Neoliberalism And Libertarianism: They Must Be Defeated

"The Supreme Court turned the table on average, working people back in the 70s when they empowered wealthy individuals and corporations to have an outsized role in our politics. Now we're trapped in the reality that shift in power created and are dreaming of a better way to manage our economic and political systems for the benefit of all people."

Click on the link below for a vision of a future where Neoliberalism and Libertarianism are 4-letter words:

Beyond Neoliberalism: Dreaming a new economic system into being

Capitalism: An Economic Idea That Has Never Lived Up To Its Vision

"Today, we take a look at some origins, alternatives, and misunderstandings of capitalism from the Dutch East India Company, to Adam Smith and up through the planned obsolescence and marketing that have tricked us all into working far harder than necessary while failing to make us happy."

Click on the link below for a clear look at what capitalism looked like at its origins and is today:

Capitalism doesn't live up to the hype

Universal Basic Income Is A Positive For The Individual And Society

"Sarah Moran joins the program to discuss the benefits of UBI. Universal basic income (UBI) is a cash payment made by the government to all citizens, regardless of income or employment status. One of the key arguments in favor of UBI is that it has a multiplier effect on local economies. When people receive a UBI payment, they are more likely to spend it on goods and services, which in turn boosts demand for those goods and services and leads to increased economic activity. This increased demand can lead to increased production, hiring, and ultimately, economic growth. Additionally, UBI can reduce poverty and income inequality, which can also have positive effects on local economies."

Click on the link before for an enlightening 8-minute video interview regarding this controversial subject:

Why Universal Basic Income Is Great For The Economy Actually

A Look At The Document The Republicans Love To Hate

"It’s been 174 years since Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote “The Communist Manifesto.” How is it still relevant today and what makes it such a vital guide to understanding present-day struggles? That’s the subject of China Mieville’s latest work, “A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto.” Miéville, a self-proclaimed Marxist and socialist, is a New York Times-bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction. His most recent book offers an analysis of what arguably remains the modern world’s most influential political document. He joins WITHpod to discuss criticisms of “The Manifesto,” the precipitating factors and peculiar nature of the text, how it still profoundly influences contemporary discourse, and more."

Click on the link below for a podcast presenting the good, bad and the ugly of communism:

What ‘The Communist Manifesto’ Means Today

Capitalism, Growth, And Human Survival

"Today we take a look at many intertwining economic processes that are permeating society which include but are not limited to the dead-end mentality of infinite growth, the uselessness of growth past a certain point for wellbeing, and the deepening alienation being felt in response to consumerism in place of community."

Poorly regulated capitalism has been the predominant economic force in the developed world since at least the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. A reasonable person presently can look at its results and trend and be alarmed. Click on the link below for a podcast critically looking at economics today and the potentially existential disaster for humanity in the future if the trend does not change:

A Healthier Humanity Through a Wellness Economy

Labor Unions

 "Today we take a look at some of the history of labor struggles in America and the current wave of strikes that is giving renewed energy to the labor union movement and the struggle for better working conditions for all."

Click on the link below for a podcast presenting the history of labor unions in the USA and a hopeful future for them:

People Are Waking Back Up To The Need For Labor Unions

Healthcare: Individual Rights Vs The General Welfare

Points to ponder:

• Individual rights are not absolute 
• Libertarianism is a marginal idea and not a universal value
• Humans have evolved as social animals and have thrived from such
• The Preamble to the US Constitution: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
• The First Amendment to the US Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
• Morality comes from biology and socialization, not from an unevidenced God

Given the above:

• Why Catholic hospitals are bad for the US

Lessons From The Early History Of Humans

"'Civilized to Death' counters the idea that progress is inherently good, arguing that the 'progress' defining our age is analogous to an advancing disease."

Libertarians like to claim that unfettered capitalism and personal freedom are inherently good, and humanity needs to get back to its cultural roots of strong individualism (link). They criticize the collectivism of democratic socialism/regulated capitalism, let alone true communism/socialism. Click on the link below for a historical look at humanity at its beginning to get some insight regarding the good and bad of human society organizations:

Is Civilization Our Greatest Accomplishment or Worst Mistake?

How Do We Get To Democratic Socialism?

In the recent film "Lincoln", Lincoln says the following (paraphrased): 

• All leaders have goals to achieve and we can use the analogy of a compass pointing "Due North" for guidance. However, one must pass through swamps and other dangers to get to the goals. 

Applying this to politics, we can agree on goals but the way to achieve them requires having the wisdom to move toward those goals being aware of the obstacles in the way. Click on the link below to understand the difference of opinion regarding how to achieve democratic socialism in the USA:

Debating Democratic Socialism and How to Get There

"Socialism" Is Not A Pejorative

The conservatives are skilled in their indoctrination and falsehood regarding the term "Socialism." It is no different than when religious apologists use the term "Scientism" as a pejorative. The video below does a good job in clarifying the term and presenting the truth about its value:

Debunked: "Socialism Has Never Worked"

Capitalism, Unemployment, And Worker Cooperatives

"Capitalism's recurring unemployment problem was never solved and makes the system fundamentally unstable. Today's high levels of unemployment are hugely costly in both human and financial terms. On this week's episode we analyze why capitalism prepares so poorly for and then endures its recurring unemployment. We also examine several alternatives to unemployment that would serve society better but threaten capitalism."

