[Applause] we start out talking about inequality
we start out talking about inequality
we start out talking about inequality right what’s the shape of inequality
right what’s the shape of inequality
right what’s the shape of inequality from if you plot it on the curve from
from if you plot it on the curve from
from if you plot it on the curve from around the beginning of 20th century to
around the beginning of 20th century to
around the beginning of 20th century to the end what’s it look like looks like
the end what’s it look like looks like
the end what’s it look like looks like that really really high levels around
that really really high levels around
that really really high levels around 1929 really really really high levels
1929 really really really high levels
1929 really really really high levels now in fact higher there was a moment I
now in fact higher there was a moment I
now in fact higher there was a moment I think we’re is actually higher than 1929
think we’re is actually higher than 1929
think we’re is actually higher than 1929 what’s important about that 929 moment
what’s important about that 929 moment
what’s important about that 929 moment what happens in 1929 the Great
what happens in 1929 the Great
what happens in 1929 the Great Depression Great Depression what happens
Depression Great Depression what happens
Depression Great Depression what happens after you’ve got this dip that goes from
after you’ve got this dip that goes from
after you’ve got this dip that goes from what the 30s or so till about 4 maybe to
what the 30s or so till about 4 maybe to
what the 30s or so till about 4 maybe to mid to late 70s what is it that causes
mid to late 70s what is it that causes
mid to late 70s what is it that causes the level of inequality to actually
the level of inequality to actually
the level of inequality to actually decrease politics right politics what
decrease politics right politics what
decrease politics right politics what we’ve got is a number of activists
we’ve got is a number of activists
we’ve got is a number of activists leftist communist anarchists union
leftist communist anarchists union
leftist communist anarchists union workers who put so much pressure on the
workers who put so much pressure on the
workers who put so much pressure on the federal government that the federal
federal government that the federal
federal government that the federal government actually creates a new deal
government actually creates a new deal
government actually creates a new deal with its citizens right and there are
with its citizens right and there are
with its citizens right and there are four sets of broad policies or are broad
four sets of broad policies or are broad
four sets of broad policies or are broad ideas that are embedded into that New
ideas that are embedded into that New
ideas that are embedded into that New Deal first is like old age insurance
Deal first is like old age insurance
Deal first is like old age insurance what we now know is Social Security the
what we now know is Social Security the
what we now know is Social Security the second are a series of protections that
second are a series of protections that
second are a series of protections that allow labor to organize third is
allow labor to organize third is
allow labor to organize third is unemployment insurance and then the
unemployment insurance and then the
unemployment insurance and then the fourth is welfare and then with the
fourth is welfare and then with the
fourth is welfare and then with the Great Society programs the 60s you got
Great Society programs the 60s you got
Great Society programs the 60s you got medical insurance and then you’ve got a
medical insurance and then you’ve got a
medical insurance and then you’ve got a range of civil rights protections that’s
range of civil rights protections that’s
range of civil rights protections that’s what ends up creating a condition where
what ends up creating a condition where
what ends up creating a condition where you’ve got really really high a really
you’ve got really really high a really
you’ve got really really high a really really low levels in that middle period
really low levels in that middle period
really low levels in that middle period what happens to make incra to make any
what happens to make incra to make any
what happens to make incra to make any quality actually go up what you’ve got
quality actually go up what you’ve got
quality actually go up what you’ve got is actually the appearance of two
is actually the appearance of two
is actually the appearance of two economic phenomenon that are very very
economic phenomenon that are very very
economic phenomenon that are very very rarely supposed to happen at the same
rarely supposed to happen at the same
rarely supposed to happen at the same time one is high levels of inflation two
time one is high levels of inflation two
time one is high levels of inflation two is high level
is high level
is high level of unemployment now why they not usually
of unemployment now why they not usually
of unemployment now why they not usually supposed to happen at the same time
supposed to happen at the same time
supposed to happen at the same time because usually the price of goods
because usually the price of goods
because usually the price of goods raised when you got so much people so
raised when you got so much people so
raised when you got so much people so many people with so much loot that they
many people with so much loot that they
many people with so much loot that they just throw in the loot at the goods and
just throw in the loot at the goods and
just throw in the loot at the goods and then the prices raise right but we
then the prices raise right but we
then the prices raise right but we actually don’t see that in this moment
actually don’t see that in this moment
actually don’t see that in this moment it actually generates an ideational
it actually generates an ideational
it actually generates an ideational crisis it was a material crisis but it
