Comrade Birb

https://archive.org/download/zinn-ch-2/Zinn%20Ch%202.mp3

My co-host Cat and I review chapter two of Howard Zinn’s book “A People’s History Of The United States.”

I’m always urging people to learn ACTUAL history, not the white supremacist, anti-labor propaganda we were indoctrinated with in school. We know you’re busy, some people are working multiple jobs to make ends meet, so we’re creating 20-30 minute episodes with highlights from each chapter to provide a way to get acquainted with the material.

Please have a listen, and share with your own circles. Learning this hidden history is one key to liberation from this Capitalist Death Cult that is driving us to ecocide with their extractive, exploitative practices.

The post PODCAST: Chapter 2 Review of Howard Zinn’s A People’s History Of The United States appeared first on Comrade Birb .

https://archive.org/download/duncan-solaire/DuncanSolaire.mp3

Back in August I had the pleasure of interviewing independent pro wrestler Duncan Solaire over Zoom. I had delusions of grandeur about teaching myself Adobe AfterEffects so that I could upload the video to my YouTube channel, but alas, my skill level just isn’t where it needs to be in order to produce quality video. Hence, I bring you the interview in our usual podcast format. Please check out the links below to learn more about the FANTAZZALOUS DUNCAN SOLAIRE!

Duncan’s YouTube Channel

Pro Wrestling Society YouTube Channel

Pro Wrestling Society Facebook Page

The Korea Times article on Pro Wrestling Society

The post PODCAST: Interview WSG: Independent Pro Wrestler Duncan Solaire appeared first on Comrade Birb .

https://archive.org/download/rjstar-wars/RJStarWars.mp3

This is a great episode I recorded in August with Robert Jay, of Metro Detroit Political Action Network (MDPAN), in which he talks about two of my favorite subjects: Star Wars and Revolution. It’s long, but so worth it.

The post PODCAST: Star Wars & Revolution w/Robert Jay of MDPAN appeared first on Comrade Birb .

https://archive.org/download/cbwcr3122020/CBWCR%203-12-2020.mp3

Today’s episode is shorter – let me know how you like the format. Here are links relevant to the discussion:

The Fed injects $1.5 trillion into economy to benefit billionaires

Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now – Politicians, Community Leaders and Business Leaders: What Should You Do and When?

Concentration and Extermination Camps

Deaths under Communism debunked

US Govt & Media Whitewash Nazi Holocaust Using Debunked “Black Book Of Communism)

Why They Still Need Their Big Lies About Socialism

RevLeftRadio on debunking the lies about Communism

The post PODCAST: Episode 9 – Covid-19 & Capitalism appeared first on Comrade Birb .

https://archive.org/download/CBWCRep8/CBWCR%202-21-2020.mp3

A link to a sociologist’s website in which they explain Othering.

Here is the workshop report from TNI that I mentioned in this episode, regarding authoritarianism and how to challenge it.

Read more about General Smedley Butler here. 

This article details the timeline of CIA atrocities committed around the world. Capitalism requires their enforcement of our policies and demands globally, even without citizen knowledge and consent.  And here’s an article detailing the 35 countries where the CIA supported Fascists, drug lords, and terrorists. It’s from 2014 and requires updating, but this should inform you on the fact that the corruption issues in the US didn’t just start with the 2016 election.

Those at the top KNOW that they are collapsing our ecosystem on us. If you are a climate change denialist, you are their useful rube. If you accept climate change science, but fail to accept the scientists findings that the practices of capitalism are the cause, how are you materially different than those who deny the science? Welcome to the Capitalocene.

The capitalism pyramid is basically the same as it was when it was first drawn in 1911.

I’ve previously wrote about the book ADDICTED TO WAR on the blog. I am trying to fundraise to buy multiple copies to place in Little Free Libraries around Michigan as well as in a counter-military recruitment campaign for Michigan Students. I believe that the graphic novel format and relatively short length of the book makes it easier to ramp up to speed in one’s understanding of US Imperialism than trying to dive into an all-text history book first, but you should do that, too.

