Cincinnati Radio’s Mike McConnell, 700 WLW, Challenges Socialism
Radio 700 WLW, Cincinnati, Ohio
Conservative Talk Show Host, Mike McConnell
“Is Obama a Socialist? The guest is Brian Moore, the former Socialist candidate for President”
Recorded Live, Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Released, Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Double-click on “listen” box below to hear 20-minute interview, or go to one of links below to locate the 3/24/09, hour 2 interview.
[a written summary of exchange is also listed below]
Mike McConnell 3/24/09 Hour 2
Is Obama a socialist? The guest is Brian Moore, the former Socialist candidate for President
To download the podcast, right-click “Listen” and select “Save As” from the menu.
Is Obama a socialist? The guest is Brian Moore, the former Socialist candidate for President
To download the podcast, right-click “Listen” and select “Save As” from the menu.
SUMMARY OF 20-MINUTE INTERVIEW:
Min. 1:10 - Mike McConnell introduces Brian Moore as the former Socialist Party USA candidate for President 2008, and that this is Brian’s third appearance on McConnell’s program, with the first two interviews conducted during the campaign last year.
Mr. McConnell immediately gives the SP’s and Brian’s websites, and then reads from the Party’s summary of principles twice in the first minute. McConnell then comments that the principles seem like a “pipe dream.” He asks Brian if Obama is a socialist. Moore explains that President Obama is a “corporatist, a capitalist and a centrist in the Democratic Party, at best!” He also explains that Obama is a “product of Wall Street” and recipient of big monies from financial institutions.
Min. 3:15 - Brian explains that socialism advocates investing ownership, authority and control in the hands of the workers, democratically, with a de-centralized government. He explains that under our socialist system, all workers have economic rights of health, education, housing and jobs. Brian differentiates capitalism from socialism by the misappropriation of billions of dollars in defense, corporate welfare, etc. He says that many monies are freed up under socialism to adequately fund necessary social services.
Brian also talks about costly nuclear power programs which should be eliminated thus freeing up new monies for the communities. McConnell comments that the socialist countries “are the dirtiest,” and states that peoples have to be “mildly affluent to care for the environment.”
Min: 6:30 - Brian responds to McConnell’s various questions, that socialism is just not advocating a better moral equivalent, but a “radical systemic structural change of our economy.” Brian explains people live longer under socialism due to excellent national health programs in Europe, Canada, Cuba, etc.
Min: 7:11 - Brian continues differentiating between capitalism and socialism by showing that socialists advocate a non-profit system, and are motivated to “improve the quality of life for all,” as opposed to the “greed factor,” in capitalism, and its emphasis on “selfish motives, self-interest, at the expense of one’s fellow citizens.”
Min: 12:30 - McConnell repeats during the program that people are not noble by nature, but greedy, and that capitalism “channels greed in a profitable way.” Brian objects to the glories of a capitalistic system, giving examples of poverty, illness, prostitution in our society, etc. McConnell blames obesity on people alone, and that people supporting socialism in a sense, “want a free ride.” Brian said that obesity is “a perfect example of how the profit motive in business puts its capitalistic greed ahead of peoples’ health.” Brian spoke of people’s “right to dignity, self respect, equal rights, etc..” Brian spoke of the socialists’ emphasis on a 30-hour work week, arts, culture, leisure and exercise.
Brian and Mike sparred over “healthy competition,” and that brian said “it can be found in socialism, and that people can be more motivated” under a socialist system.
Min: 17:00 - Then the two got into a discussion about the ratio of salaries of owners to workers, supervisors to employees, etc. Brian spoke of a 5 to 1, and a 10 to 1 ratio. Not 1,000 to 1 as in the case of Bill Gates, Alex Rodriquez, etc.
Min: 18:00 - Brian then responded to more of Mike McConnell’s questions or statements. Brian emphasized collective bargaining as necessary for the 93% of the workers who do not have union protections. Brian then followed up Mike’s repeat of the Socialist Party USA web-site address with the Socialist Webzine web address as well: http://socialistwebzine.blogspot.com/
Min: 19:12 - The interview with Mike McConnell ended. Brian thanked the host, and went off the air, Mr. McConnell then commented that “Brian was a new category of guests for his radio program—-and that we need more of those type of individuals (and he hoped to have him back again).”
—end—
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