Mar 31, 2023·edited Mar 31, 2023Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
Professor, I must have missed you informing us of your intent to retire from teaching at the end of this semester. I imagine every one of your classes will be over-subscribed. I would note my plan to attend your Wealth and Poverty class is twofold: as much as I look forward to benefiting from your latest thinking, I especially want to attend because I presume it’s your last time teaching the course. This might be projection, but I expect, because no semester was nearly as precious, both for me and for my students, as my last, that your next 14 weeks, along with a host of factors, will be spectacular.
Polly, While your reply registers as a response to me, it doesn’t read as though it were intended for me. That said, I understand we would receive a link each Friday over the next 14 weeks that we would view as our schedules permit.
Sheru, Because none of Reich’s references to the course include any sign-up instructions, I understand subscribers will receive the link starting this Friday, continuing over the next 14 weeks. In the unlikely case I’m wrong, we’ll know by Friday and can make inquiries.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity! I'm delighted to have this opportunity, but also sad that you are retiring. Please keep writing and talking to us; we need your shared wisdom to continue.
Can’t wait till next Friday! Thank you for your generosity in sharing your genius. I only hope that retirement doesn’t mean you will give up this enlightening SubStack blog. You educate and delight me daily. My uncle, Paul Kleinsorge, was an economics professor at the University of Oregon years ago and I always felt the subject was far beyond my feeble abilities. Yet you, mench that you are, have made the it come alive for me. I am truly grateful and sing your praises to everyone who will listen.
I watched his last class ever - a benediction of sorts. A richly composed, heartfelt challenge to those in attendance, (in-person or online), to embrace the challenge with positivity, find your voice, be the change. It really hit me.
Terrific to see the Substack platform used again for educating and enlightening the electorate and society. This seems to be on the right path for the use of social media. It is a welcome contrast to the dead-end egocentric uses of social media by so many in positions of power and influence.
I will try to take the class. Hopefully I can take the time to be regular, but who knows. I teach and sometimes the tasks fill up all the minutes in a week. I do have a question I hope you will answer in either another column or in the course. You stated that you do not believe wealth is a zero sum game, but power is. Perhaps you can explain this, but I have always argued, from an ecological perspective, that wealth is a zero sum game. The planet is finite. Resources are finite and can be both depleted or even used up. If individuals (millionaires and billionaires to quote Bernie) accumulate more, they leave less available for others. Natural resources and human resources have limits, and if they exceed those limits then inevitably the result is overshoot and collapse. Evidence indicates, strongly and urgently, that we are at the top or even on the descending slope of overshoot and heading toward collapse without a major reduction in resource use and accumulation. The wealthy are more responsible for creating this problem and for implementing a solution, which means voluntarily, or through coercion, reducing their local, regional and planetary impact. So how is wealth not a zero sum, or even a negative, game?
The planet's resources are finite, but our blessed planet has been able to support millions of species for millions of years. Today this diversity is in peril because one species has gained unprecedented power, and it is using it unwisely. Power can be shared and restrained.
Absolutely appreciate and love your wonderful proficient knowledgeable information that you share with your readers! Some days it is my only hope of understanding this wonderful Democratic Republic and what has caused this wonderful country of ours to be so crazy and stressful currently! I’m coming to the winter of my life and am so concerned that the rest of my life, my children’s life, my grandchildren, and future generations will not have their freedom as my generation has experienced!
This is one of the most engaging classes I have ever taken. I recommend it. Wealth, poverty, limits to inequality, limits to growth (planet aint finite).
Thanks Professor. I plan to be there. I'm also with Paul Palmer (below). Wealth (or rather economic power) can - and must - be separated from political power (which in a democracy rests exclusively with the demos). The key is curing ourselves of the delusion that elections = democracy. Elections = oligarchy and this fact was universally recognized right up to 1787 (and the Founders' coup). Elections are the mechanism by which the oligarchy maintains itself against the demos. In a genuine democracy, you can have economic power or you can have political power - but you can't have both.
I'm so excited! You must have read my mind. I just purchased "Poverty by America" by Matthew Desmond. Perfect timing! Thank you so much for giving all you do for so many. Your are correct, very few things are as important to a Democracy as education! Really looking forward to your class!
Professor, I must have missed you informing us of your intent to retire from teaching at the end of this semester. I imagine every one of your classes will be over-subscribed. I would note my plan to attend your Wealth and Poverty class is twofold: as much as I look forward to benefiting from your latest thinking, I especially want to attend because I presume it’s your last time teaching the course. This might be projection, but I expect, because no semester was nearly as precious, both for me and for my students, as my last, that your next 14 weeks, along with a host of factors, will be spectacular.
What time does it start and will there be replays if unable to watch one day?
I understand but also disappointed to not see your emails anymore.
Polly, While your reply registers as a response to me, it doesn’t read as though it were intended for me. That said, I understand we would receive a link each Friday over the next 14 weeks that we would view as our schedules permit.
