michael mezzatesta

of course, “delivering” requires socialists to be in power — which means education & debate have an important role to play as well!

but nothing is more convincing than actually delivering dignity & wellbeing to people

Mamdani: “we want to showcase our ideals, not by lecturing people about how correct we are, but rather delivering and letting that delivery be the argument itself.”

👆 important reminder for all socialists

why is this so hard to understand

the US is taking a 10% stake in Intel.

this is corporate socialism — designed to protect private industries tied to US empire.

now imagine if we had progressive politicians bold enough to enact socialism *for the people* — where public investments fund healthcare, housing, renewable energy, etc…

it’s so good

from his 2009 book:
First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Slavoj Žižek: it’s not culture that drives overconsumption — it’s capitalism.

YouTube video by Michael Mezzatesta Why Capitalism Can’t Save Us | Jason Hickel on Climate, AI & Empire (Better Future 003)

watch the full episode:

Thomas Sankara stood up to capitalist imperialism – and was assassinated as a result. we should remember him, for we are the heirs of the world’s revolutions.

@jasonhickel.bsky.social on the Better Future podcast:

wtf is this man doing in a leadership position? he has zero charisma & clearly zero intention of steering the party the direction it needs to go

class vs. identity politics is one of the deepest divides in the US progressive movement right now. i sat down with @bookersquared.bsky.social to talk about how we bridge it.

i’m optimistic — because so much of US leftist history was written by Black people.

this is why building a better future — one where living beings have *more* rights — is only possible if organized labor plays a leading role.

oft-cited “benefits of capitalism” – lower poverty, better healthcare, higher standards of living – aren’t consequences of capitalism.

they were concessions won from capital won by organized workers.

capital extracts profit.

labor wins rights.

friendly reminder that US politicians chose to put Labor Day in September to prevent international working class solidarity (most of the world celebrates May Day on May 1st)

to simply survive the rest of the century (a low bar indeed), we'll have to shift to a different economic system... willingly or unwillingly.

truths that people defending modern neoliberal capitalism fail to accept:

1. the cost of living is going up - this will continue.

2. the capitalist growth imperative is causing climate change.

3. the vast majority of the benefits of growth are going to a very small % of the population

Freedom is not an acceptable idea.

Toma ya.

Highly recommended 👇

why does the US continue to support Israel, despite condemnation from its own citizens and the world?

Israel helps the US crush liberation movements in the region. and the occupation of Gaza upholds the structures of capitalist imperialism.

@jasonhickel.bsky.social on the Better Future podcast:

world leaders are meeting now to finalize a Global Plastics Treaty.

the majority of countries are prepared to cap plastic production.

but negotiations are about to collapse — because the US, Russia, and the Gulf States flooded the event with 234 oil industry lobbyists who are disrupting progress.

liberals are committed to human rights...

but their commitment to capitalism is a bigger priority.

this is why, time and time again, liberalism gives power to the far right.

only a broad-based socialist movement can get us off this flywheel.

@jasonhickel.bsky.social on Better Future podcast:

YouTube video by Michael Mezzatesta Why Capitalism Can’t Save Us | Jason Hickel on Climate, AI & Empire (Better Future 003)

for a discussion of capitalist imperialism and how to fight it, watch the full episode:

youtu.be/MU1QdQsjGpM

why does the West start wars in the Global South?

because capitalism depends on a constant flow of cheap labor & resources from the global periphery to the core.

Western states start wars to keep prices low & protect capital accumulation.

@jasonhickel.bsky.social on the Better Future podcast:

the uncomfortable truth:

only a small fraction of people can ever be “elites.” having an elite class at all means devoting society’s labor & energy & materials to servicing their desires

this is an irrational thing to be doing.

watch @jasonhickel.bsky.social on episode 3 of Better Future podcast:

thanks for listening! really happy with how this one turned out

This was a great discussion ! The full episode is perfect for a nice walk or commute.

YouTube video by Michael Mezzatesta Why Capitalism Can’t Save Us | Jason Hickel on Climate, AI & Empire (Better Future 003)

watch the full episode:

i'd love to have Gary on! he's on the list :)

we should tax the rich — but maybe not for the reason you think.

ultra-wealthy people’s money gives them too much command over our labor.

only by taxing the rich can we free up resources for the things we actually want.

listen to @jasonhickel.bsky.social on episode 003 of Better Future podcast:

hey, that's me!