Robert Reich is, as usual,talking truth to power! "Fatalism", the view that we can do nothing about the undesirable effects of technology and globalisation, is nothing but a cynical way of attempting to justify or legitimate a world that continues to serve only the rich and powerful. We are not powerless! Where there's a will, there's a way!
Thank you, Robert. Re: universal minimum income. Very complex. #1 universal medical health care. #2 expansion of SNAP. #3 universal housing. #4 enforce housing quality under felony prosecution of landlords
#5 universal income for those on less than 4x poverty level. #6 90% tax per year on assets over $1 million
Thank you for everything Dr. Reich. Related question: How long has the Republican party been committed to a return to powerless workforce, unregulated industry, unaccountable finance sector, and unaccountable ruling class? What was the genesis? When did our government get sold -- before the 2010 Roberts fiasco C.U. or other?
It is abundantly clear that the US has become literally controlled by a very small group of White men that make up the top 1% of the country. They control the Media, Military, Banks, Wall Street, Republican Party, Supreme Court, every aspect of our society. There was a time when the Middle Class had much greater influence in the US. That has long since been destroyed by disinformation, lies, deceit, and manipulation. Simply look around and see how little movement has been made toward Climate Change, Gun Control, Abortion, Mass Murder, Fox News, NewsMax (Right Wing Media) Lies, Pollution, list goes on and on. No focus on any of these critical problems are being addressed by those with the greatest ability and potential impact to make differences in the US. Because their idea of Globalization is simply their Money, Power, and influence on the world and political control. Nothing More!
I am confused as to why we spend so much energy trying to preserve jobs that for the most part no one really draws their purpose from those jobs. The planet provides us with oxygen which is a primary need for our species. Since food, clothing and shelter are also primary needs for our species what is wrong with technology providing those items and services? I think we would be much better served by conversations about creative leisure and “what comes after jobs” than by conversations about preserving jobs.
A universal minimum income is as much a basic right as universal minimum education, both of which are tethered to population expansion and birth control access.
With the loss of available food production related farmland space for ever expanding populations and available water to grow food on it, governments with economic resources are using land and water in other countries to grow food for their own people living in their desert landscapes and oil rich economies at the expense of people living in the countries where the food is grown on the rented land. The consequence for these people is food scarcity and related inflation of all other economic needs. The conflicts which arise from this and other similar situations are ancient.
When jobs are exported out of our own country, sending resources to other economies, the jobless and those with lowest to low paying jobs are caught between the economics of the capitalists who sell them their basic needs for goods and services and the capacity of their own work situation to meet basic living requirements for a healthy and productive life.
The problems with our own system’s food, shelter, transportation, and employment make basic universal minimum income a necessity because we don’t have good public transportation infrastructure and our existing system contributes to climate issues. Our water table is falling and soil quality is declining and the existing food production system is becoming increasingly fragile due to inclement weather intensity from climate issues. Our healthcare systems aren’t efficient and as effective as is necessary for future pandemics as was illustrated by our recent Covid response.
So yes, a universal minimum income could be useful. So would universal available birth control and universal health care and public transportation and universal availability of food resources without any food deserts.
The list of problems for solving this dilemma is long and the solutions require cooperation amongst groups currently at odds with one another. The wherewithal exists but priorities have made most of the problem solvers into firefighters leaving few to plan and implement change related to UMI goals.
GREAT CLASS! The word that stuck with me today was CULTURE and the Mini Cooper in Oklahoma. We need to have a discussion in America about Wisdom vs Knowledge. . . Smart vs Wise. Many people are Smart but not Wise. Many people have little Knowledge but much Wisdom. Cambridge and Berkley have a bunch of Smart people that may not be very Wise. Oklahoma may have a lot of people with little formal Knowledge but much Wisdom. I'm a hog for knowledge yet constantly question my Wisdom. I think that we as a CULTURE have deeply discounted WISDOM at a loss to our CULTURE. To be SMART without WISDOM is a precarious state.
