Wall Street’s Dream Is Privatizing Social Security & Medicare…But They’re Here to Stay!

On The Socialist Program, Richard Wolff discusses the historical context and importance of Social Security and Medicare as critical safety nets for the American working class, born out of the economic struggles of the Great Depression and subsequent leftist political pressure. He examines the repeated narrative by corporations and the wealthy that these programs are insolvent, attributing this claim to ideological opposition to government-run programs and a desire to privatize them for profit. Wolff emphasizes that solvency concerns are largely manufactured and that the true issue is the unfair cap on contributions from the wealthy, as well as exemptions on various types of income which disproportionately benefit the rich. He warns against privatization, highlighting the risks and instability it would pose to individuals' retirement funds, contrasting private investment with the current system that relies on the more stable government bonds. Lastly, Wolff criticizes the pandering to rich individuals and corporate interests that undermine public trust and the effectiveness of these essential public welfare programs.

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Economic Update: Uneven Development a Key Problem of Capitalism

This week in honor of Karl Marx's birthday over this past weekend, Professor Richard Wolff offers a discussion of Marx's important theory of uneven development as central to capitalism. We show its widespread existence, using examples of it from past and present. We conclude by showing how uneven development helps cause key social problems in capitalism.

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Property VS. Speech On US Campuses (w/Richard Wolff)

In discussion on The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow, Richard Wolff delves into the resurgence of labor movements and student activism, noting an increase in union organizing on campuses across the United States. Wolff reflects on the changing conditions in academia, particularly the exploitation of graduate students and adjunct professors who endure low wages and job insecurity, drawing parallels to an economic system that also supports foreign policies like those regarding Israel and Palestine. He emphasizes the historical importance of May Day, highlighting its connection to current struggles for labor rights and free speech. Wolff criticizes university administrations, such as Columbia's, for prioritizing property and financial interests over student expression and academic freedom. He concludes by expressing hope that the growing movements among workers and students are signaling a pivotal moment of challenge to established power structures.

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KPFA Evening News - April 28th

Joining KPFA Evening News, Richard Wolff lends expertise by discussing the different economic and diplomatic stances between the United States and China. He highlights the faster growth rate of China's GDP compared to that of the United States and points out the competitive nature of recent US policies, such as the demand for a Chinese company to sell TikTok to non-Chinese buyers. Wolff notes the US's positioning against China demonstrates a desire to prevail rather than cooperate, despite rhetoric suggesting otherwise. He contrasts this with China's push for mutual success and shared progress. Additionally, Wolff finds the Chinese response to US actions to be relatively restrained given the circumstances.

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Israel is Echoing Historical Failures | Richard D. Wolff

In this Dialogue Works interview, Richard Wolff discusses the parallels between student protests in the U.S. against the situation in Gaza and historic student activism, such as during the Vietnam War era. He critiques political leaders and university officials for their ignorant and hostile reactions to legitimate student concerns. Wolff elaborates on the decline of U.S. global dominance and its impact on international relations, particularly regarding Israel's increasingly precarious position as the American empire wanes. He suggests that internal and external denial about these geopolitical shifts is leading to perilous decision-making. Lastly, Wolff emphasizes the need for greater historical awareness to understand and address current challenges, particularly in the Middle East, and predicts intensified domestic debate as young Americans return home from college and engage with their families on these issues.

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U.S. Economy in Crisis, the Demise of the American Dream & China's Rise w/ Prof. Richard Wolff

Professor Richard Wolff joins Rachel Blevins on her show to discuss the current pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses and the broader socio-economic issues facing the United States. He compares the student protests to historical anti-war movements, criticizing the police and government response as heavy-handed and anti-free speech. Wolff also reflects on America's changing global economic position, highlighting the anxieties and frustrations due to growing inequalities and diminishing job prospects for younger generations. The discussion covers the American housing crisis, touching on the shift from home ownership to renting and the systemic issues contributing to this trend. Finally, Wolff warns of the potential for increased protest and union activity as young Americans face an uncertain economic future and denounces the vast spending on foreign aid while domestic issues are neglected.

