America's Great Divide: Robert Reich Interview | FRONTLINE
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- Опубліковано 12 січ 2020
- Robert Reich is a former U.S. secretary of Labor and the author of many books, most recently Common Good. He is a professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley.
Reich's candid, full interview was conducted with FRONTLINE during the making of the two-part January 2020 documentary series “America's Great Divide: From Obama to Trump.”
Watch Part One here: • America's Great Divide...
And Part Two here: • America's Great Divide...
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This interview is being published as part of FRONTLINE’s Transparency Project, an effort to open up the source material behind our documentaries. Explore the transcript and interactive version of this interview, and others, on the FRONTLINE website:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/in...
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This interview was conducted with FRONTLINE during the making of our two-part documentary series “America's Great Divide.”
Watch Part One here: ua-cam.com/video/SnMBYMOTwEs/v-deo.html and Part Two here: ua-cam.com/video/l5vyDPN19ww/v-deo.html
Maynard Frith
Wow, a bunch of stuff.
I wouldn’t vote for either the Shill or Biden. The are both bound to the military/industrial complex.
You are completely forgetting about Standing Rock where Aboriginal wert continually beaten and gassed on the nightly news for 2 years, culminating in Obama sipping cocktails at the “museum” as native America’s are being abused.
The Hillary never showed up to any of the sites of environmental racism upon Black and Brown People.
Bernie was rejected by the corrupt DNC/DCCC corporatists while the Shills expected a coronation.
We have a 💲24.9 trillion negative debt structure our kids are expected to pay.
Meanwhile, the people that can’t make ends meet.
I can’t vote even though I’m a vet.
The system is rigged in favor of the corruption of the rich and powerful.
That fact cannot be hidden.
Maynard Frith
Let’s see, the Elites have ripped us off to the tune of 💲Trillions💲
Of taxpayers dollars and nobody went to jail
Why are you blaming People seeking a better life.
Now, it’s puny🤣
It is the Banks that are in control,
Not a bunch of Mexicans picking fruit 🍉
@@njosborne6152 we can walk and chew gum at the same time. no one is arguing impoverished people trying to get a better life are bad. what we're telling you is that their better life comes at the expense of our own limited resources. you believe with absolute certainty that there would be enough resources for global peace and prosperity if only corruption and greed could be overcome. but it doesn't work that way. until cultures where the birthrate results in an ever-increasing number of mouths to feed stop reproducing at such rates, there will NEVER be enough resources available, and it's completely unreasonable to bail out the third world's impoverished on the backs of the first world's middle class and working classes all so the top 1% can get rich off of the cheap labor. YOU are a pawn for the top 1%. they're emotionally manipulating your sincere desire to help the global impoverished masses to mislead you into fighting against the interests of your own country's middle class and working classes. there's a reason they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions--you're a perfect example of this phenomenon. but what is NOT excusable is your abject refusal to look at the numbers from sources that don't already confirm your biases. if you only look for the evidence you want to see, you won't find any of the evidence you *don't* want to see.
Farvadude
Spoken like a true privileged American. What do you know about poverty? Have you ever gone hungry because you couldn’t afford your meds? I doubt it.
So you think we are managing our resources?
In the first place, those resources were stolen and the people that did manage them were slaughtered in a genocidal exalting of mass extinctions.
I’ll continue.
Another resource that was managed was the Human Resources of slavery and bondage which was used as free labor. And there’s thousands of books and millions of volumes dedicated to that subject.
A resource that in gluted and wasted is petroleum products and environmental racism is the word of the century. Now, if I need to say anything more about it, then you’re incapable of learning.
Science, we in the scientific community are always inventing stuff and protecting our products. Such a product is the LED lighting systems. The LED Systems Are many times more efficient than the anything to date. Saving billions of energy bucks.
Socialism, that’s only for ultra-rich who lie, cheat and steal their way through life.
They get copious Government subsidies that you and I pay for because they pay no taxes what so ever.
In 2008 The banks got bailed out for their mad foolishness in the Credit Swap and the people, especially small contractors. We are still paying off the IRS for the extended Debt we took on.
It’s difficult to believe that at the turn of ty century we had relative peace, full employment and a balanced budget. Where as, today we al staring at 💲24.9 trillions in debt at the end of the last quarter.
And here’s a clue, other cultures are not to blame for our excess.
Moreover, with our flagging dollar, who knows how much longer it can be sustained.
We were the middle class and had our incomes reduced to nothing.
My kid brother in still pounding nails at 68 and I’m a vet cancerous and homeless. At 💲3,000 dollars who can afford a home?
So here’s the Rule.
“Monocultures are impossible to maintain over time.
They simply burn themselves and their environments out of existence.”
The world is on 🔥
Keep it in your pants and leave it in the ground‼️‼️‼️
@@njosborne6152 why do YOU get to stand on the backs of the impoverished masses around the world and use them as your soapbox? why do you pretend to care about them when you obviously have your own problems? why are we not allowed to help our own before we help the poor of the entire world when the world's poor KEEP HAVING KIDS THEY LACK THE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF?
it's unfortunate what happened to the natives and i believe more should be done for them than has been done. but no one alive today is responsible for what happened 200+ years ago, and no matter how much you moralize about it to push your political ideology on others it won't change that simple fact. plus, we did far more than they were ever going to do with the territory. we invented AC/DC current. we invented computers and the internet. we invented antibiotics and atomic energy. we put a man on the moon and invented the automobile. so no matter what you say i'm never going to feel bad about what i had nothing to do with.
the bailout of the banks, the rigged trade deals, and the exploitation of the system by the plutocrats is disgusting. i want to raise taxes on people making tens of millions of dollars a year ONLY. so did steve bannon. but the establishment republicans refused to pass the bill with that in it. other things that were in that bill were necessary for the sake of our economic war against china which is not only the number one geopolitical threat to both the U.S. and EU, but the entire world. their mercantilist government exploits the neoliberals' free market dogmatism making the top 1% richer and the bottom 99% poorer. this is a big part of why steve bannon says we're no longer living in a capitalist system. we're living in a "neo-feudalist" system. you would agree with that wouldn't you?
HOWEVER, mass immigration from countries that are poorer and have a lower standard of living than our own puts immense downward pressure on the wages of the middle and working classes. that simple economic fact will never change no matter what responsibility you feel to the world's poor people. additionally, every year 80 MILLION people are born into EXTREME POVERTY as defined by the UN at 60 USD per month. the ONLY realistic solution to global poverty is for the world's poor to STOP HAVING SO MANY CHILDREN WHEN THEY LACK THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE FOR THEM. and their decision to continuously do that is not our fault. therefore i don't feel bad about what happens to them. and people like you will never be able to make me feel bad for something i am not responsible for.
It's still unbelievable to me that so many Americans rightfully angry about Oligarchy would double down by voting for the enablers of it. Simply beyond belief.
Yes, it's insane all the way around.
A propaganda network we'll call the fox in the henhouse slickly sold Trump, and Trump understood and articulated the problem of corruption, selling himself as this Maverick reformer/outsider who gained his wealth independent of the banks and the beltway. I live in the swing state area of a swing state and watched people get sucked into the lie factory. Plus, Trump has a kind of charisma that appeals to the forgotten Americans, similar to any demagogue's appeal during hard times. Add to that he is familiar and portrayed as successful and a competent advisor on TV programs. The perfect storm for disaffected citizens. Wish it wasn't so!
Nikole Hannah-Jones explains it all entirely in her 1619 Project. Very clear-eyed look at the psychology of white mericans.
@@gdep3611 I am open minded and will read what her project has revealed. My sense of what happened is that when insecurity hits home, people are primed to find someone to blame for it, and that allows a demagogue to Target their angst at the 'other', fear turns to anger at Mexicans, El Salvadorans, African Americans, and others forgetting the fact that we are all part of the human family, and the real problem is with allowing corrupt practices to continue. So when Dennis or Jimmy or Bob are watching Fox, their real worries are being co-opted and skillfully misdirected at their fellow working class man or woman who is labeled as alien in the broadcast. I put faith in a better system, where citizen amendment of the Constitution can allow us to regain control of our government and right many of the wrongs that have occurred, checking the money buying political results and make our economy reflect human values of fairness, dignity, opportunity, and worker ownership of businesses. A level playing field and greater wealth equality would be a good start.
@@chuckkottke LOL there is literally no doubt that low cost immigrant labor drives down wages. I literal costs the black and brown communities the most.
This isn't racism or xenophobia it is a fact of economics that BIG business wants to obfuscate.
RR is describing my life history from the last 30 years. Born into poverty, managed through skill and hard work to graduate from RISD with a professional degree, then enjoyed moderate success in life until the Great Recession. Continued to keep my head barely above water after that, at times stocking grocery shelves on the night crew at King Soopers. Then I married a British citizen and had the opportunity to life permanently in Glasgow, Scotland. Now I live in a truly compassionate society, with health care and social services, and a very reasonable cost of living. All of that in a vibrant and beautiful city. I never imagined leaving America until decade after decade it let me down.
We’re brainwashed from a young age to believe that the US is the greatest country to exist and in the 70s and 80s, maybe even the 90s, that argument would have some credibility. It’s a completely different story now. Our metrics in happiness, health, wealth disparity, social justice, equity, gdp, education, social mobility, and passport power are laughable when compared to other first world countries. We don’t even make it into the top 20 in most of those metrics. It’s no surprise that the number of expats that have stayed abroad continues to rise each year. People are waking up and getting the hell out of dodge.
@@BubblyViolin11: I'd be cautious about over-interpretting any expat trends, given that you'd need to control in some way for advances in IT, transportation infrastructure, economic integration, organizational structures and workflows, etc. that have increasingly facilitated overseas work. (Of course, there's also the basic trend of population growth.) Survey data from randomly sampled expats would be good evidence.
The Republicans have been trying to destroy the American people since the New Deal, then went exponentially to the right during the Reagan era, and now we find ourselves facing an America on the verge of fascism and theocracy.
Ffs, you are so freakin lucky. I'm jealous af
I'm a retired attorney now. But I saw this 20 years ago and left America. I've worked for Toyota, Yazaki, and Hitachi over the years. I saw America becoming what is now. I give America about another 20-30 years before it completely falls apart or becomes a completely fascist country.
Best interview I've heard in a long time. Everybody needs to hear this.
25:34 The most accurate assessment of who's in charge and why they do what they do. Click on the 25:34 Thank you, Robert!
Simply the BEST..Tina Turner
I found Prof. Reich through my son's Economy class, and I will never regret it. He explains things so well.
I found him through his perfect american son Sam Reich
No he doesn't, RR just thinks if we elect a bunch of Ds' America will be able to heal. That is complete nonsense the Ds' are just as much a part of the Corporate Duopoly as the Rs'. Watch RRs' debate with Chris Hedges on Democracy Now. RR gets is ass handed to him.
I have watched all of these long interviews, outstanding every one of them and incredibly illuminating, but Robert Reich, unsurprisingly, manages to incorporate the viewpoints of both sides and bake them together into a comprehensible pie. Extraordinary person, amazing interview. Thank you Frontline.
Frontline is the best. I watched it quite a bit during the run up to the Iraq war in 2003 and after to get a rational view of where we were being taken. They presented all the players, especially the neocons and gave comprehensive overviews of who they were...
Seriously? Reich only holds one viewpoint
Agree. He is a superb instructor.
@@JeepCherokeeful -- Share with this audience EXACTLY what you feel to be that viewpoint. Otherwise, what your comment represents is a tree that belongs somewhere on one side of the forest.
