Capitalism is dead and so are we | Yanis Varoufakis interview 

I wish this type of stuff was put in the faces of millions and millions of people rather than the mainstream news media slop that is served every day.

During 50 half a century of watching politics and world affairs I have not known a period when the disconnect between ordinary citizens and their leaders has been so great. But what is more disturbing is the knowledge that the current system does not allow citizens any meaningful political choices. Regardless for which political party we vote, the corrupt system remains in place because the true power brokers operate behind the political facade. So as ordinary voters our political options inevitably are reduced to one of two appalling options: the lesser of two evils. Choose your poison. Nothing will or can change until the entire system is demolished and replaced by a substantively improved alternative system.

I have been following Yanis Varoufakis for sometime from when he was finance minister of Greece. I can categorically say this is the only European/Westerner who has been involved in politics on a government level who speaks the truth and facts in an undiluted, unbiased and unaligned way. Intellectual, detailed and concise. Everything he has mentioned is the truth. The general population simply chose a myopic view to these facts because they enjoy the privilege from their governments and want to maintain the status quo or they have been too brainwashed to this realism. Either way, the world is changing fast, you can no longer "win" by trampling on others with a bigger gun. We need more people like these to maintain order and diplomacy otherwise the West will descend further into a dreary place for future generations in decades to come.

Yanis saying it as it is. It's time we all listened and wised up.

Ive been saying this for years, gangsters in suits, extortion is the game, money is to blame. Look at any letters from your local council or government, do this or else, pay this or else, absolutely no difference, just legal gangsters.

If I'm not mistaken, Socrates once said (he certainly didn't write it): The greatest form of injustice is that which presents itself as being just.

This is so much better than public media like CNN etc.

I don't remember who said it, but someone smart said that capitalism had made an alliance with democracy because it served it's interest to do so, but that capitalism would part ways with democracy if democracy got in the way of profit. It seems like that is what is happening now. Capitalism no longer sees value in going along with democracy, so it is replacing democracy with bureaucratic authoritarianism that enacts it's will with the force of the state regardless of the wishes of the populace.

I love coming here. The comments remind me that I am not alone.

Thank you for having Yanis Varoufakis's expertise on. I have now subscribed. Thank you.

The more talks like that we have, the quicker we'll learn to get together and act together!

'And a Man sat alone, drenched deep in sadness. And all the animals drew near to him and said, "We do not like to see you so sad. Ask us for whatever you wish and you shall have it." The Man said, "I want to have good sight." The vulture replied, "You shall have mine." The Man said, "I want to be strong." The jaguar said, "You shall be strong like me." Then the Man said, "I long to know the secrets of the earth." The serpent replied, "I will show them to you." And so it went with all the animals. And when the Man had all the gifts that they could give, he left. Then the owl said to the other animals, "Now the Man knows much, he'll be able to do many things. Suddenly I am afraid." The deer said, "The Man has all that he needs. Now his sadness will stop." But the owl replied, "No. I saw a hole in the Man, deep like a hunger he will never fill. It is what makes him sad and what makes him want. He will go on taking and taking, until one day the World will say, 'I am no more and I have nothing left to give.' - Apocolypto (2006)

This is a genuinely decent human being who speaks the truth.

Not only they are mafias, they are annoyed when other nations reject this system.