Globalization came too soon! People across the globe were surprised by the shift which has lead to the distrust of business and government. The average citizen was caught off guard and unprepared! Technological change should have come first! The foundation for globalization was not established, and has caused confusion and trauma to many individuals!😡
I worked in manufacturing (both discrete and process environments) most of my career. I covered sales, accounting, manufacturing, and general management. The last 17 years were in turnaround management. Most of my time was split evenly between accounting and manufacturing (having worked at the VP level in both). Except for a few categories (tool & die, mechanic, set-up, millwright, fit up [in welding], some rework, and maybe machinist) most were not as difficult as a cook's job in a fast-food restaurant. Manufacturing jobs in general were not high paying jobs. They paid more because of unions.
The business sector has done a good job of turning many members of the workforce against unions.
You are not, with this posting, focused on manufacturing jobs returning to the USA- but IF they return there is no reason, they will be high-paying jobs unless they return to a unionized company.
The USA economy may be in trouble because of China's advance, We do need to look at this today as you are doing. We must not kid ourselves as to how much trouble we may not be in. We are in big trouble if we do not thinks and take necessary actions.
About the question: we feel that UBI can be a good answer to many problems. In 1948 an old age pension was instituted for everyone, reaching 65. It should be possible to expand that program.
But it still is a leftist dream. But some friends see progress.
Hmmm. I'm not sure if I am the type to sit still for an 80 minute class - not that you are uninteresting, it's just that I get distracted or lose track waiting for the next sentence. Is it possible to get a transcript for the classes? I think I could read the lectures in a third of the time and retain more of the information. Ten minutes in you are still recapping the previous classes.
Perhaps that is why I dropped out of college after three years - I don't think I am stupid or unintelligent, just seem to have a different way of learning than sitting watching someone talk and walk back and forth with a shaky camera on them...
I think the information and wisdom you impart is vital and needs to be better understood by so many!
Personally I think there needs to be a universal maximum income. Share the Wealth!
A universal income will be necessary in the coming years as Automation and workforce displacement continues.
Robert Reich is, as usual,talking truth to power! "Fatalism", the view that we can do nothing about the undesirable effects of technology and globalisation, is nothing but a cynical way of attempting to justify or legitimate a world that continues to serve only the rich and powerful. We are not powerless! Where there's a will, there's a way!
Thank you, Robert. Re: universal minimum income. Very complex. #1 universal medical health care. #2 expansion of SNAP. #3 universal housing. #4 enforce housing quality under felony prosecution of landlords
#5 universal income for those on less than 4x poverty level. #6 90% tax per year on assets over $1 million
Thank you for everything Dr. Reich. Related question: How long has the Republican party been committed to a return to powerless workforce, unregulated industry, unaccountable finance sector, and unaccountable ruling class? What was the genesis? When did our government get sold -- before the 2010 Roberts fiasco C.U. or other?
Just saw a George Carlin video. He was spot on then & now about this wealth and poor situation.
It is abundantly clear that the US has become literally controlled by a very small group of White men that make up the top 1% of the country. They control the Media, Military, Banks, Wall Street, Republican Party, Supreme Court, every aspect of our society. There was a time when the Middle Class had much greater influence in the US. That has long since been destroyed by disinformation, lies, deceit, and manipulation. Simply look around and see how little movement has been made toward Climate Change, Gun Control, Abortion, Mass Murder, Fox News, NewsMax (Right Wing Media) Lies, Pollution, list goes on and on. No focus on any of these critical problems are being addressed by those with the greatest ability and potential impact to make differences in the US. Because their idea of Globalization is simply their Money, Power, and influence on the world and political control. Nothing More!
I am confused as to why we spend so much energy trying to preserve jobs that for the most part no one really draws their purpose from those jobs. The planet provides us with oxygen which is a primary need for our species. Since food, clothing and shelter are also primary needs for our species what is wrong with technology providing those items and services? I think we would be much better served by conversations about creative leisure and “what comes after jobs” than by conversations about preserving jobs.
A universal minimum income is as much a basic right as universal minimum education, both of which are tethered to population expansion and birth control access.