@@Kefoo_ Superb retort -- thank you, Kafoo
I lost everything, job, home, health, savings, 401K, and my marriage. The crooked rich and Wall Street lost nothing. Yes deep-seated sense of betrayal and the realization that my life would never be the same in any way, shape, and form still haunts me. It is no longer anger it is resignation and worry for my 4 children who are unable to have a middle class life. All are college grads who make good money, but they cannot afford children or even a house due to college loans. The recession never ended for some of us and it never will. 2008 brought reality to us all. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Been happening forever. Middle class? Not sure what that looks like anymore.
Two yrs later.... middle class still vaguely hanging on to their homes, not having enough money for gasoline, food, etc. Since 2008, most of us do not have enough money to ever retire. The wealthy got richer and middle class are closer to poverty than wealth.
There is no middle class anymore. The Republicans & the wealthy destroyed it.
@@ireneduke5022 I am a connoiseur of history and I can see some parallels with the present conditions with the Late Roman Republic.
Sulla was the warning and Caesar was the outcome.
Similarly Trump tried and failed. If things go down the same path....
@@caniblmolstr4503 tried to make himself and the wealthy richer and succeeded. Biggest tax cuts for the rich and stacking US Supreme Court for the wealthy racists. Total destruction of the working middle class, SUCCESS!
Elephant in the room is technology. Progress was made by automation but the better way was diametrical to workers, was supposed to make life easier but wealth took all the advancement and shared none of the “better way” with everybody else. Politics is all about people and wants a world about people ignoring the fact that nonhuman has entered the “game”. Neither side wants to ignore this truth.
Immigrants entered the work force traditionally with the job of helper raising up those above them. With automation the help only helped the top dogs by eliminating the middle.
When Robert Reich says the system was “rigged” is where he himself errs. The system was automated not rigged. Again, it’s an inhuman player entering the game. And again politicians talk only about the human players. Why do you think that is? All politicians divide the humans because automation could and should replace them just like the no longer workers on the factory floor. Politicians see themselves as being above even the management. So they don’t want to pull back that curtain exposing their own obsolescence. ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM? Nope, Elephant the only thing needed in the room. Bla bla bla is all they have and management has. Never mind anyone behind the curtain just watch the show they’re equally complicit in. The show is about the poor players (we the audience). Andrew Wang would have at least paid our tickets to the nose bleed section
This man is amazing. Listened to all of this 3 times just to be sure... an he's literally saying everything that makes me feel like he understands me. He gets how I feel. He's explained my unrest, my anxiety and my fears. His last words gives some hope. How sad is it that we have to look to our kids to fix our mess.
While I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Robert Reich so perfectly describe how we got into this mess, last minute or so of this video made it SO WORTH the time. Thank You Mr. Reich, for your keen analysis, for your knowledge of economics, but mostly for being a Professor and teaching the next generation. You've done so much to restore my faith in the future today!
They sold fear and told whites that we the blacks the Mexicans and the other groups are the problem The rich made y'all out of fools
Most smart people get it.
You don't always have to college graduate to smart, to comprehend his explanation.
Keeping the have nots mad at each other. George Carlin understood this.
Reich's point is the rich keep the non-rich mad at other non-rich.
It doesn't matter Republican or Democrat we are all being played by the rich.
Bruce Caldwell you are on spot with this 🙌🏽🙌🏽
@@briwilliams5134 Continue please.
George Carlin understood it but the trick is much older than him. Growing up in Michigan, my parents generation had a front row seat to the Henry Ford game. He openly used ethnicity and race to undermine unions. When the union was gaining consensus, he just hired a new batch of immigrants who didn't speak english and didn't trust others who did. When he ran out of European immigrants to manipulate, he hired from the wave of the Black migration coming up from the south to flee jim crow oppression. He found race to be his best wedge tool.
Politics is not about left vs right, it’s about top vs bottom.
It's about truth and lies. A pathological liar president is opposite of the USA and anyone who accepts a pathological liar president is just a traitor.
@@eunicefart5781 I 'get' why you call anyone who accept a pathological liar president a traitor, but I don't think their intentions are necessarily those of traitors. I think they are just ignorant and/or fallen for a cult.
... in which the top convinces the bottom to believe that it is about left vs. right---so that those on the bottom can't work together to deal with the problem.
Robert Reich is too damn good!!! I was born in 86 and went through all of this with political parents. This man is like a 3nd grandfather and we should all love him and listen to him as such! Grandpa Rob tells it like it is, nothing but straight truth!! Love always my man!! Labor all the way!!!
You just got sold out;(
Plain and simple: He is clearly an intellectual who knows the facts and is able to explain things in layman terms. Brilliant!
He's my height 5'4" and one of the smartest men in the world 🌎 👏 🙌
@@davidestremera6003 🤣
@@davidestremera6003 watch out for the shorter dudes! Sweet.
I love the way Robert explains what we observe on a daily basis. He’s so right on.
That's right. Communism is the way to go
Me, too, and that he is.
Like, watching society disintegrate in front of your 👀 s. It sux at, 71!
I'm a longtime fan of Robert Reich. This was an excellent presentation and very informative. Thank you
I like that he brought up Rush Limbaugh when he was pointing to Gingrich and Clinton as part of the problem in the 90's, but he should include Frank Luntz in that list. I'd argue the Luntz was even more damaging than Limbaugh.
@@DennisMoore664 I agree that Frank Luntz was a factor in shaping the language that got us here but I'm sensing contrition on Luntz's part for his role in doing that as evidenced in his recent Frontline interviews. I think Rush has also tempered his views in the last few years as the right becomes more centrist and the far left socialist becomes the face of the Democratic party.
@@robertpace901 I sense Frank Luntz doesn't want to be vilified into his old age and is hoping people will forget his part in getting us here. If he wants contrition I want a loud and clear mea culpa which his ego will probably never allow. Limbaugh is shameless and will always be so.
@@DennisMoore664 did you hear Rush has advanced stage lung cancer?
@@robertpace901 I did and I thought of our posts. I won't say I'm glad he has cancer because that's not something I'd wish on (almost) anyone, but I also can't say I'll shed a tear for him when he's gone. Besides, someone else will be taking his place. Like the song sez - the road goes forever and the party never ends (Joe Ely's version thanks much).
