I like hearing talk of alternatives to capitalism. The fact that it is considered acceptable to have houses sitting empty while so many need homes is ridiculous.
Fantastic program. Thanks. In our settler colonial society the school district entrenches displacement and gentrification within the fossil fueled landuse pattern that leads to the New Jim Crow by brainwashing us to consumption. Just look at what high school students are driving now that many people are living in cars or buses like Rob. It's why we organize to fight Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela for refusing the manufactured landscape we impose on Haiti and Gaza. Rob's spot on with "The Market doesn't solve needs... Gentrification leads to displacement, which leads to homelessness, which leads to criminalization.” I will note to be incredibly surprised by not seeing homelessness in Tokyo because the greater Tokyo area has a population equal to the State of California which made me rethink the problem.
100%. I don't get on the subway as much as I used to, but I did today and noticed how many people had clearly inadequate coats for the cold. We live in such an unnecessarily cruel world. We need to push for a "housing first" policy here in NYC, where it's impossible not to see the profound need and despair. Of course, that's just the start.
What a great chat. Rob’s humanity is just wonderful. Thank you for putting it together.
I just see so many parallels - for example with the food situation in the world. Gates and the elite classes crowing that it’s because there isn’t enough food and we need to increase production, usually non indigenous staples like maize etc, whereas local farmers say that’s not the issue, it’s access and food security and horrific practices around “IP” of seeds etc. we actually world wide produce more than enough to feed everyone - nearly 50% of the food produced in the states is thrown out!! Same thing with housing, same thing with wealth etc.
so as you both point out, the system creates these situations. And we, collectively, across generations have created this system. Which has now created a loop, wherein the system indoctrinates, and this indoctrination furthers the system, which furthers the indoctrination. And yes, there is always hope in younger generations - but the system adapts and repackages youth movements and corals them back into itself.
Look at how the counter culture of the 60s panned out - something explored beautifully in the latter parts of Adam Curtis’ The Century of The Self. Look at how quickly the system has just ditched what i think was mainly lip-service to inclusivity. Fashion is rollicking back to skinny only, people are cheering on the scapegoating of these ideals etc etc.
So for me, there’s a fundamental thing here at play and that is our own relationship with our thought processes. There’s a need for us to elevate our connected, collective spirit, our empathy based on a realisation that we’re all one thing, experiencing itself subjectively, and consequently surrender our thoughts to live alongside that clearly observable reality, instead of our thoughts simply dominating and suppressing that reality, which is where we find ourselves now.
" but the system adapts and repackages youth movements and corals them back into itself" - so true. This is the incredible flexibility of capitalism. I also think you're 100% correct to point out that our identities hold the system in place... And "empathy based on a realisation that we’re all one thing" needs to become a shared ideal. Unfortunately, I also agree with you that our political culture reproduces the same dynamics we are trying to fight. A big reason for this is something we've chatted about before: the pain of all of our various oppressions. We need a new shared political culture that makes compassion and empathy primary. I think this is happening and more and more people are starting to have this insight. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch/listen to the interview!
Yeah, i can definitely see that in action. And despite it all, and despite the days where the darkness wraps itself around me, i do remain optimistic that eventually we will steer the ship around. I like to think of how unprecedented it is that you and I - two people from rather different parts of the system, can have this chat in close to real time. And how people like rob can reach so many. That surely must create something that is at least a step in the right direction? Of course the same technology etc will be abused by the system to do what it always does, but i have a strong sense that its days or numbered. I doubt i’ll live to see it reach fruition, but the cracks are surely going to get bigger in my lifetime.
"Homelessness is due to one thing: a system that prioritizes profit over human life." Bravo, Pamela, for this excellent and thoughtful interview with Rob Robinson, and for the many insights into the nature and history of homelessness in this country. It is, indeed, a social problem and not an "individual failure" issue. Just another symptom of greedy, heartless, extractive capitalism. Thank you!
And for me homelessness is one of the most important problems to solve and fights on the table. As things continue to slide, "housing first" may become one of the most important stopgaps we can have.
so looking forward to checking this out over the weekend :) It's another one of those topics that I find a lot of investigative journalists deal with in such an inhumane manner. And knowing your work a little, I'm highly confident this will be a much more humane conversation.
Such a great interview! Thanks.
So glad you enjoyed it!
