Capitalism Hits Home with Dr. Harriet Fraad

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad continues an ongoing critique of the for-profit health care system in the US and examines some of its deadly effects. Overdose numbers are far higher than in any other rich country and could have been avoided if it weren't for the collusion between drug companies, pharmacies, doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies. Dr. Fraad looks at what oth...

Welcome to Season 5 of Capitalism Hits Home! In this episode, Dr. Fraad explores identity politics by looking into the many facets of her own identity. 99% of us share an identity as exploited, oppressed people. We have different experiences and extents of exploitation. How can we honor our identities while remaining unified as a human race? Can we reclaim identity politics to include a human iden...

In this episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad looks at the epidemic of deaths in the United States. She examines the five interlocking forces of our for-profit health care system—pharmaceutical companies, pharmacy chains, hospitals, insurance companies, and doctors—that have colluded to bring on the flood of both Covid-19 and overdose deaths. Fraad argues that the solution to this crisis lies...

The UN released its 2021 World Happiness Report. In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad answers why as world's richest nation, the US is not even one of the happiest. What do Americans need to do to be happier people? Fraad believes it can be done and tells us how.

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad talks about the strikes sweeping the nation. The mass resignations, demonstrations and work stoppages reveal a huge worker dissatisfaction with American capitalism.

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad talks about the 40 Million Americans face eviction after Oct. 31, 2021. What kind of society treats the right to shelter, and with that the right to life as a commodity? Should that kind of society exist? Eviction raises just that question.

Rape is a hate crime. This podcast analyses the forces that shape US rape in gender, culture, psychology and capitalism.

Capitalism is a class system of a small employer class making profit from the labor of a huge class of employees, who depend on employers for survival. Patriarchy is a system in which men are entitled to appropriate services from women who are considered less than fully human. Both systems interact to shape rampant sexual abuse. In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad explores expressions of patriarchy...

In the episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad talks about the importance of celebrating Labor, which is essential to life. But she argues that we need to go beyond and learn what our labor history is - something which is absent from our education.

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad addresses the "labor shortage" in the US today. 9.2 million jobs remain open. Republicans and Democrats differ on what to do about this supposed shortage. 44% of US workers are low pay workers constantly struggling to survive. Maybe they just won't stand for it!

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad explores the concept of cruel optimism from Lauren Berlant's book. American culture teaches us to look on the bright side. Nonetheless, the blight side of US life is emerging. The media, corporate advertisement-driven as it is, hides the reasons why pandemic and recession blight spreads. People, and particularly men, are driven mad. They reach for their guns to re...

On this week's CHH, Dr. Fraad is joined by psychotherapist and author Tess Fraad-Wolff to talk about celebrity pop artist Britney Spears. Spears' plight captures our attention because she personifies American suffering. Her exploited, adolescent, coy, sugary sexuality presents her as an object of men's desire without her own desire. Spears represents the gender regression of the Right Wing. Her st...

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad talks about the revolutionary class transformation experienced n the household from feudalism to other class forms, the independent household and the communist or communal household. She argues that many current political struggles such as struggles over abortion rights, birth control, and LGBTQ rights are in large part struggles over the conditions of existence f...

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad defines what class is and explores where it has hit in America. America has included 4 class formations: slavery, feudalism, capitalism, and communism. Except for the brief period of the New Deal, we have not experienced socialism, where a strong state regulates capitalism to provide crucial public support for its citizens. Dr. Fraad argues that, surprisingly, we...

We are back with a new season of CHH! In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad explores the question of identity politics. Identity politics can be liberating for those who identify as women, people of color, or GLBTQ members. Those identities need to be called out and claimed with pride. But Fraad asks why is our class identity excluded? Why limit and divide human beings when alliances can be made to cr...

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad discusses the most virulent examples of American violence: our world dominance in mass shootings and rape. She argues that violence converts the connection of people from their mutually acknowledged need for each other into a relationship of inequality, dominance and submission. Our goal is to break all arbitrary and hierarchical divisions between people. That equ...

America's Children are the source of omnipresent sentimental solicitude. At the same time, they are in fact massively neglected and in trouble. Dr. Fraad explores the suffering of American children and what can be done to change that trouble and restore joy to children, and their parents as well.

Where did our family form come from and how is it doing now? This episode of Capitalism Hits Home looks at what is happening in America's families. As Americans, we present ourselves as a family centered nation. However, our families are certainly not the center of our economic, political, or legal support systems. In fact, they are in deep trouble. Supports are needed and possible.

On this week's CHH, Dr. Fraad and Prof. Forlano take on the NRA and militarism. The massive well funded lobbying of the NRA, disguised as a non-profit, has paid for friendly lawmakers. We can change that and enact and enforce laws to spur connection and fight male violence. We can change the culture of violence from gun shows to the glorification of violence in the media. We can join the rest of t...

On this week's CHH, Dr. Fraad and Prof. Forlano talk about the intersection of capitalism with mass shootings. Why has the US had more than one mass shooting every day for a month? We are outliers. No other developed nation has had more than 18 mass shootings in the last 50 years. The shooters are overwhelmingly male. Fraad and Forlano look at the mutually shaping influences of capitalism, the NRA...

The movement to impeach New York's Governor Cuomo raises complex issues. Cuomo's sexually inappropriate gestures towards 10 of the women he employed, does not match the rape and sexual assault cases against Trump. While Cuomo's behavior is inappropriate and sexist, is it criminal? Dr. Fraad and Prof. Forlano talk about this, the corruption in US politics and the polarization of America.

Biden's 2 trillion dollar "American Jobs Plan" includes a $400 billion dollar commitment to support America's care economy. This plan lifts the salaries of America's badly underpaid domestic workers, home health aides, nurses aides, children's daycare workers, preschool teachers, caretakers for the elderly and disabled, food providers, and many others in essential but low paid jobs. What these cru...

This is part 4 of the 8-part series on capitalist commodification, Fraad and Forlano talk about shelter as a basic human need. 500,000 Americans are homeless, countless others face impossibly high rents.

In this part 3 of the 8-part series on capitalist commodification, Fraad and Forlano talk about the need for healthy food for basic human survival. Making food a capitalist commodity for profit is leaving our rich nation's citizens, and especially our children, hungry. How do other nations feed their people? What can we do about America's hungry people? Fraad and Forlano explore the answers to the...

In this second episode of the 8-part series on capitalist commodification, Fraad and Forlano discuss water rights. 8.8 million people in Texas are still having issues with their water supply. Capitalists have taken control of and privatized a basic human right and need, the access to a safe and clean water supply.