Excellent conducted interview !
The Professor Robert Reich is raising a lot of important issues that makes for better understanding.
Thank you 🙏
He is giving young people too much positive credit. A lot if YOUNG people support Trump and Qanon!!
Robert Reich is one of the smartest people I have ever listened to. He has a rare depth of intelligence that we are fortunate to have and, he has the mega phone and ability to reach millions. I only hope that many, many people listen to this and understand the truth in it.
The moron unironically thinks the libertarian ideologue of letting people say whatever they want is dictatorial. Are you actually serious?
You watch the interviewer ask a question. You think to yourself, "No one ever answers that question honestly." Then he answers it honestly and you're shocked.
I'm completely blown away. Reich has elevated himself to hero status.
Watch the rest of the interview. The middle class is not racist as Reich says.
Reich is a criminal... zero doubt
@@geraldclough2870 Very mature... very very mature
@@geraldclough2870 Did fox tell you that, they have a record for trying to say someone's a criminal simply because they hate them
@@NathansHVAC just the trumpsters are racist and homophobe
RR, thank you for genuinely caring about others and being a trustworthy leader for younger generations. Frontline, thank you for giving RR voice. A very worthwhile and educational interview. More of this please.
Mr. Reich confirms with this interview what many have enjoyed about his decent, molecular, surgical historic analysis of our common history. My wish would be to share a conversation with him that would also include a strategic, forward looking application of earned wisdom.
I can listen to Robert Reich all day! Thank you posting this interview!
Listen to him all day as well as Thom Hartmann.
A banker, a worker and an immigrant have 20 cookies.
The banker takes 19 cookies and tells the worker "Look out, that immigrant is going to take your cookie."
Excellent analogy.
Bingo. Spot on.
Matthew Mitchell / wow never heard that before, great analogy
Matthew Mitchell terrifically terrible
Oh yes, bankers really hate it when they have more people to steal from. When will you guys learn not to trust the same people that bailed the evil fuckers out?
Robert Reich presents the best analysis of the forces shaping our political landscape of all the interviews in the series. Great interview. Much appreciated Frontline PBS.
I wish he would have explained how mass immigration helps the american worker. I know it helps large companies with more customers. But, the middle class takes a beating when wages are kept low. Historically, countries can shrink without hurting the worker.
NathansHVAC you can’t explain it, it’s not the truth.
What series? There are more interviews with others on this very topic? I ask you and your opinion.
The best excellent interview in generations! Thanks for sharing! Robert Reich - one of the best minds in generations.
Thank you professor Robert Reich , hoping to see one of young students running the America in the future.
Frontline appreciate all programs. Next time give Robert Reich more time. Thank you.
Count the number times robert uses the word “anger” in this interview. I think he nails it. Kudos to Frontline for this strong interview. The Bannon interview is similarly interesting.
Anger is right and he is right about.many things but some points he still doesn't see and how could he. He is the one percent tthat owns this country.
Count the number of times he mentions the Federal Reserve. Zero.
@@riggingpots3453 Look more into Robert Reich. In fact, go look up stuff on his youtube channel. He may surprise you. This guy nails the very argument youre making, actually.
@Mr Yo it is called america first.
@Mr Yo Robert Reich started the de industrialization of America. Is that American? The left wants to ban domestic natural gas that is 50% cleaner than oil. Is that American? Open boarders on a welfare state. How does that work? How about submission to China? Bad trade deals. Don't forget letting IRAN enrich to 20%. Enrichment is exponential. 20% enrichment is 99% of the work towards nuclear weapons. I got tired of the broken promises of the left. I used to believe them.
What amazing interviews. Thank you PBS. Thank you Robert Reich for your knowledge, insight, and understanding of how the system works.
Excellent interview and I gained a lot of insight on so many of the overarching themes that drove us here.
Thank you, PBS and Robert Reich.
I absolutely love this man ! He explains the problem in a way that makes sense! He is a great teacher. Everyone should see this interview
Just like Bernie.
Anyone who ever said they believed any part of the Russia Russia Russia fantasy has no credibility of any kind.
@@mikecavallaro466 Until we do. Watch impeachment trial.
@@paintinganimalsonrocks7633 A sham impeachment based on a hoax investigation.
I think he is only 1/4 right. Some points he is right on the money. Some points he's way off I thought Steve Bannon's explains way better. Either way Bernie won't get the nomination for the Dems you can take to the that bank.
I could listen to this guy all day. He is awesome.
I hope one day I can draw with a marker as well as he can.
@Jane Doe I haven't seen them. I'll definitely check them out. Thanks.
Even when he insists that legitimate opposition to mass illegal immigration is “racism and xenophobia”?
@@ytyt3922 time stamp please
Yes he is!
Brilliant man America needs more like him in public service
We should be so lucky.
Hopefully, the next crop of progressives is even larger!
When I think of who the most sensible and patriotic Americans are, Mr. Reich is often the first person that comes to mind. Respect and Gratitude, Sir.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Never ceases to amaze me that anyone could think that someone who owns gold toilets was actually a champion for the working man.
Same way bernie sanders is the hero of the working class on the left but has 3 different million dollar properties
Because they want to be part of his group, that's why
DuelingBongos you know what? There’s a lot of working class Americans who want to be Donald Trump, warts, gold toilets, and all-and they are fighting to remain entitled to it.
I love the handle "DuelingBongos."
The truth that Trump is a scam artist is days before the 2020 election agreed upon by most people. All my working years 1975 to now I have heard to get rich you have to be fundamentally dishonest. I have argued this point with a few examples I personally know of. The means justify the ends is a very popular way of qualifying dishonesty. I fear unless we even the playing field we will further devolve into a man eat man survivalist society. Is this what most of us really want, even the very rich???
Thank you for this conversation! Robert Reich ; be well and help us to understand this time in our great nation’s journey
One can come back time and again to his lectures. They make more sense each time.
His analysis is so accurate!
I really enjoyed this interview. He is an excellent teacher, able to explain complex issues in simple words. I just shared it Public on my FB.
