Richard D. Wolff

What forces a country like Canada or US to raise interest rates and put a stop to the insanity of debt fueled inflation?

It seems to me that they are trying to get rid of black money of which there are piles and piles with people who dont declare taxes. India is a highly cash based economy and this withdrawal of currency is not only a huge wealth transfer but might also put the economy in a deflationary shock. It definitely kicks the real estate sector into a bad spot. What is your opinion on this event. To me it seems like a rather extreme reaction by the government. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rs-500-rs-1000-currency-notes-to-be-out-of-circulation-from-midnight/article9320594.ece

Why are population and energy/resources never mentioned ? 1) The population in productive societies went from 1 billion in 1980 to 7 billions. It takes time to adapt and grow the economies. 2) GDP growth requires energy and resources. Increasing oil production 7x is impossible. The result of this is the rebalancing of wealth (collapsing middle class in developed countries) as we cannot grow developing countries fast enough. I don't see what socialism and worker coops will change. The global average GDP per capita is lower than a Foxconn worker in China (among the best paid workers in China).

Dr. Wolff, I find your program incredibly interesting. It has shed a lot of light during such a difficult period. A lot of people are currently reacting to the election, believing certain social issues are to blame: racism, sexism, xenophobia, etc. People want change, which is understandable. But they are blinded to the truth that the system itself needs to be addressed. I believe the average person will lack the attention span to even follow the information you present to us. I am part of the small college educated millennial population that can watch a 90 minute video. I see the implications of the information presented. But for your message to affect the masses, I believe your message needs to be condensed. Unfortunately, I am unsure how to go about this, but perhaps I can provide some insights into it. For example, the way Reagan presented trickle-down economics convinced the American people this was the way to go. Trump has made it clear that catch phrases and good marketing will win. Therefore, we need to do the same. What are your current efforts to make this happen? Thank you again for your program and the work that you do. It is up to us now.

Just wondering if Mr. Wolff has a position/opinion on sub-prime auto loans and also the recent trend: securitization of single family rental homes (SFR's) by companies like Blackstone? What's the probability that these type of securities could be mismanaged similar to what occurred with the sub-prime mortgages crisis? Does this likely culminate in another impending crisis? Thanks for your consideration....

Greetings Dr. Wolff, I appreciate your show as it is very informative. I think that a discussion with the leaders of the Cooperation Jackson movement is in order considering the fact that they are organizing a comprehensive cooperative movement in the difficult climate of Jackson, MS. http://www.cooperationjackson.org/ Keep up the good work!

In the 1930s in bleak economic times, the people of U.S. got a New Deal because labor was able to press on the political and industrial classes. Well the system is falling apart again, and you've suggested that the next step is the organized movement of the people to face the government and make change happen for our workplaces, our welfare, and everything else. My question is, this time, in this century, can enough pressure be exerted within this one nation? Do the people of the U.S. have the requisite leverage against corporate regimes or does globalization simply divide and conquer economies without organization and solidarity on a GLOBAL scale? In other, less bumbling words, how can we follow the blueprint of the New Deal while taking into account such a different global economic system?

Might you in the future do any short Facebook Live events for those of us who would like your commentary about issues in the news in real time? Your long form radio program is wonderful, but is difficult to get through on a busy schedule. Perhaps short Facebook Live events might be better digested and more easily shared with others. Thank you, Dr. Wolff, for all you.

Now that the unthinkable has happened, might it be possible to include n your weekly address, some thoughts on Trump's proposed economic policies so that we might be better informed and to help us organize against dangerous directions he might take our country. A well informed citizenry is essential to a democracy.

Rick, yes you are right with "What Now?". Trump with the support of both houses (and that is the worst possible result of this election) will do exactly the opposite of what should be done in the current situation. Climate good bye, trickle down theory again, nuclear power rising a.s.o. He will lower the taxes especially for people like himself. Well, sometimes I think the wealthy people in the US don't care if the mass could make a revolution. They are living in their gated communities and if the situation gets worse the hop onto their private jets and leave the country. Here in Germany they say that the managers and politicians have already bought themselves land in Canada so that they have a place to go and then can let the rest of the people deal with the problems. I am not sure what will happen to the universities. Trump hates scientist and intellectuals (just like Mao and Stalin did!!!). I have the slight feeling that this election could have been a terrible mistake. But the Democrats made two major mistakes. First Pres. Obama did not deliver what the american people were waiting for. Second they choose a candidate that was as bad as the repulican one. I believe Bernie could have won this easily, even as a socialist. And I think that a lot of people - especially the young (students for instance) - did not vote, because they were not able to decide between Scylla and Charybdis. Regards, Bill

