Bringing Democracy & Critiques of Capitalism to the Mainstream w/ Occupy Wall Street - Prof Wolff

In this clip from Economic Update, Prof Wolff explains how Occupy Wall Street inspired conversations about democracy in politics, the economy and a vision for a future beyond capitalism, fueling our mission here at Democracy at Work.

"For me, my work and the work of Democracy at Work as an institution has been to intervene right there. To come up with something that embodies this enormous commitment to democracy that Occupy put back on the map, with a critique of capitalism as a system that has outrun its historic usefulness." - Richard Wolff

*This episode of Economic Update was developed as part of a collective effort to explore the legacy of Occupy, in light of this 10 year anniversary. Through this project you can also hear analysis on the impact of Occupy from The Dig & Upstream. The producing partners for this project are the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s New York office and The New School’s Milano program. We encourage you to learn more and listen to some of the other episodes by visiting RosaLux.NYC/Occupy.
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Stuck Nation: Can the United States Change Course on Our History of Choosing Profits Over People?

“Hennelly brilliantly analyzes our capitalist crises and how individuals cope with them, tragically but often heroically. He helps us draw inspiration and realistic hope from how courageous Americans are facing and fixing a stuck nation.”
- Richard D. Wolff

Check out Prof. Wolff's other books: "The Sickness is the System," "Understanding Socialism," and "Understanding Marxism"
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[olympic]

Dear Professor Wolff! The clear direction could be given by writing down this direction in a new kind of 'red book'. Describing a society with cooperatives and worker-democracy. Used as a reference by all workers. The ideal person to write it is you.

[lindastruckus]

I just heard in post-election Canada that they are getting $10 a day child care.If that is Socialism, we are in need of that.

[dreamwavesrg]

I often have long arguments over economics with my brother who is also a graduate of Stanford University and, as a successful entrepreneur and owner of his own financial services company in the Bay Area, is considered an American “success” story (thanks to Professor Wolff’s excellent presentations, I am able to refute many of the tenants of his business “education” which often drives him into an extreme rage, and after he finishes his angry tirade - one apparently is never “allowed” to question the viewpoint of his conservative and libertarian economics professors - I continue with my counter argument!). We have many relatives in Sweden, and my brother will often comment that he never sees the number of homeless people in Stockholm that he always sees in San Francisco, a supposed bastion of “liberalism”. I then use his “complaint” as an opportunity for a “teaching moment” and offer the suggestion that such disturbing sights may be due to our more Dickensian system and that Sweden, a country he greatly admires, might have a better economic model which invests both in its people’s welfare and its businesses in order to support that nation’s generous social programs….

[MrDXRamirez]

What do we want?
Do we want a political or a human emancipation?

[robertrstevens]

WHEN will an overpowering majority of Americans finally follow Professor Wolff and his eloquent appeal for us to counterpunch the CEOs' slug fest against us? Long Live Henry A. Wallace! Long Live Eugene V. Debs! And Long Live The Knowledge that the LOWER 99% outnumbers the UPPER 1% by a whopping 99 TO 1 !

[matthewstone]

In the past the system has needed either other forces to push against it or regulation to police its behaviour. The reason being that the system becomes cannibalistic. There are no longer sufficient opposing forces, regulations have been stripped and new markets for exploitation have dwindled. Therefore it has become cannibalistic and is transforming into something that no longer resembles the capitalism we thought we knew. Scary times.

[ivearrows]

I was deeply involved at street level with the occupy movement. You know what it yielded? Nothing. Zero. Nada. The powers that be were unmoved.

[anghusmorgenholz]

I was disappointed utterly with the occupy movement. When they stated we have no leaders, no goal, no anything. As an anarchist I can tell you most if not all human group endeavors need someone in charge. Without one the movement doesn't move, the pigs on wall street sat above the people( literally above them ) drinking champagne and laughing at them. All it accomplished was give the Koch brothers the idea for that astroturf monstrosity the tea party. How depressing.

[MarkHopewell]

On this occasion, Richard is opening this presentation in the form of a fairy story, e.g. Once Upon a Time.

[logic]

Considering well what is policy and who attracts. Arrive to clear conclusion. It is a field of very lucrative business, most quick richness high wellbeing, that easily open for all sorts of lowest, principleless marginalized and etc., useless people! It is not profession, so it free access to any, actores, boxers and of course, especially mafias.

[stevecoley]

X-Files
Earthling human beings (love) vs hostile alien vampires (greed). David vs Goliath...on steroids.

[darthjarjarbinkstherealsit]

*Waves hand*
You will feed the algorithm