At @LeftForum this year, @profwolff gave an amazing speech on the core misconceptions of Socialism that persist today.

“I think that the definition of Capitalism and how it’s different from Socialism that has been dominant for the last hundred years or so is out of date.”

(1/6)

“I don’t think the difference between private and state ... has anything to do with anti-capitalism...

In slaveries ... there were always private slaveries, and the [gov’t]-owned slaves, but nobody seriously [suggests] that it wasn’t slavery because the [gov’t] did it.”

(2/6)

“Does the market always rule in Capitalism?

Of course not.

Any of you [ever study] America during [WWII]? The [U.S. gov’t] suspended the market.

...

And the [gov’t] of the [U.S.] distributed ration cards....

No market.

So don’t tell me Capitalism requires markets...”

(3/6)

“[Capitalism] creates another dichotomy.

Not master-slave.

Not lord-serf.

Employer-employee.

...

It’s the same arrangement: a tiny group of people with the power and the control, and a vast majority of people who have to live under that control...”

(4/6)

“[Anti-capitalism is] the principled, analytical insistence that what isn’t Capitalism exists if and when the dichotomy employer-employee is removed.

It isn’t when workers have more income.

It isn’t when workers have more power.

It is when they are no longer ‘workers.’”

(5/6)

“Our enemies are unprepared...

They’ve had a century to hone their arguments against Socialism by arguing against the government, and planning, and public enterprise.

They’re not prepared for a Socialism that says, ‘You’re full of it. You’re arguing the wrong issue.’”

(6/6)

PS: Some of our folks were at Left Forum this year (including at/on this very panel).

How many of y’all would show up to a @LeftForum panel hosted by us next year?