Dr. Wolff, first off allow me to express my deep gratitude for your life's work. I have no doubt that you will soon do a program that looks at how we have arrived at this moment. Might I suggest you include a little bit on Henry Wallace, FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights, etc. and the ongoing response of the liberal establishment regarding said same. Might I also suggest a mention of Edward Bernays, the CPI and the birth of the modern propaganda system. Lastly, this might be a stretch for many, yourself included -- and I do not toss this out without a lot of time spent thinking critically about it -- I'm sure you know about Operation Paperclip, where the OSS scooped up thousands of hard-core Nazi officers, scientists, doctors, etc. "Human beings", like Mengele, Von Braun, Barbie. We even welcomed Col. Ichii with open arms. Question -- Could a case be made that basically the USA has become 4th Reich? The elites just want more more more, which is just psychopathology writ large--they really don't care what system gives it to them it seems. As a transgendered intersexed woman of 57 yrs, who is barely hanging by a thread as I watch it unravelling now, I know that I must fight for the coming generations, just like my ancestors have done before me. There has been too long a time when too many of us have been sleep-walking through life, believing the lie that the struggle is done, all is well. Remember Bill Hicks? "Go Back to Sleep, America!" Are there any savagely brilliant political comedians out there? Oh, my -- I'm veering off-tangent and I have already taken up too much of your time. I will leave you to it and as soon as I secure employ I will start saving some $ to send to you. My hope my prayer my dream is to be a gigging musician w/in the next year and so be able to join the fight that way -- play fundraisers for Water Protectors, etc. I am crying right now as a wave of emotion is welling up at the vision of myself, onstage in my "I fight fascists because they are fascists" t-shirt, tearing into "All Along The Watchtower". I've been playing 3 hours a day for the last year and am going to redouble my efforts because I want to get out there asap so I can stand with my sisters and brothers! Goddess Bless and godspeed to you. Lauren

Hey Professor Wolff ,Above I have posted a link to our prime ministers latest move to curb the flow of unaccounted for money or black money in our national economy .I would love to hear your thoughts on this as quickly as possible. If you want context : Most people of India do not pay taxes because they dont trust our government bureaucracy ,but I think paying taxes is what keeps the economy solvent and protects national goods and services from devaluation(hope I am correct). Also Our politicians and officials wont be as harsh on the rural people because thats their voting base and may also go easy on the oligarchs so only the urbanized middle class will have to bear the cost of this move ,thats what my father said.What do you think ?

I am not a friend of conspiracy theories. But when I am thinking of the fact even the super rich people in the world are beginning to realize that capitalism might be near its end, I cannot help that the idea comes to my mind that the political crisis that we are facing are willingly provoced. Here in Germany the housing prices are rising at a pathological speed. In my hometown 2,000 students cannot find a room at a reasonable rent. People of the lower middle class cannot rent apartments, because the richer ones are paying more than the others can afford. There is too much cheap money in the hands of the rich and they dictate the prices for real estate. Real estate is the only possibility to secure your wealth when the next crisis hits us, because people have to live somewhere and so they have to pay rent. In Germany the number of rented apartments and houses are 3 times higher that the owned ones. But back to my conspiracy. Is it possible that the super rich and the politicians in charge force the chance of going to war? We here in western Europe would be in the middle if Nato and Russia would go against each other. Sometimes I think they don't care because they believe that such a conflict could not harm them.

Hello, I worked my whole working life under capitalism and I only needed my first(out of many) days of unpaid overtime to figure out it may not be the best system in the world, but since I was born in a former communist country and spent my early childhood years under communism you can imagine I have a natural suspicion of alternatives to this system. Since you seem to talk a lot about worker cooperatives on your program as a kind of alternative to both systems I wondered what your thoughts were on experiments with cooperatives and so-called associated labour bodies in former Yugoslavia. http://sdonline.org/57/workers-councils-in-yugoslavia-successes-and-failures/ http://www.slobodaiprosperitet.tv/en/node/870