In this episode I discuss Mondragon, the worlds largest cooperative corporation, with US Delegate Michael Peck. Since 2000, Michael has served as the North American delegate for Mondragon, the world’s largest industrial worker cooperative with USA 2013 sales at the $250 million level. On March 26th, 2012, the United Steelworkers Union (USW – North America’s largest […]
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Episode 26 – Brazil (with Douglas McRae)
In this episode we talk about Brazil with Douglas McRae. With the election of Bolsonaro I thought it important to talk about the history of Brazil. Douglas is a PhD Candidate in the Department of History at Georgetown University with a focus on the history of modern Latin America, with an emphasis on Brazil, particularly […]
Kevin in RT’s In Question on GM Layoffs
Episode 25 – Diaspora Blues
In this special episode of the Sensible Socialist, Kevin talks to someone very dear, his wife Alka Mysore. Alka is originally from India and moved to the US about ten years ago where she studied Management information systems at Iowa State University. She is an organizer and member of Socialist Alternative in Washington DC where […]
Episode 24 – Bourgeois Healthcare (with Mike Pappas)
In this episode I talk with Mike Pappas. Mike a graduate of Georgetown Medical School and currently a Resident Physician in New York City. He is also a revolutionary Marxist, and brings a unique, and much needed perspective to medicine. In this interview, we talk about American healthcare, what Mike calls “sick-care”, and about socialized […]
Episode 23 – The Democratic Party
In this episode I discuss a brief history of the Democratic Party and relate that to the current state of the party and see if there is any hope in the DSA and Bernie strategy of staying inside it. Ending Song: Why I vote Democratic – Shamoozey Download: .mp3
Kevin on RT America about Elon Musk
Episode 22 – The Enemy of the People
In this episode I speak with Rhys Baker of The Barricades about left-wing journalism, journalism in general, and the news of the day. Chomsky – Manufacturing Consent Download: .mp3
Sensible Socialist on RT America
Episode 21 – Democratic Centralism
In this episode I briefly review the idea of democratic centralism. Download: .mp3
Episode 20 – Alienation
With suicide, depression, mental health, and the opioid epidemic, its clear that something is wrong with our society. But what is it? While most often you will hear that this shows the need for more, or better, drugs or for more access to therapy and other kinds of cognitive behavioral help. However, what is not […]
Episode 19 – Intersections
With me this week is my friend and comrade, Sarko. Sarko and I are both in the DC Branch of Socialist Alternative. We have had many wide-ranging discussions, but I’ve had the feeling, and I think she would agree, that we haven’t really seen totally eye to eye on some pretty important issues – namely […]
Episode 18 – Dialectical Materialism
In this episode I briefly go over the idea of dialectical materialism. So often a buzzword is Marxist circles, the idea off dialectics and materialism to understand history is a fundamental idea to understand if one is to ever understand what Marx was really saying and how he thought. At the same time, the notions […]
Episode 17 – Capitalism vs. Socialism
In this episode I have the big debate with some great fellows I found at the CapitalismVSocailism sub-reddit. This long conversation covers several of the large controversies in the way the two sides view economic and philosophic arguments. Specifically, this conversation gets a bit bogged down in the question of value and of profit. The […]
Episode 16 – The Question of Elections & More – with Ginger Jentzen
In this episode I speak with Ginger Jentzen an activist and organizer with Socialist Alternative. Ginger was a candidate for Minneapolis city council in 2017, the executive director of 15 Now, along with previous working including Occupy homes in the Minneapolis area. The strategy of electoral politics has long been debated within the Socialist community. […]
Episode 15 – Socialism or Social Democracy (or Democratic Socialism) – with Nima Ghafari
In this episode I talk with my Law school colleague, Nima Ghafari. Nima is working on a software project currently, but was able to take some time to discuss with me some of his issues with socialism. Now Nima is no standard capitalist, but rather considers himself a Democratic Socialist (like Bernie or Ocasio-Cortez) but […]
Episode 14 – Review of “Sorry to Bother You.”
