thank you so very much, professor reich, for this informative, thoughtful and insightful series of essays. i eagerly look forward to your next "online book". Please keep us thinking and informed.
i am curious how your fight back against one of your bullies went? as a girl who was bullied -- my bullies openly told me they would hunt me down and rape me, and they also hit me with their car, knocking me into a muddy ditch, when i was riding my bike to school -- i never had the courage to fight back.
I do not believe that capitalism can be “reformed” once and for all. When I hear Jamie Dimon defend Trump I am further convinced of this for Dimon represents the willingness of of capitalism to be cheerleaders for authoritarianism even if it leads to fascism. Here is what Robert Reich has to say about Jamie Dimon:
The long outdated system of capitalism is picking up speed to head us off the cliff even if it means those of us that speak out will face terrible threats to our safety for speaking out. I would bet that our own Robert Reich and other “vermin" will be the first ones threatened with interment, Putin style.
Democracy must be be reformed and capitalism must be left in the dustbin of history. Capitalism is against an egalitarian economy and our current state of democracy is not defending us. We must seriously consider an Economic Democracy that can guarantee equal opportunity for all.
Professor Reich, I believe you would have been a great candidate for President because you are one of the most patriotic leaders in our country! Awesome finish to your class, “ Why American capitalism is so rotten”. Americans need to reunite against these fascist bullies and become the,
“Shining light on the hill” again and show the world how to eradicate fascist bullies!
Robert: I hope you are right. I share a similar story to yours about bullying. I was bullied in Christian middle school and the Bible teacher told me that, in the same situation, Jesus would turn the other cheek. I thought that was bullshit. When the bully then pushed my sister, I knew that was enough. I hit and kept hitting until a teacher pulled me off him. I gave him two black eyes and a fat lip and he never, ever bothered me again nor did anybody else. So my question is: how much more do the American people have to take?? The next step for the Trumpiats is some sort of a coup and then it might be too late.
This series, Professor Reich, has been wonderful, especially now, as we are facing another big time of change for our nation. Your writing explains the key elements that we face. It encourages each reader to make wise choices and take action to secure a good and continuing future for ourselves, our families, our living places and our nation. I continue to be thankful for your knowledge and encouragement for each of us to understand what we need to do to secure the future for all of us. My gratitude for your wisdom!
#MAGA knowns that #Trump is their ONLY CHANCE for bullies to take over the country. They are NEVER going to give up that chance. They will murder anyone who gets in their way.
KEEP IN MIND that 30-40% of Americans WANT A DICTATORSHIP ! #MangoWanker #Mobster #Traitor #Rapisttt #GOPtraitors #Trump #Putin #Fascists #Murdoch #Reagan began the CRIMINAL GOP
I have, by and large, really liked Reich's series and have saved them into a permanent file for reference and also to be able answer questions from folks asking for my views. This is largely a small group of friends and relatives who sometimes value my opinion.
I have to say, though, that I believe Reich errs significantly when he states that capitalism has changed from a philosophy that once placed the welfare of its workers and the communities in which it operates on anything like an equal importance with its stockholders.
History just fails to support this history of capitalism. Workers have been massacred and communities devastated by the actions of greedy capitalists throughout the history of capitalism. Sometimes the results of things like murdered workers have shocked capitalists into making minor adjustments, sometimes as a genuinely shocked moral horror, but more often, in my view, as a public relations ploy cynically adapted to avoid public outrage so strong as to force politicians to imposing restrictive measures that would impede the power of the captains of industry.
I fully realize that this writing will cause many to see me as too radical and too harsh a critic of an economic system that has reaped many benefits for our society. Those benefits are beyond question and helped us attain the high standard of living which we mostly all enjoy. Now we are faced with some real choices...do we continue down this road, abandoning some of the safeguarding efforts folks of conscience have caused to be implemented or do we choose a government where we leave the choices of how capitalism and social safeguards are left almost solely in the hands of those who govern us.
Be careful how you choose, America. You are choosing for some very vulnerable folks and for the foreseeable future.
