Socialist Visions: Recent Episodes
Socialist Visions
We discuss, explain, and debate, the visions of a scientific socialist system. Don't let the concept scare you away. Listen, learn, and ask questions.
In this episode, we provide an analysis of current domestic and international news events from a left perspective. Items for this week's focus may include, what's happening in Venezuela, the crisis between United States and North Korea, and the White supremacist rally in Charlottesville.
Under the storm clouds of P45, Attorney General Jeff Session and other rich white men in the Administration are attacking the human rights of people of color, immigrants and women. It’s time for socialists to rebuild a broad mass social movement not only to defend the basic human rights but also for social transformation.
In this episode, we discuss the Leap Manifesto, a document written by "60 representatives from Canada’s Indigenous rights, social and food justice, environmental, faith-based and labour movements." We discuss how and where the manisfesto reflects the objectives of modern socialism and why we should support and build on this manisfesto.
Carl, the co-host of Socialist Visions will be attending the Socialism2017 conference taking place July 6-9. I'll be talking to Carl on Friday about the workshops attended, the people he's connected with, and what's some the dominate issues being discused. We all can't be at the conference, but it's great to have my co-host there to provide some first hand feedback. Feel free to call in with your quesitons. 347-857-1319
If you want to get a clear current example of how capitalism works, simply follow the reporting about the Trump family and property holdings and investiments. Property ownership is at the art of capitalism. Capitalist know that people need a place to live. They know people will pay almost any price for shelter. So like fictional vampires, capitalist prey on people who depend on some form of housing. In this epsiode, we'll discuss the current reporting on property holdings and situate it within the capitalist economic system. We'll discuss also how it could be different under a socialist ecomony.
There's so much going on with the neo-facisit WH admistratation that we want to devote a show to talking about what should be learned from the election of Trump, the state democracy in this country, and how capitalsim is a motivating factor in where we are and are headed. We haven't done a show in two weeks so there's much to talk about. Hope you can tune in. 347-857-1319
In this episode we speak with Brian Bean, a writer and activist for SoicalistWorker.org, about this summer's Socialist 2017 conference in Chicago. The conference will feature noted speakers and performers including actor John Cusack, Democracy Now host, Amy Goodman, Keeanga-Yamahatta Taylor, author of #BLM to Black Liberation, Palesine solidarity acitvist, Rami Kanazi, and many more. We'll be asking about the some of the planned topics and debates of conference and the hidden history of working-class and socialist struggles.
In this episode we disucss the popular myths about Marxism and why Marx was right. We'll use Terry Eagleton's Why Marx Was Right, a very readable book about the critical and most criticized concepts and theories of Karl Marx and socialism. Some of the myths include that Marxism is a form of determinism, that Marxism reduces everything to economics, that Marx was a solely a materialist, that class is outdated, that Marist advocate violent political action, and that Marxism advocates an all power state.
This is episode will focus on the John Bellemy Foster's article, "Neofacism in the White House", published in the April 2017 editon of Monthly Review. Charting the rise of neofascism in this country is crucial to understanding and responding to the futher undermining of democratic institutions, the rise and consolidation of oligarchy, and how the market system of capitalism influences the neofacist direction.
As a follow-up to the international March for Science day, we discuss why the development of modern socialism must have at its core the use of the scientific methodology and wide range democratic decision making in order to make for a true revolution in how we manage resources and govern our lives beyond capitalism. We'll examine why the traditional models of bourgeois capitalism and democracy are not serving the needs of most of the people on the planet. Feel free call in: 347-857-1319
This is our 3rd and last espisode about the The Commonist Manifesto, by Karl Marx and Frederick Engles. If you have never read it, there's no way that you really can undertand the contributions Marx and Engles made to the birth of left movements and revolutions worldwide. If you're a part of the working class, a student, a journalist, an activist, etc, you owe it to yourself to read the Communist Manifesto.
This 3rd installment will focus on Marx's views of private property and their analysis of socialist parties and movements of the time period when the manisfesto was being writting.
Part II of our discssion about the Communist Manifesto.