I like hearing talk of alternatives to capitalism. The fact that it is considered acceptable to have houses sitting empty while so many need homes is ridiculous.
Fantastic program. Thanks. In our settler colonial society the school district entrenches displacement and gentrification within the fossil fueled landuse pattern that leads to the New Jim Crow by brainwashing us to consumption. Just look at what high school students are driving now that many people are living in cars or buses like Rob. It's why we organize to fight Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela for refusing the manufactured landscape we impose on Haiti and Gaza. Rob's spot on with "The Market doesn't solve needs... Gentrification leads to displacement, which leads to homelessness, which leads to criminalization.” I will note to be incredibly surprised by not seeing homelessness in Tokyo because the greater Tokyo area has a population equal to the State of California which made me rethink the problem.
100%. I don't get on the subway as much as I used to, but I did today and noticed how many people had clearly inadequate coats for the cold. We live in such an unnecessarily cruel world. We need to push for a "housing first" policy here in NYC, where it's impossible not to see the profound need and despair. Of course, that's just the start.
What a great chat. Rob’s humanity is just wonderful. Thank you for putting it together.
I just see so many parallels - for example with the food situation in the world. Gates and the elite classes crowing that it’s because there isn’t enough food and we need to increase production, usually non indigenous staples like maize etc, whereas local farmers say that’s not the issue, it’s access and food security and horrific practices around “IP” of seeds etc. we actually world wide produce more than enough to feed everyone - nearly 50% of the food produced in the states is thrown out!! Same thing with housing, same thing with wealth etc.
so as you both point out, the system creates these situations. And we, collectively, across generations have created this system. Which has now created a loop, wherein the system indoctrinates, and this indoctrination furthers the system, which furthers the indoctrination. And yes, there is always hope in younger generations - but the system adapts and repackages youth movements and corals them back into itself.
Look at how the counter culture of the 60s panned out - something explored beautifully in the latter parts of Adam Curtis’ The Century of The Self. Look at how quickly the system has just ditched what i think was mainly lip-service to inclusivity. Fashion is rollicking back to skinny only, people are cheering on the scapegoating of these ideals etc etc.
So for me, there’s a fundamental thing here at play and that is our own relationship with our thought processes. There’s a need for us to elevate our connected, collective spirit, our empathy based on a realisation that we’re all one thing, experiencing itself subjectively, and consequently surrender our thoughts to live alongside that clearly observable reality, instead of our thoughts simply dominating and suppressing that reality, which is where we find ourselves now.
" but the system adapts and repackages youth movements and corals them back into itself" - so true. This is the incredible flexibility of capitalism. I also think you're 100% correct to point out that our identities hold the system in place... And "empathy based on a realisation that we’re all one thing" needs to become a shared ideal. Unfortunately, I also agree with you that our political culture reproduces the same dynamics we are trying to fight. A big reason for this is something we've chatted about before: the pain of all of our various oppressions. We need a new shared political culture that makes compassion and empathy primary. I think this is happening and more and more people are starting to have this insight. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch/listen to the interview!
Yeah, i can definitely see that in action. And despite it all, and despite the days where the darkness wraps itself around me, i do remain optimistic that eventually we will steer the ship around. I like to think of how unprecedented it is that you and I - two people from rather different parts of the system, can have this chat in close to real time. And how people like rob can reach so many. That surely must create something that is at least a step in the right direction? Of course the same technology etc will be abused by the system to do what it always does, but i have a strong sense that its days or numbered. I doubt i’ll live to see it reach fruition, but the cracks are surely going to get bigger in my lifetime.
100%. The cracks are getting bigger and we are exposing more and more contradictions.
"Homelessness is due to one thing: a system that prioritizes profit over human life." Bravo, Pamela, for this excellent and thoughtful interview with Rob Robinson, and for the many insights into the nature and history of homelessness in this country. It is, indeed, a social problem and not an "individual failure" issue. Just another symptom of greedy, heartless, extractive capitalism. Thank you!
And for me homelessness is one of the most important problems to solve and fights on the table. As things continue to slide, "housing first" may become one of the most important stopgaps we can have.
so looking forward to checking this out over the weekend :) It's another one of those topics that I find a lot of investigative journalists deal with in such an inhumane manner. And knowing your work a little, I'm highly confident this will be a much more humane conversation.
I'll comment back when I've watched it.
Thanks, as always!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it! Looking forward to your feedback.