The teachings of Jesus (not Christianity), are diametrically opposed to the bigotry, hatred, misogyny, and greed supported by Capitalists and Christian Nationalists in America.
The way things are going, the Republicans are certainly going to be in dire straits if Trump is found guilty of a felony before November. They really don't have someone charismatic enough to pull the disparate elements of the GOP together. AND appealing enough to attract more than half of all Independents.
Trumpists protest that the system is rigged, and they are so angry at being treated as fools and deplorable they will celebrate bringing the whole thing down -- the facade of democracy, the broad use of our creed to mask corruption, state violence at home and abroad, and the privileging of minorities and their special suffering. They haven't been to college, and I think there's a case to be made that fact allows the "deplorable" a better view of how deep the rot goes.
How many in Congress would leave the gravy train to represent the will of their constituents to go against the big money? McConnell is a pig, but Schumer is better? Be honest now, how brave and progressive is Nancy -- standing bold to further the interests of the War Industries and the sacred right of Congresspersons to benefit from inside dealing? Dems made a big fuss over a demented House fool and liar but haven't much to say about the disgrace of Menendez.
Somehow the honesty of women will save us -- that would be Stefanik and Collins, our female UN representatives (R and D), Hillary ""he died, teehee" and Pelosi and her visit to Taiwan to stir up trouble and enrich her family. Or maybe it's the young we should trust, or the old (simply by virtue of their being old), or the Black or Hispanic (like Torres in the Bronx). The troglodytes aren't wrong about what they call "Woke-ism".
There is no grit among our Liberals -- where is the demand to release Assange and by doing so free journalism from its condition of threat? where the demand, from Democrats, to require Biden abide by the Constitution in sending us to war (as he's done so often in his career)? Where is the courage to demand a ceasefire in the midst of a pogrom, when the Biden folks declare war good for the economy and its clear as day that Biden means to ride out the geocide to get himself re-elected" Who has the guts to call out AIPAC for their chutzpah in spitting in our freedom-loving faces?
Our good professor exposes some of the surface but leaves the deep rot, much of which belongs to his own precious political party. I recommend a good slow read of Sheldon Wolin's "Democracy, Inc" (2010), new introduction by Chris Hedges, to get a true measure of how blighted -- R and D -- our system and those who know how to use it are.
Who is running our government? Not the people on Capitol Hill or in the White House … as of today looks like the GOP has to call Trump on a daily basis to okay everything. Trump is not even in office, nor should he be privy to any national security concerns that deal with Americans safety at this point. Trump is just a citizen like you or me. WTF is happening ? The GOP is holding up the border bill and aid to Ukraine because a total idiot sexual abuser tax cheat business failure doesn’t want Biden to get credit for a good legislative act? Why aren’t people OUTRAGED?????
The Main Stream Media, even those that are not considered radical, those that I read and view on TV have done an absolutely horrible job in dealing with these issues they oooh and aww about his domination of the race but speak little about the problems he causes and will cause if elected. They give Trump way more air time, even when talking about his problems, than they give to Biden. I guess all that CBS or the NYT care about are their bottom line.
Robert, this endeavour is very good and I would like to contribute in the new version of the common good. But I miss your friend Bernie Sanders, I miss some analytical remarks.
Looking from a distance (Europe) I need more than interest in a "stable genius" who sucks uo vitality and oxygen out of our minds. His craziness predicts an "Endlösung", after and in his election.
But we know that for a long time.
Question is: why did we let him. Why is the U.S. a willing prey for grabbing capitalists? I see a lot of clips that are astounding. Why the fear? Why panic for state interventions? Why all rational arguments stop, when the qualification "socialism" is given?
My feeling is that European social history might help. Read the Russians, Bakoenin and Kropotkin.
Read the Dutch and German social thinkers, Rosa Luxemburg, Gorter, Roland Holst.
They wrote about the market forces and how these could be restrained. It is not a subject for panic, but something that should be discussed, in stead of excitment of the intimate bodyparts of the son of the president. Work to be done...
thank you so very much, professor reich, for this informative, thoughtful and insightful series of essays. i eagerly look forward to your next "online book". Please keep us thinking and informed.
i am curious how your fight back against one of your bullies went? as a girl who was bullied -- my bullies openly told me they would hunt me down and rape me, and they also hit me with their car, knocking me into a muddy ditch, when i was riding my bike to school -- i never had the courage to fight back.