@Tarzan I would be better off not reading lefty comments. But, I do listen to both sides.
“It is in the interest of everyone at the top to keep everyone else, angry at each other” ... sadly, the ignorance, hatefulness and bigotry if many American’s makes this goal easy to achieve...
John Trenge, it's called divide and conquer. That old trick works every time.
It’s guys like this and the democrat party that is keeping America divided.
@57:37 "We're all together in division. But it's not going to be impossible to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. I'm optimistic because I teach young people, who are aboslutely dedicated & committed to making this country better." Bless you Mr Reich and all those like you who work tirelessly for a better world for all. Peace.
One of the most sensible and insightful thinkers of his generation. I've been a fan of Robert Reich for many years.
I love Robert Reich! He's a great teacher!
so you love yo be taight by obvious criminals. He is undeniably a crook
@@geraldclough2870 Trump's latest squeeze is Kelly Loeffler. Has been since Summer 20/20. Look on here at for a visit made by of both of them to CDC.
We need antitrust legislation back, with teeth! Regulate utilities again, raise top tax rates, and CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE! Healthcare for all, eliminate the cap on SS taxable earnings and give poor seniors a raise! Take away the tax loopholes for corporations, raise minimum wage.
Break up Amazon & Facebook & others. Tax the corporations!
Only God going to set everything straight Not man
No we don't. You want that, many others, including myself, don't.
Raise cap on SSI. We need help not all
Most informative and enlightening interview this year that I’ve seen !!!
How good it is to receive enlightenment from Professor Reich. But such a painful revelation!
Oh my goodness! somebody who actually knows what he is talking about! I couldn't say it better myself! How do we get this get this guy to run for President?
This guy is probably smart enough, that you become the problem then rather than solve it.
What an Incredible experience watching and listening to this conversation! I’m going to recommend this to anyone looking for something like sanity and rational thinking. Thank you I really hope that a lot of people take the time to just listen.
Are you kidding ? This guy is totally fake.
Only his narcissism is genuine.
kadie wilson I agree with you.
@@yvanguez2077 well he certainly mirrors my feelings on the downhill slide of American "democracy" into what I say is Cororate Feudalism. He isn't narcissistic as he relates to others and their concerns rather Trump's "what's in it for me" true narcissism, not fake at all.
He is just repeating CNN.
Robert is one of the most brilliant people in terms of political analysis today. Thanks for this post!
Robert Reich truly speaks from his heart and great knowledge of this dysfunctional horrible system.
Ignorance causes more problems than education.
The situation today seems to stem from complacency. A democracy needs polarity, but the USA has stopped providing balance against unbridled greed. No unions, no redistribution of extraordinary wealth.
jhwheuer complacency, confusion, and fear of losing what little one has.
@@mikel6520 and that spawns the racism and conspiracy theories that blame the wrong things for our problems.
The renters are the majority and own nothing to lose...
Humans need to stop infighting long enough to topple our oppressors
Mitch McConnell is Emperor Palpatine
Some of you will die, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make! - Lord Trump
@Justin Y. Trump is evil. He ignored this virus until he couldn't ignore it...the steps taken have been deliberately slow to contain this virus, as the government has made huge financial gains in allowing particularly older, retired people to die...no more pay outs each month...voting, if still valid in this country...is our only peaceful, legal recourse...voting 3rd party is the ONLY WAY to get real humans in power, rather than dynasty families and career politicians. When we realize the 2 parties we are divided over LOVE the division among us...then and only then may America be great again...
@Justin Y. Lack of knowledge of the deep state? I just accused our government of mass murder...I understand deep state...fact that you refuse to listen, only attack, says too much about you...clearly you haven't known hardship. Clearly none of this has impacted you negatively...you are part of the problem, offering zero solutions.
@Justin Y. Calling me stupid really helps your case...Trump has very limited brain power, as evidenced by his rambling, generally repetitive, toddler talks...although most of us are sorely undereducated, Trump really amazes me every time i listen to his banter. Trump did not close the borders in time, many flights to the USA brought sick folk here. Action wasn't taken until very late February, and by then 15 confirmed cases were more than enough to basically allow what amounts to airborn, quickly lethal AIDS《why this? (Because this virus mutates too fast to create an effective vaccine, which may never get made), upon the world. This is dangerous because common behaviors of common folk, such as shoulder to shoulder events, shopping and sardine packed working conditions, helped this virus along...even as people died in China daily...America went forward 2 full months wothout any concerns...then...rather than force the hands of state officials, and put the population through a 2 month quarantine, we've been seeing states react, rather than prepare...and all at the natural stages this virus thrives on...complacency among enough of us to allow the spread to continue. You refusing to see this logic isn't a blight on my mental capacity, just proves you are as simple as our Lord Trump...and likely among those very few, who like many elites, don't even understand the plight of the masses, whom I speak for, in this contrived crisis...Trump is calm about the virus because he exists outside the bounds of common folk...Trump and other powerful people would never have to take the risk of infection seriously as they are all well protected by expendable servants or can at the least afford to continue living lavishly and distanced from peons such as myself. 9/11 was an inside job and this proves what I've feared since then...that the government can perform mass murder and the people will always just accept it, hire the next sociopath in line, whichever of the 2 evil divisionary parties they aspire to dwell in...
Our educational system is archaic. We could be educating everyone from home...there are no valid excuses for our current broken schooling, and no teachers need lose jobs...as the internet is an amazing communication device...
Taxes are broken. Your dollar earned gets hit so many times...and we all just accept that blindly.
Medicine is broken. My grandmother died because her selfish daughter needed cable tv more than grandma needed diabetes medicine...and millions suffer from the inability to afford insulin, despite that drug initially starting out as a gift to humanity from a generous genius, privatized by evil and greed, priced beyond reality for most.
Our 2 party system is designed to keep us bickering...division keeps us docile enough to accept our own government conspiring to murder us, with our acceptance. 3rd party candidates are generally real humans...that care about other humans, even, gasp, total strangers and foreigners...
