The Gray Area with Sean Illing Barbara Ehrenreich on UBI, class conflict, and collective joy
Feb 24, 2020
Barbara Ehrenreich, a renowned journalist and author, dives into the grim realities of economic inequality and class conflict. She shares insights from her groundbreaking work 'Nickel and Dimed' and discusses the crisis of individualism in our society. Ehrenreich critiques the illusion of personal control and explores the potential of universal basic income and job guarantees as solutions for the future of work. The conversation also touches on redefining leisure, the significance of collective joy, and the challenge of articulating mystical experiences in a secular world.
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Illusion of Control
- We overestimate our control over our bodies and lives.
- This illusion of control is fueled by a culture promoting self-reliance and positive thinking.
Critique of Positive Thinking
- Positive thinking wrongly suggests we control outcomes through willpower.
- This can lead to blaming individuals for circumstances beyond their control.
Cancer Experience
- Barbara Ehrenreich faced breast cancer with anger, not positivity.
- Her survival challenges the idea that positive thinking is essential for recovery.
