— "We are witnessing a radicalization of young people in most countries in Europe today" explains Tariq Alli. The anger on the streets attracting huge numbers of people in the U.S.. and in Europe reflects demands for a public health system, free education, cheap homes, and railways and utilities which are not privatized. Ali says what we are seeing is a hollowing out of the democratic process, where elites don't need to prove that they are democrats anymore.
"Gone are the days of the Cold War where when the idea of giving more space to dissidents and the media was necessary to show the Communist world look we are better than you. They don't need to prove it and when there is resistance they try to crush it immediately."
—Notes from the Left Forum is produced at WBAI Radio News in NYC with thanks to Brian Drolet at Deep Dish TV and Seth Adler and associates at the Left Forum.