We are all on the same damn spaceship...Earth. I judge character...not race, not whatever religion folks are born into. I am old...I am tired of seeing disaster after disaster get slow attention from government, as poor people die in thousands due to delayed or nonexistent help.
It's about time the many take control, with votes, to dethrone the sociopaths that control us, play games with our very lives...
When there are only voluntary homeless, when the janitor is paid living wage, when a high school graduate can earn enough in food service, or retail, to support a modest home and essentials, while creating a nest egg...when veterans are given the same care as Congress, Senate and other positions of highest power, rather than left to suffer and die, when the lowest paying jobs are enough to survive on, then and only then, can America boast of being great...
As it stands...I feel most of us are born into lies we have no control over...It's well orchestrated, as my points are made clear in every satirical broadcast about the plight of the expendable masses, world wide...
Do I want peace, equity and kumbaya? Yeah...I do...are there sociopaths in power oppressing the common folk...yeah...there are...have good Democrats and Republicans existed? Yes...they get blocked by evil at every turn, often resigning due to unbeatable corruption. Do I pity the very people I label simple? You bet I do...I want this planet to be a better place for most...not some...for all...if ever possible...
This covid virus isn't done. It mutates too fast to pin it down with a vaccine...and we haven't seen the end of it because we, as a planet, would have to agree on a few ground rules to consider being a functional society.
That's my 2 cents...some of it...take it or leave it. Most of us just exist and watch, lazily, rather than get directly involved in change. @soaringvulture We don't seem to take note...we, the expendable masses, are being told to push through life ignoring this virus...it took ONE infection to start a Planet Wide Pandemic...and because we didn't quarantine from January 1st to February, we get to watch innocent and otherwise lives lost, daily...who are "we", in "we're in it together"? Certainly not the elite...they step on us to avoid harm...I'm furious with humanity as a whole...I'm furious we accept all this death and Trump's toddler talks...like a Ted talk without useful insight...
Those of us suffering are many...while the privileged watch the show They created...when...when will the common folk unite against tyranny, through the only peaceful means we have...vote out career politicians and dynasty families in favor of fellow human beings, with consciousness and compassion for the lowest among us.
We won't stop the cycle of abuse by trading Democrats and Republicans, two sides of the same evil, corrupt coin.
Vote 3rd party...vote for real people, with flaws, that understand what struggle is...that have put time behind any of these so called essential, yet minimum wage jobs...
This economy is screwed...always has been. The vast majority of work available is menial labor...food service, retail, janitors, grocers...a great many take their wages in government...which is far too big, complex and unsustainable...
Until any job can offer a modest secure household, until the only homeless are those who volunteer to live "free"...until the pill giants are mandated to make life saving medicine reasonably priced...we are a selfish, horrid nation, divided by the very people that oppress us, yet too busy fighting amongst ourselves to take any useful action towards a better tomorrow for the MANY, not the FEW
Thank you for doing this interview with Robert Reich.
Robert is describing what my experience has been I’m working hard but not getting ahead. I have worked for over 50 years and I haven’t increased my earnings beyond paycheck to paycheck.
Most informative and enlightening interview this year!!!
I appreciate your perspective and it reflects my own thoughts on these matters. Great interview.
It was a good interview watch Steve Banons the whole thing it will blow you away.
Thoughtful, broad -- yet specific, commentary. Thank you.
I know this is 2 years old but I’m so glad that he talked about the Bernie and Trump wing saying almost the same thing. I voted for Obama than Trump but if Bernie had been nominated in 2020, I was actually questioning who I would vote for. RR actually puts it into words. Thank you.
A Trump VOTE....Be Careful what you WISH FOR....
25:34 The most accurate assessment of who's in charge and why they do what they do. Click on the 25:34 Thank you, Robert!
And why you’ve been duped into voting against your best interests, R stands for rich, if you’re not rich, vote D
The Great Divide should win an Oscar what a masterpiece Goid job PBS
We need more intelligent people like Robert Reich, on tv regularly, having this discussion. We're headed to a very dark place in this country.
Education is the key to all of this...I feel like no one represents me in this country any longer. God bless people like Robert. He keeps me sane because he sees it the way it is and pulls no punches. ✌️💚
"Think education is expensive? Try ignorance!"
"... it is in the interest of those people at the top to keep everybody else angry at each other." Well put. Perhaps we should be more discerning when we choose to express anger, and stop being useful tools for the rich.
Corporations shipped american jobs overseas, stop paying for employee healthcare.
And the PEOPLE allowed it!! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!! We are NOT children!!
Trump is the only president to try to take on china
@@thedebatemechannel4746 wrong, nobody allowed it. The political class, right and left, did as they pleased. The only way to challenge them was/is the two-party system with an infinite number of gatekeepers. Trump had the money to override those controls. As it's said, "don't try this at home!"
@@fredsmith1922 why is it that women can vote? Why is it that slavery is no longer done? Why is it that same-sex marriages are allowed? The answer to all those questions is because we put a stop to things that we felt were wrong. We change them. Why is Trump doing all the things that he's doing because unlike those other things we are not doing anything to stop him. And we're being dishonest about it because when you question people about it they come up with every excuse in the world and act as if there's nothing that can be done. If Donald Trump literally started shooting random people in the street I guarantee you you would all find things to do about it. However right now you simply don't care enough to do anything. But because I know most people will play games and act like as if they can't think for themselves let me tell you what you can do. Protest, boycott any company that supports Donald Trump and his administration, call your representatives write letters to Representatives, donate to activist groups, encourage others to take action, go to town halls, spend any time at all again spend any time at all even thinking about what are possible solutions or things that you can do. If you're not even spending any time trying to think about what you can do to change things and you just sitting back complaining and spending more time coming up with excuses about why you can't do anything then of course you're not going to do anything and nothing's going to change.
