Summary The war could be over in an instant. There is a lack of political will in the US - YouTube (Youtube) www.youtube.com
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Boyan Barricades. My name is B, and I'm 1 of the c hosts of this show. The other c host Doctor. Maria much!This currently vacation. So I'll be here alone or actually not exactly alone because recently I had the honor of interviewing too.
Boyan Prominent Peace activists, medi Benjamin, founder of Code, women against war. An author of a recently published book on the war in Ukraine. And and wright for a U. State Department official who resigned in protest against the war in Iraq. What struck me most during this long conversation was I think the the emotion, the passion and the seriousness of commitment both Have for opposing Us.
Boyan Imperial and advocating for peace and understanding and diplomacy. And now for the interview it's divided into 3 parts, each of which is equally interested.
n/a Because the political compass is obviously broken I mean, you who's on the left goes on the right, you know, the left does what the right is to do and the other way ran, It's very strange. Do you think that there's... An option despite the difficulties. There's there's actually a viable prospect for creating a movement at grassroots based movement because there... The difference don't matter so much anymore, Right?
n/a Or maybe they do, but we don't see that. Like, that's that that's how I see things. I mean, there is this... Small optimistic element that, you know, regardless of whether you're on you're a patriot or an internationally regardless of what you think about your gay marriage or something like that you can still be against work together to the extent the least up
Medea this Well you to be against some wars.
n/a That seems
Medea like greg or worse? But I'll just mention the media. I mean, the media has such a huge part to play in this. And the Us media and I think the European media has just been Gun h for war. Gun before.
Medea To the extent that we've had to buy ads and newspapers to get our point of view across. We bought a old page ad in the New York Times that had the listing. It was quite a remarkable document of the history of all
n/a of this with... It's quite remarkable but she dollars... Because she paid 80000 dollars.
n/a If I paid thousand today is sports 80 hours. Well, done. Alright.
n/a And they're difference. Yeah.
Medea And the Mill magazine, which is... Is given out to all the congressional offices, another ad that we had to buy to get in there because the voices you challenging the war are not being heard at all. You can't even get Mean Mad who's written a book about it, who's, you know, the long, long history of anti war stuff that usually, you know, people want to get her version of whatever it is, but Mean, you're not getting any.
n/a No. And we're what we're also doing is buying ads in Catholic newspapers in other religious newspapers. Because... Without prosecutors for that?
n/a Because learned if I even attempt to do that. I I will be in trouble.
n/a Capitalism is stronger in the Us than here.
n/a Yeah. Obviously, Well, yeah. No. No. Obviously, it is because when you look at Germany, for example, which is deemed industrial itself right now, I was thinking that the...
n/a German industrial they would prevail over this madness. But no.
n/a Right. I think fancy.
n/a Like the ideology can really do a log of magic. Yeah.
n/a But I do think that different sides can come together just for on this 1 issue. But I also think that during this election season, we're gonna have a lot more chances to build this movement because you see on the Democratic side, Robert F Kennedy who is running as a democrat. And has come out with a great analysis of Ukraine. I mean, he even did an interview that other today with Jeffrey Sacks. Yeah.
n/a So, you know, he's coming out strong on this. And he's got 20 percent of the Democrats at a time when the media is saying he's a crank. He's a nut case don't pay any attention to him. That people are perk up and saying, oh, this guy's interesting. You know, he's smart.
n/a He has interesting things to say. So that gives a big voice to this anti war sentiment. And then there is also on the... More to the left, is Cornell West, who is a theologian, a black activist who's been involved in all kinds of wonderful peace and and justice movements for his whole life. He's is now trying to get the nomination for the green party.
n/a And he has a terrific analysis on Ukraine and war militaries in general and he'll start to get more and more of a a voice. And then on the republican side, you get Trump. Mh. And you're going to get a lot of differences among the candidates in the Republican side. And that will help bring out more discussion as well.
n/a So this is an opportunity for us to really reach. New audiences and build up this sentiment. Now, I don't say that these are people are gonna come out on street. I don't think this is the way It's Going to.
n/a Is This The The major difference between The Society The General culture, Political culture Today The Mass political culture. Today and in the past that people are not so about going out in industries They're more keen to, you know, splash hashtags around, Twitter or whatever. Sign
n/a a petition.
n/a Sign a petition. Yeah. That kind of stuff. Right? So this this level of demo mobilization if you like of of the societies of the...
n/a Again, to use this phrase collective West which I think is very accurate phrase. That's why I I'm using. I I wonder are the... Is the... Are the rule class so particularly the American ruling class less afraid of social reaction than it used to be in the past.
