the collapse of Boris Johnson (like Trump's lost election). In the second half of the show, Wolff interviews author Aviva Chomsky on problems and prospects of US labor and left social movements.
**Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a@democracyatwrk production. We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Please consider supporting our work. Become an EU patron on Patreon: / economicupdate and help us spread Prof. Wolff's message to a larger audience. Every donation counts!
A special thank you to our devoted EU Patreon community whose contributions make this show possible each week.
******************************************************************************************
About our guest: Aviva Chomsky is Professor of History and coordinator of Latin American Studies at Salem State University in Massachusetts. She has published widely on labor history, immigration and undocumentedness, Central America, Cuba, and Colombia. Her most recent books include Central America’s Forgotten History: Revolution, Violence, and the Roots of Migration and Organizing for Power: Building a Twenty-First Century Labor Movement in Boston, the latter co-edited with Steve Striffler. Her next book, “Is Science Enough? Forty Critical Questions about Climate Justice” is due out in 2022. She has been active in Latin America solidarity and immigrants’ rights movements for several decades.
******************************************************************************************
SUBSCRIBE: EU Podcast | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRADIO
SUPPORT: Join our Patreon community at patreon.com/economicupdate or donate on our website at democracyatwork.info/donate
Follow us ONLINE:
Facebook:
/ economicupdate
/ richarddwolff
/ democracyatwrk
Twitter:
/ profwolff
/ democracyatwrk
Instagram: / democracyatwrk
Shop our CO-OP made MERCH: democracy-at-w...
Want to help us translate and transcribe our videos? Learn about joining our translation team: www.democracya...
******************************************************************************************
NEW 2021 Hardcover edition of “Understanding Marxism,” with a new, lengthy introduction by Richard Wolff is now available at: www.lulu.com/
“Marxism always was the critical shadow of capitalism. Their interactions changed them both. Now Marxism is once again stepping into the light as capitalism shakes from its own excesses and confronts decline.”
Check out all of d@w’s books: "The Sickness is the System," "Understanding Socialism," by Richard D. Wolff, and “Stuck Nation” by Bob Hennelly www.lulu.com/sp...
******************************************************************************************
SOURCES FOR SHOW SEGMENTS
* Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard: news.microsoft...
* China’s inflation rate: www.scmp.com/e...
abcnews.go.com...
* Expose of Boris Johnson: By...
Very enjoyable show. Again, I remind everyone that we have to demand the repeal of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act with the more union friendly Wagner Act with the extra provision that semi and unskilled workers can join a union. Unions are very important to organize labor in the workplace. However, unions need to unite industrially as well as politically to change society as a whole. Worker coops are good on one hand; however, joining a union would be for those who already are employed. I am happy to hear the topic of imperialism being talked about.
John T The Taft-Hartley Act definitely did reduce the power and the level of monopoly of the unions that existed so long as the U.S. had a monopoly on world-wid production stemming from WWII, but once the world recoverd from the war, it was ultimately globalization that killed the power of U.S. labor unions, NOT the T-H Act, and nothing can ever restore that power. International labor unions simply are not feasible.
@@clarestucki5151 Glad to hear from you. Yes, the Taft-Hartley Act did reduce the power of unions, but I would not go as far as unions having a monopoly. Trade Unions are definitely separate from each other and there only exist one industrial union in the US which is the IWW. The original intent in the early 20th century was for all trade unions to unite under industrial unionism which would go international. But there was a split as to methodology. One side wanted only to do direct action (which is what the IWW is about these days), and the other side wanted both direct and political action. It is my personal belief that those who wanted to do both direct and political action had flawed intentions considering they did not want to engage in any sort of political reforms that would have benefited workers. This part I am not quite sure of (to be honest) is that the belief was to elect a President of the US to back the union so that the workers would throw the capitalist class out and lock the doors. I don't believe that particular political party runs any candidates in any sort of election. It is the oldest socialist party in the US. And I don't see how a President can have that sort of power grab to overthrow the system. tRump tried and failed.
@@visiondoctor2020 I am not going to chew my nails over it.
@@chrisj984 So, you won't join with fellow workers in a union that will raise your wages and improve your benefits because of spite? Good thinking.
@@chrisj984 To each their own and it is your own choice. I am a IWW member and we can recall those we elect at any time and vote in new people. We don't have the problems of trade unions that have the belief of the brotherhood between labor and employers. Our union structure does not have the support system for leaders to live the way you described. The union is run by its members and we are always in contact with each other through our website. We are an anti-capitalist union.
