Spot on you on your assessments and much enlightenment, great insight, next need to look at the biology behind greed. Incorporate in your talks. Economics doesn’t explain why the mega rich don’t want to pay taxes, Neurosciences do. Why greed is common and will never end, like racism. Again see Robert Sapolsky‘s book, “behave,” to get an idea and why these behaviors keep repeating.
You're quite right that neuroscience explains (on a molecular and psychological level) why greed and racism are so persistent. And why is that? Because the present monetary paradigm/pattern enforces monetary scarcity and hence anxiety and stress and more often than not greed even in the rich who labor under the same pattern that everyone else does.
If we'd change the present economic pattern to universal security if not abundance by implementing the primary policy of the new monetary paradigm of Gifting, i.e. a 50% discount/rebate at retail sale which would immediately double everyone's purchasing power then the neuroscience could begin to change.
Imagine the potential emotional/psychological benefits of feeling gratitude whenever you went to the store because half of the cost of everything you bought was paid for by the money system.
neurosciences change w new imaging techniques that explain exact biology to specific behaviors. They’re consistent in what they tell us. No free will, can’t read a mind but can predict what it will do next. Brain imaging techniques can see. It’s Nuclear physics that drives everything, no soul, psychology just manifestations of brain biochemistry. It’s why behaviors all similar/identical. People spend money on things to feel better, that’s all dopamine. Dopamine has push pull effect and habituates. That’s why the experience of a lifetime yesterday, becomes something you expect today, and won’t be enough tomorrow. Now for the pull effect, take diets: you’ll get a Dopamine response if you eat a milkshake, you’ll get another dopamine rush if you look at a picture of a milkshake after eating one, but ONLY if you’re on a diet. No control of it. Using fMRI, Show an image of someone from a different ethnic group at a speed that’s not comprehensible, and the amygdala still responds, that’s the biology that drives racism. The psychology and biology should be worked together: BEHAVE
I did my homework. I listened to your video. Citizens United, a friend murdered, a changed life. You are a storyteller, a teacher, an actor. I think you studied Shakespeare along with economics. You captured me in the nineties when I heard or read your explanation of how a consumer economy works or doesn't work. You made sense, period. Afterwards I was trying to digest this lecture and for some unknown reason thought of Stanley Kunitz -
I'm 1,000% in favor of what you're doing, except for one thing that kind of rankles me. It's when you use the word "capitalism" in an approving way. That word scares the you know what out of me. It is so loaded with negative connotations for at least 99% of the people. A challenge for you: Name a capitalist whose primary effort was to promote the overall well-being of all who live here. That's my proposed Dem. mantra, which also includes you're free to do whatever you want as long you don't take advantage of anyone. It replaces the Rep. one: Make as much money as you can in whatever way(s) you can get away with. I do favor socialism, at least in theory, but it's been so abused by so many dictators it's completely lost any value. If Bernie, who I so admire, had run against Donald he might have legitimately won!!!
Jeffery Von Glann Ph.D ; tRump 'lifted' some of Bernie's talking points about making the big corporations bring back jobs or lose money in tariffs etc. He was touted as a 'business man' and was not labeled a Capitalist. He seemed safer than The Socialist. If only they were aware of what/who he is. He lied his way into getting votes. Appealed to those who hate authority.
I've watched this excellent documentary at least three times, it is funny, informative and eye-opening. What a great homework assignment, I think I'll watch it again. Looking forward to the upcoming classes!
robert, ty for creating a short 90 minute video that consolidates most of your wisdom for someone that is interested and cares about all americans, to view for free. I am more concerned that we, or govt, creates a lowest bar setting, or living wage, for every american worker, meaning that we value every person to be worth at least a set living wage, currently $15 per hour, and no less. I used to make the minimum wage of $3.35 way back then , and with inflation, people should be worth at least $15 for an hour of their time and labor. I want them to be able to afford an apartment at a minimum , for shelter, and everyone requires food and shelter.
I was pleased to see that my non-expert understanding of the past 70 years is consistent with the reality you present here, Prof Reich. I particularly like one of the implicit questions it raises with regard to current trends. That is - setting complications due to the pandemic aside - who's going to buy the goods and services if only a very few can afford them? I also like the Virtuous Cycle/Vicious Cycle construct you present, as well. (I've never seen that before.) I'm looking forward to our first lesson this Friday.
We need a mindset change in this country(for everyone) and alot of gratitude for our beloved democracy.EVERYONE needs to look inside and see how futile all this 'power' grab stupidity is and what really counts.WE ALL DO!!! We got this!!!