n/a Well, I wouldn't say collective west because look... France. I mean, people come out in mass numbers and start burning buildings down.
n/a Oh yeah. But that's That's a French tradition.
n/a Well that's french And Italian, they come out in large Numbers and you know, we can name other places in Europe where they come out on for strikes And.
n/a You
n/a know there are mobilization that are Happening. I think Europe tends to be more out on the streets than in the United States in general, our trade movement is very weak in the Us. But I think around these foreign policy issues, because as we talked about it, it's not this anger that the Us invaded a country and look at what's happening to the victims. The turned the Ukrainians, it's more confusing. They're not gonna come out on the streets about this.
n/a They might call their congress and that's the thing that we're asking them to do. But also as you get into election season. There's constant opinion polls being taken on all kinds of issues. And the politicians are... You know, they they put their finger and see which way the wind is blowing.
n/a And so I think there's going to be a lot of change and as this moves? Because, you know, Alright.
n/a Let's talk a little bit about the the upcoming leg presidential election. Is there does donald Trump stand an actual chance of winning this election. Because many people here in Poland, they, you know, many comment so called experts, self appointed most of them experts in international purposes. There's all, no. No worries, you know, Trump is this like Pro Russian, whatever.
n/a Like, they don't c in Russian asset anymore after the reports, you know. But, you know, this pro Russian president that would be very unfortunate for us because, you know, we really wanna go out. Of course, they don't say it, but that's what there's your thinking. We really wanna, you know, take down Russia, take down their government. So it it's it's much better now, or it's it would be better if Joe Biden.
n/a Remains in office. But now they are pumping up Donald Trump because they feel that he is the kind of guy that no 1 is gonna vote for that he's just worn out brand and that kind of stuff. And I kind of think, are you repeating the strategy that failed in 20 16 because that's what it seems like.
n/a I never thought Trump would win in 20 16. I was stayed up. Watching the polls and I just... I didn't believe it. I thought This can't possibly be what's happening in the United States.
n/a And now I realize well. The United States is a crazy place right now. And Donald Trump has captured the Republican party. It is astounding. All the crazy stuff that he has done, people are office are afraid to criticize him.
n/a They don't wanna lose his base. And he has a rep rapport with people that he can... As he said, he can walk down fifth Avenue and kill somebody and you know, nothing happens. I mean, he might go to jail right now, and he's facing serious problems. This will be used for him as another...
n/a Chance to
Medea meet This victim the victim and deep stories plays so well and you know, he gets away with everything. He can call anybody anything he wants to. He he is ruthless. You So you know, it's not outside the realm possibility at all that the American public by a narrow margin. I mean, he...
Medea He lost the popular vote in 2016, but he got the electoral college vote. So it's it's quite possible. That you know, unless a couple of Republican candidates really come on strong and really go after him in ways that it's kind of hard to predict how they would do this because he is so ruthless was going after anybody that challenges him
n/a they're all afraid like nothing. Don't laugh to me. Yeah. Yeah. So...
n/a But also recognize just how insane it is. The political to seen that we have with Biden, who...
n/a You have to place your hopes.
n/a Why the magic wanna help I don't want Biden. Majority democrats don't want Biden. And Biden, doesn't even wanna a debate and everybody's so afraid if he gets in front of a, you know, an opponent. What the heck is he gonna say. So it's just...
n/a It... It's there is insanity and an Biden age is definitely an issue.
n/a No. It's almost almost elderly abused. Trying messages
n/a So to think of a contest, between Biden and Trump It's just like pitiful. Absolutely pitiful. The hundreds of millions of people, the brilliant people we have in our country, the brilliant politicians that we have in our country and they can't rise to the...
n/a Yeah Exactly. That's that that's my question. So you know that. You know that. I know that like...
n/a Many people know that. So some of your politicians gonna be realizing that too. You silent.
Medea I think they do realize it and they are silent because the Biden team at the Democratic national committee is gonna silence them. And on the Republican side, they're just scared death of of Trump. They're not about to go after it.
n/a Okay. And if Trump wins 20 24 elections. Do you really think he's gonna do that? He's gonna cause the landscape? He's gonna tell him it's over man.
n/a No weapons, no munitions. Do you think he's gonna really do left?
n/a I think it's a possibility, but you can't trust trump as far as you can throw him. So I wouldn't put... Great hopes in that. I would never vote for tom. No matter what.
n/a But, you know, there is some hope. Mh. But, you know, we have plenty of issues to worry about it it's, not just Ukraine. And Trump has been awful on so many others. And we look at the the case of Iran and how He pulled out of the nuclear deal there Look at how he's tortured the people of Cuban, Biden has, you know, continued that policy.
n/a So I don't think I would put any trust or faith in Trump.
n/a Alright. Well, that's that's a kind of conclusion that I I expected from you. Alright. So for the end of our conversation, led speak about what is important for for the American public. What matters are important because let's just try and enlighten a little bit our Eastern European audience.
n/a Of what America is actually like politically speaking. What are the most important topics that are the well themes that... The American public is concerned about. 3 of them. Economy, economy, economy.
n/a And maybe economy.