crisis it was a material crisis but it
crisis it was a material crisis but it was also an ideational crisis in that
was also an ideational crisis in that
was also an ideational crisis in that the economic ideas that people used to
the economic ideas that people used to
the economic ideas that people used to you this used to solve the economy
you this used to solve the economy
you this used to solve the economy revealed themselves to be broken so this
revealed themselves to be broken so this
revealed themselves to be broken so this is the story I tell about this all the
is the story I tell about this all the
is the story I tell about this all the time I had a friend in st. Louis went
time I had a friend in st. Louis went
time I had a friend in st. Louis went out one day she actually called me she
out one day she actually called me she
out one day she actually called me she was like yo I fallen I fell in the UH
was like yo I fallen I fell in the UH
was like yo I fallen I fell in the UH in the bathroom I hit my head against
in the bathroom I hit my head against
in the bathroom I hit my head against the toilet and I end up losing like 3-4
the toilet and I end up losing like 3-4
the toilet and I end up losing like 3-4 minutes right I like passed out for 3-4
minutes right I like passed out for 3-4
minutes right I like passed out for 3-4 minutes should I go to the hospital I
minutes should I go to the hospital I
minutes should I go to the hospital I was like um yeah she was like well I
was like um yeah she was like well I
was like um yeah she was like well I don’t know I don’t think I’m hurt I said
don’t know I don’t think I’m hurt I said
don’t know I don’t think I’m hurt I said what the thing is is you broke the thing
what the thing is is you broke the thing
what the thing is is you broke the thing you usually use to think whether you’re
right so in this moment it was like
right so in this moment it was like economic theory itself is broken right
economic theory itself is broken right
economic theory itself is broken right so in that gap came a series of ideas
so in that gap came a series of ideas
so in that gap came a series of ideas that we associate with the neoliberal
that we associate with the neoliberal
that we associate with the neoliberal turn a new set of economic arrangements
turn a new set of economic arrangements
turn a new set of economic arrangements between government our capital and labor
between government our capital and labor
between government our capital and labor so what does it do what are the policies
so what does it do what are the policies
so what does it do what are the policies associated with it with the neoliberal
associated with it with the neoliberal
associated with it with the neoliberal turn first is a significant reduction of
turn first is a significant reduction of
turn first is a significant reduction of Labor’s ability to organize second is a
Labor’s ability to organize second is a
Labor’s ability to organize second is a significant increase in capitals ability
significant increase in capitals ability
significant increase in capitals ability to move across borders within the United
to move across borders within the United
to move across borders within the United States increasingly outside the United
States increasingly outside the United
States increasingly outside the United States
States
States third a significant reduction in the
third a significant reduction in the
third a significant reduction in the government’s ability to actually collect
government’s ability to actually collect
government’s ability to actually collect taxes and then fourth a significant
taxes and then fourth a significant
taxes and then fourth a significant reduction in the change in the nature of
reduction in the change in the nature of
reduction in the change in the nature of the what we think of as the welfare
the what we think of as the welfare
the what we think of as the welfare state so what we looked at is we’ve got
state so what we looked at is we’ve got
state so what we looked at is we’ve got significant increases on productivity
significant increases on productivity
significant increases on productivity but wages flat line right in part
but wages flat line right in part
but wages flat line right in part because unions no longer have the
because unions no longer have the
because unions no longer have the strength they do labor didn’t have the
strength they do labor didn’t have the
strength they do labor didn’t have the our it does right so here’s one way to
our it does right so here’s one way to
our it does right so here’s one way to think about this how this really really
think about this how this really really
think about this how this really really works I’m a professor so 30 years ago if
works I’m a professor so 30 years ago if
works I’m a professor so 30 years ago if somebody wanted to get in touch with
somebody wanted to get in touch with
somebody wanted to get in touch with their professor what would they do
their professor what would they do
their professor what would they do they’d either use a real phone or they
they’d either use a real phone or they
they’d either use a real phone or they would go to office hours right and what
would go to office hours right and what
would go to office hours right and what that will mean theoretically is that the
that will mean theoretically is that the
that will mean theoretically is that the professor would be available maybe till
professor would be available maybe till
professor would be available maybe till about 5:00 o’clock p.m. and then once
about 5:00 o’clock p.m. and then once
about 5:00 o’clock p.m. and then once the professor went home when with the
the professor went home when with the
the professor went home when with the professor be available again the next
professor be available again the next
professor be available again the next day it doesn’t really work like that no
day it doesn’t really work like that no