I am both economist and foreign relations expert myself, i mean i studied both and both remained my hobby till now, although I never made it to any significant position in the hierarchy, because I simply could not swallow many of the things that are vital to 'succeed' in nowadays world, especially if you live in a small postcomunistic central European country and end up with your old parents in a small town at least to enjoy some final years together. I travelled a lot around the world and i spent many years in Ireland, Germany and Portugal. Sorry for this long introduction. I have to say, I came to the same conclusions as Mr. Varoufakis within the time, or at least i had strong suspicions, that without data i could not prove. I can tell you honestly, most of the time i feel like total outsider, because i am the only one among my friends, collegues, ex classmates from University, neighbours and even intellectuals, politicians and media in my country, who thinks the way Mr. Varoufakis does. Most of people are either happy conjuncturalists who do not want to change anything and just complain about deplored people and populists or fascist movements, or unhappy loosers who do not fit in this system that systematically skins them, but they do not know why. Actually both of those segmenta do not know why. The first ones have no interest, the second ones have no mental capacity, social capital and education and tend to trivial solutions (it is a chain of reasons and results). So I am happy that I hear the the thoughts finally clearly formulated an explained by Mr. Varoufas, so for the first time I have the feeling that I am not the only one mad. Yes, we experienced privatisations of all business and houses/appartements in Czech Republic and in even more ridiculous way, than Iron Lady did. And with even harder consequences... We have the electricity and gas and mobile data and signal cartel, and evrn despite the fact, that the government owns 51 %of the biggest nuclear plant, the government did not use its power to keep the price low as possible as an antishock therapy, itdid the opposite:shareholders got 5 fold dividend as usual and Czech government got dividend too: most of it it used to support other companies that depand heavily on electricity and gas and just symbolically and very late helped households, so that you did not pay 3 times more fornelectricity and gas, but just 2,9 times more... The effect of such policy was dramatic: we had 30 % cumulative inflation in last 3 years. Corporates became even bigger. And state has no money for anything, because everything is more expensive....Amd the conservative party calls: more capitalism, more privatization. Well, there is not much left: only health care system and schools... Post office was brought almost to bancrupt, so the solution was to close most of offices and fire postmen. The railways have already been divided between 2 companies: 1. Rails and 2.vehicles and buildings and the most lucrative lines privatized, which of course made everything much worse and unstable....Water system was privatized longtime ago too. The municipalities pay for maintenance and reparations, while the corporations just put chlorin to water and sell it through the public pipes to households together with invoices amd without paying for the pipes.... Yes, we support Ukraine rhetorically but we donmot produce and send amunition nor artillery to them. Germany sells it to Israel instead. And yes, according to our government , politicians and academics Hamas are terrorists and Israel has right to self defence. End of story. Not a single interview with a single Palestinian on public tv or radio. But Israel managed to establish Herzl institute of Istaeli studies, in fact a propagandist cell in one of the Faculties of the oldest university,the Charles University. No other country has such privilige...The director is allways on TV and radio, almost daily, inteoduced as an expert on Middle East. Ridiculous...

Brilliant analyst and a great thinker. You are a honer for the Greece legacy.

Yanis is the person I most recommend to anybody who wants an articulation of the systemic issues we face, and of where it is heading.

Boeing exemplifies the problem of financialization. management is incentivized to neglect the actual product, the engineering, and the work force, and instead concentrates on manipulating the stock price, de-skilling the workers, and cutting corners wherever possible.

This might be Professor Varoufakis's best interview.

Watched it twice and did side research to learn about the things he referenced. This was incredible. Thank you so much!

Great interview! Love the phrase: I like more Bastards in power who claim to be Bastards, than Bastards who claim to be working class. Listen to Mr. Varoufakis, Keir!

When a country depends on financing from bankers, it's they and not the people's representatives who hold the power. For the hand that gives stand above the hand that takes. - Napoleon

Thank God we have such beautiful souls such as this handsome Greek man. Yanik, you are a breath of fresh air. Love from Morocco 🇲🇦 Yes, Morocco 🇲🇦 in North Africa ❤

13.12. I remember the footage from number 11 at the time. There was no sound - the BBC did the v/o - but I remember Varoufakis, without a tie, lounging on a couch like a boy in a sixth form common room - insolently relaxed - wonderfully unimpressed - while George Osborne perched on the edge of his seat, knees primly together, wearing a sans serif single button Spencer Hart suit - his skin translucently porcelain white, sat, effete and ill-at-ease, fingers clenched together, earnest and patrician. What YV gave was effectively the Chomsky Response.