There's no better time than now in the midst of class struggle in the United States and the around the world to review the classic pamaphlet, The Commonist Manifesto, by Karl Marx and Frederick Engles. If you have never read it, there's no way that you really can undertand the contributions Marx and Engles made to the birth of left movements and revolutions worldwide. If you're a member of the working class, a student, a journalist, an activist, etc, you owe it to yourself to read the Communist Manifesto. Here's a link to a PDF version of the pamaphlet.
If you get a chance to read it, or if you have read it before, we encourage you to call in with your questions and feedback.
Also, if you're a frequent listener to our show, we really would like you to follow us here on BlogTalk. Our followers will be get brief show notes after each new show. Thank you for being a listener.
There's no better time than now in the midst of class struggle in the United States and the around the world to review the classic pamaphlet, The Commonist Manifesto, by Karl Marx and Frederick Engles. If you have never read it, there's no way that you really can undertand the contributions Marx and Engles made to the birth of left movements and revolutions worldwide. If you're a member of the working class, a student, a journalist, an activist, etc, you owe it to yourself to read the Communist Manifesto. Here's a link to a PDF version of the pamaphlet.
If you get a chance to read it, or if you have read it before, we encourage you to call in with your questions and feedback.
Also, if you're a frequent listener to our show, we really would like you to follow us here on BlogTalk. Our followers will be get brief show notes after each new show. Thank you for being a listener.
Recently U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was quoted as saying, there's "no such thing as a free lunch," a euphanism that dates back decades. In this episode, we examine what should DeVos means by "no free lunch," and why the bourgeois class is so reistent to public funding of food, housing, medical care, education, and the like. We futher discuss how socialism could address the needs of the masses of people, providing "free lunches" and lots more for everyone!
In this episode we talk with political philiospher and professor Jodi Dean, about the nature of crowds, protests, resistance to capitalism, left political parties, and her views on communism. Jodi Dean's most recent books include Democracy and Other Neoliberal Fantasies, The Communist Horizon, and Crowds and Party. Dr. Dean has several interviews posted on YouTube, and we're looking forward to speaking with her about her insights. The last 20 minutes of this show is open to call-in questions: 347-857-1319.
This episode picks up from our previous epsiode about the nature of protests and political parities. In this episode we will outline 10 points for left activism, especially in the era of an facist regmine in power in the US. These points are applicable to any year or time, but we'll discuss them particularly in light of the right-wing authoritarianism that we're facing today.
In the last several years, we have seen a resurgence of various forms of political protests, from Occupy, Black Lives Matter, the recent Women's March, to the successful anti-Muslim immigration ban order. In this episode, we'll discuss what these forms of resistance mean, including the challenges and the prospects of resistance and political and economic change.
In this episode, in honor of Black History Month, we provide an overview of historical Black and Pan- African revolutionaries, whom have made important contributions to liberation struggles and ideologies. Tune in to hear our views of figures including W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Nat Turner, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabral, Franz Fanon, C.L.R James, Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, Assta Shakur, and Malcolm X, Kwame Ture, and Manning Marable.
This episode is a continuation of last week's show about the emergence of Donald Trump out of the systems and culture of White supremacy and capitalism. In this episode will discuss more on why and how capitalism leads to fascism and authoritarian rule. We will also discuss how we should be responding to the authoritarian regime of the Republican Party, and the capitulation of the Democratic Party.
We've been seeing strong protests of Donald Trump as a person and as a president of the US, but it's important that we keep in mind that Trump comes out of a larger system of oppression—both capitalism and White supremacy. These systems and cultures raised Trump to who he is today. In this episode we will discuss why it's important to not only protest Trump, but to dismantle the capitalist system and the White supremacy political infrastructure that produced him.
Following up on our episode, we will discuss 20 statistics taken from Bernie Sanders' book, Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In. We will use the stats as basis for discussing how a true democratic socialist system could greatly tranform economic and political inequality, and pave the road for universal health care, education, housing, food, and working conditons.
In this episode, we look back on the Bernie Sanders campaign and movement by discussing two related books, Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In, by Bernie Sanders, and Rules for Revolutionaries: How Big Organizing Can Change Everything, Becky Bond and Zack Exley ( affiliate links included). There's much to learn from the movement that is not yet dead. What can the socialist left learn from this movement, and how do we keep building under a neofascist Trump regime. Tune in to the show, and call in with your opinion and questions. 347-857-1319. Also please Follow Socialist Visions on BlogTalk. We need your support to pay for the weekly episodes.