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Economic Update: The Phenomenon of China

This week’s Economic Update Professor Richard Wolff dedicates the entire show to the economic developmental achievement of China, together with the historical background that motivated that achievement. We analyze the uniqueness of both the economic philosophy and the politics of China.

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Economic Update: A Critique of Government Spending

This week’s Economic Update Professor Richard Wolff devotes this program devoted to how to understand government spending. How it shapes the larger society. We will focus on two questions 1) What is the government spending on? and 2) How is that money going to be used, and who benefits? If government spending only flows to capitalist corporations, they will use it to reproduce capitalism including its inequalities and injustices. This is a crucial impact of government spending but rarely examined. The alternative - spending on worker coops - is explained and explored as a better alternative.

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Dialogue Works: Israel is Caught in a Historic Impossibility and Its Economy is in Trouble

On Dialogue Works, Richard Wolff joins the conversation to analyze the complex nature of settler colonialism and its historical impact, particularly relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He discusses the perceived historical impossibility of Israel's settler colonial project in the current international context and President Biden's shifting policy towards Israel in light of global opposition. The conversation then shifts to the broader global dynamics, where Wolff cautions against the United States continuing as a declining empire incapable of recognizing its fading dominance. He contrasts the US and China's approach to international policy and development, suggesting the world is evaluating which is more successful: military expenditure or economic growth that alleviates poverty. Finally, Wolff addresses the notion of "might makes right," challenging the inevitability of conflict and suggesting that, historically, nations have found ways to coexist and resolve tensions without resorting to perpetual war.

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The Socialist Program: Treasury Head Yellen’s New China Complaint

Richard Wolff joins The Socialist Program to discuss Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's trip to China and her focus on the so-called overcapacity issue, which the U.S. argues is China's production of too much in certain key economic areas. Wolff criticizes this complaint as a public relations tactic by the Biden administration, pointing out that many economies, including the U.S., have excess capacity, and that China's success in electric vehicles and other industries is due to their ability to produce large quantities efficiently. The Chinese strategy of developing extensive production capacity is a normal competitive strategy in capitalism and has been employed by successful U.S. companies historically. Wolff also touches on the debate about protectionist policies and argues that both free trade and protection can have complex and varying effects on the working class, suggesting that the real issue for the working class should be their relationship with the employer class. Lastly, he notes the shift from U.S. advocacy for free trade to protectionist policies, highlighting how China and other countries are adapting

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A Class Analysis of the Trump-Biden Rerun

By “class system” we mean the basic workplace organizations—the human relationships or “social relations”—that accomplish the production and distribution of goods and services. Some examples include the master/slave, communal village, and lord/serf organizations. Another example, the distinctive capitalist class system, entails the employer/employee organization. In the United States and in much of the world, it is now the dominant class system. Employers—a tiny minority of the population—direct and control the enterprises and employees that produce and distribute goods and services. Employers buy the labor power of employees—the population’s vast majority—and set it to work in their enterprises. Each enterprise’s output belongs to its employer who decides whether to sell it, sets the price, and receives and distributes the resulting revenue.

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Economic Update: A Sea Change In US Labor's Militancy

In this week’s Economic Update Professor, Richard Wolff examines US spending on war materials for Ukraine and Israel, we will discuss Chinese Electric Vehicle imports and the US's protectionist response, and we will highlight the possible convergence of worker cooperatives as part of union negotiating strategies, and we discuss the impact of Harvard college workers vote overwhelmingly to join two unions. Finally, we Interview author and union organizer, Kim Kelly.

