Prof. Richard Wolff: Sports Empire and the Gospel of Inequality

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[markange]

The Wolff against Wall Street. Truth to power, always.

[lilzack]

Richard Wolff was fierce on this !!! Wish this had more exposure. Every American should watch this to understand the real truth and how critical thinking has its rewards. Questioning capitalism is only the beginning.

[Camcolito]

Wow, Wolff on fire here. Nails one issue after another. Thanks for the interview.

[AWildBard]

Thank God for Richard Wolff!!
Thank you RJ Eskow

[p.brooksmcginnis]

I subscribed. Love Dr Wolff
No More War

[dylanwilliams]

Holy moly you two are insightful. Amazing, keep up the great work.

[duncanmckeown]

I would recommend, as an antidote to the "panglossian" line that poverty is declining globally to read Jason Hickel's recent book The Divide. Brings to mind the old expression "There are lies, damned lies ...and statistics."

[pillbox]

I can’t watch football anymore without thinking of brain damage that the NFL denied for over a decade.

[daviddestin]

things are getting so bad even the football sheeple are starting to wake up

[patriciabranigan]

I don't watch sports anymore because it is less and less how to entertain the fans and more and more of how to separate the fans from their money. It use to be even the working class could afford to go to the games now you have to take out a mortgage on your home to go. Teachers, police, firefighters cashiers, stockers, truck drivers, etc have to fight for a dime more in pay and are treated with contempt while people who play a game for a living are paid exorbitantly and exalted.

[rhondad]

My son who loves football thought it was the most boring game he ever watched. You can’t pay multimillion dollars to each player and not make it commercial.

[elianamckee]

Dr Wolff is always spot on. Sad news is that he is a minority of lucid thought in this land of sleepers.

[laboruniontv]

Many famous Bands had Colin Cap. conditions. NFL owners rejected huge Bands hoping to help Colin.

[myfavoriteplanet]

I supported Kaepernick. All he did was kneel. You don't like it don't kneel, Bfd. I support Kaepernicks cause. I got overwhelmed seeing unarmed people get shot by cops over and over. Although this is not just a race issue. Good for Kaepernick putting his career on the line for such an important cause. I kneel with Kaepernick.

[sacredmetaphics]

Professional sports is a grotesque example what is wrong with society. It's propaganda is to keep people entertained by watching the ball as corporations pick your pocket.

[robertallen]

Sounds like changing of the place settings and tableware at your location, RJ.

[alexisp]

It is the most tragic of ironies that the very country which so desperately needs socialism in order to survive is the one that has done the most damage to socialism worldwide, both in terms of direct attack and destruction of socialist countries, and massive propaganda efforts over the course of nearly a century to destroy the reputation and understanding of socialism - both as a theoretical practice and the correct historical understanding of the practice of socialism within various countries in the world.

There is so much misunderstanding and ugly hatred directed towards Marxism and communism/socialism due to the vigorous efforts during the Cold War - and beyond, as the Cold War never really ended, it simply carried on in a different form after the USSR was dissolved. It hasn't helped that various offshoots of Marxist theory have departed from the fundamental struggle for economic justice, which is the only real basis for any kind of social justice.

It is wrong and dangerous to attempt to create social justice while economic injustice remains - and this work has damaged the potential class solidarity badly, fracturing people into smaller groups defending their sex rights, gender rights, race rights, and so on. This assists the capitalist rulers in perpetuating the atomistic individualism necessary to maintain capitalism - which is why every possible source of true solidarity is destroyed: families, unions, religions, genuine political parties, co-ops, etc. This is not to suggest that social justice is a bad thing, but simply that it is putting the cart before the horse to seek it before gaining economic justice.

If you doubt this, just look how happy the Democratic Party (ie, the "liberal" wing of the Capitalist Party) is with identity politics - they have no problem with such things, because they divide the people. It puts a "liberal" face on the same destructive capitalist exploitation, and makes the people distracted with smaller struggles with each other. The other tool is the phoney "two party" system - each uses the other wing to scare their voters into perpetuating the system. Vote Democrat or you get TRUMP! Vote Republican or you get BERNIE!

Finally, there is the problem created by the very diversity of the US body politic - many people are the descendants of slaves, or immigrants fleeing poverty elsewhere, leading them into being somewhat tribal and seeking to defend their group's access to a small pool of jobs. Interested persons should also examine the ruthless suppression of the real labour movement and attempts at socialism/communism in the first half of the 20th century in the USA.

Professor Wolff is among a handful of vitally important voices in the USA today - I would include Chris Hedges, Michael Hudson, and Michael Parenti in the list, though Parenti isn't as active these days, his writings and talks are a must-listen for anyone who believes in socialism and its importance for the world.

[dianaleelee]

hierarchy literally means "rule of the sacred" or "sacred rule"

[herpaderp]

My favorite thing about the NFL is how Colin K couldn't get work, but let's rush out and sign that freshly released player with domestic violence charges.

[michelekett]

I am not religious and do not support any dogmatic belief system but I do assert that Socialism is true Christianity in action. Doing unto others as you would have done to yourself. The love of money is root of all evil and leads to the destructive of society.