Podcast Summary: Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Episode: Green Party vs 2-Party Monopoly

Date: March 3, 2022

Overview

This episode of Economic Update, hosted by Richard D. Wolff, centers on examining barriers to multiparty democracy in the United States, particularly the obstacles faced by the Green Party in New York and nationwide. Professor Wolff is joined by Green Party officials Gloria Matera and Michael O’Neill to discuss the increasing difficulty for third parties to challenge the entrenched two-party system, the political motivations behind legislative changes, and the broader critique of U.S. political and economic structures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Economic Updates & Critique of Existing Systems

• Selling Visas for Cash (UK Example):
  • Wolff opens by criticizing the practice of wealthy individuals buying residency in the UK, exposing the superficiality of supposed “values” when money is involved.

    "All is thrust aside for the real item, money." — Richard D. Wolff ([02:03])

• Nonprofit Institutions and Tax Loopholes:
  • The misapplication of the “nonprofit” label to wealthy universities and hospitals is critiqued; such entities accumulate profits that are moved to endowments and are essentially untaxed.

    "Nonprofit hospitals, nonprofit universities... that sounds and looks a lot better than what they've got going, which is tax holiday forever." ([05:47])

• Executive Pay Inequality at Apple:
  • Tim Cook’s $99 million pay in 2021 is highlighted as emblematic of economic inequality, especially during the pandemic, in contrast to underpaid workers.

    "2 million bucks a week last year... 1,447 times the average pay of, of an Apple employee. Wow." ([07:35])

• Criminalizing Poverty (NYPD Example):
  • Wolff spotlights the arrest of 23 people for stealing basic childcare necessities, arguing this reveals irrational priorities and systemic failures.

    "We're punishing innocent children... it's more expensive if they're homeless for the city than it would be to do something about the conditions that bring all this about." ([12:27])

2. Two-Party Monopoly & Green Party Barriers in New York

Ballot Access Repression (New York Case Study):

• Summary of Legislative Changes (Gloria Matera):
  • Ballot threshold for maintaining party status increased from 50,000 to 130,000 votes, and signature requirements tripled.
  • These changes were implemented as part of the budget during the COVID crisis, bypassing judicial opposition.

    "Governor Cuomo and the state legislator put those ballot access changes right back into the 2021 fiscal year state budget and basically leaving alternative political parties in New York State under some of the most draconian ballot access laws in the country..." — Gloria Matera ([17:23] – [18:07])

Circumventing Checks & Balances:

• When a court ruled the changes unconstitutional, the governor inserted them into the budget to enforce his will.

  "The governor just said, I'm going to put this election law change into the budget of 2021... the state legislator voted for that budget... they were completely aware of this change, this really terrible rule..." — Gloria Matera ([18:24])

The Two-Party Monopoly Defined (Michael O’Neill):

• Systemic Exclusion:
  • Both major parties collaborate to shut out third parties, especially when the latter gain traction.
  • Many districts are effectively “single-party” because of districting and party strategies.

    "It's not just reasonable. It's obvious to say that the Democrats and Republicans operate a two party monopoly cartel." — Michael O’Neill ([19:57]) "Many times when a Green Party candidate runs for office, they're the second candidate in the race. They're not the so-called third party." ([21:08])

Why Do Americans Tolerate It?

• Politics of Fear & Media Compliance:
  • Persistent messaging by corporate media and politicians convinces voters there are no alternatives, reinforcing the duopoly.

    "It's the politics of fear, plain and simple. Our political culture rests on the pillars of the corporate media and corporate politicians..." — Gloria Matera ([21:44])

3. Green Party Identity & Program

Ideological Positioning:

• Broad Left Platform (Gloria Matera):
  • Green Party stands for ecology, peace, direct democracy, and economic/social justice—officially adopting an "ecosocialist" plank in 2016.

    "We understand that the capitalist system oppresses workers and communities while destroying the planet. That's why the Green Party stands equally on their four pillars... ecology, peace, direct democracy, and economic and social justice." ([24:05])

• Policy Initiatives:
  • Advocates for the Green New Deal, worker co-ops, solidarity economy, and public banks as alternatives to capitalism.

    "One example... Greens in office can fight to remove legal and other bureaucratic impediments to having worker co ops incorporated..." ([24:53])

4. The ‘Spoiler’ Argument & Voting Strategy

Countering the Spoiler Accusation:

• Democratic & Media Complicity:
  • O’Neill refutes the spoiler narrative, arguing Democrats’ failures and media complicity empowered Trump; suppression of alternative parties perpetuates crises.

    "Hillary Clinton and the corporate media enabled Donald Trump to win the presidency far more effectively than any Green Party candidate or voter ever could." — Michael O’Neill ([26:17]) "While the Democrats use the politics of fear and the threat of the spoiler to hold their voters hostage, they're actually setting the conditions for the next Trump or whoever comes after Trump, who's even worse." ([26:48])

• Electoral Reform:
  • Calls for proportional representation and electoral changes to make democracy more representative and inclusive.

    "If you look at reforms like proportional representation, they increase representation for historically marginalized communities..." ([28:05])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S. Political System:

  • "You don't have freedom of choice if you have only two parties, especially when they look as similar as most of the time in most of the places they do." — Richard D. Wolff ([19:13])

• The Importance of Electoral Reform:

  • "If we want to see systemic transformations like Medicare for all or housing as a human right... then we have to dismantle this two party cartel." — Michael O’Neill ([27:17])

• Green Party’s Broader Mission:

  • "We reject the current capitalist system. Instead, we advocate for a system based on large scale green public works municipalization and worker and community democracy." — Gloria Matera ([24:29])

Important Timestamps

• [00:10 – 15:35]: Economic updates and critiques of economic inequality, tax avoidance by “nonprofits,” Apple CEO’s pay, and the criminalization of poverty.
• [16:27]: Introduction of Green Party guests and discussion of New York’s ballot access crackdown.
• [19:57]: O’Neill on the two-party monopoly and functionally single-party districts.
• [21:44]: Matera on the politics of fear and lack of media coverage for alternatives.
• [24:05]: Green Party’s ideological basis and platform.
• [26:17]: O’Neill addresses the spoiler argument and calls for systemic change.
• [28:24]: Closing statements, call to learn more about the Green Party.

Conclusion

This episode exposes the mechanisms by which the two-party system in the U.S. is maintained and guarded against competition, using recent developments in New York as a case study. Wolff and his guests sharply criticize both structural barriers and the culture of fear that keeps voters within the two-party fold, while advocating for electoral reforms and broader social change embodied by the Green Party’s ecosocialist agenda.

To learn more or get involved: gpny.org