00:03 Capitalists in power are not using their incredible potential for the people. 02:11 A documentary focused on the repercussions of the 2008 financial collapse. 07:02 Power in modern Britain primarily rests in the hands of those who own everything 08:53 Power shifted from homogeneous to split realms under capitalism 13:56 Financialization has transformed from insurance contracts to options to buy and sell shares. 16:17 Financialization is a massive gambling extravaganza with privatized profits and socialized risk. 20:16 Thatcher's policies led to financialization and exploitation of working class 22:13 Privatization as a way to involve average citizens in share ownership. 26:23 Electricity markets are a crime against logic 28:19 Capitalism's cartel-like behavior and lack of accountability 32:50 Trump's election not solely based on racism. 35:01 The left is facing a crisis, with the rise of fascists and ultra right-wing conservatives in government. 38:59 The political challenges of rising to the neoliberal economic settlement in the UK 40:49 Left's struggle in capitalist crisis 45:05 The Israeli Defense Forces are expelling and diminishing the authority of the Palestinian people, while others claim to care about human rights but only prioritize the human rights of their own. 47:22 West's public opinion supports Israel's genocide 51:43 International pressure can end conflict in Gaza Crafted by Merlin AI.

Great interview. I didn’t know this interviewer before. He did a great job. And Yanis is very bright and honest. Well done for both.

If someone doesnt know the back story of Yanis and you dont have time to read books, here is a movie about his political career and what happend in Greece. movie is called : Adults in the Room

I have just discovered this gentleman Mr Yanis Varoufakis, in terms of authenticity and truth; I must admit that he is the incarnation of the Greek divinity "Aletheia", the personification of the truth. Thank you for enlightening us with your knowledge. It is a great pleasure to listen to you.

51:00 here in Germany there is certainly no international pressure to end the war. Here in my city of Hamburg there are electronic signs put up by the government saying "as the government we officially support Israel's offensive", which is quite dystopian

People like Yanis Varoufakis make me proud to be Greek (abroad) and a human.He gives me knowledge and hope.He deserves our respect and support .🌷

vey candid interview both interviewee and inteviewer dived in sensitive topics with unaldulterated facts....enjoyed every bit.

*I'm favoured 80K PROFIT every 2 weeks! I now have a good house and paid off all my debt. I am truly thankful beyond words, Stacey*

I want to live in a different world. I want to live in the world of Yanis. He is very knowledgeable and what he says is what I think, especially about Thatcher. She has caused the problems our country has today and Yanis explained that very well.

Really uplifting couple of interviews these last two days 😅

SPOT ON in everything Yania said economically & poiitically, especially his observation about Palestine & Israel! Brilliant!

Yanis is a genius and a hero. Thank you for this. Thank you Yanis, for all that you do. Listen to him.

I have a rant to make here. In October 2023 I bought the book Tecnofeudalismo by Varoufakis on Amazon and paid for it (English edition, because there was no Portuguese edition yet). Amazon didn't deliver the book to me and I decided to sue the company. My lawyer did what was necessary and the Brazilian judge in the case granted an injunction forcing Amazon to deliver the book to me immediately under penalty of a fine. Amazon did not comply with the decision. I haven't received the book yet. I'm starting to assume that Amazon, the greatest symbol of Technofeudalism always mentioned by Varoufakis when he talks about the new book, is sabotaging the circulation of his work in Brazil. Does it not want me to read and promote the book? This is outrageous and ridiculous.

Great video. Love hearing Yanis' perspective and views.

I really like this man, he really is honorable and respectable!

A very good interview, Yanis i look forward to listening to you and the intervier was excellent 👌

This has to be the most telling interview since the start of the Gaza conflict

Brilliant convo and analysis, a refreshing window of clarity opens everytime Prof Yanis speaks.