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The Critical Hour: Weekly News Wrap Up (06.04.2024)

Richard Wolff joins The Critical Hour to discuss the success of China’s hybrid economic model, which combines state-owned and private enterprises, and is outperforming the US and European market-based economies. Treasury Secretary Yellen has voiced concerns over China's growing economic capabilities, particularly in electric vehicles and computer applications. Wolff highlights that despite government subsidies being a common global practice, China's efficient use is leading to its expected surpassing of the US economy by the end of the 2020s. The US Trade Representative, Catherine Tai, has criticized China's economic model as "non-market" policies, which Wolff argues is an inaccurate characterization since China does engage in market activities, much like any other nation. Lastly, Wolff suggests that the European social model, which has historically provided substantial welfare benefits, could face challenges due to pressure from the US to increase military spending, potentially leading to tax hikes or cuts in social services.

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Economic Update: The Myth of Black Buying Power

This week’s Economic Update Professor Richard Wolff discusses how the capitalist political economy can explain the Baltimore bridge disaster, we explain why raising minimum wages helps big vs small businesses. We highlight the recent court rulings in New York and how cities can lower rents for their citizens as Kingston, NY just did, (if tenants mobilize to do so). Finally an Interview with Professor Jared A. Ball on the myths of black buying power and black capitalism and the role such myths play in supporting capitalism. Read more


Project Censored: The Cost of American Delusions with Professor Richard Wolff

Prof Wolff joins Project Censored to discuss the decline of U.S. influence and the delusions of power in current global politics. He analyzes the complex economic situation in Europe, highlighting its struggles to compete with the U.S. and China, alongside internal challenges such as right-wing politics and immigration crises. Wolff also explores the impact of economic nationalism versus neoliberal globalization, suggesting a shift in global economic power dynamics towards China. He touches on the economic and political consequences for Israel due to its conflict with Palestine and the U.S.'s potential reevaluation of alliances with European countries. Finally, Wolff foresees a possibility of a left-wing political turn in response to the failure of right-wing solutions to address underlying social and economic issues.

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Dialogue Works: NATO's Terrible Miscalculations as Ukraine is Being Destroyed

Prof Wolff joins Dialogue Works to discuss significant miscalculations in the West's approach to the Ukraine war, suggesting overestimations of Russia's weakness and underestimations of its resilience. He argues that Western powers failed to anticipate Russia's capacity for sustaining an attritional conflict, misjudging both the country's military and economic fortitude. The resulting miscalculations, according to Wolff, have had catastrophic consequences for Ukraine, causing widespread destruction and massive population displacement. Wolff posits that these errors stem from a broader inability to confront the decline of American hegemony and the concurrent rise of China and the BRICS nations. He believes that internal struggles within Western societies, particularly between right-leaning governments and corporate interests vested in China, will critically shape future geopolitical strategies and highlight the urgency of addressing these costly delusions.

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Economic Update: Resurgent Labor Organizing In The South

This week’s Economic Update Professor Richard Wolff discusses the US Treasury Department charges Apple as monopoly, Georgia's state government sides openly with employers against unions, two union members decide to enter important elections as independent voices in Nebraska and West Virginia, and a critique of the FED's policy that keeps inflation and interest rates high. Finally we Interview Mike Elk, publisher of the Payday, on his views regarding the important UAW fight for union recognition at VW plant Chattanooga, TN. Read more...


The Socialist Program: US Capitalists Flock to China as US Gov’t Says STOP China

On this episode of The Socialist Program Brian and Prof. Wolff discuss US attempts to minimize China's production of computer chips, the scale of which is proving to be a big draw for US-based corporations. Is it really possible to ice China out of the global supply chain?