In this episode, we'll discuss the insidioius nature of capitalism and how Donald Trump is a symbol of everything wrong with American capitalism and culture.
The episode is based on a discuss Rana Forhoohar's book, the Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business. We'll discuss what this book gets correct about the role of finance, and what where its analysis falls short.
Because of the recent and disastrous presidential elections, we didn't get a chance to delve fully into the topic of socialism vs. liberterianism. In this espisode we'll discuss the differences between the two political and economic idealogies, and what many people misunderstand about modern revolutionary socialism.
In this episode, we address head on the differences between socialism and libertarianism, and why we think the former is a better direction for humanity to take. We've discussed libertarianism before, but have not devoted an entire show about it. If you have some views on this subject, you're welcome to call in. 347-857-1319.
In the lead up to the US presidential election, in this episode we will interview Green Party spokeswoman and organizer, Laura Wells. Ms. Wells was the Green Party candidate for Governor of California 2010 and has been an active Green since 1992. She will give us an update on where things stand with the current campaign, her vision for the movement, local and national campaigns, and the role voting plays in political revolution.
In this episode we will examine the rise of oligarchy and how it exists. Modern elections have clearly shown the power of the oligarchy to run politicates, in both the Republican and Democratic parties, who will work for the power and interest of the bourgeois class, and ultimately develop policies that undermine the working-class and oppressed peoples.
In this episode we continue the discussion of why we advocate socialsim. In our last episode we focued on the democratic process of socialism and how it could be different from the bourgeois "domocracy" under capitalism. In this episode we will delve deeper into why the economic conditions of capitalism are not sustainable, and why a more equitable system of economic justice is needed.
In this episode, we revist why we advocate for a socialist political economy. We address many of the myths and misunderstandings about socialism, and we explain what is required to build a real socialist society that is based true democratic principals, respect of workers rights, the environment, and social justice. If you agree with our analysis, we encourage you to share this podcast with others.
In this episode, we discuss the conditions of workers in countries like Brazil, Venzuela, India, and Africa. We'll discuss these conditions in light of a capitalist global economy and what that means for trade deals and the livelihood of people whose labor gets exploited for the wealth of others.
The episode will focuse multiple topcis, including the presidential election, whether to vote for Clinton, and recent police shootings of unarmed Black men. Call in with your views and questions.
In this episode, we dicuss the existence of workers co-ops, and what role they can plan changing the economic capitalist system.
There are many questions about what's going on in Venezuela and Brazil, especially in regard to the socialist struggles and the economic plight of the countries. We are not experts on these topics, but we plan to provide an analysis from a perspective.
In this show discuss working consciousness and the meaning of Labor Day. We'll review the history of Labour Day, and May Day. How has Labour Day changed from its orginal intent. What does labor mean today under the pernicious system of capitalism, and for a vision for socialism. Since this is your day off, we hope that you can call in. 347-857-1319
Four years ago George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, and after Mike Brown was shot dead by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The Movement for Black Lives exploded on the scene as #BlackLivesMatter. We will discuss the Movement for Black Lives Platform in the context of a struggle for socialism and the end to racism.
In this election season, now is a good time to examine the electoral process, campaign reform, and bourgeois democracy. We particularly look at the role of the Green Party and the realities of working class third parties in the US. This episode raises such questions as: Does voting matter? Can reform lead to revolution? Can a third-party win elections? What do mean by fixing a broken system? Call in with your views: 347-857-1319.
In this third part series on the Green Party and Jill Stein, we take a closer look at the Party's proposals about educaiton and student loans. We examine this issue from a left, socialist perspective and how it could be a defining issue. Call in with your views. 347-857-1319
In this episode we continue out discusion on why working class people should support Jill Stein and the Green Party platfrom. Even with the threat of Donald Trump being elected, we make a case for why voting for Jill Stein is not wasted vote. Tune in live to the show and give us your opinion. Guest call-in: 347-857-1319
While we know that Dr. Jill Stein cannot win the presidential election, there are very good reasons to support her in the Green Party. In this episode, we discuss why many Bernie Sanders supporters are not voting for Hillary Clinton, and are instead supporting Jill Stein and/or writing in Bernie Sanders. Call in and let us know your views on this topic. 347-857-1319
In this episode we explain what is called the bourgeois class, a Marxist term that is not used enough these days. Trump and the Clintons are very much a part of the bourgeois class. We explain the role and function of the bourgeois class and how it relates to you, the working class. Socialism does indeed seek to overthrow the bourgeois class, and we explain this is also important to the advancement of humanity. If you listen to this show live, we invite you to call in with your questions and comments. 347-857-1319. We also encourage you to subscribe to Socialist Visions via iTunes. Please also provide positive listener feedback on our iTunes page.
We seriously apologize for not doing consistent shows for the last two months. Our schedules have been conflicting, and we hope to correct that by having an alternative time set up when we can't produce a show on Monday at 6pm.
In this week's episode we discuss a range of important issues including the Black Lives Protests, the killing of cops in Dallas, Bernie's endorsement of Hillary Clinton, and whatever else we can squeeze in.
We want to keep Socialist Visions going as long as possible. In order to do that, we need to hear from you. Give us your feedback and let us know how we're doing, and what topics you would like to see us cover. Call in at 347-857-1319 or write us at SocialistVisions@gmail.com
In this episode we dicuss the state of the Bernie Sanders election, and movement built around his candiacy, and what role the socialist left continues to play during the election process and beyond.
Despite the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, it has serious problems, given it's neoliberal model, and the challenges it faces under a for-profit system. Listen in to our as we explain some of the issues we have with Affordable Care Act, or fameously called, Obamacare. Call in with your views. 347-857-1319
The show will focus on the ideological tenets of liberalism and scientific socialism. We will explore some of the shortcomings of traditional liberalism, especially relationship to the Democratic party, and explain why we think scienfic socialism is a better political direction for humanity.
In our continuing episodes about the Bernie Sanders campaign and the left in general, we discuss why if Sanders does not win the nomination that we won't vote for or support Hillary as the Democratic Party nominee. This episode will include a delegate at large to the Democratic convention. We invite you to call in with your views and position on Bernie or Bust. 347-857-1319
Fact Sheet may become a part of a regular series in which we pick and share 10-15 facts related to race, class, and gender and discuss those facts from a left, socialist perspective. Listen in and let us know what you think of this topic. 347-857-1319
In this episode we discuss the ideological struggle behind the Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton's run for presidency. We explain how whether Sanders wins or not what his run and political platform means for the left movement and the direction of the country as a whole. We invite you to call in with your views analysis. 347-857-1319.
In this episode, we dicuss the myth of meritocracy and explain how that myth is harmful to development of any society, and how socialism provides better and opportunties for better to reach their potentials has human beings.
In this episode, we interview Sarah Leonard, editor of the new book, The Future We Want: Radical Ideas for the New Century. This book provides insight about full employment, Black Lives Matter, sex and class, gay marriage, criminal justice, the environment, and much more. Sarah Leonard the senior editor at the Nation magazine, as well as editor of the online journal, The New Inquiry and of Occupy!: Scenes From Occupied America.
In this show, we focus on cultural transformation mean, and why it's important for socialist revolution. Have you lately about the cultural landscape of the U.S., and rest of the world? Culture influences how we think about ourselves, one another, and even the future of our planet. We would discuss why and how it is important that cultural shifts continue to take place in order for humanity to grow and that is sustainable life. Tune into the show. We welcome your phone call. 347-857-1319
"Socialism cannot exist without a change in consciousness resulting in a new fraternal attitude toward humanity, both at the individual level, within the societies were socialism is being built or have been built, and on a world scale, with regard to all peoples suffering from imperialist oppression." —Che Guevara
In our continuing series about socialsim and Bernie Sanders, we discuss the importance of the African American vote for Bernie Sanders, especially as Bernie heads into South Carolina. This show is a followup particularly to our show about Bernie and Black Lives Matter that aired last July, and our other show, What We Think of Bernie Sanders' Platform About Racial Justice. Feel free to call in with your views and questions. 347-857-1319
If you haven't noticed yet, the current US presidential election has at its core a class struggle between the capitalist billionaire class, underpaid workers, the unemployed and the poor. In this episode, we explain why we're calling this election season a class struggle, and what it means for the Bernie Sanders campaign and the masses in general. We invite you to call in and give your views on this topic. 347-857-1319.
