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Dear John,
I would like to invite you to participate in an experience that is very dear to me: teaching.
I have finished teaching my last class on Wealth and Poverty at UC Berkeley, in fact, my last university class anywhere. And I want to share the entire course with you, all 14 weeks, from the point of view of a student in the auditorium, in a free series.
You’ll find all my lectures and slides, along with my stories and (attempted) humor -- and you’ll see how my students respond to interactive quizzes, puzzles, and role-playing scenarios. I’m also posting a syllabus so you can do the key readings, should you wish. But don’t worry, there are no exams, no grades, and no points off for tardiness!
Click here to access all 14 weeks of class! I designed this course to explore a deeper understanding of why inequalities of income and wealth have widened significantly over the last 40 years in the United States, and the consequences.
The reason I am posting my course in full is not just to inform (and occasionally amuse) you, but also to arm you with the truth -- about how the system works and doesn’t, where power is located and where it’s lacking, and the myths and lies used by those who are blocking positive social change -- so you can fight more effectively for the common good.
Let me be clear: We can’t have a democracy that works unless people know what is really going on! That’s why I’m also asking you to post on social media and let your friends know about this opportunity. Please spread the word.
One of the themes that runs through the course is the intertwining of wealth and power -- economics and politics -- and why such inequalities are more extreme in the United States than in other rich countries. While I don’t believe wealth is a zero-sum game in which those at the top can only get richer if others grow poorer, I do believe that power is a zero-sum game. The more power at the top, the less of it elsewhere.
And because wealth can’t be separated from power, at a deeper level the course examines who has been gaining power in America, who has been losing it, and why.
We also discuss my definition of moral leadership: it’s not based in natural ability, or having lots of followers, or holding high public office. Rather, a true leader is one who helps people do the hard work of making positive social change.
To do the work, leaders must help people overcome “work avoidance” -- in the forms of denial, escapism, scapegoating, and cynicism. Fortunately, we draw inspiration from leaders who have fought against all four, and as a result have made the world a better place.
I’d also like to make a special note: The posted videos include the final class of the course which is also the last class I will ever teach of any course. If you view just one class, I hope it's class 14. I summarize the main points of the course, give a short history of the struggle for social justice in America, and talk about how my students (including you) can make a difference in the future.
Whether in the physical classroom or online, my goal has always been to grow a community of people who are committed to spreading the truth and contributing to a better world. Which is why I’m here, and presumably why you are too.
At last, we come to my wishes for you, and all of my students, as I share in the final class:
May your days be filled with wonder
May your lives be filled with meaning
May your work be filled with joy
May you live long, and powerful, lives
See you in class,
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
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