day it doesn’t really work like that no more right there’s some students in the
more right there’s some students in the
more right there’s some students in the audience you email your professor at
audience you email your professor at
audience you email your professor at 7:00 p.m. when are you expecting that
7:00 p.m. when are you expecting that
7:00 p.m. when are you expecting that response you tweet your professor when
response you tweet your professor when
response you tweet your professor when you expecting the tweet back right like
you expecting the tweet back right like
you expecting the tweet back right like immediately right but we’re getting paid
immediately right but we’re getting paid
immediately right but we’re getting paid what about the same
what about the same
what about the same now you can repeat that for every field
now you can repeat that for every field
now you can repeat that for every field of endeavor where you’re actually doing
of endeavor where you’re actually doing
of endeavor where you’re actually doing corrupt you ask to do more and more and
corrupt you ask to do more and more and
corrupt you ask to do more and more and more and we’re paid less and less in
more and we’re paid less and less in
more and we’re paid less and less in life you and your membership right now
life you and your membership right now
life you and your membership right now it’s important look around the time that
it’s important look around the time that
it’s important look around the time that a union membership actually drops it
a union membership actually drops it
a union membership actually drops it starts to drop around the time that
starts to drop around the time that
starts to drop around the time that inequality increases right welfare
inequality increases right welfare
inequality increases right welfare benefits again look you see that if you
benefits again look you see that if you
benefits again look you see that if you see it takes on a negative slope
see it takes on a negative slope
see it takes on a negative slope around the time inequality increases
around the time inequality increases
around the time inequality increases incarceration rates yeah it ain’t no
incarceration rates yeah it ain’t no
incarceration rates yeah it ain’t no joke and it’s actually interesting
joke and it’s actually interesting
joke and it’s actually interesting because we’re having this big
because we’re having this big
because we’re having this big conversation now about incarceration
conversation now about incarceration
conversation now about incarceration though although we haven’t had a
though although we haven’t had a
though although we haven’t had a significant uptick in federal prisoners
significant uptick in federal prisoners
significant uptick in federal prisoners most of this is actually in state
most of this is actually in state
most of this is actually in state prisons not in federal prisons right and
prisons not in federal prisons right and
prisons not in federal prisons right and again the uptick actually happens when
again the uptick actually happens when
again the uptick actually happens when inequality increases now how does this
inequality increases now how does this
inequality increases now how does this affect cities cities are actually
affect cities cities are actually
affect cities cities are actually constrained in a couple of different
constrained in a couple of different
constrained in a couple of different ways as a result of the neoliberal turn
ways as a result of the neoliberal turn
ways as a result of the neoliberal turn cities can no longer collect the revenue
cities can no longer collect the revenue
cities can no longer collect the revenue through taxes they can no longer get the
through taxes they can no longer get the
through taxes they can no longer get the support from either state government or
support from either state government or
support from either state government or federal
federal
federal that it wants you used to be able to and
that it wants you used to be able to and
that it wants you used to be able to and and they’re incentivize to do more and
and they’re incentivize to do more and
and they’re incentivize to do more and more and more to attract downtown
more and more to attract downtown
more and more to attract downtown investment right so with that’s the
investment right so with that’s the
investment right so with that’s the Inner Harbor in my and where I live in
Inner Harbor in my and where I live in
Inner Harbor in my and where I live in Baltimore in Detroit my hometown shout
Baltimore in Detroit my hometown shout
Baltimore in Detroit my hometown shout out to the three one three they’re
out to the three one three they’re
out to the three one three they’re building a new red wing stadium for the
building a new red wing stadium for the
building a new red wing stadium for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings I think Detroit taxpayers are paying the
I think Detroit taxpayers are paying the
I think Detroit taxpayers are paying the bulk of that bill I think the bill is
bulk of that bill I think the bill is
bulk of that bill I think the bill is like six hundred million dollars I think
like six hundred million dollars I think
like six hundred million dollars I think Detroit Pax taxpayers are on the hook
Detroit Pax taxpayers are on the hook
Detroit Pax taxpayers are on the hook for what four hundred million of it
for what four hundred million of it
for what four hundred million of it right a few years ago what more than ten
right a few years ago what more than ten
right a few years ago what more than ten fifteen years ago
fifteen years ago
fifteen years ago they built a new stadium for the Detroit
they built a new stadium for the Detroit
they built a new stadium for the Detroit Lions
Lions
Lions um they built a new stadium for the
um they built a new stadium for the
um they built a new stadium for the Detroit Tigers in both cases taxpayers
Detroit Tigers in both cases taxpayers
