A Liberation Agenda for the Rich

Asking for your thoughts

Photo from Change Not Charity: The Story of the Funding Exchange.

One of the goals of this project is to articulate a liberation agenda for the rich.

This might be hard to imagine in a week when Trump, Musk, Zuckerburg and Bezos have aligned to create an almost cartoon-like caricature of owning class greed and domination.

We must do all we can to oppose, limit, block and hamstring their power and the power of the owning class to exploit and oppress.

But, in the long term, it is not enough to oppose the rich, eat the rich, or make fun of the rich. We can’t shame them, or anyone else, into righteous action. We need a transformative agenda for the wealthy and the resources in their control.

We know that the rich are like everyone else: ordinary humans that can be motivated by a positive, hopeful vision for themselves and their lives.¹

We are going through a tremendously painful and momentous transition in human society and in the U.S. specifically. I think some set of the rich can play a positive role. I think there can be a surprise force of owning class people who help this transition move towards collective health and well-being. I know many wealthy people are horrified by what they/we are seeing, even as they/we watch our stock portfolios increase in value.

I want to be clear, I am talking about more than being a good donor or investor, more than giving the loose change in our pockets to noble causes or screening our mutual funds. I am talking about a vision that gives us meaningful work to do in service of a pro-human, working class agenda. I am talking about redistribution, divestment, reparations, and the messy process of backing and rejoining the working class. I’m dreaming of some mix of the 12 step program of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 10 point program of the Black Panther Party.²

I would like your help. There are over 1,250 people subscribed to this newsletter! You are one. You have a good mind. You are curious about this topic. I want to know what you think.

I hope this can be a useful opportunity to turn our attention towards a hopeful future, even in the midst of a painful present.

What is one part of a liberation agenda for the rich that you’d like to see?

Please comment below and share with others.

1. Though, as I’ve said before, let’s not waste our time thinking we can organize our dedicated opposition such as Musk or Trump. Let’s focus on moving the neutral or passive allies towards becoming active allies.

2. My closest approximation is this list of core competencies for the rich in left movements that I wrote up a few years back. Take a look if you want some ideas, and please know specific, practical suggestions are welcome alongside more long-term, visionary goals.