*Spoilter Alert* I do ruin the ending if you haven’t seen this movie. You have been warned. This week, before we get to some good interviews, I wanted to briefly talk about what I thought about Boots Riley’s Sorry to Both You. Download: .mp3
Trump’s Legal Fun
Usually I am loathed to talk about Trump and the Russia investigation. The Russiagate Episode should give one reason enough to see why. But yesterday both Michael Cohen – Trumps former lawyer – and Paul Manafort – his former campaign manager were found or plead guilty to a number of serious crimes. While not in […]
Episode 13 – Myths, Misunderstandings, and Strawmen (Ft. Ben Shapiro)
In this episode we discuss Ben Shapiro’s “arguments” against socialism. What we find is that he is a disingenuous interlocutor when it comes to socialism – and much else. However, Shapiro’s arguments are quite common and mainstream, so in this episode we try to dispel some myths, misunderstandings and straw men, as displayed by Ben […]
Episode 12 – Why I am a Socialist (A Response to David Pakman)
In this episode I reply to David Pakman’s video – Why I am not a Socialist. I give my responses to his critiques and shed some light on where I come from as a (hopefully sensible) socialist. Download: .mp3 Ending Song – Andover – Revonda
Episode 11 – Russiagate (w/ Michael Melinchok)
Russiagate – the tangeld web of lies, deceit, hacking, and – of course – Russia. In this episode I speak with Socialist Alternative DC member Michael Melinchok about taking some perspective in a time of hysterics. We cover Russiagate, the Helsinki press conference, American Foreign Policy, and much more. Ending Song: Stop Drop – Cheap […]
Episode 10 – Worker Self-Directed Enterprises and Socialism (With Dr. Richard Wolff)
In this episode I speak with Dr. Richard Wolff, of Democracy @ Work, about worker cooperatives and socailism. Dr. Wolff was named by New York Times Magazine as the Worlds Foremost Marxist economist. I am a proud member of D@W-DC, a working group for Democracy at Work in the nation’s capital. We discuss what a […]
Episode 9 – Marxist-Leninism
This week I speak with Daniel who hails from the Marxist-Leninist tradition of the radical left. In this episode we discuss what Marxist-Leninism is, how Marxist-Leninists view the Soviet Union and China, among many other topics. Check it out!
Episode 8 – Towards a Coalition of the Radical Left
Donate – Donate to IWOC In this short episode I talk about the news articles below and a subject we’ve touched on in a few episodes- the need for a new united workers party. I talk about why I think a congress of the radical left for the purpose of founding a new radical left party […]
Episode 7 – Socialist Organizing and Identity Politics (w/ Eljeer Hawkins)
This week I speak with Eljeer Hawkins about Socialist organizing and identity politics. Eljeer is a community, labor and antiwar activist, and has been a member of Socialist Alternative/Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) for 23 years and writes regularly on race, the criminal legal system, Black Lives Matter and the historic Black freedom movement […]
Episode 6 – A Vision for a Communist Future
In this shorter episode we talk about a vision for a communist future. What do we mean when we say a communist society? Isn’t it just Utopian? Is there an example we can look to? I think so, the final frontier. Ending Song – Hard Times- The Starlight
Episode 5 – American Communism (with Josh Morris)
In this weeks episode I talk to Josh Morris, a historian at Wayne State, about the Many World of American Communism. We cover a lot of topics and it goes for a while. Buckle up and check it out!
Sam Harris the Socialist: Part Two
On the most recent episode of the Waking Up Podcast, Sam Harris spoke with Andrew Yang, excuse me, Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, where they discussed Yang’s proposal for his version of a universal basic income (UBI). He calls it the “Freedom Dividend.” At a $1000 a month, Yang asserts that this (along with other more […]
Episode 4 – 20th Century Socialism
Socialism doesn’t work, just look at Russia, or China or Cuba. Communism killed millions of people! Communism inevitably leads to dictatorship and violence. How should socialist think about these criticisms. In a nutshell, this is my version of the “not real communism” argument. Closing Song – Two Tone Runts – You’re Not Alone
An Epic Decision
In law school they teach soon-to-be lawyers a lot of things – civil procedure, constitutional law, torts, probate, contracts – but what they really teach is how to think like a lawyer. In one sense this means judicially reviewing facts for specific issues, and being able to determine what is relevant information and what isn’t, […]
Episode 3 – Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto is usually the first stop for many who want to know about what socialism and communism is all about. It is important, though, to put it in historical context and explain a little bit about what was going on when it is written. Closing Music: Operation Death Squad – Iconoclast Episode 3a […]
Alienation and Suicide
We usually only talk about issues when the effect the wealthy. The suicidies of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdian this week has opened discussion of suicide in America. But while when it happens to the rich we take note, its a deeper and more nefarious force among the vast majority of Americans. Indeed, the Center for […]
Episode 2 – Defintions
In this episode we discuss some important definitions of words that are often misused and will be used (hopefully correctly) in future episodes. I tried to be succinct and clear, If you disagree with these definitions, let me know. Frederick Engles – Socialism, Scientific And Utopian
Just a Bit About Memorial Day
Today is Monday, May 28, 2018. It is Memorial Day. And since its memorial day, I thought it may be interesting to talk a bit about the origins of the day. While, setting aside time to commemorate the dead of great battles goes back to time imemorium, in the US what we now know of […]
