Anand Giridharadas: Winners Take All | Town Hall Seattle
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- čas přidán 27. 10. 2019
- What do we do when our society’s economic elite become more interested in celebrating their own magnanimity than bringing about real change? Former New York Times columnist Anand Giridharadas returns to Town Hall’s stage with a reprise presentation of perspectives from his hit book Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World. He decries the modern Gilded Age where the rich and powerful have rebranded themselves as saviors of the poor-constantly seeking to do more good, but never less harm. He outlines ways in which the socio-economic elite are doing everything in their power to preserve their position at the top of the social order while lavishly rewarding “thought leaders” who redefine change in winner-friendly ways. Giridharadas advocates for widespread support of institutions dedicated to benefiting public, rather than relegating society’s gravest problems to be solved by an unelected and self-interested upper crust. Sit in for a critical discussion about building more egalitarian institutions for addressing the ills of the world.
Anand Giridharadas is the author of The True American and India Calling. He was a foreign correspondent and columnist for The New York Times, and has also written for The Atlantic, The New Republic, and The New Yorker. His writing has been honored by the Society of Publishers in Asia, the Poynter Fellowship at Yale, and the New York Public Library’s Helen Bernstein Award.
Presented by Town Hall Seattle. townhallseattle.org/event/ana...
WOW. holy cow! " the fire brigade turned out to be the arsonist"!. i LOVE the way Anand brings every concept into such simple term that anyone can understand and relate.
What I admire most is his language. He is among the very few to have such clear and eloquent language to put forward such bold and insightful thoughts.
I love Anand Giridharadas. He and Chris Hedges get it.
“America was built by men in denim dungarees, and destroyed by men in silk suits”!
" e don't have a bad apple, the whole orchard is rotten " great quote
I’m very grateful Anand has articulated in contemporary terms the ideas first put forth by Oscar Wilde in his essay “the soul of man under socialism” where he illustrated how philanthropy is a two edged sword that principally serves to maintain the structures that cause harm to the common citizen through incidental relief and acts of charity perpetuated by those who profit from the predatory nature of capital - thus “greenwashing” the issues and preventing true, meaningful change that would help those that need it most.
All, i got to say to Anand is Amen!
My favorite thing Adnand said is how did we get here socially/culturally did your mom not raise you right. In America we have a culture of greed and money worship.
We all have Bernie and before him, Eugene Webs to thank for starting a movement in which intellectuals are blossoming and I loved this interview from the beginning to the end!
Anand's most epic comment to the crowd, who 90% didn't like Bezos but wouldn't commit to political engagement: "You deserve the government you get..." 😳🤣😏
Mr. G is a brilliant individual. Great interview and discussion. The blood of humanity is boiling here on earth.
" You get the world you deserve " , he is correct.
We really should be in the streets on a continual basis.
He isn't the first to say this stuff, and hopefully won't be the last. We need more spreaders of the word.
When he said "We are weird." I felt that.
"Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few, and the implicit submission with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers." - David Hume, 'Of the First principles of Government', 1758 ..."What seems to me a very terrifying aspect of our society, and other societies, is the equanimity and the detachment with which sane, reasonable, sensible people can observe such events such as war and poverty. I think that’s more terrifying than the occasional Hitler, or others that crop up. These people would not be able to operate if it were not for this apathy and equanimity. And therefore, I think that in some sense, it is the sane and reasonable and tolerant people who share a very serious burden of guilt that they very easily throw on the shoulders of others who seem more extreme and more violent." - Noam Chomsky
Why is it OK to cut billionaire corporations' taxes to 14%. While we must pay 22% taxes if we make $39,475 to $84,200? And the tax brackets increase from there for us workers who built those corporations for their billionaire CEO's.
I am glad that An brings up the question of why in the U.S. there is no general strike or occupy action that one would think would have occured. This has puzzled me as well. Damn shame.
When my daughter came home from a summer in Berlin she was stunned at the differences she felt immediately to US culture. When I asked her what she meant I thought she'd give me some trite answer but she surprised and impressed me with a very detailed, specific answer: People are much heavier in the US, and much less active, and less healthy. Public transit is less clean, less efficient here. Going to the doctor or hospital was minor in Berlin, here - well, ha. Here, there is a notable nonstop assault of advertising on the senses. There is more garbage here, everywhere.
Some years ago, I helped a friend's son's school by making one of those videos that does a tap dance for corporate money via a contest. The school in Georgia got that 25K first prize. But...did it need to do that dance for their musical program? It's amazing how we assume that this perseverance porn is not only necessary, but noble. It shouldn't have to be this way.