This episode includes an inteview with Portia A. Boulger of Women4Bernie. Definitely check out their nationwide website for meetups and a wealth of other information.
The right wing is waging a war against women, and the only way to fight back is with the objectives and agenda of democratic and revolutionary socialism. In this episode we discuss the Bernie Sanders platform for "Fighting for Women's Rights." We explain how democratic socialism and revolutionary socialism can make a difference for women and thus families and societies as a whole. This episode is a part of a series of shows in which we discuss the Bernie Sanders political platform from a socialist left perspective.
We invite you to call in your comments and questions at 347-857-1319.
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In this episode we continue our discussion of the Bernie Sanders platform from a socailist left perspective. The focus this time will be on the banking system, the Federal Reserve, and Wall Street, and how those instutions undermine the economy. We invite you to call in with your questions and insight on this issue. 347-857-1319
The presidential election is right around the corner, and in this episode, we discuss why we support Bernie Sanders for the Demcratic nomination. We want to emphasize that our support of Sanders is not a support for the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party establishment does not support Bernie Sanders, the PEOPLE support Bernie Sanders. We discuss also why this election is a great opportunity for the left in this country to push for socialism and Bernie's call for political revolution. We invite you to call in and give your opinion. 347-857-1319
In this episode we discuss what it means for Bernie Sanders to run as a candidate in the Demoractic Party, and what it means to build an independent socialist workers party. We'll debate the challenges of building a independent party and pushing the Democratic to the left.
This episode will also feature Ashely Smith of the International Socialsit Review. He has written a few articles on why the left should not support the Bernie run. You can read one of his articles here.
This show is a continuation of other discussions we've had about the Bernie campaign.
The Difference Between Socialists and Democrats
The Role of Socialists in the Democratic Party
An Examination of Bernie Sander's Presidential Platform
Democratic vs an Independent Socialist Party
How Do We Transform to Real Scientific Socialism?
Interview with Author and Activists, Bill Fletcher, Jr.
The concept of socialism is not longer a taboo word any more, and in fact many opinio polls report that a significant amount of people prefer socialism over capitalism. Danny Katch in his well argued, and humorous book, Socialism...Seriously, explains why capitalism is not a sustainable economic system for the planet, and how modern solution can be a better solution. We interview Mr. Katch about his book and what he thinks of the Bernie Sanders presidential run.
This episode will be insightful, much needed look at economic inquality in the US. Author, Les Leopold will be on the show to talk his new book, Runaway Inequality: An Activist’s Guide to Economic Justice, Les Leopold. He will explain how the present economic system undermines the working class and poor in this country, and how in the long run it's destroying the economy. Runaway Inequality is indeed an activist handback, becuase it explains how capitalist economic system works in laymen's terms, and why there's such a huge economic gap that makes it extremely difficult for most people to reach their fullest potentional.
In this episode we discuss Bernie Sander's What Democratic Socialism Means to Me speech given at Georgetown Univeristy. We applaud Bernie's speech and his courgeous anlaysis of democratic socialsim and why we need to fight for it. Our analysis will also include an analysis of his speech from a working class and middle class perspective. We invite you to call into the show.
In our series on evaluating the Bernie Sanders platforms, we foucs on in this epsiode on the goal of making college education tutition free and debt free. Many people are asking how can we have tutition free college. We will cover what Senator Sander's platform is proposing, and then we explain how indeed state sponsored education can be done even in a capitalist econmy— though it would be even better under a socialist economy. Listen and call in wiith your feedback. 347-857-1319.
This is second part in a series in which we explore and expand on the political platforms of Bernie Sanders. In this episode, we would talk about the all-important issue of income and wealth inequality, which we see as the basis of so many of the social and economic ills facing this country and the rest of the world. As we always do, you will also propose how modern socialism could reduce economic inequality. We invite your feedback to the show.