Wow! That was excellent. You are a gifted teacher. But to think that we are 10+years beyond this video by now. I just don’t understand how people can be so convinced about something that is limiting and harming them.
I salute Dr. Reich and every liberal theorist and pundit. Liberalism is the correct and ethical perspective on our problems. Now what we must do is concurrently take its reductionistic and iconoclastic analysis of the problem and combine it with the wholistic, paradigmatic and affirmative level of thinking and acting. Reform is good...until paradigm change is recognized, and then reform is mentally exposed as an actual part of the problem.
Think simultaneously on the problematic economic PATTERN (money/finance) and its essential and operative concept (Debt Only) and then recognize that two of the cardinal signatures of historically accomplished paradigm change are conceptual opposition and temporal reality inversion. The Copernican cosmological paradigm change is instructive. Reforms of Ptolemaic cosmology tweaked and improved it for centuries...until the concept of geo-centrism gave way to helio-centrism...and then virtually all of the lingering temporal universe anomalies were resolved.
Thus become consciously aware of the fact that the opposing concept to Debt is Gifting and the operant factor of the paradigm of money is Debt Only as in a virtual and dominating monopoly on money's creation and distribution and so should be rationally and strategically broken up by policies aligned with the new concept of Monetary Gifting.
Change the monetary paradigm and change the world.
Great homework assignment. As I watched the video I reflected on the current "truckers demonstration" in Canada. The precipitating event seems to be annoyance at vaccination mandates but I believe there are bigger issues related to political polarization and income disparities that are driving the demonstrations.
Spot on you on your assessments and much enlightenment, great insight, next need to look at the biology behind greed. Incorporate in your talks. Economics doesn’t explain why the mega rich don’t want to pay taxes, Neurosciences do. Why greed is common and will never end, like racism. Again see Robert Sapolsky‘s book, “behave,” to get an idea and why these behaviors keep repeating.
History doesn’t repeat, brain biochemistry does.
You're quite right that neuroscience explains (on a molecular and psychological level) why greed and racism are so persistent. And why is that? Because the present monetary paradigm/pattern enforces monetary scarcity and hence anxiety and stress and more often than not greed even in the rich who labor under the same pattern that everyone else does.
If we'd change the present economic pattern to universal security if not abundance by implementing the primary policy of the new monetary paradigm of Gifting, i.e. a 50% discount/rebate at retail sale which would immediately double everyone's purchasing power then the neuroscience could begin to change.
Imagine the potential emotional/psychological benefits of feeling gratitude whenever you went to the store because half of the cost of everything you bought was paid for by the money system.
neurosciences change w new imaging techniques that explain exact biology to specific behaviors. They’re consistent in what they tell us. No free will, can’t read a mind but can predict what it will do next. Brain imaging techniques can see. It’s Nuclear physics that drives everything, no soul, psychology just manifestations of brain biochemistry. It’s why behaviors all similar/identical. People spend money on things to feel better, that’s all dopamine. Dopamine has push pull effect and habituates. That’s why the experience of a lifetime yesterday, becomes something you expect today, and won’t be enough tomorrow. Now for the pull effect, take diets: you’ll get a Dopamine response if you eat a milkshake, you’ll get another dopamine rush if you look at a picture of a milkshake after eating one, but ONLY if you’re on a diet. No control of it. Using fMRI, Show an image of someone from a different ethnic group at a speed that’s not comprehensible, and the amygdala still responds, that’s the biology that drives racism. The psychology and biology should be worked together: BEHAVE
I did my homework. I listened to your video. Citizens United, a friend murdered, a changed life. You are a storyteller, a teacher, an actor. I think you studied Shakespeare along with economics. You captured me in the nineties when I heard or read your explanation of how a consumer economy works or doesn't work. You made sense, period. Afterwards I was trying to digest this lecture and for some unknown reason thought of Stanley Kunitz -
The Layers
BY STANLEY KUNITZ
I have walked through many lives,
some of them my own,
and I am not who I was,
though some principle of being
abides, from which I struggle
not to stray.
When I look behind,
as I am compelled to look
before I can gather strength
to proceed on my journey,
I see the milestones dwindling
toward the horizon
and the slow fires trailing
from the abandoned camp-sites,
over which scavenger angels
wheel on heavy wings.
Oh, I have made myself a tribe
out of my true affections,
and my tribe is scattered!
How shall the heart be reconciled
to its feast of losses?
In a rising wind
the manic dust of my friends,
those who fell along the way,
bitterly stings my face.
Yet I turn, I turn,
exulting somewhat,
with my will intact to go
wherever I need to go,
and every stone on the road
precious to me.
