POLITICAL COMMENTARY: “Kshama Sawant: How to Counter Establishment Politics” / RT America / On Contact with Chris Hedges ☮

In this week’s episode of On Contact, Chris Hedges explores how to counter establishment politics with Kshama Sawant, the only socialist on the Seattle City Council. RT Correspondent Anya Parampil reports on the obstacles third-party candidates face in trying to enter the race for the White House.

POLITICAL COMMENTARY: “Tariq Ali: Global Revolt Against Corporate Capitalism and Inequality” / RT America / On Contact with Chris Hedges ☮

In the first episode of ‘On Contact’, host Chris Hedges discusses the global revolt against corporate capitalism with radical intellectual and author Tariq Ali. Ali talks about how the world banking system got Greece and other European countries in trouble, and how big capital may be behind the impeachment of Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff. RT Correspondent Anya Parampil joins the show with a report on global inequality.

MUST READ: “Capitalists of the World, Unite!” / truthdig / Mike Krauss ☮

CAPITALISM

The other night I watched The Greatest Cable News Program That Absolutely Ever Was. The host was extolling the virtues of capitalism, repeating the claims you can read in The Economist or Wall Street Journal; that capitalism has lifted many millions out of poverty worldwide.

The same broadcast also reported that most Americans “could not lay their hands on $1,000” in an emergency. That figure may be on the high side. Other published reports put it at $400, including what may be available on a credit card.

The program host missed the contradiction. You can’t be a capitalist without capital. The overwhelming majority of Americans don’t have any, and are completely excluded from the “benefits” of the capitalist system he extolled.

Capitalism is not a form of government. It is a system of wealth management. It does not create wealth, but only allocates it. It is indifferent to the welfare of people. It has no social purpose. Private profit is everything.

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