A frank look at the facts of capitalism. Worker coops may be an antidote. Click on the link below:

Capitalism's Unemployment Problem

Is Altruism Evil?

"Rand examines the philosophy that holds individual men should be used as sacrificial animals for the group, the fundamental premise of collectivist politics." (Ayn Rand - Why Altruism is Evil)

Following was my response to this political/ethical extremism:

"Ayn Rand has no idea of how humanity has become a successful species: a mixture of self-interest and altruism. Extremes of self-interest are the 'evils' she should be decrying. Show me any society that ever was only altruistic from the top down. Her argument is the same type of argument that Republicans make about 'socialism.' However, those who want the government to be the sole means of production are very few. What Republicans and Libertarians are calling 'socialism' is actually 'democratic socialism': regulated capitalism with taxation proportional to the ability to pay such in order to minimize economic inequality."

This link is a nice rebuttal to her philosophy, which presents research into the negative effects of her ideas:

This is what happens if you take Ayn Rand seriously

"Can A Catholic Be A Socialist?"

The EWTN Catholic Network just put out a YouTube video highlighting a book entitled, "Can A Catholic be a Socialist?" with a subtitle of, "The Answer is no, and here's why." This troubles me for at least a few reasons. Below essentially was my comment on the video:

"Although the video interview with the authors did present a full spectrum of the meaning of the word, this book is straw-manning what most people believe about socialism. How the word 'socialism' is interpreted is largely determined by how the definition is presented to people (link). I believe that the percentage of US people who agree with the government controlling the means of production is very low, so why the provocative title?

"I am skeptical of a book like this being distributed in an election year from Catholic apologists, who are very supportive of Republicans. Why? listen to how Republicans define "socialism", watch how they downplay social justice activism against systemic inequity (using 'Social Justice Warrior' as a pejorative, for example), and emphasize individual responsibility without consideration of such injustice. I'm sure I don't have to repeat how the Bible talks about the need for justice."

It's Not "Socialism", It is "Freedom"

During the present presidential campaign, Bernie Sanders has been dogged by the label of "Socialist", when actually he is talking about "Democratic Socialism." The podcast episode below is the best apologetic for such to which I have been exposed.

Socialism is Freedom and Firefighters

Why Can't This Work In The USA

The Nordic countries are known for being the happiest people on Earth while also being very highly taxed. What do they know and what are they doing to achieve their outstanding quality of life?

As you listen to the podcast below note the importance of "the people" and how they strongly challenged the non-partisan reason for the problems for which they corrected: excessive corporate power.

https://podbay.fm/podcast/124960485/e/1578070800

Conservatives Do Not Understand Democratic Socialism

"As more left-flank challengers face off with center-left incumbents and more democratic socialists begin looking toward the public office, beware: You will all be called champagne socialists or yacht communists, the ritzier and more radical counterparts of limousine liberals. It doesn’t matter how comparatively humble your background is, or how relatively modest your means in the context of the political class at-large — it’ll always be news if Bernie Sanders wears a $700 coat or buys a house by a lake, because his political position on inequality is so obviously moral that the only way to impeach it is to make him seem dishonest about it. The same goes, and will continue to go, for every other candidate who attempts to advance material equality."

Conservatives will always call socialists hypocrites. Ignore them.

The truth about democratic socialism

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-economy-happiness/201606/what-would-democratic-socialism-mean-america?fbclid=IwAR3gnjuxhXmjXBHxYN4A9SI28VYBP944OSZZTgQRveNLov7KxcET1nNamsQ

Two Attributes Correlated With Societal Happiness

Note the political system under which the happiest countries operate. Not said in the article, but true: they are the least religious.

Want to be happy, move to one of these Top Ten countries.

A Look At The Problems With Capitalism (No, Not From Socialists)

"The belief that the government should only intervene to “fix” the market in extreme circumstances, rather than acting as a partner in creating and shaping markets, means we’re constantly putting 'bandages' on problems and 'nothing changes.' The intractability of today’s slow growth and widening inequality can be traced, she says, to the fact that governments in the U.S. and Europe have increasingly shied away from their responsibilities. 'We have to admit that policy steers innovation and growth, and so the question is where do we want to steer them?'”

Capitalism Behaving Badly

Understand Democratic Socialism

5 Ways Democratic Socialism Isn't What You Think

Bernie Sanders Says He’s a Democratic Socialist. Here’s What That Means

Democratic Socialism Not A Barrier To Happiness And Prosperity

The Goldilocks Zone In Politics

Democratic Socialism