With the loss of available food production related farmland space for ever expanding populations and available water to grow food on it, governments with economic resources are using land and water in other countries to grow food for their own people living in their desert landscapes and oil rich economies at the expense of people living in the countries where the food is grown on the rented land. The consequence for these people is food scarcity and related inflation of all other economic needs. The conflicts which arise from this and other similar situations are ancient.
When jobs are exported out of our own country, sending resources to other economies, the jobless and those with lowest to low paying jobs are caught between the economics of the capitalists who sell them their basic needs for goods and services and the capacity of their own work situation to meet basic living requirements for a healthy and productive life.
The problems with our own system’s food, shelter, transportation, and employment make basic universal minimum income a necessity because we don’t have good public transportation infrastructure and our existing system contributes to climate issues. Our water table is falling and soil quality is declining and the existing food production system is becoming increasingly fragile due to inclement weather intensity from climate issues. Our healthcare systems aren’t efficient and as effective as is necessary for future pandemics as was illustrated by our recent Covid response.
So yes, a universal minimum income could be useful. So would universal available birth control and universal health care and public transportation and universal availability of food resources without any food deserts.
The list of problems for solving this dilemma is long and the solutions require cooperation amongst groups currently at odds with one another. The wherewithal exists but priorities have made most of the problem solvers into firefighters leaving few to plan and implement change related to UMI goals.
Be and encourage others to be a super voter.
GREAT CLASS! The word that stuck with me today was CULTURE and the Mini Cooper in Oklahoma. We need to have a discussion in America about Wisdom vs Knowledge. . . Smart vs Wise. Many people are Smart but not Wise. Many people have little Knowledge but much Wisdom. Cambridge and Berkley have a bunch of Smart people that may not be very Wise. Oklahoma may have a lot of people with little formal Knowledge but much Wisdom. I'm a hog for knowledge yet constantly question my Wisdom. I think that we as a CULTURE have deeply discounted WISDOM at a loss to our CULTURE. To be SMART without WISDOM is a precarious state.
Globalization came too soon! People across the globe were surprised by the shift which has lead to the distrust of business and government. The average citizen was caught off guard and unprepared! Technological change should have come first! The foundation for globalization was not established, and has caused confusion and trauma to many individuals!😡
I worked in manufacturing (both discrete and process environments) most of my career. I covered sales, accounting, manufacturing, and general management. The last 17 years were in turnaround management. Most of my time was split evenly between accounting and manufacturing (having worked at the VP level in both). Except for a few categories (tool & die, mechanic, set-up, millwright, fit up [in welding], some rework, and maybe machinist) most were not as difficult as a cook's job in a fast-food restaurant. Manufacturing jobs in general were not high paying jobs. They paid more because of unions.
The business sector has done a good job of turning many members of the workforce against unions.
You are not, with this posting, focused on manufacturing jobs returning to the USA- but IF they return there is no reason, they will be high-paying jobs unless they return to a unionized company.
The USA economy may be in trouble because of China's advance, We do need to look at this today as you are doing. We must not kid ourselves as to how much trouble we may not be in. We are in big trouble if we do not thinks and take necessary actions.
So Scrooge . .
A minimum income? Sure, I'm willin . . .not really that Bigly a villain ..
If you'll agree . .to the equity . .of a maximum number of children. .
# Sez to B Crachit
About the question: we feel that UBI can be a good answer to many problems. In 1948 an old age pension was instituted for everyone, reaching 65. It should be possible to expand that program.
But it still is a leftist dream. But some friends see progress.
George.Carlin.offical
Hmmm. I'm not sure if I am the type to sit still for an 80 minute class - not that you are uninteresting, it's just that I get distracted or lose track waiting for the next sentence. Is it possible to get a transcript for the classes? I think I could read the lectures in a third of the time and retain more of the information. Ten minutes in you are still recapping the previous classes.
Perhaps that is why I dropped out of college after three years - I don't think I am stupid or unintelligent, just seem to have a different way of learning than sitting watching someone talk and walk back and forth with a shaky camera on them...
I think the information and wisdom you impart is vital and needs to be better understood by so many!
Are transcripts available?