The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself

The coronavirus pandemic, the deepening economic crash, dangerously divisive political responses, and exploding social tensions have thrown an already declining American capitalist system into a tailspin. The consequences of these mounting and intertwined crises will shape our future. In this unique collection of over 50 essays, "The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us from Pandemics or Itself," Richard D. Wolff argues clearly that "returning to normal" no longer responds adequately to the accumulated problems of US capitalism. What is necessary, instead, is transition toward a new economic system that works for all of us. "A blueprint for how we got here, and a plan for how we will rescue ourselves" - Chris Hedges "A magnificent source of hope and insight." - Yanis Varoufakis "In this compelling set of essays, and with his signature clarity, intensity, accessibility and deference to historical and present perspective, Wolff has issued not just a stark warning, but concrete reasoning, as to why this time really should be different." - Nomi Prins "One of the most powerful and incisive voices in America. As an economist he transcends that "dismal science", he is a tribune of Main St, a voice of the people." - George Galloway "Wolff clearly explains the ways that capitalism exacerbates unemployment, inequality, racism, and patriarchy; and threatens the health and safety of workers and communities - i.e., most of us." - Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Ph.D. "If you care about deeper measures of social health as Americans suffer the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, you will find here a wealth of insight, statistics, and other ammunition that we all need in the fight for a more just society." - Adam Hochschild "The current failed system has a noose around all of our necks. Richard Wolff offers an economic vision that gets our society off the gallows." - Jimmy Dore

Auteur

Author Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he taught from 1973 to 2008. Earlier he taught economics at Yale University and at the City College of the City University of New York. Professor Wolff was also among the founders in 1988 of the academic Association of Economic and Social Analysis (AESA) and its quarterly journal Rethinking Marxism. He is currently a Visiting Professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs of the New School University in New York City. Professor Wolff also hosts the weekly radio and TV program Economic Update produced and curated by the organization, Democracy at Work. His previous books published by Democracy at Work are "Understanding Socialism" (2019) and "Understanding Marxism" (2018). Publisher Democracy at Work is a non-profit 501(c)3 that produces media and live events. Based on the book Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism by Richard D. Wolff, our work analyzes capitalism critically as a systemic problem and advocates for democratizing workplaces as part of a systemic solution. We seek a stronger, fuller democracy - in our politics and culture as well as in our economy - based on workers' equal collaboration and shared leadership inside enterprises and throughout society. Democracy at Work has also published the books "Understanding Socialism" (2019) and "Understanding Marxism" (2018), both authored by Richard D. Wolff.

Contenu

Editor's Note, Introduction, Part I: Capitalism Crashes Again: COVID-19 Was Just a Trigger (9 essays), Part II: Capitalism versus Covid-19: Failures to Prepare Contain or Both (13 essays), Part III: Capitalism and Pandemic: Social Illnesses that Affect Us All (12 essays), Part IV: Capitalism and Reform: Resist, Evade, Weaken, Repeal (11 essays), Part V: System Change is Underway: Which Side are You On? (7 essays),