I do not believe that capitalism can be “reformed” once and for all. When I hear Jamie Dimon defend Trump I am further convinced of this for Dimon represents the willingness of of capitalism to be cheerleaders for authoritarianism even if it leads to fascism. Here is what Robert Reich has to say about Jamie Dimon:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/21/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-defends-trump
The long outdated system of capitalism is picking up speed to head us off the cliff even if it means those of us that speak out will face terrible threats to our safety for speaking out. I would bet that our own Robert Reich and other “vermin" will be the first ones threatened with interment, Putin style.
Democracy must be be reformed and capitalism must be left in the dustbin of history. Capitalism is against an egalitarian economy and our current state of democracy is not defending us. We must seriously consider an Economic Democracy that can guarantee equal opportunity for all.
Professor Reich, I believe you would have been a great candidate for President because you are one of the most patriotic leaders in our country! Awesome finish to your class, “ Why American capitalism is so rotten”. Americans need to reunite against these fascist bullies and become the,
“Shining light on the hill” again and show the world how to eradicate fascist bullies!
Robert: I hope you are right. I share a similar story to yours about bullying. I was bullied in Christian middle school and the Bible teacher told me that, in the same situation, Jesus would turn the other cheek. I thought that was bullshit. When the bully then pushed my sister, I knew that was enough. I hit and kept hitting until a teacher pulled me off him. I gave him two black eyes and a fat lip and he never, ever bothered me again nor did anybody else. So my question is: how much more do the American people have to take?? The next step for the Trumpiats is some sort of a coup and then it might be too late.
This series, Professor Reich, has been wonderful, especially now, as we are facing another big time of change for our nation. Your writing explains the key elements that we face. It encourages each reader to make wise choices and take action to secure a good and continuing future for ourselves, our families, our living places and our nation. I continue to be thankful for your knowledge and encouragement for each of us to understand what we need to do to secure the future for all of us. My gratitude for your wisdom!
#MAGA knowns that #Trump is their ONLY CHANCE for bullies to take over the country. They are NEVER going to give up that chance. They will murder anyone who gets in their way.
KEEP IN MIND that 30-40% of Americans WANT A DICTATORSHIP ! #MangoWanker #Mobster #Traitor #Rapisttt #GOPtraitors #Trump #Putin #Fascists #Murdoch #Reagan began the CRIMINAL GOP
Thank you, Professor Reich for this incisive explanation for just WTF is going on in this country and why. I so fear for this country.
I have, by and large, really liked Reich's series and have saved them into a permanent file for reference and also to be able answer questions from folks asking for my views. This is largely a small group of friends and relatives who sometimes value my opinion.
I have to say, though, that I believe Reich errs significantly when he states that capitalism has changed from a philosophy that once placed the welfare of its workers and the communities in which it operates on anything like an equal importance with its stockholders.
History just fails to support this history of capitalism. Workers have been massacred and communities devastated by the actions of greedy capitalists throughout the history of capitalism. Sometimes the results of things like murdered workers have shocked capitalists into making minor adjustments, sometimes as a genuinely shocked moral horror, but more often, in my view, as a public relations ploy cynically adapted to avoid public outrage so strong as to force politicians to imposing restrictive measures that would impede the power of the captains of industry.
I fully realize that this writing will cause many to see me as too radical and too harsh a critic of an economic system that has reaped many benefits for our society. Those benefits are beyond question and helped us attain the high standard of living which we mostly all enjoy. Now we are faced with some real choices...do we continue down this road, abandoning some of the safeguarding efforts folks of conscience have caused to be implemented or do we choose a government where we leave the choices of how capitalism and social safeguards are left almost solely in the hands of those who govern us.
Be careful how you choose, America. You are choosing for some very vulnerable folks and for the foreseeable future.