Bill Fletcher Jr has been an activist since his teen years. Upon graduating from college he went to work as a welder in a shipyard, thereby entering the labor movement. Over the years he has been active in workplace and community struggles as well as electoral campaigns. He has worked for several labor unions in addition to serving as a senior staffperson in the national AFL-CIO. Fletcher is the former president of TransAfrica Forum; a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies; an editorial board member of BlackCommentator.com; and in the leadership of several other projects. Fletcher is the co-author (with Peter Agard) of “The Indispensable Ally: Black Workers and the Formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1934-1941″; the co-author (with Dr. Fernando Gapasin) of “Solidarity Divided: The crisis in organized labor and a new path toward social justice“; and the author of “‘They’re Bankrupting Us’ – And Twenty other myths about unions.” Fletcher is a syndicated columnist and a regular media commentator on television, radio and the Web.
In light of the continue attack and murder of Black people in this coutry by racist cops, Bernie Sanders released a platform about what he plans to do about racial injustice. We will spend this episode putting racial injustice in context of the present day police brutality and discussing what his platform means for Black communities and communities of color in this country.
The Black Panther Party was one of the most militant, influenetial, respected, and targeted Black Nationalist groups during the 60s and 70s. As part of its ten point program, the BPP essentially advocated for an end to capitalism, and replacing it with the objectives of socialism. We will discuss why and how this program is still relevant to today.
Though many people still can't invision the United States as being a socialist country, the popular support of Bernie Sanders does show that people want a political economy that works in the interests of all people, and not just in the interests of a small property owning class. To this end, we discuss in this episode how the US might move from a capitalist/imperialist impire to a socialist political economy that really works for the people, and a better world overall.
In this episode, we share books we've read over the years that are useful for understanding and critiquing capitalism and socialism. We will be recommending both classic and contemporary books that are assessable to general readers. We invite you to call in with their own recommendations. 347-857-1319.
There's lots of misunderstanding and misconceptions about the theories and practices of socialism — its history and implications for the future. In this episode we provide some analysis of how socialism evolved, what were and are some of its strengths and weaknesses, and what needs to be done to have real socialism in the future. This show is extension follows a previous show about the difference between democratic socialism and revolutionary socialism.
In this episode we will discuss why Bernie's presidential platform is important whether he wins the election or not, and what it means for the US, the world eonomy overall. If you don't know, his platform includes the following: Universal healthcareFree/affordable public collegeTransform our energy systemOverturn Citizens UnitedRaise the minimum wage to $15End the war on drugsRebuild our crumbling instructorRaise taxes on the 1%Stop endless military spendingExpand Social SecurityEnd police brutalityDemilitarized the police
Note: we apologize for the technical issues with this show. Most of the show can be heard, but there were drops in audio, but of the most show is still clear enough to be heard.
In this episode, we discuss why we ultimately need a 20 hour week. It's difficult to imagine people actually working less and not more. We will discuss the problems and challenges of work in a capitalist society, and how a shift from the 40-hour work week would lead to greater freedom and choices for all people. Call in with your comments and questions: 347-857-1319.
Following up on your discussion last week about the difference the Democratic Party and socialism, we will discuss in this episode the role of socialists in the Democratic Party, especially now that Bernie Sanders, a Democratic Socialist, is running for president of the United States.
Chris Matthews, In a interview with DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Chris Matthews asked her what is the difference between democratic and socialist. She stumbled and couldn't answer the question. In this episode, we explain what the difference is, and will also explain the general differences between democratic socialism and revolutionary socialism. Tune and listen. The scond half of the show will be open for questions and comments.
In this episode, we discuss how the left, both in the US and internationally can take advantage of the Bernie Sanders presidency. How can Bernie's platform be used to further build a grassroot movement that calls for the objectives of socialism? What are some of the obstacles that Sanders and the left face in the capitalist poltical arena? What can the left do beyond the presidential election?