Medea And then then the issues of, you know, trying to get foreign policy into into the... If even if they have debates. But to get the candidates, really talking about foreign policies versus the domestic policies, which are the ones that are the bread and butter for these candidates. I mean, they'll all start talking about not not enough about health care, but they'll they'll go in and get for the Republicans, the culture wars is what they'll they'll start in on. Yeah.
n/a But we have a achieved copy of that here too. Mh. Yeah. Always copy things for from the.
Medea I don't anticipate that the war in Ukraine is 1 to be a major topic.
n/a But still biden once the victory, Right? Because Wants
Medea it wasn't.
n/a And for he's been
Medea paying it's probably easier not to talk. So much about it during the campaign?
n/a Okay. But wouldn't did it pay off politically to actually have some kind of deal sign right now? For him for his campaign? So wouldn't be.
n/a I think so. I mean, you know, he has said that Putin needs an off ramp, and I would say everybody needs an off ramp. And that there are plenty of offerings to offer. I mean, if everything is about spin, So how do you spin where the line in the much!This going to be, How do you spin what kind of referendum would be held, How do you spin what's going to happen in in crimea? How do you spend the neutrality of nato versus all of the the the benefits that Ukraine is going to get whether it's in Nato or not.
n/a I mean, there's all kinds of ways to spin this, and there's all kinds of issues.
n/a So there is no political will. That's...
n/a It's absolutely about political will act. Absolutely. I mean, when we say that Trump could pick up the phone and say Z, sit down and start negotiating, we know that that's about political will. And that's why I go back to this issue of the Chinese because I think the Chinese could help create the political will. And when we say that everything's about the economy, you know, it is costing Us taxpayers a lot of money.
n/a The Ukraine issue. And well, they might not wanna talk about it in the political terms. From the economics. It's going to be a very difficult thing if in September, which they're talking about now and needing more money The public will start looking at these politicians and saying, wait, we just had a big fight about the debt ceiling. We just had a big fight in which you took money away from poor people who need food.
n/a When you took benefits away from the elderly. When you said that
Medea we all Yes.
n/a Yes. Yes. All them.
n/a Speaks about that here.
n/a Yeah. And now you know, you say that we're gonna give more money to Ukraine, and I remember at a press conference when Biden kind of slipped, you know, as he often does. And said, we're supporting the not just the military. We're supporting the Ukrainian government and, we're paying even for the pensions of the Ukrainian and people and and people in the Us. Oh, my god.
n/a We don't even get pensions anymore what happened to that. And so I think, you know, in from the economic point of view, it can be an issue. And they're trying to... Lengthen in the amount of time they can go without calling for a new round of money for you ukraine, because you know it's spend a hundred and 14000000000 dollars already. With a lot of money.
n/a So that's, I think where it fits into this issue of economy economy economy because people care about their own individual economic situation. They're very individualistic in the United States.
Medea Mh.
n/a And you know, while some people might be fighting for, we believe that women should have access to all kinds of healthcare that they deserve where we believe that there should be free childcare, which there isn't in the United States. We believe that there should be a minimum wage that's a living wage. Mh. I mean, these are issues that are all economic issues that people care about. So if you put the Ukraine into that mix as an economic issue, I think it Okay.
n/a I what about like out of all those economic communications which are very important for the Americans. Let's let's speak for a short while about healthcare care because this seems to be a topic that is very hot. That's been very helpful. For a long time now. And is America any closer now to free universal healthcare care that it was 10 years ago.
