Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
Fri Jul 25, 2014, 07:40 PM Jul 2014

Jacobin Magazine founder Bhaskar Sunkara on Tavis Smiley

http://video.pbs.org/video/2365295555/

Sunkara discusses how his magazine, "Jacobin"—dedicated to shaking up the status quo—has caught the attention of thought-leaders across the media landscape.

(Ironically, the ads on this show are for Goldman Sach and Walmart. Fighting capitalism with their dollars? lol I don't know how to feel about that.)
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Jacobin Magazine founder Bhaskar Sunkara on Tavis Smiley (Original Post) Starry Messenger Jul 2014 OP
Bookmarking for later - TBF Jul 2014 #1
Let me know what you think when you get a chance to watch. Starry Messenger Jul 2014 #2
Just listened to it - TBF Jul 2014 #3
Yeah, I ended up paying more attention to Tavis' comments. Starry Messenger Jul 2014 #4
The unions were originally full of dems and socialists - TBF Jul 2014 #5
I don't get it either, your dad is right. Starry Messenger Jul 2014 #6

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
2. Let me know what you think when you get a chance to watch.
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 08:49 AM
Jul 2014

I enjoyed it, and the fact that these ideas are getting out there in more public spaces.

Richard Wolff was on Bill Maher last light too. It was a pretty decent interview for the short amount of time.

TBF

(31,921 posts)
3. Just listened to it -
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 09:50 AM
Jul 2014

My initial impression is that I adore Tavis Smiley - he is the one who actually brings up real issues "when MLK started talking about economics they shot him in the head". Bingo. Talks about the need for militant unions, points out that the "less of two evils" approach is holding us all back. The magazine publisher talks about "we need an economic bill of rights" and in general is pretty liberal sounding. I think he's trying to present socialism in a way that doesn't scare people and in doing so loses his bite. Frankly the owners need to be a little (or a lot) scared or we're not getting anywhere.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
4. Yeah, I ended up paying more attention to Tavis' comments.
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 10:37 AM
Jul 2014

Michael Moore talks about an economic bill of rights too, it was something FDR tried to push through but it didn't make it. I'd like to see worker protections in the constitution, I think that's something labor could unite on.

There are still a lot of union people alive today who vote Republican--I know the national federation seems to cleave to the Democratic party as a matter of course, but they actually do have to make the case every election to their membership to not vote for right-wingers. Sad but true.

I think unions will see a shift to the left as more and more fast-food workers and service people enter the labor movement in the US. It's a younger and much more diverse demographic.

TBF

(31,921 posts)
5. The unions were originally full of dems and socialists -
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 10:44 AM
Jul 2014

my dad is nearly 70 now and wouldn't have dreamed of voting for a repug. Small town pretty unsophisticated guy all around. He served in the military and worked in a factory. But he's nobody's fool either. When Scott Walker was elected in Wisconsin he rolled his eyes and said "that guy just wants to break the unions". Such clarity.

The Reagan years and the "Conservative Christian" PR movement are to blame for the shift I believe.

Hopefully you are correct that the younger workers will swing that pendulum back. We know they are more liberal on social issues. We'll see how they shake out economically.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
6. I don't get it either, your dad is right.
Sat Jul 26, 2014, 11:02 AM
Jul 2014

All it is is union-busting. I don't know why we have to fight this same terrain over and over. It sets everything back too.

I was just talking to a guy the other day who said there were still congressional HUAC-like hearings for reds up until around the late 60's and early 70's. I can't remember when the unions stopped expelling socialists, but the stigma led to a lot of right-wing ideas gaining ground in the meantime. So that might be another factor.

Then yeah, it hit its culmination with the shameful win for Reagan. I just read an article a couple of weeks ago that people born in 1970 are still 54% likely to vote right-wing. This baffles me, I don't know how anyone our age came out of the Reagan years thinking those fools had the answers.

49% of 18-29 year olds have a favorable view of socialism, which was a gain of 6% in just under two years. Hopefully the number will keep rising! http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022352136

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Socialist Progressives»Jacobin Magazine founder ...