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Economic Update: How Capitalism Distributes Power

Updates on resurging child labor in US, colleges athlete vote to join unions, unionization sweeping not-for-profit charities (hospitals, museums, etc) such as MassMoca in western Massachusetts. Major discussion of how capitalism concentrates power in mass media (including social media), in authoritarian internal structures of corporations, and via donations and other controls exercised over two major political parties and over politicians. Read more

The Socialist Program: New U.S. Threats Against Russia

Prof Wolff joins The Socialist Program to discuss the intensifying U.S. efforts to apply pressure on global financial institutions in the Global South to enforce sanctions against Russia. Despite initial expectations for a quick economic collapse, Russia's economy has proven resilient, and Washington is now targeting banks in countries like the UAE and Turkey to cut off Russian access to global markets. Sanctions are a form of government intervention that dictates with whom businesses can trade, often leading to evasion and the search for workarounds by affected entities. The continued failure of sanctions against Russia over the past two years is seen as evidence of a shifting global economic balance and the waning influence of the U.S. Lastly, he critiques the use of "national security" as a catch-all justification for protectionist policies, which may not always align with the interests of workers or even all sectors of American capitalism.

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Economic Update: Patriarchy and Capitalism

This week’s Economic Update Professor Richard Wolff discusses the UAW union’s latest moves. Their organizing drives at auto plants, their efforts to form unions among employed and free-lance journalists. In addition, we will highlight New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to deploy national guard troops in New York City subways and what that means for everyday residents. Finally, an interview with psychotherapist Tess Fraad-Wolff on interactions between patriarchy and capitalism, today. Read more


The Source: Economics of the Ukraine and Gaza Wars & the rise of Artificial Intelligence

Prof Wolff joins The Source to talk about global economic challenges, focusing on the impact of Western sanctions against Russia and the U.S.'s declining influence. Despite sanctions, Russia's economy shows growth, credited to Russia's strengthened ties with non-Western economies like China and India.The sanctions are a failed attempt to control Russia and a means for the U.S. to engage in the Ukraine conflict indirectly. Turning to Germany, Wolff attributes its economic downturn to severed ties with key markets like China, exacerbated by sanctions against Russia. Lastly, on AI, Wolff explores how its benefits or detriments depend on the surrounding economic and social systems, not the technology itself.

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The Socialist Program: TikTok Witch Hunt!

Prof Wolff joins The Socialist Program to discuss potential new U.S. legislation that could ban TikTok, fueled by anti-China sentiment and a new wave of McCarthyism. He contends that various elements contribute to this movement, including politicians seeking publicity and businesses desiring a competitive edge. Wolff notes that similar restrictions could hurt American businesses abroad and emphasizes China's steady economic rise, suggesting the U.S. is in decline. He also highlights the shortsightedness of the U.S. in failing to invest in education and infrastructure, necessary for sustaining technological growth. Finally, Wolff predicts that the accumulation of political and economic missteps may eventually lead to a significant shift in American politics and public awareness.

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Empire Decline and Costly Delusions

When Napoleon engaged Russia in a European land war, the Russians mounted a determined defense, and the French lost. When Hitler tried the same, the Soviet Union responded similarly, and the Germans lost. In World War 1 and its post-revolutionary civil war (1914-1922), first Russia and then the USSR defended with far greater effect against two invasions than the invaders had calculated. That history ought to have cautioned U.S. and European leaders to minimize the risks of confronting Russia, especially when Russia felt threatened and determined to defend itself.

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Economic Update: Debris From A Declining Empire

This week's episode of Economic Update we discuss we discuss United Kingdom politician George Galloway by-election victory, and the raised minimum wage in UK. We will comment on Elon Musk's lawsuit against the NLRB, as Trader Joe, Starbucks, and Amazon also join to ask right-wing Supreme Court to gut regulation of business. We then look at US protectionism as the Biden administration raises tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, in an attempt to keep Chinese EV's from US markets. Then in labor news we discuss Starbucks’ negotiations with unions and how Michigan’s legislature killed "right-to-work" law after 58 years. Finally, we have an Interview Richard RJ Esjow on the current decline of the “US Empire”. Richard Eskow is a journalist and host of The Zero Hour. a syndicated radio and television program. A lead writer, speechwriter, and editor for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, he was also a featured columnist at The Huffington Post. He worked for years in the corporate world, with governments and with multinational organizations as the World Bank, specializing in healthcare financing, policy, and information technology. Read more


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