The Socialist Program with Brian Becker What Is Socialism? Part 2, w/ Prof. Richard Wolff
Oct 22, 2025
Prof. Richard Wolff, a leading economist and co-founder of Democracy at Work, dives into the essence of socialism and communism. He highlights the generational fear of socialism cultivated by the U.S. elite, contrasting it with global acceptance in other countries. Wolff critiques wealth concentration using Elon Musk as a prime example, advocating for democratic control over resources. The discussion also explores workplace democracy, challenging hierarchical structures and emphasizing collective decision-making in production and distribution.
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Socialism Is Normal In Much Of The World
- The world commonly contains thriving socialist and communist parties and institutions, unlike U.S. perceptions shaped by Cold War anti-socialism.
- Americans often misunderstand socialism because academic and cultural pressures discouraged learning about it.
Three Main Models Of Socialism
- 'Socialism' described three ways: heavy regulation/taxes, state ownership of enterprises, and China's hybrid model.
- These variations reflect different roles for government versus private ownership in organizing economies.
Communism's Core: Workplace Democracy
- Communism focuses on democratizing the workplace rather than just expanding government control.
- It seeks one-person-one-vote decision-making on production, technology, and distribution within enterprises.
