#1311 Our Culture and Our Economy are Making Us Depressed
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Jay Tomlinson
4.5 • 3.4K Ratings
🗓️ 16 October 2019
⏱️ 84 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Air Date: 10/15/2019
Today we take a look at the literally depressing truth about our economy, our work and the culture that surrounds it. We work too hard to be perfect, we don't get enough time off, many of us don't have enough control over the work we do and too many know their jobs are completely worthless.
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SHOW NOTES
One in eight young people have a mental health problem. One big problem is access to treatment. Mental health services are underfunded, leaving many people stuck on waiting lists.
Ch. 2: From Stigma to Oppression - Off-Kilter with Rebecca Vallas - Air Date 5-31-19
Mental Illness is very common in the US, from burnout to anxiety to depression to suicide, and our systems don't support proper care.
Ch. 3: Neoliberalism Is Creating a Mental Health Crisis - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 02-08-18
Neoliberalism, the belief that markets are democratic and that what works for them, works for all parts of society, isn't working for working people. Neoliberalism is creating a mental health crisis in America and around the world!
Ch. 4: David Graeber Bullshit Jobs - Novara Media with James Butler - Air Date 2-1-19
David Graeber discusses neoliberalism, bullshit jobs, capitalism and the value of labor.
Ch. 5: On Bullshit Jobs with David Graeber - This Is Hell - Air Date 5-14-18
David Graeber and Chuck discuss bullshit jobs, financial feudalism, the ruling class and human instinct.
Ch. 6: Uncovering the Causes of Depression with Johann Hari - The Majority Report - Air Date 3-19-19
The biological makeup of humans has not changed for many centuries, but depression, anxiety and addiction are on the rise. Sam and Johann discuss.
Ch. 7: Why You Are Depressed and Anxious with Johann Hari - TED Talks Daily - Air Date 9-18-19
Johann Hair discusses the causes of rising depression and anxiety because of the modern capitalist neoliberal world.
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 8: Final comments wrapping up
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
- Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
- Our Fingers Cold - K2
- Waltz and Fury - Macrame
- Glass Runner - Marble Run
- Take a Tiny Train - Ray Catcher
- LaBranche - Bayou Birds
- Derailed - The Depot
- Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
- Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to this episode of the award-winning Best of the Left podcast in which we shall |
| 0:07.0 | learn the literally depressing truth about the structure of our economy. |
| 0:12.4 | Before we get started, I have a few thoughts on this subject. |
| 0:14.8 | First of all, I'm just back from vacation, which is exciting. |
| 0:18.3 | First one in a long time, if ever, depending on how you calculate that. |
| 0:24.2 | I got to say, it was a bit like going to the dentist for the first time in ten years. |
| 0:30.7 | It was very helpful, but you get the sense like, no, I'm going to need you to do this a |
| 0:36.6 | lot more often to help get caught up on all the damage that's been done in the intervening |
| 0:43.0 | time. |
| 0:44.0 | There will be more vacations coming soon. |
| 0:47.7 | I'm already looking forward to that. |
| 0:50.0 | So today's episode is answering the question like, why haven't I gone on a vacation in ten |
| 0:55.7 | years? |
| 0:56.7 | Why did it take me so long to think that that was a good idea? |
| 1:01.1 | Just a quick recap of the last ten, thirteen years or so, not many listeners probably know |
| 1:11.1 | these days that I burned out on Best of the Left within a year of starting it. |
| 1:18.4 | I started the show in 2006 and burned out on it eight months later because I worked |
| 1:27.8 | so hard, such long hours, put out so many episodes, way over-promised, over-committed, |
| 1:36.6 | and then just thought, oh, I can't do this. |
| 1:38.8 | And thought I just needed to stop. |
| 1:41.6 | The idea of dialing back seemed too difficult somehow or not worth it. |
| 1:50.0 | And so I completely burned out in 2006 having done the... |
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