Funds raised thus far have allowed us to purchase 18 good condition used copies of the book at about $4 a copy shipped, versus the $15 new price. We’re hoping to acquire more to be able to distribute with students and perhaps teachers in the campaign Movement For People’s Democracy Michigan will be working on in the coming months.

Can you help with a donation? Even a couple of bucks from several people will help us in this goal. I don’t want anyone to hurt their own ability to live. But if you have an extra two or three dollars it would be deeply appreciated! Thank you comrades.

Solidarity and Peace!

PayPal: [email protected]

Cashapp: $gremlinfarts – my referral code link is below

Hey! I’ve been using Cash App to send money and spend using the Cash Card. Try it using my code and we’ll each get $5. KMSWQSD

The post PODCAST: Episode 8 – Communism and Socialism As Scare Words appeared first on Comrade Birb .

Here’s the link to today’s podcast:

https://archive.org/download/cblwr192020/CBLWR%20-%201-9-2020.mp3

Here’s a link to the interview with Ian Dunlop, the senior member of the advisory board for the Breakthrough National Centre for Climate Restoration, and FORMER fossil fuel executive.  And here’s a link to the Daily Beast (not my favorite source, but the author appears to be an actual trained journalist) article about the role of Gina Rinehart, the billionaire coal executive who has spent $4.5 billion on climate crisis denial efforts, in Australia’s bushfires.

The Constitution was written to protect the interests of the rich and powerful. They were unsatisfied with their inability to centralize power and collect taxes, and the common people were acting under the Articles of Confederation to try to improve their lot somewhat, so the Founding Fathers met again to write the Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. I’m not suggesting that the Articles of  Confederation should be reinstated, however, it is important to note the historic pattern of the ruling class using their power to squash any attempt by the working class to achieve justice.

Learn more about how the media uses propaganda to manipulate us so that you can recognize their tactics. Social Media has also been a very effective engine for the ruling class to indoctrinate the public.

The post PODCAST: Episode 7 – Identifying Some Ruling Class Propaganda appeared first on Comrade Birb .

https://ia601400.us.archive.org/16/items/cbwcr12282019stereo/CBWCR%20-%2012-28-2019%20STEREO.mp3

Today’s episode centers on some thoughts I’ve had regarding socialized housing, with housing as a guaranteed human right instead of a commodity that enriches a few on the backs of us all. Here are some relevant and related links.

Many people think they are 1%ers, but unless they’re clearing at least a minimum of $700k (and typically far more) in yearly wages, they are not. Check it out at Investopedia. 

It’s also worth knowing that Utah found the solution to houselessness, but thanks to the greed and cruelty of the landlord/owner/ruling classes, the product was defunded, and as a result, chronic houselessness is back on the rise after having dropped by an incredible 91% under their Housing First model.

I mention in the podcast the fact that many full-time workers are now houseless. This has been covered by the media, but somehow most people I meet seem blissfully unaware of it. We in the working class are all closer to becoming unhoused than we are to be in a position to buy a mansion for millions, so should concern you personally to see this. There’s at least one YouTube Channel devoted specifically to stories of unhoused workers. That is a poor reflection on us as a society. If this is the height of capitalism, what do we have to look forward to as it crashes?

While it sickens me that I have to provide justification for the idea that no human being should be deprived of housing, I wanted to provide you a partial list of some organizations you may have heard of who also have taken a stance on this issue:

American Bar Association

The United Nations

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

National Economic & Social Rights Initiative

The post PODCAST Ep #6: Housing As A Human Right appeared first on Comrade Birb .

There have been….delays. Thanks for your patience! I’m trying a new format for hosting the podcasts, at archive.org, and I hope it might work better than YouTube. Please let me know what you think!

As always, I cannot recommend enough that every American read sociologist and historian James W. Loewen’s important book, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong.

This is an excellent piece from a historian regarding the documented relationship between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. It’s not your school Thanksgiving pageant, which was, by the way, propaganda.

Here’s another piece examining the historicity and whitewashing of Thanksgiving.

This is an example of a hawk’s bell. Keep in mind that the Arawaks had to find enough gold dust to fill these if they wanted to keep their hands. Not gold nuggets. DUST.

Thanksgiving wasn’t a national holiday until a 19th Century Social Influencer started a campaign to make it happen and President Abraham Lincoln saw a way to try and unify North and South around one national identity.