Episode 1 – Introductions
Episode 1: Introductions Welcome to the Sensible Socialist podcast! This is our first episode of the podcast so it seemed appropriate to begin by way of introduction to give you a sense of who I am, what the podcast is about, why do the podcast and what do I hope to achieve with it. So […]
Thoughts on a Recent Trip to Russia
Since I was young, perhaps 15 or 16, I have had an affinity for Russia. The wide area of the Earth on which it stretches, its vast diversity yet uniformity, its long, twisted, and tumultuous history spoke to a young radical demanded to be explored. When I first read about the Trans-Siberian Railroad I was […]
Thoughts On A Recent Trip to India
The following are my thoughts and recollections of a recent trip with my wife to India. We made the trip because Alka’s sister recently gave birth to a daughter. We decided to take the opportunity to do some additional travel in Europe and India. These are my thoughts, pictures, and musings while doing so. I hope […]
The Kurdish Referendum and the Kosovo Problem
Almost thirty years ago, the sound of MIG and Mirage fighter jets filled the air above Iraqi Kurdistan. A warm day in early March would mark the occasion of one of the modern era’s worst crimes. The jets, menacingly circling above began to drop familiar ordinances to locals including bombs and napalm. But as the […]
Vietnam: A Grand Canyon in the Moral Landscape
From the title alone, The Impossible War, one is given a preview of the moral content of Sam Harris’ most recent podcast. On it Harris discusses a new, and epic, 18-hour PBS documentary series with its producers, directors, and writers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on a subject still sour and sore in the minds […]
“Jan Lokpal not Joke Pal” – A Review of India’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
Fighting Corruption in India Slideshow On November 8, 2016, in an effort to “tackle counterfeiting Indian banknotes, to effectively nullify black money hoarded in cash and curb funding of terrorism with fake notes”[1] the Central Bank of India announced that it would withdraw the legal tender status of ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 denominations of banknotes […]
A Tale of Two Narratives – The Issue of Evidence in Khan Sheikhoun
On Thursday April 6, 2017, two American naval vessels fired 59 cruise missiles towards the Al-Sharyat airbase in Syria targeting the facilities and airplanes stationed there. The official reason behind the strike was that it was in response to a government chemical weapons attack a few days earlier on April 4th at Khan Sheikhoun, Syria. […]
Sam Harris the Socialist: Part One
In Sam Harris’ most recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast they discussed the rise of automation and the responses that are necessary to it. Harris has been discussing this issue for quite a while, sounding the alarm for the potential danger, while not attempting to spread panic. At the same time, Harris recognizes that our […]
The Necessity of Radicalism – Learning the Lesson of ‘17
The year 2017, like 1917, will go down in the annals of history as one marked by radical change. Though separated by a century, activists and revolutionaries of both times fight a similar struggle, against similar influences, and in similar ways. But times have also changed, and the lessons from the last bloody century must […]
Shame, Badness, and Socrates’ Theory of Punishment in Plato’s Gorgias
In the midst of battle in Shakespeare’s Henry V, Orleans tells Bourbon that his forces could overcome the English if order could be restored and Bourbon replies, “The devil take order now! I’ll to the throng. Let life be short, else shame will be too long.” His impatience for restoring the order necessary for victory […]
I Left My Heart at Standing Rock: Native American Vulnerability Status under International Human Rights Law
Introduction Starting in August 2016, a growing movement of Native American tribes and allies have been engaged in daily protest. Their target: The Dakota Access Pipeline. The DAPL is an oil pipeline designed to transport oil as part of the larger Bakken pipeline project.[1] The Bakken project aims to connect newly accessed crude shale oil […]
Losing Sight of Civilian Protection in Kashmir
In the last days of September of 2016 the armed forces of India conducted what it called “surgical strikes” against claimed terrorist targets inside Pakistan. Though the term “surgical strike” conjures up images of relatively small, precise and limited air strikes or small special-ops missions like the one that killed Osama bin Laden, the term […]
What ISIS and Trumpists Have in Common
After the successful election of Donald Trump the liberal establishment is still trying to figure out what happened. While it is important to note that Hillary Clinton leads by over half a million votes in the popular vote, the 18th century institution of the Electoral College means Trump will be the next leader of the […]
From Hobby to Weapon: The Rise of the Aerial-borne Improvised Explosive Devices
As the offensive in Mosul began, a small, unmanned airplane, reminiscent of remote controlled (RC) airplanes flown by hobbyists, flew over Kurdish Peshmerga fighters north of the city. Concerned about the nature and purpose of the vehicle, security forces downed the plane to eliminate any threat it may have posed. A small group of soldiers […]
What is Aleppo? This is Aleppo.
This week Muslims around the world marked Eid al-Adha, a holy day in which sacrifice and charity are celebrated. As Syrian Muslims observed the occasion, the implementation of a new ceasefire agreement gave additional reasons to give thanks. While the agreement appears to be largely holding, though there have been reports of some violations and […]
Final Agreement on Peace in Colombia, But True Peace Still A Long Way Off
See this post at the Civilians in Conflict blog.