Detroit Tigers in both cases taxpayers end up fitting the bill footing the bill
end up fitting the bill footing the bill
end up fitting the bill footing the bill so the city ends up becoming this huge
so the city ends up becoming this huge
so the city ends up becoming this huge engine and you’ve got this large sucking
engine and you’ve got this large sucking
engine and you’ve got this large sucking sound well what revenue the city has is
sound well what revenue the city has is
sound well what revenue the city has is going actual to high-income earners and
going actual to high-income earners and
going actual to high-income earners and going to corporations right what this
going to corporations right what this
going to corporations right what this ends up doing is significantly
ends up doing is significantly
ends up doing is significantly increasing the gap between the haves and
increasing the gap between the haves and
increasing the gap between the haves and have-nots and the have-nots are really
have-nots and the have-nots are really
have-nots and the have-nots are really really really suffering because that
really really suffering because that
really really suffering because that that base isn’t there anymore right that
that base isn’t there anymore right that
that base isn’t there anymore right that that that safety net that used to be
that that safety net that used to be
that that safety net that used to be there is no longer there the federal
there is no longer there the federal
there is no longer there the federal government doesn’t have the resources
government doesn’t have the resources
government doesn’t have the resources that once did and then cities don’t have
that once did and then cities don’t have
that once did and then cities don’t have the resources they once did
the resources they once did
the resources they once did and in fact even now a set of ideas
and in fact even now a set of ideas
and in fact even now a set of ideas embedded in society where we don’t even
embedded in society where we don’t even
embedded in society where we don’t even think we’re supposed to write we think
think we’re supposed to write we think
think we’re supposed to write we think somebody like this they actually deserve
somebody like this they actually deserve
somebody like this they actually deserve their fate right but the other thing
their fate right but the other thing
their fate right but the other thing that happens is you see cities
that happens is you see cities
that happens is you see cities increasingly use police for two purposes
increasingly use police for two purposes
increasingly use police for two purposes one purpose is revenue generation the
one purpose is revenue generation the
one purpose is revenue generation the second purpose is social control revenue
second purpose is social control revenue
second purpose is social control revenue generation I’m going to talk more about
generation I’m going to talk more about
generation I’m going to talk more about Baltimore in a second but I’m going to
Baltimore in a second but I’m going to
Baltimore in a second but I’m going to touch quickly on Ferguson revenue
touch quickly on Ferguson revenue
touch quickly on Ferguson revenue generation as a result of what happened
generation as a result of what happened
generation as a result of what happened to Michael grant Brown we we are all
to Michael grant Brown we we are all
to Michael grant Brown we we are all eyes turned towards Ferguson Ferguson
eyes turned towards Ferguson Ferguson
eyes turned towards Ferguson Ferguson gets 21 percent of his municipal revenue
gets 21 percent of his municipal revenue
gets 21 percent of his municipal revenue from policing third-highest sort of a
from policing third-highest sort of a
from policing third-highest sort of a source of revenue generation
source of revenue generation
source of revenue generation city after city or small city after
city after city or small city after
city after city or small city after small city after small city are using
small city after small city are using
small city after small city are using police to get revenue the other thing is
police to get revenue the other thing is
police to get revenue the other thing is as an agent of social control how does
as an agent of social control how does
as an agent of social control how does this play out in Baltimore 1990 or so
this play out in Baltimore 1990 or so
this play out in Baltimore 1990 or so police of the city of Baltimore spends
police of the city of Baltimore spends
police of the city of Baltimore spends approximately hundred forty five million
approximately hundred forty five million
approximately hundred forty five million dollars on police as of last year or
dollars on police as of last year or
dollars on police as of last year or maybe even this year four hundred and
maybe even this year four hundred and
maybe even this year four hundred and seventy five million dollars on police
37 million around 1990 in parks and recs
37 million around 1990 in parks and recs 37 million now spending on police has
37 million now spending on police has
37 million now spending on police has increased 300% if we looked at a nation
increased 300% if we looked at a nation
increased 300% if we looked at a nation let’s say the United States one out of
let’s say the United States one out of
let’s say the United States one out of every four federal government employees
every four federal government employees
every four federal government employees was an agent in the military we would
was an agent in the military we would
was an agent in the military we would think we lived in a police state what’s
think we lived in a police state what’s
think we lived in a police state what’s happening in cities like Baltimore is
happening in cities like Baltimore is
happening in cities like Baltimore is increasingly they’re basically police
increasingly they’re basically police
increasingly they’re basically police cities I actually study black politics