In my darkest night,
when the moon was covered
and I roamed through wreckage,
a nimbus-clouded voice
directed me:
“Live in the layers,
not on the litter.”
Though I lack the art
to decipher it,
no doubt the next chapter
in my book of transformations
is already written.
I am not done with my changes.
I'm 1,000% in favor of what you're doing, except for one thing that kind of rankles me. It's when you use the word "capitalism" in an approving way. That word scares the you know what out of me. It is so loaded with negative connotations for at least 99% of the people. A challenge for you: Name a capitalist whose primary effort was to promote the overall well-being of all who live here. That's my proposed Dem. mantra, which also includes you're free to do whatever you want as long you don't take advantage of anyone. It replaces the Rep. one: Make as much money as you can in whatever way(s) you can get away with. I do favor socialism, at least in theory, but it's been so abused by so many dictators it's completely lost any value. If Bernie, who I so admire, had run against Donald he might have legitimately won!!!
Jeffery Von Glann Ph.D ; tRump 'lifted' some of Bernie's talking points about making the big corporations bring back jobs or lose money in tariffs etc. He was touted as a 'business man' and was not labeled a Capitalist. He seemed safer than The Socialist. If only they were aware of what/who he is. He lied his way into getting votes. Appealed to those who hate authority.
I've watched this excellent documentary at least three times, it is funny, informative and eye-opening. What a great homework assignment, I think I'll watch it again. Looking forward to the upcoming classes!
robert, ty for creating a short 90 minute video that consolidates most of your wisdom for someone that is interested and cares about all americans, to view for free. I am more concerned that we, or govt, creates a lowest bar setting, or living wage, for every american worker, meaning that we value every person to be worth at least a set living wage, currently $15 per hour, and no less. I used to make the minimum wage of $3.35 way back then , and with inflation, people should be worth at least $15 for an hour of their time and labor. I want them to be able to afford an apartment at a minimum , for shelter, and everyone requires food and shelter.
I was pleased to see that my non-expert understanding of the past 70 years is consistent with the reality you present here, Prof Reich. I particularly like one of the implicit questions it raises with regard to current trends. That is - setting complications due to the pandemic aside - who's going to buy the goods and services if only a very few can afford them? I also like the Virtuous Cycle/Vicious Cycle construct you present, as well. (I've never seen that before.) I'm looking forward to our first lesson this Friday.
The film is very well done. Informative and absorbing.
Seen this film before & can not wait to re-watch it! Passing the message on about this course to everyone I can manage to reach . . .
Could you send the URL for taking the course once again? I just watched the video. You are a wonderful teacher.
Ellen, it is happening right here on Mr. Reich's Substack newsletter -- no need to head anywhere else . . .
Retired from teaching 3 years ago. Am excited about returning as a student with you as an instructor.
We need a mindset change in this country(for everyone) and alot of gratitude for our beloved democracy.EVERYONE needs to look inside and see how futile all this 'power' grab stupidity is and what really counts.WE ALL DO!!! We got this!!!
Impossible to recommend Dr. Reich's movie highly enough.
Wow! That was excellent. You are a gifted teacher. But to think that we are 10+years beyond this video by now. I just don’t understand how people can be so convinced about something that is limiting and harming them.
I salute Dr. Reich and every liberal theorist and pundit. Liberalism is the correct and ethical perspective on our problems. Now what we must do is concurrently take its reductionistic and iconoclastic analysis of the problem and combine it with the wholistic, paradigmatic and affirmative level of thinking and acting. Reform is good...until paradigm change is recognized, and then reform is mentally exposed as an actual part of the problem.
Think simultaneously on the problematic economic PATTERN (money/finance) and its essential and operative concept (Debt Only) and then recognize that two of the cardinal signatures of historically accomplished paradigm change are conceptual opposition and temporal reality inversion. The Copernican cosmological paradigm change is instructive. Reforms of Ptolemaic cosmology tweaked and improved it for centuries...until the concept of geo-centrism gave way to helio-centrism...and then virtually all of the lingering temporal universe anomalies were resolved.
Thus become consciously aware of the fact that the opposing concept to Debt is Gifting and the operant factor of the paradigm of money is Debt Only as in a virtual and dominating monopoly on money's creation and distribution and so should be rationally and strategically broken up by policies aligned with the new concept of Monetary Gifting.
Change the monetary paradigm and change the world.
Great homework assignment. As I watched the video I reflected on the current "truckers demonstration" in Canada. The precipitating event seems to be annoyance at vaccination mandates but I believe there are bigger issues related to political polarization and income disparities that are driving the demonstrations.
I showed Inequality for All to several of my government classes a few semesters ago. Well done video and very informative.