Thank you, a very powerful episode ✊🏿🔥🇸🇩
Thank you all for your incredible work! You're making an impact!
Thank you for bringing strong voices that I rarely hear on mainstream corporate channels.
The build up to him talking about the Microsoft acquisition was great!
Professor Wolff you are such a needed voice today. More people need to really hear you. Powerful!
Bravo!
Love this. As a big fan of yours from the UK would like to say that your assessment of Johnson is 💯 👌
Thank you for the informative conversation.
Thank you so much for this particular episode, from start to finish, and for introducing Professor Chomsky's work and perspectives! I dream, but I believe that only truly global worker solidarity (around fully co-operative workplaces) and anti-imperialism will succeed at sustaining humankind at all.
Awesome interview
Thankyou Professor highlighting the problems we have been having in the uk for the last decade and more.
Excellent point talked prof.wolff thank you verymuch.
In regard to unionism and the issue of inculsion, i argued that we should always have a space for unemployed ppl, regardless of status or stigma, and those people should always be regarded as future workers, past workers and potential workers, and thats only if we MUST use this language of work to define us as a class
I cannot agree more.
If we had a basic income, we might not need unions. People could just leave terrible jobs and subsist on the basic income until they could get a better job. Employers would be forced to offer a living wage and reasonable benefits
@@Madronaxyz i think we will always need unions. This is because of the power as a block they represent. As individuals we are actsully powerless without capital, the union gives us capital and makes us less likey to attack, or rather,we are better able.to defend ourselves from attack if unionised / as a block / collective.
Even if its simply to fight for things like universal welfare provisions or to defend what we have already won back.
@Ash Hegde Yes, even you! 😂
@@Madronaxyz Or, how about Dr. Wolff's solution for Capitalism by implementing democracy in the company/corporate/enterprise structure? Everyone in the business gets a vote on ALL aspects of the business...process, production AND profit division.
The big lie that capitalism is democracy. If the people of the United States (US) want our government to represent 100% of us, we must begin to engage in permanent resistance to force the US government (USG) to improve the lives of all workers. And as the labor unions and the left do that, we must continue to work together to eventually replace capitalism with an improved socialist economic system that include the democratization of the workplace. Will the unions and the left be able to see the bigger picture of working together to create justice for all, instead of justice for just my group? The 99% of us must understand that capitalism is made up of racism and imperialism. The more truth we understand, the clearer that picture will become. Truth is our ally for peace.
Yeps. And one of the greatest lies ever told. More people need to understand the basics..
Systems of wealth distribution: Capitalism is right-wing. Socialism is left wing.
Systems of ruling a populace: Democracy is left-wing. Authoritarianism is right-wing.
@Jose Lopez - As per the guest's (Aviva Chomsky) comments...the government (Dems & Reps) are two sides of the same coin, and that coin is owned by BIG MONEY. They will resist all efforts to change their method of control...money buys the folks you get to select, and they are pre-selected to toe the party (pick either one) line that is just variations on a theme dictated by...BIG MONEY!
Great show.
Red salute to Professor Richard Wolff
You ain't been doing nothing, if you ain't been called a _red._
Sharing, Justice and Peace for All.
I love this show! My Monday routine pivots on it.
Pathetic mainstream media ... The 6th mass extinction is here left right left right left
@@AudioPervert1 yep, we're all doomed anyway. The left and right paradigms are essentially the same and climate change will never be agreed upon under neoliberalisms grasp on our collective decision making/reality. I am livestock.
@@TennesseeJed : I don't know enough to say much about European countries, but the U.S. has never had a major political party for the left. Only during the depression did the Socialist party even grow to be even a little bit influential. The idea that the mostly center-right-wing, neo-liberal, conservative, democrat party is "the left" somehow is ludicrous at best. Only the progressives here are even centrists.
Edit: Just to be clear, I'm responding here to your second comment.
I "liked" your opening comment, and the same goes for me too. ^-^
@@aylbdrmadison1051 I agree wholeheartedly. We have become regressive and not progressive as a nation and have never had, in our lifetime, any left-wing contenders to choose from.
@@TennesseeJed I'm probably older than you, but I remember when we actually had a very progressive, pro-citizen candidate for President. His name was Ralph Nader.