In our last episode, we discussed the importance and our support of Bernie Sanders running for POTUS, especially in regards to democratic socialsim. In this episode, we discuss the how important it is for Bernie to speak out directly race and racism and to align his campaign with the BlackLivesMatter movement, the most significant civil rights movement since the Civil Rights Movement. Tune and listen.
Though we're clear that Bernie Sanders will not bring about socialist revolution in this country, his populice platform and vision is very much needed to challenge the out-of-control dominance of the capitalist system and its continuous privatization of all basic necessities. Bernie is not Barack Obama, and he is to the left of Hillary Clinton, who nothing more than a neo-liberal politican for Wall Street and the capitalist class. Listen to this show to find out more we think you should vote for Sanders if he may not win.
In this episode, we dicuss the various strategies for a socialist transformation. Is it a single strategy or do we need to a diversity of strategies. And why do we need a strategy?
We attended the Left Forum (http://www.leftforum.org) in New York a few weeks ago, and in this episode we talk about the trip, the presentations we attended, and our review of the forum. (
In our last episode we discussed what it means for Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist, to run in the presidential race. If the left is serious about supporting Sanders, we propose a modest 10 point agenda that Sanders and the left should push in the campaign and beyond. Without a clear vision of what we on the left want, we will end up with nothing. Could the Sanders run become a real people's movement?
In this episode we discuss our views of Bernie Sanders's run for POTUS. You may or may not know, but Sanders is the only politician in Congress is a self-proclaimed "democratic socialist." We'll discuss what that means for this election, and what it means for the left in general.
As with past discussions about education, food, and worker's wages, this episode will focus on the issue of housing under capitalism, and how it could be different under socialism.
In this episode, we'll have a general discussion of the recent US and Iran nuclear deal and process. And we'll have a general discussion on other issues about the Middle East.
In this episode, we discuss the so-called criminal justice system under capitalism, and how it could be different under a socialist system.
Food and health have a become a serious challenge for poor and working class people in the US and around the world. In this episode we will unpact how capitalism influences production, distribution, and consumption of food, and how a socialist economy could make things different.
In this episode, we'll discuss how the education system functions under a capitalist system, and ways it could be different under a socialist system.
In this episode, we will continue to discuss the role of the media under capitalism and socialism. We discuss, explain and debate the use of the media in advocating for a socialist revolution.
In this episode, we'll give our assessment of the movie, Selma, and why the movement is still pertinent to today. If you have not seen the movie, we highly urge you to do so.
In this episode, we discuss the history of capitalism and and slavery and relavance today's economic system. Though slavery in the US was legally abolished over 200 years ago, forms of economic enslavement and capitalist control over people's lives still exist. Listen in to find out what we mean.
In this episode we discussed why real socialism must be truely based democratic principals and the scientific method of managing resources.
Recently, President Obama reestablished relationship with Cuba with the freeing of the remaining Cuban Five, and prisoner exchange. We will discuss the meaning of this possible historic event?
In today’s episode, we review Thomas Picketty's best selling book, Capitalism In the 21st Century, which explains the impact of the economic wealth cap in the US and other parts of the world. We'll provide our take on where Picketty correct in his analysis, and what he leaves out or is incorrect about. Whether or not you have read the book, you'll gain insight from our review.
In this episode, we revisit White supremacy, racism in the criminal justice system, and why clear precise demands are needed. We thoroughly applaud the protests in support of Ferguson around the country, especially the involvement of young people from various walks of life. But we also want to propose that clear concise demands come out of this movement so it's provided better understanding of its objectives. Listen in on the show and tell us what you think.
In this episode, we dicuss why it's important for people to get involved in the political process especially on the local level, and how such involvement can ultimately help bring about socialism. In part of our discussion, we will talk about socialist city council woman Kshama Sawant in Seattle as an example of what local political involement means.
In last week's show, we defined what and how institutionalized racism works. In this part 2, we will discuss how socialism can help dismantle institutionalized racism.
In this episode, we discuss what racism is, and how real socialism could help dismantle the institutionalized racism.
This is your news and analysis segment, with a focus on Ferguson, ISIS, and the recent Moving Social Justice Conference.
A week after the People’s Climate March in NYC, we discuss the impact of the growing environmentalism movement, how capitalism is destroying the environment, and how a real socialist transformation must be a system that works for both the people and the planet. We must seize the momement for real change.
