[RNGG] People Get Ready!

Joe Guinan joins us for Episode 34 of Redneck Gone Green

Howdy folks,
April 9, 2024 3/6pm pt/et  Joe Guinan will be our guest on  Redneck Gone Green. Joe is the President at The Democracy Collaborative. His work focuses on political economy and economic system change. He co-authored (with Martin O’Neill) The Case for Community Wealth Building  and People Get Ready! Preparing for a Corbyn Government (with Christine Berry).  People Get Ready was named one of The Guardian’s best politics books of 2019.

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Onward to the world we deserve,
David Cobb (he/him)
Why I put my pronouns in my email signature

Jeremy Corbyn: The Unapologetic Socialist 
Jeremy Corbin is a proud and unapologetic Socialist who served as Leader of the Labor Party in England from 2015 to 2020. He has been a trade unionist and activist politician, known for his roles Anti-Fascist Action, the Anti-Apartheid Movement, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and advocating for a united Ireland and Palestinian statehood. In 2020 he was almost elected Prime Minister of England.

Corbyn took the Labor Party dramatically to the Left, and it grew dramatically during the early years of his leadership. Corbyn famously called for renationalising public utilities and railroads, and reversing the neoliberal austerity program of Tony Blair. In 2019 Jeremy Corbin stood for Prime Minister, calling for a fundamental shift in British politics.

Although Corbyn lost that election, his campaign was the closest an actual socialist had been to leading England in 50 years. As part of the campaign, Joe Guinan and Christine Berry wrote People Get Ready! Preparing for a Corbyn Government, named  one of The Guardian’s best politics books of 2019.

People Get Ready! presents an illuminating and forward-thinking exploration of the potential impact of a Jeremy Corbyn-led administration in the United Kingdom. Through a blend of insightful analysis, visionary policy proposals, and pragmatic advice, Berry and Guinan offer a comprehensive roadmap for ushering in a transformative era of progressive governance. Rooted in principles of social justice, economic democracy, and participatory democracy, their  vision inspires hope and mobilizes readers to engage in the work of building a more equitable and inclusive society.

At the core of "People Get Ready!" lies an unwavering belief in the power of bold, progressive leadership to effect meaningful change to advance a transformative agenda centered on the needs and aspirations of ordinary people. 

Central to the analysis is the recognition that achieving meaningful progress requires more than just electing the right leaders—it demands a concerted effort to build popular support, mobilize grassroots movements, and challenge the entrenched power structures that perpetuate inequality and injustice. "People Get Ready!" serves as a rallying cry for activists, organizers, and ordinary citizens to seize the opportunity presented by a Corbyn government to push for transformative change from the bottom up.

Another compelling aspect of the book is its focus on concrete policy proposals aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing society today. Berry and Guinan offer a comprehensive blueprint for progressive governance, encompassing initiatives to tackle income inequality, address climate change, strengthen workers' rights, and democratize the economy. From a Green New Deal to the expansion of public ownership and the implementation of participatory budgeting. These policies are bold, ambitious, and rooted in principles of social and economic justice.

Moreover, "People Get Ready!" offers a refreshing perspective on the role of government in fostering social and economic transformation. Rejecting the neoliberal orthodoxy that has dominated policymaking for decades, the authors argue  for a return to the principles of the welfare state and the promotion of the common good.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on hope and optimism in the face of daunting challenges. Berry and Guinan acknowledge the formidable obstacles that stand in the way of progressive change, from entrenched corporate interests to institutional inertia and political opposition. However, rather than succumbing to despair or cynicism, they calls upon readers to embrace a spirit of possibility and resilience. Although Corbyn was not elected, "People Get Ready!" is ultimately a testament to the power of collective action and the belief that another world is not only possible but within reach.  The Left in the United States has much to learn from this experiment.

Joe Guinan

Joe  is the President at The Democracy Collaborative. He co-authored (with Martin O’Neill) The Case for Community Wealth Building (Polity, 2020) and (with Christine Berry) People Get Ready! Preparing for a Corbyn Government (O/R Books, 2019), which was named one of The Guardian’s best politics books of the year.

A former journalist, he was previously a program director at the Aspen Institute, a fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and a consultant to the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation. Born in England with dual Irish and British citizenship, he grew up in British labor movement circles and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. 

He was the executive director of the Next System Project at The Democracy Collaborative when it was launched in 2016. He writes regularly for an array of progressive outlets, is a frequently cited expert on the new economics in major news media, serves on several nonprofit boards, and is a commissioning editor of the journal Renewal.