It's amazing. Here at my job, we get 30 minutes for lunch. Some people eat lunch in 5 minutes and then go to sleep for 25. Some jump on social media or games on their phones, but a couple of us sit and talk about our hopes and dreams. Like why can't we organize and get a better life? Last week, my boss corned me in the warehouse. "Tom, I hear that you are a troublemaker.: He continued, "I'm warning you, keep your head down, your damn mouth shut, and keep those shelves stocked, or I will terminate you!" I didn't say anything because I knew no one had my back.
Yes, I have heard of similar stories. I knew a few people who were fired just for trying to unionize their workplace. Of course, it was illegal for the employer to fire them, so they got jobs back, but they would not speak of unionizing again which had me wondering why.
@@JohnT.4321 Companies can restrict attempts to do so on company time, and in company facilities, and breaking such rules can be reason for discharge. ie: if you want to unionize, do it off site which makes it very difficult, which is the point of the law, to look friendly while being hostile. Meanwhile, companies can easily find a reason to dismiss any worker, even if its a lie.
as a Swedish imigrant who got to sweden in the end of the 80's im sad to watch how the politics here are turning like yours, and the companies here to, in sweden Its obligated thx to labor unios that if u work more than x number of hours a month for x months max 6(i set x because it depends on what type of job it is), the employer has to have a contract with the worker, and its being taken away to hire workers instead of contracting them, since in the contract u will get payed even if there is no job atm, and security if there is a work axident, 3 months pay if you get fired etc. thats what happening in a lot of places in europe..
@@rcmrcm3370 That why I wrote that the Taft-Hartley Act needs to be repealed. Workers need the backing of a union to protect them from unreasonable firing and to fight for better working conditions, wages and benefits.
An added note here: small companies as well as large corporations often break labor laws for the bottom line.
Thank you 🌎 ✊️ 🌹 🗽
Very challenging material. Thank you
Great video professor Richard Wolff
Without a Soviet Union lurking in the background to give a labor movement teeth, I doubt rebuilding one will be enough to overcome the sheer power of present day, concentrated wealth.
Why wouldn't China help?
@@kevintewey1157 The old Soviet Union was hostile to concentrated wealth where present day China has compromised to it. Much of the Chinese economy is based on maintaining trade with the west and enriching its own billionaires, so it's in their interest not to rock the boat. The Soviet Union used to be quite aggressive in using pro-labor propaganda to mobilize people into political movements and China simply does not do anything like that anymore. I am not saying there is no hope, and I support unions but I think we need to start thinking outside the old box and looking for alternative strategies for success.
And that right there is the entire reason that U.S.A., Great Britain, France, and Japan all invaded Russia during their civil war.
@@petersepall2590 you're wrong about China and I'd like to see where you're getting lied to
China's future plans include diminishing wealth inequality
meanwhile the middle class disappears in the USA
@@kevintewey1157 Just because China is diminishing wealth inequality for its own people doesn't mean they care about anybody else's poverty. In fact, give them world dominance and they may come to rely on it like the US does.
Let's bring International Workers Day celebration back to the USA on its original date of May 1st.
In place of labor day
@@daviddipasquale5479 Oh you can have sales anytime.
GREAT TALKING POINTS PROFESSOR WOLFF AS USUAL SIR 💪🏾💯👍🏾❤️🌄
Absolutely 💯
On the money as usual!
So glad you're talking about gaming. It would be super cool if you talked about the video game modding online communities and how capitalist products rushed out to market are completed, improved, optimized, expanded, and customized by groups and individuals who are simply passionate about gaming.
To me, it's a story about how work under capitalism destroys creativity and even the ethic of putting out a finished product and not a buggy mess with half the promised features at best.
Love the topic of conversation. I’m not sure what unionization in the future will look like. The Pandemic separated us even more than before. There is a lot of pain and suffering today. We have so many problems. We have to start somewhere. It will be long and messy. My heart aches for what the children will have to go through.
@Ash Hegde hi Ben.
That's not how it works.
Yoy have it backwards.
@Ash Hegde Go back to doing whatever foolishness you were up to before you joined RUclips a couple of months ago.
james o'brien has some priceless conversations with brexiters and trumpers. worth a watch
Nice to have in this program experts taking about Latinoamérica’s struggle for social justice.
So good to know that we, Latinos, aren’t alone.
👍
Teamsters were (and remain) a republican union, it's one reason they were active in beating up peace activist in the 1960s. The UMWA is primarily Republican Union which has a heavy racist slant, and these are the largest traditional unions in the USA. One would hope unions would be broad based, but usually the narrower their membership requirement, the more likely they will be captured.