The teachings of Jesus (not Christianity), are diametrically opposed to the bigotry, hatred, misogyny, and greed supported by Capitalists and Christian Nationalists in America.
The way things are going, the Republicans are certainly going to be in dire straits if Trump is found guilty of a felony before November. They really don't have someone charismatic enough to pull the disparate elements of the GOP together. AND appealing enough to attract more than half of all Independents.
Trumpists protest that the system is rigged, and they are so angry at being treated as fools and deplorable they will celebrate bringing the whole thing down -- the facade of democracy, the broad use of our creed to mask corruption, state violence at home and abroad, and the privileging of minorities and their special suffering. They haven't been to college, and I think there's a case to be made that fact allows the "deplorable" a better view of how deep the rot goes.
How many in Congress would leave the gravy train to represent the will of their constituents to go against the big money? McConnell is a pig, but Schumer is better? Be honest now, how brave and progressive is Nancy -- standing bold to further the interests of the War Industries and the sacred right of Congresspersons to benefit from inside dealing? Dems made a big fuss over a demented House fool and liar but haven't much to say about the disgrace of Menendez.
Somehow the honesty of women will save us -- that would be Stefanik and Collins, our female UN representatives (R and D), Hillary ""he died, teehee" and Pelosi and her visit to Taiwan to stir up trouble and enrich her family. Or maybe it's the young we should trust, or the old (simply by virtue of their being old), or the Black or Hispanic (like Torres in the Bronx). The troglodytes aren't wrong about what they call "Woke-ism".
There is no grit among our Liberals -- where is the demand to release Assange and by doing so free journalism from its condition of threat? where the demand, from Democrats, to require Biden abide by the Constitution in sending us to war (as he's done so often in his career)? Where is the courage to demand a ceasefire in the midst of a pogrom, when the Biden folks declare war good for the economy and its clear as day that Biden means to ride out the geocide to get himself re-elected" Who has the guts to call out AIPAC for their chutzpah in spitting in our freedom-loving faces?
Our good professor exposes some of the surface but leaves the deep rot, much of which belongs to his own precious political party. I recommend a good slow read of Sheldon Wolin's "Democracy, Inc" (2010), new introduction by Chris Hedges, to get a true measure of how blighted -- R and D -- our system and those who know how to use it are.
DUMP TREASONOUS, TERRORIST, AND CON REPUBLICONS EVERYWHERE
Who is running our government? Not the people on Capitol Hill or in the White House … as of today looks like the GOP has to call Trump on a daily basis to okay everything. Trump is not even in office, nor should he be privy to any national security concerns that deal with Americans safety at this point. Trump is just a citizen like you or me. WTF is happening ? The GOP is holding up the border bill and aid to Ukraine because a total idiot sexual abuser tax cheat business failure doesn’t want Biden to get credit for a good legislative act? Why aren’t people OUTRAGED?????
The Main Stream Media, even those that are not considered radical, those that I read and view on TV have done an absolutely horrible job in dealing with these issues they oooh and aww about his domination of the race but speak little about the problems he causes and will cause if elected. They give Trump way more air time, even when talking about his problems, than they give to Biden. I guess all that CBS or the NYT care about are their bottom line.
Great post! I love your writings. Thank you, Robert.
Robert, this endeavour is very good and I would like to contribute in the new version of the common good. But I miss your friend Bernie Sanders, I miss some analytical remarks.
Looking from a distance (Europe) I need more than interest in a "stable genius" who sucks uo vitality and oxygen out of our minds. His craziness predicts an "Endlösung", after and in his election.
But we know that for a long time.
Question is: why did we let him. Why is the U.S. a willing prey for grabbing capitalists? I see a lot of clips that are astounding. Why the fear? Why panic for state interventions? Why all rational arguments stop, when the qualification "socialism" is given?
My feeling is that European social history might help. Read the Russians, Bakoenin and Kropotkin.
Read the Dutch and German social thinkers, Rosa Luxemburg, Gorter, Roland Holst.
They wrote about the market forces and how these could be restrained. It is not a subject for panic, but something that should be discussed, in stead of excitment of the intimate bodyparts of the son of the president. Work to be done...