@@danielrogers7483 He does. He has no option! MAGA!
and, yet, people have AGAIN chosen to live in denial about the collapsing financial system. 😢
Desperation is a powerful drug. Then there's the lottery - just gotta get six numbers in a row and it's winner winner chicken dinner. Hey - someone's gotta win and you can't win if you don't play. Which brings me back to my opening sentence.
It's only collapsing for the poor and we don't own much and if we complained and freaked out who would listen?
Americans are of 3 types: The indentured servants (the middle class who need loans to get ahead), the slaves (the working poor, who work several jobs and can barely get a break, they are not eligible for loans. They are pushed down again and again.) And the slave owners... you know who they are.
It's only going to collapse if we don't fix it. Looks doable.
Prof. Reich, this is the first time I have watched you. You are an excellent teacher because when you speak, you state the cause, then the effect. Did you realize you were doing that? And, what you were speaking of was in a logical sequence.
The "working man" of America needs you. Try a show on UA-cam. Do it in the style of William F. Buckley or how about Dick Cavett.. Remember? This is how the blue collar man learned, and very well, those that were the frontrunners at that time. Thanks again...
Reich is right on. I fell into that group who felt screwed, but I didn't lose my ability to reason logically.
He is so right about - economic frustrations can be easily channelled into racism and xenophobia. So true
Create the biggest wealth gap in history with 30 years of wage stagnation and see what you get. If this continues , Trump may start to look pretty mainstream in a few more years.
Yea. You get a freaking Donald John Trump.
What? Trump and the Republicans gave corporations and the rich huge tax breaks! Seems contrary to your point.
@762 Goat no, no they don't.
The Donald and his noise machine that want to destroy our political system and replace it with Trumpian croneyism is not the answer.
The moment Donnie showed the Tea Party the door and he moved Kush into power was the day Donnie signalled he is truly about Wall St and not Main St America
@Tarzan Rockerfeller employed hundreds of thousands if not millions of people. He built what he had from nothing. He paid well and made their lives better, he made everyone's lives better, he was hard nosed on business but was of high moral caliber. He, along with Vanderbilt,Carnegie,Morgan, up through Ford etc built America. They took it from a third world country almost, and a broken one at that, after the civil war, into a world power. When the country hit a near collapse they went to them and they bailed the country out. The phillanthropic and money the Rockerfellers gave away, eclipse any ill will he might have done. The competetion between these titans became who could be the most generous. The gap wasn't as severe because there weren't as many people. The world could use a Rockerfeller now. The waste that goes on in federal government would be detestable and offend him.
Never underestimate pettiness and the lengths ppl who don't like you will go to spite you.
I can listen to this man speak for hours,clarity in a state of confusion
Even as a fan of Robert's, I am tired of the "economic anxiety" argument. SO MANY of the people who voted for Trump are well-off, live comfortably, and wanted him in power. If you don't *mind* racist arguments, you're a racist.
I agree. For example, many of the domestic terrorists who stormed the Capitol were well-off.
@@claude-alinecarriere3337 And racist. I'm sure you took note of all the Confederate flags on display at the Capitol.
Thank you for recognizing what's missing from this discussion. There was nothing President Obama could have done to satisfy a large segment of Republican Party.
He's WAY off here. Talking about Obama's mistakes and Trump's intuitive genius.
Trump doesn't have intuitive genius. He is mentally ill.
Robert Reich What an illuminating interview! Thank you.
I’m a conservative but I have the utmost respect for Robert Reich. He’s honest
He is conservative, too (judging from this interview). If I get it right, the most conservative thing you can so at the moment is to love reason. As you do (judging from your comment) and as Mr.Reich does.
Robert Riech has a clear, fresh, historical and down to earth view of life in America that makes a ton of sense to me.
Love Robert's logical conversation...
Execept that it is ok to have a nation. There is no logical reason to eliminate the nation state other than it making the elites even richer.
What seemed intriguing is the a surprisingly large portion of America resented the fact that our leaders had the audacity of being smarter than us. Down home ignorance became an asset proudly displayed to the constancy.
Jim Mauch I’m not so sure it’s that they resented them for being smarter..I think they resent them for thinking they know better than they do in every aspect of their life. The best thing Washington can do for the people..is stay out of their lives
I think this stems from the enormous expense of college. Almost all the top politicians went to ivy league colleges for law or arts. None of them are blue collar or engineers. Your college major and alma mater in this country mainly depends on your class.
Say what??? It’s smarter than “we” not “us.” And it’s “down-home” ignorance not “down home.” Don’t worry: our leaders don’t know any better either, which means we’re all bumbling about on the same very limited playing field.
I wish I had the time, now I'm old, to see my country get it right. Thank you Mr. Reich.
I wish everyone in our country would listen to this.
Wow. That's a fairly honest set of respones to the interviewers questions. Obama did not understand what Americans were experiencing and he still doesn't. Hence Trump.
Obama inherited an economy decimated by Bush's manufactured war and neoliberal deregulation of markets that brought on the 2008 financial meltdown literally weeks after taking office; The GOP dominated congress made sure Wall Street got their bailout while main street paid for it. Seriously every piece of legislation Obama tabled was eventually watered down to appease the obstructionist GOP congress and their pro-corporate, anti environmental anti-community, anti education agenda. Trump won because he tapped into the American culture war where red states have been brainwashed by FOX news and trash-talk radio to voting for these things despite being against their best interests; as long as it means keeping the latte drinking, pro-queer pro-multicultural, fetus killing, urban liberal elites out of office.
@@pomod "latte drinking, pro-queer pro-multicultural, fetus killing, urban liberal elites out of office" So basically Trump talked to the vast basket of deplorable's? Trump is not a Bush and he his not a Republican. He is a populist that ran through the GOP to fix the American economy!
@@pomod Yeah. Obama was a populist! He got beat by the system every step of the way. He had to do a bunch of BS to get campaign money, and that certainly aided screwing things up.