cities I actually study black politics
cities I actually study black politics one of the questions is what difference
one of the questions is what difference
one of the questions is what difference does having a black mayor as you can see
does having a black mayor as you can see
does having a black mayor as you can see there actually isn’t that big a
there actually isn’t that big a
there actually isn’t that big a difference when whether it’s O’Malley or
difference when whether it’s O’Malley or
difference when whether it’s O’Malley or a Schmoke or a Dixon or rawlings-blake
a Schmoke or a Dixon or rawlings-blake
a Schmoke or a Dixon or rawlings-blake hood you see a significant increase
hood you see a significant increase
hood you see a significant increase right under all types of mayoral regimes
right under all types of mayoral regimes
right under all types of mayoral regimes now what causes this now the thing is
now what causes this now the thing is
now what causes this now the thing is it’s possible that the rise in police
it’s possible that the rise in police
it’s possible that the rise in police spending could be a function of
spending could be a function of
spending could be a function of population increase who populations
population increase who populations
population increase who populations going in the wrong direction right we
going in the wrong direction right we
going in the wrong direction right we see a population decrease along with the
see a population decrease along with the
see a population decrease along with the significant rise right it could be that
significant rise right it could be that
significant rise right it could be that it’s a partial function of violent crime
it’s a partial function of violent crime
it’s a partial function of violent crime but it actually violent crime now it
but it actually violent crime now it
but it actually violent crime now it could be because violent crime is going
could be because violent crime is going
could be because violent crime is going down as police spending is going up but
down as police spending is going up but
down as police spending is going up but it seems to me that the rate of increase
it seems to me that the rate of increase
it seems to me that the rate of increase in police spending is actually far
in police spending is actually far
in police spending is actually far greater than the rate of decrease in
greater than the rate of decrease in
greater than the rate of decrease in violent crime it actually looks like
violent crime it actually looks like
violent crime it actually looks like there’s something else going on now why
there’s something else going on now why
there’s something else going on now why do I talk about this or an end with a
do I talk about this or an end with a
do I talk about this or an end with a video camera one of the things that’s
video camera one of the things that’s
video camera one of the things that’s really interesting about
really interesting about
really interesting about as far as Ted’s political line right is
as far as Ted’s political line right is
as far as Ted’s political line right is that the the political line of Ted um in
that the the political line of Ted um in
that the the political line of Ted um in general is that if you bring technology
general is that if you bring technology
general is that if you bring technology and design together we can make the
and design together we can make the
and design together we can make the world a better place
world a better place
world a better place and we see this conversation happening
and we see this conversation happening
and we see this conversation happening with policing right like if we give
with policing right like if we give
with policing right like if we give police cameras then they will actually
police cameras then they will actually
police cameras then they will actually act better and there’s actually
act better and there’s actually
act better and there’s actually something to this there’s actually
something to this there’s actually
something to this there’s actually something to this research I think
something to this research I think
something to this research I think clearly shows that video cameras
clearly shows that video cameras
clearly shows that video cameras actually make police act right but what
actually make police act right but what
actually make police act right but what I’d actually argue is that we don’t have
I’d actually argue is that we don’t have
I’d actually argue is that we don’t have a technical design problem we actually
a technical design problem we actually
a technical design problem we actually have a political design problem as a
have a political design problem as a
have a political design problem as a result of transformations and political
result of transformations and political
result of transformations and political institutions that start in the 70s
institutions that start in the 70s
institutions that start in the 70s police actually fulfill a very different
police actually fulfill a very different
police actually fulfill a very different function and until we actually engage in
function and until we actually engage in
function and until we actually engage in political battle about the function of
political battle about the function of
political battle about the function of the police about what we can do to give
the police about what we can do to give
the police about what we can do to give to place the police under Democratic
to place the police under Democratic
to place the police under Democratic control we’re going to have far more
control we’re going to have far more
control we’re going to have far more Michael Browns
Michael Browns
Michael Browns farmer air Garner’s far more Freddie
farmer air Garner’s far more Freddie
farmer air Garner’s far more Freddie Gray’s and on that note I’m out
Gray’s and on that note I’m out
Gray’s and on that note I’m out [Applause]
”
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