If I’ve forgotten any links, please send a message from the WANNA SQUAWK form or you can tweet me @comradebirb.

https://archive.org/download/cbwcr12182019/CBWCR12182019.mp3

The post Podcast #5: Columbus, Pilgrims, and You appeared first on Comrade Birb .

EDIT 12/29/2019: I’ve learned more about sound recording and editing, and switched podcast hosting to archive.org. (Please consider a donation to that wonderful, valuable resource). Episodes are set to feed to iTunes and Spotify now, as well. You can now listen here:

https://archive.org/download/cblwr7nov2019remastered/CBLWR-%207%20Nov%202019REMASTERED.mp3

Greetings Comrades!

Today’s podcast is a bit shorter in length, but I hope you’ll find it just as informative as my previous episodes.

The book I’m quoting from today is the same that I’ve been recommending every podcast thus far, and I hope you are planning to read it soon. Click on the meme below to read more about it at the Zinn Education Project, which you should also explore.

As mentioned in the episode, here is a link to my new Patreon, if you would like, and can afford, to send a buck or two my way every month for the work I’m doing here. Thanks for reading and listening. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message, either from the comments form, or on Twitter.

The post Podcast #4: Columbus and the US Origin Myth appeared first on Comrade Birb .

EDIT 12/29/2019: I’ve learned more about sound recording and editing, and switched podcast hosting to archive.org. (Please consider a donation to that wonderful, valuable resource). Episodes are set to feed to iTunes and Spotify now, as well. You can now listen here:

https://archive.org/download/cblwr1112019remastered/CBLWR-11-1-2019REMASTERED.mp3

In today’s podcast, we’ll explore the concepts of Class-Based Societies and Wealth Inequality as it relates to our current socioeconomic system of Capitalism. Links from related or source material are found below.

How much you need to make in each state to be part of the 1% – Pay close attention to the difference between what you have to make to mathematically qualify as part of this percentage, versus what the average – AVERAGE – income is. That means there are many with income far above that amount.

The book I mentioned, Lies My Teacher Told me, is discussed on the Zinn Education Project website, which is something you should explore beyond their write-up on this book. It represents the work of historian Howard Zinn, who wrote about so much history that is not covered in US textbooks, and it is because these are stories that refute the propaganda the ruling class uses to manipulate the working class. You can purchase the book used here or new through any bookseller.

Some reading about white fragility.

Here’s an article regarding redlining. I also spoke about government enforced segregation, and you can read about that here. You should also check out this article regarding how things look today, segregation-wise, in the US.

I mentioned in my second episode that Capitalism is a pyramid scheme. I’m not the only one out here saying that, either. Here’s a couple of graphics for your consideration. The first is from 1911. The other is from today and is updated for our times. But the same basic structure is in place. These issues we are facing are not new. They are still present because the ruling class has refused to give up power, and has instead used their power to unscrupulously shape their world in their favor.

Be sure to click on each image to embiggen it, and think about how the economy has grown more complex since 1911, but the basic structure has remained intact. Then contemplate how the ruling class has poured so much money into anti-union policies. Who profits from our lack of working class organization? The bigwigs up top wouldn’t pursue just any policy position with conviction or funding if it didn’t serve their purposes. So maybe think about how much anti-union propaganda you’ve absorbed over your life and contemplate whether any animosity you have toward the concept of collective bargaining is truly your own, or if that thought was planted there by someone who profits from you holding that belief.

Image from Wikipedia

Image from CrimethInc

Once you become aware of the class divide, why it exists, and how it is maintained through manipulative practices by the ruling class, you are probably going to get pissed off! But never fear, I will be covering ways to proceed in future episodes. In the meantime, you should probably check out my social media presence (see the sidebar for links, or scroll to bottom of the page and a popop window will appear with links) and follow me there for daily food for thought, because I share a lot of information you could be benefiting from, and that’s not just me tooting my own horn. I am doing this in service to others, and many people have found that valuable. I hope you do, too.

In solidarity,

-The Birb

The post Podcast #3: Capitalism, Class-Based Societies, and Wealth Inequality appeared first on Comrade Birb .