"Why We Need A Powerful Left Party" Richard D. Wolff

[in_cog_ni_to]

Professor Rick Wolff discusses some of the reasons why we need a new left party in the United States, including the Democratic Party’s dependence on Wall Street and other big business interests; how this dependence has silenced the voices of the poor and middle class in our current political debates; and how left parties in Europe have contributed both to a stronger safety net and more egalitarian society, along with more widespread and militant resistance to corporate power.

Watch the Part 1 and Part 2 videos at the link:

http://www.nationofchange.org/why-we-need-powerful-left-party-1317745369



ABOUT Richard D. Wolff

Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he taught economics from 1973 to 2008. He is currently a Visiting Professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs of the New School University, New York City. He also teaches classes regularly at the Brecht Forum in Manhattan.

Earlier he taught economics at Yale University (1967-1969) and at the City College of the City University of New York (1969-1973). In 1994, he was a Visiting Professor of Economics at the University of Paris (France), I (Sorbonne).

[PETRUS]

1. He's not exactly wrong.

But as long as we have single-member-district representation and first-past-the-post elections, the odds of a new party going anywhere are low. Uprooting the system is also a difficult task. Transforming the Democratic party - many of whose members are already sympathetic - is probably easier.

[mazzarro]

2. IMO the Professor's idea is 100% what is needed

I will rather leave the Democratic party to continue their present fruitless search for the middle ground and compromises with the corporate party. Let's have a new party that will be strongly aligned to progressive ideals instead. Besides, I don't think that the DLC/New Democrats/Third Way will easily give up their strangle hold on the Democratic party when they have all the funding they need from their corporate masters to hold on to the party leadership. Besides I do not think there are that many wealthy Democrats who are ready to embrace strong leftist/workers party anyway and fund progressive actions and research like the rethugs have and to a lesser extent like the DLC/New Democrats/Third Way segment have as well.

[PETRUS]

4. I'm with you, bro

But how do you deal with the structural impediments to 3rd party success that I mentioned?

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. When is it too late for that?

The DLC has already transformed the party....into a corporate capitalist first party. That wing is even more powerful today than it was before Obama's run. They have all the money (they can easily replace the thousands of small donations from average liberal "retards" with their growing list of corporate donors)

If you had a third REAL progressive party not tied to big business, the vote would be split in the first go rounds and the Rethugs would get in no doubt. But in the long term, especially if this new party started growing, it would force the Democratic leadership to start to bend a little back towards the center (from the right) to win back the voters they lost if they ever wanted to win another election.

[deutsey]

3. I like Wolff a lot

He's on Al Jazeera occasionally and on Pacifica but I doubt you'll ever see him on mainstream American media.

It's a shame...he has a great talent for boiling down complex economic issues turning them into engaging explanations that almost anyone can understand.

Unashamed leftie, too, which is why you won't see him on American TV.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. He's just the type for Rachel to have on her show. Too bad she works for the Corporate Owned Media.

:cry:

[mmonk]

6. Some states make a third party impossible due to ballot access

restrictions. I live in such a state.

[OHdem10]

7. Did you see where the LEFT in France just won in recent . Election

For the first time since late 50s the Left has an
absolute majority.

[Pyrzqxgl]

9. When has the left ever got along enough to form one party?

Trots, & Social Labor types, Wobblies, ADA folks, any number of Progressive movements, Real Communists, The Communists who say the real Communists aren't really, anarchists, all those other leftie ists. I've been on the left since the mid 50's and it has ever been thus. We don't get along well enough to form an organized political party. Occasionally enough of us get together to make an impact on the Democrats.

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. We could learn to play nice

knowing what's at the end of the rainbow. :) I'm just sayin'..... it can be done if enough people want it to happen.

[Better Believe It]

15. During the time and under the leadership of Gene Debs.

There were other smaller left parties but they did work together on things like organizing labor unions, demonstrations and other united front type actions around specific demands and reforms.

It's happened many times in American history.

There was united front action on the left in support of the civil rights movement, women's right, the anti-Vietnam war movement, etc.,

[chill_wind]

11. He's at OWS now

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

[malaise]

12. I love that man

He's on radio in Jamaica quite often.

[bobthedrummer]

13. A kick for the urgent need for the rise of American Socialism n/t

[TBF]

14. Well we got an occupation - guess we could form a party out of that :) nt

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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[EmeraldCityGrl]

17. Occupy the Democratic Party.

I wish we could take over the party we already have.
It is OUR party and it has been perverted by corporate
interests.