Barbara, would you happen to know if we have to sign up somewhere or do subscribers just get the link? Thanks!
Sheru, Because none of Reich’s references to the course include any sign-up instructions, I understand subscribers will receive the link starting this Friday, continuing over the next 14 weeks. In the unlikely case I’m wrong, we’ll know by Friday and can make inquiries.
Thank you!
Thenk you.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity! I'm delighted to have this opportunity, but also sad that you are retiring. Please keep writing and talking to us; we need your shared wisdom to continue.
Some very special people never really “retire”
(Except every night )
I think you are one of these people.
I look forward to learning more from you.
Thank you.
Can’t wait till next Friday! Thank you for your generosity in sharing your genius. I only hope that retirement doesn’t mean you will give up this enlightening SubStack blog. You educate and delight me daily. My uncle, Paul Kleinsorge, was an economics professor at the University of Oregon years ago and I always felt the subject was far beyond my feeble abilities. Yet you, mench that you are, have made the it come alive for me. I am truly grateful and sing your praises to everyone who will listen.
I took it last spring. This is an excellent class!
Me too. It was so interesting that I'll listen to this year's edition too!
I watched his last class ever - a benediction of sorts. A richly composed, heartfelt challenge to those in attendance, (in-person or online), to embrace the challenge with positivity, find your voice, be the change. It really hit me.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!. This class will be the highlight of my next 14 weeks.
Terrific to see the Substack platform used again for educating and enlightening the electorate and society. This seems to be on the right path for the use of social media. It is a welcome contrast to the dead-end egocentric uses of social media by so many in positions of power and influence.
OOOOO!! so excited! 14 weeks of intellectual stimulation! my favourite thing EVAR!!
but ... what will you do after you retire? tell me you won't ... gulp ... LEAVE US??
GrrlScientist - I just found this and thought what a great anthem for repugnants, as well as maybe a tongue in cheek theme song for Dr. Reich:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BskPOuO_x4I&list=PLcpGhWQ2tkoPXNnZGT_xJkgeYmLAQXcEd&ab_channel=Shirley%C8%98erban
That’s amazing. Thanks for sharing
OMG!!
I’ll be there, Professor. Look forward to your class!
tom j...birmingham, al
I’m looking forward to this. Thank you for the opportunity.
Thank you Prof. Reich for making this course available to everyone. I hope Jerome Powell will take the time to attend all 14 sessions.
I hope MrPowell takes the course also.
I will try to take the class. Hopefully I can take the time to be regular, but who knows. I teach and sometimes the tasks fill up all the minutes in a week. I do have a question I hope you will answer in either another column or in the course. You stated that you do not believe wealth is a zero sum game, but power is. Perhaps you can explain this, but I have always argued, from an ecological perspective, that wealth is a zero sum game. The planet is finite. Resources are finite and can be both depleted or even used up. If individuals (millionaires and billionaires to quote Bernie) accumulate more, they leave less available for others. Natural resources and human resources have limits, and if they exceed those limits then inevitably the result is overshoot and collapse. Evidence indicates, strongly and urgently, that we are at the top or even on the descending slope of overshoot and heading toward collapse without a major reduction in resource use and accumulation. The wealthy are more responsible for creating this problem and for implementing a solution, which means voluntarily, or through coercion, reducing their local, regional and planetary impact. So how is wealth not a zero sum, or even a negative, game?
The planet's resources are finite, but our blessed planet has been able to support millions of species for millions of years. Today this diversity is in peril because one species has gained unprecedented power, and it is using it unwisely. Power can be shared and restrained.
Absolutely appreciate and love your wonderful proficient knowledgeable information that you share with your readers! Some days it is my only hope of understanding this wonderful Democratic Republic and what has caused this wonderful country of ours to be so crazy and stressful currently! I’m coming to the winter of my life and am so concerned that the rest of my life, my children’s life, my grandchildren, and future generations will not have their freedom as my generation has experienced!
This is one of the most engaging classes I have ever taken. I recommend it. Wealth, poverty, limits to inequality, limits to growth (planet aint finite).
Thanks Professor. I plan to be there. I'm also with Paul Palmer (below). Wealth (or rather economic power) can - and must - be separated from political power (which in a democracy rests exclusively with the demos). The key is curing ourselves of the delusion that elections = democracy. Elections = oligarchy and this fact was universally recognized right up to 1787 (and the Founders' coup). Elections are the mechanism by which the oligarchy maintains itself against the demos. In a genuine democracy, you can have economic power or you can have political power - but you can't have both.
I'm so excited! You must have read my mind. I just purchased "Poverty by America" by Matthew Desmond. Perfect timing! Thank you so much for giving all you do for so many. Your are correct, very few things are as important to a Democracy as education! Really looking forward to your class!
Me, too. Like Professor Reich, sociologist Desmond is an accessible teacher.