@@pomod W takes his share of the blame. W/Obama they had to do TARP, but Obama ran up the tab another 3 million. That's on him. Obama rammed Obamacare down our throats despite not having any bipartisan support, when 64% of the country doesn't want something, you don't make them eat it, you don't change procedure to ram it through. You don't sit around with a smug look and brag about "how more Americans have health insurance than ever" when you forced them to buy it and for most it was worthless. You think after that the GOP wants to compromise after that? Eff that. He lied about the plan/doctor and knew it was a lie, you don't do something that effects everybody based on one partys wants. Thats 1/6th of the economy, you can't dothat. .He essentially sold out the US to actually enemies, palates of cash to Iran. Seriously. ? He all but threw Israel to the wolves in the middle east. He was naive and dumb to think he could waltz in with his bright ideas, "mr charming". The guy had NO EXPERIENCE. hE WAS 2 YEARS OUT OF THE STATE SENATE. Thats BS. He didn't run on race, and then once in, made everything about race. He didn't punish anybody for the bailout of the banks. He blamed the republicans for his failures, he snubbed the Boy Scouts, let Otto rot for 15 months, but had all the time in the world for clock-boy, gee wonder why?
@@pomod who wants urban liberal elites in office. who wants "multiculturalism" don't you want American Culture? No one had a problem with gays, but who signed on for LGBTQ....LMNOPQRST.? It was all "live and let live", except if you are a Christian with a bakery, then "live ad let live" became "do what we tell you or we will destroy you".
What an honest representation of, "We The People" thanks Robert.
Dr Robert Reich PHD is the best!!! He knows the real “stuff”!
Exceptional, Insightful Perspective...thank you Mr. Reich for your insights, explanation and thank you Frontline for your work and presentation.
I respect the wisdom Robert Reich has with his thorough understanding of politics, and especially the economy. This interview is a struggle for me to enjoy because of the interviewer. Time and time again as Mr. Reich rolls down an avenue of solid information, the host throws in a question that's vaguely related and more along the lines that he's just reading queries off a script instead of truly engaging in this conversation. So many opportunities to elaborate on important points were missed by PBS's random topic turns instead of really listening and responding. I felt like I could almost see Reich's disappointment or quizzical look when he was off and running down a valid avenue, to then be hit with a random off topic turn.
Great questions; great answers. Very good interview. Thank you.
Great interview..Robert reich clears it for all of us
I'm English but I like to hear what Robert Reich says about US politics. To cut through the British establishment, there was Brexit over here, and the results are good so far. With an overwhelming number of people saying the economy is rigged, could a country-wide vote be held on taxes and health care?
This is one of the most insightful interviews I have ever watched. I enjoy watching these back ground interviews almost more than the completed work for which they were done. I like to get the perspective direct from those with their hands on the levers, or at least near the levers.
Human greed. It consumes all, it destroys all, until all that is left is itself, alone.
Always distills things down to their most comprehensible points. Thank you.
THIS WAS 2 YEARS AGO?!? Why isn't he on mainstream? Oh that's right, he speaks against them. And man I love this guy, a 100% right on EVERYTHING!
I like Robert Reich. He's very intelligent, insightful and eloquent but no one is 100% right about everything. He's wrong when he characterizes Donald Trump as a xenophobe. Mr. Trump is not afraid of foreigners or legal immigrants. Like many folks in the US he is opposed to ILLEGAL immigration! This distinction between Legal and illegal immigration seems to be missed or ignored by the Liberal media and many others. ** Donald Trump's last two wives have both been Legal immigrants!
@@johnw9245 Correct. Trump is not racist. Trump is not a xenophobe. Most of his base is and he plays on that. Or maybe they are not, but when you look around and you have not progressed, you are worse off than your parents with no hope in sight, it’s always easier to blame the immigrants. Ironically, it’s the top 1% like Trump that’s to blame. Good ol politics.
Amazing interview
Tell it. Reich dropping truth and knowledge. Perfectly said. However, the notion that we actually have fair and open elections is dubious at best.
There is no one party to blame for the shape this country currently finds itself. It took both parties to get us here. You can compare our country to a big bird. A bird has two wings, a left one and a right one, and it takes both wings, WORKING TOGETHER, to get the bird anywhere. If one wing doesn’t work, the bird is going nowhere, it just flails around. That’s exactly what we’re doing as a country, flailing around. We’re so busy trying to figure out who's to blame, that there’s no energy nor efforts being tossed at solutions for big problems and how we all can come together. And keep in mind, when a bird can’t fly and it’s flailing about, its natural predators take notice, and sooner or later, those predators will move in for the bird.
Fascinating to watch 2 years after this interview was done
Should be 10X the views. IMO: 1)Trump is a genius only in the way that a shark is a genius - equipped, by nature, to be good at finding something to eat. 2)Wealth and power have no incentive to release their grip, and won't - except via catastrophe. 3)If the various groups are smart enough for any of this, why can't they see the iceberg?
This frontline series on pbs is informative and well done
Thank you, Professor Reich, for explaining very complex problems.
This is really good. Love the long form conversation!
When you realize the "game" is rigged, you wave your middle finger to "the game" all together. I refuse to "play" anyone's game! This system is an example of failed leadership, and it has placed too much focus on MONEY instead of people. F the system, it has failed us.
What did Kirk do when the game was rigged?
Reprogrammed the game. "I dont believe in no win scenarios."
@@sagesheahan6732 Kirk is a fictional character. This is reality.
@Puppet Uninterrupted - how do you propose we, as citizens, fix this mess?
@@lauraw.7008 Maybe we all stop accepting the same ol same ol. Maybe not put people on pedestals like we're 11 crushing on Donnie Osmond... maybe demand better education for the next generations... the biggest thing I see is lacking, is critical thinking, and, always needing another to "follow" for everything... just my thoughts. 🤔
1863
This man is a living Oracle! To their detriment, neither Obama nor Clinton listened and sought the continuing advice of this man.
Duane Nor GW Bush, nor Trump.
He wants open borders. He wants one party rule. Clinton did listen to Reich though when he destroyed 20 million blue collar jobs.
@@NathansHVAC Do you have any evidence of your outrageous claims?
Me Reich is one of the most brilliant socio-historians of our time