Greetings to you from a Turk, Yanis Varoufakis, there is a need for people like you in the West who are not afraid of Zionist Israel and speak the truth!

I admire this wonderful interview with Yanis it's very refreshing to hear honestly I'm grateful 😊 thanks

Fantastic summary of the ethics around Palestine. As Yanis said, the rest of the world is stunned by the West's hypocrisy and support for Israel. Huge props to Yanis for calling out Israel's actions as genocide.

I love this guy. Legend

Much respect to him shouting out the creator of the documentary so beautiful.

Great talk. Thank you very much. Its a relief to hear clear voice.

Yanis: "The genocide started in 1948". After reading Ilan Pappé's-The ethnic cleansing of Palestine, I fully agree with this statement.

My brain always appreciates Yanis' knowledge and perspective. Thank you for another interesting conversation.

Loved that interview! Thank you both 🤝

Each time you listen to these new podcasts and channels you realise how shafted our conditioning is.

I wish more people would take the time to listen to Yanis. Most of his presentations/interviews are rather lengthy which most working people do not have the time for. When there is so much going on at one time in the world, in monumental scale, information overload can be a killer. Pretty sure this is all by design.

Yanis, offers a contemporary view of capitalism in an accessible way. The analysis is accurate I think but it is very depressing where the culture is going to. Where is the hope?

You're a good man Dave. Still at it after all these years. 💯💪The world needs legitimate financial education; it might be the rarest and most valuable commodity.

Great analyses. I really appreciate Yanis Varoufakis economic-political analyses

I just realized that governments don't allow us regular folk to bet on risky financial derivatives / hedge funds, although the risk would only be to us individually. If I lost a bet, I'd be on food stamps. At the same time, the billionaires are allowed to bet, even though in their case, the risk is not that they'll go bankrupt, but that the ENIRE SYSTEM goes bankrupt!

I wish some American politicians would start taking some of Yanis's talking points and policy prescriptions. We need anyone at all who will say what is actually happening.

thank you Yanis, voice of clarity and reason

Yanis is such a refreshing force!

Another great interview. One thing that surprised me was Joe's perception of Kier Starmer. I'm totally with Yanis on Starmer,

The telling part about gaza is this thing Sunak and a few people have mentioned about Israel governing gaza when its all over, I think he dropped it twice in PMQ s

Great to hear an intellectual like Professor Yanis Varoufakis giving another lecture on such a simple and honest way. 🎉🔝

I am just a working class person but Yanis is telling me things i wish i had known many years ago, i was working to hard to read things like this!

Yanis just tells things the way they are. Great interview.

Always informative to listen to Yanis' sense of reason

Excellent Q and A. Informative, humorous, educating. 💯

This has been one of the most interesting videos on RU-vid in the last couple of years. The clarity of thinking of the ex Finance Minister of Greece is refreshing and inspiring.

Wow... what a strong interview! There's every mood in it: serious, funny, shocking, truthful. I'll remember this interview for a long time. A must see video. 👏💪

Is there a way to download the transcript? I'm wanting to use i for teaching material.

What an extraordinary and Intelligent man!!!

Huge respect for this guy

Love love love Yanis Veroufakis. Thank you. Yanis for World President. A man of deep thinking and big heart.

Excellent interview. Thanks for this

I'm fundamentally right wing but I like many of the things this gentleman says. And the Greek accent is very appealing.

I love Yanis Varoufakis! Such an intellect, such honesty too... 🤔

Great interview, thank you. I could listen to Yanis all day, hes so good.

Yanis speaks this just how I remember it. Excellent history lessons here.

Keep getting the Truth out Yanis !!

Yanis is always interesting to listen to despite some flaws in his arguments (but noone is perfect)

Always a pleasure to hear Yanis, i learn a lot.

Very good interview. Yanis speaks the truth.