In this episode we discuss how we all could work less and be more productive under a technologically driven socialist economy and society. Today there are over 7 billion people on the planet, but yet the majority of us work just as hard and as long as we were working a hundred years ago. While technology has automated many of the jobs and tasks people used to perform, technlogical unemployement under capitalism has lead to more unemployment, lower pay, and more work hours—that is, except for the rich elite. So listen in, and let's talk about work and leisure under socialism.
In this episode we explore the role of property under capitalism, and how it serves to empower the rich land owning class. We discuss the impact of the privatization of land resources, and what it does to the economy and people in general. And finally we discuss how the concept of ownerhip could be different under a socialist economic system.
In this episode we will discuss what is required to build a sustainable movement for real economic and political change. We will talk about the eight stages of movement building, and what can be learned from the Civil Rights Movement, the Occupy Movement, and the movement currently underway in Ferguson, MI.
In this episode, we continue to discuss why reform strategies (electorial politics and local engagement) and socialist revolution are essentail for chaning the conditions of poor communities in this country and throughout the world. We examine why poor, working class African communities like Ferguson are hit hard by racism, police brutatlity, high unemployment, and poor education, and what needs to be done.
When we say, we want justice, what do we mean? That's the topic of this show. It's not enough to say, "WE WANT JUSTICE". We have to develop visions of justice and equality. What type of society and world do we specifically want? What type of economic system should we strive strive for? And how do we make change in a messed up world? These and other questions will be addressed in this episode.
The miliary and police attacks from Palestine to Ferguson, St. Louis, are pure acts of terroism, and economic and political repression. We will discuss why these communities and colonalized regions of the world are attacked in this manner, and how it helps maintain the capitalist power structure.
In December of 1964, Dr. King traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and afterwards he began voicing his views on capitalism and socialism. In 1966, Dr. King made a trip to a SCLC staff meeting and he said the following: “Something is wrong with capitalism... There must be a better distribution of wealth, and maybe America must move toward a Democratic Socialism. In this episode, we will discuss why King criticized capitalism, and why he viewed democratic socialism as a better alternative.
In this episode, we discuss how a socialist economic system could move us beyond a minimum wage economic system to a living wage economic system. We highlight the history of the minimum wage and the inherent contradictions with this form of wage slavery.
Be sure to check our prior shows to about how we define socialism and why we think it's a better economic system, and how it can benefit all of humanity.
Humanism is an outlook or system of thought that attaches prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.
In this episode, we discuss why humanism should support socialism and communism as more equitable economic and political systems. We explain why capitalism is largely anti-human and counters the needs of most of humanity.
In this episode, we propose a vision for how the politics and economics of socialism could work. While it's impossible to know exactly how socialism will develop until the conditions are met for a politcal and economic transformation, we explain why and how it could possibly occur and what would be the benefits. Tune in, listen, and call in with your quesitons.
This is part 2 of our discussion and explanation for the theories of dialectical materialism, a method for interpreting the world and how to change it. This is a 60 minute discussion, and we invite you to call in with your feedback at 347-857-1319
In this episode, we are going to explain dialectical materialism, a philosophical theory about how change occurs in nature and the world. We will to break down the theories of dialectical materialism in basic and common langue, and eplain how this philosophical world view can help you understand why things happen the way they do.
In this episode we provide a broad overview of the history of socialism, and our definition of the economic modal. Again, we are only providing an overview, not details. We will revist the history of socialism regularly in upcoming shows.
This is our premiere show in which we, the show hosts, Bakari and Carl, instroduce ourselves and talk about why we started Socialist Visions, and more importantly why you should listen and participate in the show.
For the first few months, the Socialist Visions podcast will be a b-iweekly podcast (aired live on Sundays) in which we discuss why we think socialism can vastly improve the living conditions of all people on the planet, and why it's important to discuss and debate the objectives of a scientific socialist economic model. In upcoming shows, we will provide you a better understanding of socialism, and address the misconceptions about what the system is and is not about.
We invite you to call in with your questions, or write give us feedback at socialistvisions@gmail.com.