Medea Damn well.
n/a No. No No. In fact, Robert F Kennedy who's running as a very progressive democrat. When he's asked about that. He said you just couldn't get in the United States.
n/a Could just couldn't get it.
n/a Couldn't get universal health care. The pharmaceutical companies are so powerful. The insurance companies are so powerful. You the narrative against, you know, you can't you can't go
Medea to the doctor that you want. I mean, all of this and the B s, the amanda, medical facilities themselves. I mean, they're are corporations that run hospitals. And they run run doctors off if the doctors aren't willing to do exactly what they need for the profit for the corporations.
n/a So a big good the sec.
n/a Yeah. They can be thrown out. So we have the worst, 1 of the worst healthcare care systems in the industrialized industrial world, I would say. And the most expensive. Yeah.
n/a The most expensive. So that's an issue too is the expense of it. But
n/a But apparently it's sustainable. I mean it's been...
n/a It's not sustainable over the long term because if you look at Political as
n/a it can be managed politically.
n/a Yeah. Yeah. But in terms of costs it's not sustainable And when it gets to things like increasing the age for Medicare, issues like that, you know, that's a iron rail. That's a that's a tough 1.
Medea And even on, like, Medicare, you know, government sponsored, healthcare care, once reach 65. Well, trying to get... What do you call? Pills? Little pills.
Medea Yeah, minutes. Try trying to get minutes and on a generic basis. That that will cost like 1 tenth of what it costs you, if you don't have Medicare and children. Well, the government trying to get this low cost, generic So the pharmaceuticals are going crazy on it because they're gonna lose, you know, massive profits. And yet as every other government in the world for their healthcare care system buys cheaper, good, but cheaper stuff and yet in the Us, we don't
n/a do it. People have to go to Canada or Mexico to get drugs.
n/a Amazing.
n/a Yeah. It's an awful healthcare care system. And it just shows corporate control of such a critical part of our lives.
n/a Okay. And for the very on the program, I just wanna ask you about the crumbling infrastructure is it real? Is it true? It's a mess. Because, you know, we we have this miss, this mythology here in Europe that...
n/a In America everything's... Clean and shiny and fantastic.
Medea Don't damn track.
n/a Trains. Our train system. Basically doesn't exist and what exists is flowing up apart.
Medea Yeah. And when we have... We still are using, you know, almost 80 year old trail rail rail rail rails. Mh. To transport huge amounts of chemicals all over the country and we just add you know, a massive train wreck that destroyed 1 town essentially.
Medea And we're just... We're living on the edge of all of this, infrastructure that is not being replaced and even though Biden...
n/a But it's also less names in our hospitals and that kind of facilities too.
n/a You know, if you have money, you can get the best schools and you can get great hospitals. And, you know, we love our country. It breaks my heart to see what's happening to it. It really does. It breaks my heart that you go to every major city and I just travel to 70 cities.
n/a Every city I went to has a huge area of homeless population. Wow. It is unacceptable. It is absolutely unacceptable. You have people living all over the streets, and the cities just can't deal with it.
n/a We have mental issues that are... Horrific because of the level of drugs, and there's no mental health. I mean, we have young people living on the streets who can't get access to the mental care they need to get them off the drugs and off the streets. And you have many people in some of the poor areas of the cities who children go to school and graduate from high school without being able to read and write. A horrible situation.
n/a The in qualities in our country are astounding. From and getting worse constantly. And I see I see our country crumbling from the inside. Between the haves and half not. And it is really painful to watch it happen Because the American people deserve so much better.
n/a We have so much. We have so much to give each other. And people are good people just like they're good people around the world you know they want help. We each other and all of that, but we have a system that really is focuses on not taxing the wealthy, Right now, we've have had a debate about reducing the the the debt. And 1 of the things that took away was money, that the internal revenue service would use to check the taxes being paid by the wealthiest people.
n/a That money was taken away on purpose by the Republicans because they don't want the rich to have to pay taxes. And you know, so you get this system that is just so skewed in favor of the wealthy and massive numbers of of people who can't get a decent job in living wage. Can't get access to housing, can't get access to. I unions that are that are basically been decimated. And so it's not a healthy state Of the Us.
n/a Kind of... Okay. How do you remain optimistic in in situations like that?
Medea Well, you've gotta be optimistic. Otherwise, we're up a creek. He Scott keep working on these issues and and calling out politicians when they are doing bad and hope that you can develop enough concern in the community that they stop electing some of these idiots that are causing some of this problem.
n/a And I see it as moving towards a better phase. The things get worse with the divisions and then people rise up. And so I'm waiting for the revolution, and I'm wearing be car to that.
Medea All parts so. That's right.
n/a Right. Thank you very much.
Boyan Again, I'd like to remind you that the barricade is an independent media outlet based in Bulgaria, which I core run with a colleague from B. Dr. Maria, whom I mentioned already. Check out our web side, our Youtube channel and our channels in Rumble and odyssey see our videos are also available on where you can also find audio versions of our podcast and articles our audio productions are also available on Spotify and sound cloud. And 1 more important, I think remarked, None of our videos or audio are monetized.
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