I'm glad to know about Aviva; never heard of her previous to this.
(Heads up, the opener seems to not come in for :20 seconds.)
Great episode indeed!
We could *all* have peace and prosperity.
Only bigotry divides us and keeps us *all* from having a peaceful and prosperous life.
When the viewers exceeds 3 millions, there's hope for America. Otherwise there's no hope
Thank you for the magnificent irony!
11:11 Drumpf "does better with his hair because he doesn't try to comb it in a special way...he puts that animal on top of his head that we have all admired over the time." - Prof Wolff #MicDrop
26:41 ... "I'd say here in the US we don't have political parties at all ..."
End the 2 party system
She is the daughter of her Father, merci
How about the corporate-government attacks on the labor movement in the US? The Taft-Hartley Act for example.
What we need is secret "Socialist" bank that is what we need.
Wow I’m done ✅
@4:09 "7 hours per WEEK" yeah right lol
Predation is "merger." Crime is buffet brunch!
if they are like past unions, they will stick their nose up at the people not included in the movement. they will not care about the ones left out.
Admired that animal one moment or another re trumps hair….lmfao
Here the video the Professor is referring to (i guess):
ruclips.net/video/a8xY9R05q0I/видео.html
Microsoft, Activision/Blizzard, Goldmann Sacs, all have a corporate boardroom. That is the place where these decisions are made. The people who sit around that corporate table, the members of the board, are voted into the position by stockholders.
What kind of decisions might come out of a corporate boardroom if when stockholders voted for members of the board, every wage earner in the corporation also voted for members of the boardroom to represent them? If stockholder interests and labor interests were represented equally in the corporate boardroom, might better decisions come from there? If stockholders had 50% of the seats and labor had the other 50% of the seats, giving corporate and labor interests an equal voice as stakeholders, would that arrangement bring forth better outcomes for both labor and corporations alike? I think this arrangement, which is called by the name "codetermination", would solve the problems Prof. Wolff pounds the podium about. I believe that if labor were present with authority and 50% of the seats as stakeholders, Microsoft, Activision/Blizzard, Goldmann Sacs, and all the other corporations would address labor concerns instead of only stockholder concerns.
We will not solve the pressing problems we have unless labor finally, after many eons, obtains a voice of authority. They should press the issue with a general prolonged labor/economic strike until they get their just due. The more I hear, the more I believe this should be a worldwide effort by all of the people who labor. There should be a worldwide minimum wage so that corporations wouldn't be able to play wage earners in different countries off each other in a global shopping spree for cheap labor.
"Workers of the world, unite!"
I couldn't find a video by that name. Only a channel. Can you please post the link?
Way to go Aviva, 15 minutes of demonstrating the importance of using precise language,
as well as the "conflicts" ( and hypocrisy ) inherent in the union movement ( monopoly )
and ending up with ultimate contradiction..." organizing for the common good."
All of which will pass completely unnoticed in this "echo chamber".
And the "willfully ignorant, functionally illiterate, unevolved talking hominid" continues to
confirm the description and fulfill the prediction.
Time for her to take over her father
Not sure I should have subscribed to your channel
If you're a member of the working-class who isn't trying to become an addict of the wealthy-class, you're in the right place.
If you're a member of the working-class who is striving to be a wealthy-class addict, you're probably not going to like it here.
Diana Tithof - Dr Wolff's views are DEFINITELY not mainstream. He views the very basis of almost all belief in the US of A's 'superiority' as being skewed in favor of raw Capitalism. IMHO he is not against making money/profits, but is against that being the sole reason for existence of a business/company/corporation/enterprise to the exclusion of consideration of employees, environment and laws that get in the way of maximizing profit.
I believe his suggestion to solve this problem is to democratize the business/company/corporation/enterprise such that EVERYONE involved has a (single) vote in determining the product, process, and profit distribution.
What he doesn't say (or at least I've not come across it yet) is how to implement this solution without a revolution! Hold on to your hat Diana, your not in Kansas any more!
This video has a much lower volume than your other videos. Not sure why that is but I cannot understand what you're saying.
All fine and normal here, on my $5 speaker and $150 laptop.
Prof. Richards, in the start says ( always he says), "our " jobs, what does he mean from this word. OUR ??
Prof Wolff sold his labour like we do. Thus the "our".
@@dinnerwithfranklin2451 ok.
Delayed start?
