Capitalism Hits Home with Dr. Harriet Fraad

This week on Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Harriet Fraad discusses how the saga of the release of the Epstein files is producing a "falling out among the thieves" in the current administration and the political party behind it. The ghost of Epstein is effectively haunting not only the men who sought the thrill of domination from him, but also political power across the globe.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Harriet Fraad explores how rape and mass murder become some men's reactions to their reduced status as providers for dependent women and children. Men who never recognized the life-sustaining care they received from women are lost and angry.  Vulnerability and emotional need are inaccessible for many men. Anger and violence seem like socially accepted masculine ways to reestablish lost economic power and an emotional outlet for loneliness. As this epidemic continues to crescendo with the current administration in power, we must understand the correlations at play and explore ways to curb this unnecessary violence.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Harriet Fraad explores the repressed history of the family structure we know today. It explores the forces that laud the family unit, and those that endanger it. She highlights the failures of American society to support the family structure and children by juxtaposing them with the more successful efforts of other nations.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

Women in the U.S. are under political, economic, social, and reproductive siege. The rights we fought for, like abortion rights, are now fully available in only nine states. The Trump regime has attacked diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as well as the employers offering such programs. As an illustration of the effects of these attacks, more than 300,000 African American women in the U.S. have lost their jobs. At the same time, women are joining their sisters worldwide in opting out of both marriage and childbearing despite the pressures of the Trump administration for women to return to the role of household slaves to their husbands.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

The UN's latest assessment of children in the developed world puts children in the U.S. at the bottom in intellectual achievement, physical health, mental health, and basic well-being. America's children are being neglected, and that is endangering our future.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

Women labor intensively and extensively to create and maintain human life. Women's labor in Creating and raising children, establishing order and cleanliness, providing emotional care for our families, and maintaining all of this is more than substantial. However, it has been devalued in American society and often dismissed as instinct or pure emotional expression. Women's labor in the home is not focused on creating a marketable service or commodity, and capitalists who cannot directly profit from that labor are to blame for its devaluation and societal degradation. We need to recognize, celebrate, and compensate that essential labor more than just with a Hallmark holiday once a year. This week on Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad explains how and why we must give proper acknowledgement to women's labors of love.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

Jacinda Ardern was the Socialist Labor Party Prime Minister of New Zealand for 8 years. She led with a politics of empathy, delivering her nation from COVID with just 25 deaths. In a horrific white nationalist attack by an Australian, masses of Muslims were killed and wounded while at prayer. She fostered deep solidarity between New Zealand and its Muslim community, conveying the message that they are one unified nation. In the words of Mohammed, she declared that an injury to one limb is an injury to the whole body. She is a model of a very different and badly needed kind of power. In this week's episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad discusses the effects of Jacinda Ardern's tenure as Prime Minister and how we can adopt and replicate core aspects of her successes.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested and charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors in New York in 2019, was also accused of sexually assaulting underage girls for nearly two decades. Because he died in jail while awaiting trial, we may never know the extent of his sex trafficking ring or exactly who else may have participated in those heinous acts. Instead, we are left wondering whether or not he also provided blackmail opportunities for the U.S. and Israeli governments, as it appears he likely did precisely that. It also seems as if Donald Trump was an enthusiastic and willful participant in Epstein's darkest schemes. In this week's episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad explores and explains Epstein's web of crime and corruption, and reveals how Trump swims in the swamp he condemns.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

There has been an extensive study of workers and the commodities they produce. When it comes to who produces those workers, or who produces people, gives birth to them, raises them, and socializes them, there is a lot less material that examines that type of work. Social Reproduction Theory examines the aspects of capitalism and bridges the gap between feminism and Marxism by incorporating variables such as race and gender. In this week's episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad provides her insights on the latter, as part of Social Reproduction Theory.    Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

Zohran Mamdani's recent victory in the Democratic primary for New York City's mayor has shaken up the old establishment and is becoming a symbol of progress and real, meaningful change for younger generations, and everyone else, whether or not they like it. With over 40k volunteers and a meter $1.7 million raised, Mamdani's margin of victory against Andrew Cuomo, the establishment candidate who amassed over $25 million, is a message to the core establishment that change is coming, and it's coming soon.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

It examines the types of labor that shape human beings outside of waged work, both before and after they enter the waged workforce. Social Reproduction Theory complements Marxist theories of labor at the workplace by introducing the labor that shapes human beings outside of waged work.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad examines the impact of recent global economic losses on the personal lives of Americans, from marriage and family to mental health.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad examines loneliness as a major driver of America's mental health crisis. We explore how socialist and leftist organizing in the past has tackled this issue—and how present-day "12-Step" programs might offer the Left new strategies for reaching and mobilizing Americans.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad explores how the Frankfurt School of Marxian Theory and the Marxist Philosopher Louis Althusser can help us understand Americans' adherence to Trump even after the chaos and cuts of Trump's first 100 days in office.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this week's episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Harriet Fraad points out how the Left has turned away from the love of community that helped fuel the movements behind leaders like MLK and Che and explains why this has turned out to be a huge mistake. She then explains the importance of love of community, connection, and justice in building a unified Left.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

This week on Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad discusses how the profit motive that defines capitalism is that no one hires you unless they make more money from your work than they pay you. That is simply considered good business, and Dr. Fraad explains how compassion and empathy remain variables that are absent from "good business."   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this week's episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad delves into the striking parallels between the Trump administration's strategies and the tactics outlined in the Nazi playbook. The podcast also examines actionable ways to counter and halt this dangerous agenda.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this week's episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad explores the global shift in household structures, which stands in stark contrast to traditional marriage norms. As the fundamental unit for creating and sustaining human life, the family is undergoing profound transformations. Just as the nuclear family once replaced the feudal family, new and diverse family structures are now emerging in place of the nuclear model, as marriage declines and new patterns of child-rearing and family formation take root.   Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this week's episode, Dr. Fraad reflects on 2024, a year in which there were several high-profile sexual assault cases featured in mainstream media. Dr. Fraad will highlight four cases of brutal sexual assault allegations by men against women that gained significant media attention. This week's podcast delves into the underlying reasons for these assaults, the increased media coverage surrounding them, and explores actionable steps to prevent future incidents of sexual violence.   Learn more about CHH:  We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate. Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this week's episode, Dr. Fraad discusses what the Trump administration means for the American people.  All but the wealthiest American men, women, and children will suffer while billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the proposed agency, DOGE( the Department of Governmental Efficiency). They plan to cut government jobs, job protections, and aid for poor and working-class people, especially the most vulnerable members of our society. The cuts will protect the wealthiest from interference with their profits. However, we can fight back!   Learn more about CHH:  We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate. Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork