Economic Update: Rebuilding a Labor and Left Movement

[S12 E05] Rebuilding A Labor and Left Movement

This week on Economic Update, Prof. Wolff presents a critique of US Megacorp merger (Microsoft and Activision Blizzard), China vs US on inflation and economic growth, and the collapse of Boris Johnson (like Trump's lost election). In the second half of the show, Wolff interviews author Aviva Chomsky on problems and prospects of US labor and left social movements.

A special thank you to our devoted EU Patreon community whose contributions make this show possible each week.
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About our guest: Aviva Chomsky is Professor of History and coordinator of Latin American Studies at Salem State University in Massachusetts. She has published widely on labor history, immigration and undocumentedness, Central America, Cuba, and Colombia. Her most recent books include Central America’s Forgotten History: Revolution, Violence, and the Roots of Migration and Organizing for Power: Building a Twenty-First Century Labor Movement in Boston, the latter co-edited with Steve Striffler. Her next book, “Is Science Enough? Forty Critical Questions about Climate Justice” is due out in 2022. She has been active in Latin America solidarity and immigrants’ rights movements for several decades.
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“Marxism always was the critical shadow of capitalism. Their interactions changed them both. Now Marxism is once again stepping into the light as capitalism shakes from its own excesses and confronts decline.”

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SOURCES FOR SHOW SEGMENTS

[chioma]

Professor Wolff you are such a needed voice today. More people need to really hear you. Powerful! 
Bravo!

[ninahilton]

Love this. As a big fan of yours from the UK would like to say that your assessment of Johnson is 💯 👌

[jdcjr]

Thank you for bringing strong voices that I rarely hear on mainstream corporate channels.

[o]

Thank you all for your incredible work! You're making an impact!

[rababelnaiem]

Thank you, a very powerful episode ✊🏿🔥🇸🇩

[poopoo-dkhu]

The build up to him talking about the Microsoft acquisition was great!

[ratnabahadurgurung]

Excellent point talked prof.wolff thank you verymuch.

[emiebex]

Thank you for the informative conversation.

[DJWESG]

Thankyou Professor highlighting the problems we have been having in the uk for the last decade and more.

[JohnT.]

Very enjoyable show. Again, I remind everyone that we have to demand the repeal of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act with the more union friendly Wagner Act with the extra provision that semi and unskilled workers can join a union. Unions are very important to organize labor in the workplace. However, unions need to unite industrially as well as politically to change society as a whole. Worker coops are good on one hand; however, joining a union would be for those who already are employed. I am happy to hear the topic of imperialism being talked about.

[LONEWOLF..-S-T-L]

GREAT TALKING POINTS PROFESSOR WOLFF AS USUAL SIR 💪🏾💯👍🏾❤️🌄

[lawsonj]

I'm glad to know about Aviva; never heard of her previous to this.

[TennesseeJed]

I love this show! My Monday routine pivots on it.

[fortedrummer]

Thank you so much for this particular episode, from start to finish, and for introducing Professor Chomsky's work and perspectives! I dream, but I believe that only truly global worker solidarity (around fully co-operative workplaces) and anti-imperialism will succeed at sustaining humankind at all.

[JoseLopez-ysoz]

The big lie that capitalism is democracy. If the people of the United States (US) want our government to represent 100% of us, we must begin to engage in permanent resistance to force the US government (USG) to improve the lives of all workers. And as the labor unions and the left do that, we must continue to work together to eventually replace capitalism with an improved socialist economic system that include the democratization of the workplace. Will the unions and the left be able to see the bigger picture of working together to create justice for all, instead of justice for just my group? The 99% of us must understand that capitalism is made up of racism and imperialism. The more truth we understand, the clearer that picture will become. Truth is our ally for peace.

[AnotherWayFilms]

(Heads up, the opener seems to not come in for :20 seconds.)
Great episode indeed!

[DJWESG]

In regard to unionism and the issue of inculsion, i argued that we should always have a space for unemployed ppl, regardless of status or stigma, and those people should always be regarded as future workers, past workers and potential workers, and thats only if we MUST use this language of work to define us as a class

[Tom-Travels]

It's amazing. Here at my job, we get 30 minutes for lunch. Some people eat lunch in 5 minutes and then go to sleep for 25. Some jump on social media or games on their phones, but a couple of us sit and talk about our hopes and dreams. Like why can't we organize and get a better life? Last week, my boss corned me in the warehouse. "Tom, I hear that you are a troublemaker.: He continued, "I'm warning you, keep your head down, your damn mouth shut, and keep those shelves stocked, or I will terminate you!" I didn't say anything because I knew no one had my back.

[holaforistas]

Nice to have in this program experts taking about Latinoamérica’s struggle for social justice.
So good to know that we, Latinos, aren’t alone.

[LabGoats]

So glad you're talking about gaming. It would be super cool if you talked about the video game modding online communities and how capitalist products rushed out to market are completed, improved, optimized, expanded, and customized by groups and individuals who are simply passionate about gaming.
To me, it's a story about how work under capitalism destroys creativity and even the ethic of putting out a finished product and not a buggy mess with half the promised features at best.