You can’t call left anymore unfortunately they ruined the phrase we’re gonna have to come up with a new one 🤷♂️😞
if u ask me, games is a great invention, why if you ask? because like a movie u can create a story with it, and add physics etc u can make a school of a game, example: doctor game where all deseases known to history is added with all known symptomes, the story part is another part but it can teach people a lot, even with inside view of the body in todays graphics, or MMO'S where teamwork and leadership can be learned the list is endless. sad profits is the main goal.
name1.1 name 2.1 - There is nothing inherently wrong with making a profit. Dr. Wolff's solution is to democratize the business/company/corporation/enterprise and give EVERYONE a say in the product, process, and profit distribution.
@@kenswanston820 nope, but what do you think bill Gates will use the gaming companies he just baught, for brainwashing and profits. My idea was why not having the gaming industry goal to teach and entertainment. Lower gaming prices etc
@@namename-qb5xe That is a good idea, and if Bill was in a philanthropic mood when he used to run Microsoft, he may have implemented it...but I doubt it. The Company is a corporation that answers to its shareholders who invest to make money...Satya Nadella is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft. Before being named CEO in February 2014, Nadella held leadership roles in both enterprise and consumer businesses across the company.
Bill has moved on...
"According to the spokeswoman, Gates left Microsoft to focus more on his philanthropic organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ... He left his full-time role at Microsoft in 2008. His seat as board director, which he left in March 2020, was the last position that officially linked him to the company. May 17, 2021"
I wished that AC about corrupted
GAMERS RISE UP
What the fraught?
Gaming is a gigantic waste of time but it is a money-maker. It's another way to get you to shut up and spend money. For those of you who spend hours in front of screens in make believe worlds I have to ask, "is this an escape because your life itself is unexciting?"
Do you feel trapped, bored, frustrated and unappreciated? I suggest you spend more time joining with others who are similarly frustrated, bored and trapped making a world in which adventure, color, joy and friendship thrive for at least seven hours a week and maybe even more than seven hours a week. It's a less static and more human solution to a social system that treats us like robotic tools for making money for an elite class that spends almost all their hours, days and weeks seeking adventure, friendship, athleticism and pleasure.
I spent $40 on the main game that I've played for close to a decade (Skyrim). The single best investment in entertainment I've ever made. The game is moddable, and 99% of the mods for the game cost $0.
Most of the other games I've played also cost me exactly $0.
One more thing I'd like to point out is that the company, Bethesda, that made Skyrim was also just bought out by microsoft. It's my guess that they will stop making moddable games now.
When speaking of something, it's best to actually know what you're talking about.
Conservative-capitalism is an all out war against humanity, against life itself (and that has nothing whatsoever to do with video games).
Video games are just one of the many dopamine-addictions that the wealthy-class addicts allow the working-class addicts to take part in. It's an addiction that keeps the working-class indoors and out of the way of the wealthy-class. Video games keep moderate white liberal-conservatives and conservative-liberals dormant and docile.
@@aylbdrmadison1051 Yeah, it does, like any escapism does. Gaming, and other entertainment industries from sports, to movies, to television are all programming us. War and killing prepares us for the real thing and in some sports, cheering for teams is like blindly cheering for candidates preparing us for blind party loyalty. Subtly they all prepare as to react as we are programmed to react.
I am not talking about participatory sports in which you play for fun with friends. I'm not talking about a friendly game of cards or scrabble. I am not talking about getting together with friends for hot dogs and companionship. I am talking about entertainments that are subtle ways of making killing acceptable, vanquishing enemies, pretending you are sexier than you think you are and subtly unaccepting of the vast range of human variety and bodies, races etc. There are hidden and subliminal messages that we absorb through these sol o screen time activities, even when you play with distant others. More and more we interact electronically and we miss the subtle human expression and feedback of the eyes and voice in conversation. Touch, an unexpected flash of a smile or the wrinkled brow of concern is only simulated in animation and no real human interaction happens. We never get together to build a barn or hike a trail. We sit before screens and simulate life or fantasy. We fail to be essentially human and isolate too much accepting a facsimile as fact.
I don’t think Chomsky was helpful with her answers but ok
Dear Richard Wolff,
Why don't you try reading the Quran to find out about how democratic the Quran teachings in the economy are ?
Who knows Quran can add sime more ideas to enhance your view.
The is such a movement.
They are the canadian yruckers. They dont need you, some intellectual elite
Obviously they don't want intellects. You couldn't be more correct.
Great show