"This degradation in the West. You do not have to be religious to appreciate it, to be appalled by it. You can feel it in your soul in your own moral compass, something terrible is happening to the West and a destiny awaits for it." ~Mike Jones, Journalist

"languishing in the magma of discontent" - well said Yannis, reflects perfectly my feelings :(

You explained his pull so well..... He speaks knowledgeably, honestly and presciently about the state of the world today, finance, philosophy, politics and power. He has influenced my own forays into the financial markets space, all the way here in Kenya.

This is the most enlightening analysis of our present condition out there. Should be required viewing of all aspiring leaders. I'm contemplating tax policies to make the renters support essential societal functions. I’m contemplating a completely secular and democratic Israel renamed Palestine. The idea of a Jewish state in Palestine was insane and is proving itself to be so every day.

10% of tax revenues from capital gains of London's financeiers is essentially the government getting some real productive work out of the public for nothing. It's no different from printing money, which also allows the government to extract labor from folks for nothing.

Yanis's assessment of Starmer is beautiful and sublimely brutal - the best I could come up with is 'complete tosser' - bravo....

I love that Joe has such a good relationship with Yanis Varoufakis and interview him regularly because he is one economist who sees the future clearly !!

Brilliant interview! Thank you both!

Thank you Yianis Varoufakis!!

Most people lack in intergrity. This one not so much.

Even if he were a narcissist his ideas remain just as meaningful and his warnings are worth paying attention to. Whether we have the collective strength to overcome the trap of the constructs we find ourselves in now is yet to be determined.

The UK arms company BAE Systems made underlying profits before interest and tax of £2.7bn on record sales of £25.3bn to Ukraine and Israel in 2023. So they need to keep the war drums beating it's very good for business ya know.

Brilliant interview, everyone should listen to this . I knew we didn't live in a democracy but a dictatorship.

We need more Gary Economics! Great interview. 10/10👍👍🤩

Great interview. Opened my eyes the the depth and scale of corruption. Problem is.. what do we do?

Brilliant Podi, absolutely says it as it is, and I am so glad that someone else see's that this is Thatchers Legacy, Listen to Great Questions and Great Answers

As a center-left individual, I appreciate the strength of the initial premise and agree with Yanis on many things on a personal level but, I think it's essential to always consider practicalities in politics, lest you become a one-term failed Government. Starmer has made Labour a relevant and credible alternative, overcoming the inertia of the Conservative party. While some criticize Starmer's compromises, we have to acknowledge the challenges that any opposition faces against the Tories ( as seen in the 2019 election and Brexit) and actually learn from the mistakes that were made. Even in the best possible circumstances with the fairest possible electoral systems (which we certainly don't have), strong compromise will always remain crucial. Corbyn's failure to compromise, choosing not to limit heavy taxation to the actual super rich (a fantastic idea) and for some strange reason also targeting the middle class, led to defeat, I would argue that this means he was clearly the wrong man for the job and should have stood down. His position as leader of the opposition and those who failed to act to remove him led to the 78-seat parliamentary majority for Johnson, fact, I don't like it, I wish it wasn't the case but that is what happened. We should of course demand more accountability through systems like citizens' assemblies and proportional representation, but first, we MUST deal with low political engagement to secure these things or they will ultimately be poorly implemented or outright disgarded like so many systems in our nation's history. Low engagement is a factor that massively impedes progress, exemplified by the truly dismal turnout in the EU referendum, 13 million people did not even bother to vote, and all it would have taken was a small fraction of that number to push the result either way with far stronger and more convincing leave/remain outcome. I would urge everyone to remember that all political media is seeking to 'win out' over the competition, be it new media or tabloids. All politicians want to get elected, idealism unchecked fixes nothing, focused idealism mixed with practicality, compromise, and accountability can easily fix capitalism, which is still in my view the best way to go. Just some thoughts.

... Ancient, archaic and arthritic... It's good to hear someone that knows what he is talking about as well as how to talk about it.