Michael Parenti

An archive of speeches by this insightful author/researcher about how our societal institutions no longer serve us – Themes are: Globalization, US Intervention, Racism, the Media the cost of Empire and a discourse on Julius Caesar, rebel or dictator?

  • Michael Parenti Films on DVD ( 29)
    Included are archival films transferred from VHS (come back for updates ..) Get 10% or 15% off with your order I found a way to acknowledge those who order over $50 or $100 worth of items all at once. Once your selection goes over $50 you get 10% off with coupon AAYY. Once your selection goes over $100 you get 15% off with coupon BBYY. The coupon can only be used in the US and Canada

Michael Parenti, The Supremely Political Court

By Michael Parenti Audio CDs, Newest Catalog Items

For a 30 second Preview/Promo Click HERE

Archival, updated 2018 to reflect Trump’s Supreme Court – In his extraordinary 26 minute history of the Supreme Court Dr. Michael Parenti warned us in 1995 that this partisan, aristocratic institution might one day empower an autocratic president. It seems that time has come and two Trump appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, can push the scales of justice in favor of their politics. Unless there is a groundswell to question and change the legal rules of that institution. Why is so much power being given to 9 unelected, non term limited judges.
Michael Parenti was born into a working class Italian family in East Harlem, New York City. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in political science at Yale [ . . . ]

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:01 — 19.9MB)

Michael Parenti, The Supremely Political Court

By Michael Parenti Audio CDs, Newest Podcasts

Archival, updated 2018 to reflect Trump’s Supreme Court – In his extraordinary 26 minute history of the Supreme Court Dr. Michael Parenti warned us in 1995 that this partisan, aristocratic institution might one day empower an autocratic president. It seems that time has come and two Trump appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, can push the scales of justice in favor of their politics. Unless there is a groundswell to question and change the legal rules of that institution. Why is so much power being given to 9 unelected, non term limited judges.
Michael Parenti was born into a working class Italian family in East Harlem, New York City. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in political science at Yale [ . . . ]

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:01 — 19.9MB)

Michael Parenti: Capitalism’s Apocalypse (ONE of ONE)

By Michael Parenti Audio CDs, Newest Catalog Items

For a 30 second Preview/Promo click HERE

Why the rich can’t save anybody – not even themselves
Parenti predicted the financial crisis and said that giant corporate capitalism – by it’s very nature – is an apocalyptic system. When unregulated the built in elements of ever increased growth may well bring the whole system down. And he described the growing national debt not as a tragic mistake but as a means to shift ever more money from the tax payers to the financial institutions in the form of interest payments. This speech is an analysis of the many structural flaws of a capitalist system that puts it on a permanent collision course with democracy.
Recorded on August 23, 2008 at the closing reception for Maria Gilardin’s art show. [ . . . ]

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:00 — 19.9MB)

Michael Parenti: Superpatriotism and the Importance of Being Number One

By Michael Parenti Audio CDs, Newest Catalog Items

For a 30second Preview/Promo click HERE

2018 Tribute to Parenti – Updated Archive What does it mean to love one’s country? Why is it so important to be number one? In this sharp and funny speech MP dissects the uses of patriotism.
That was the introduction to a Michael Parenti talk given in 1988, at the end of the Reagan administration. That talk became a TUC Radio program and 2004 book published by City Lights. Superpatriotism: How hype, fear, and mindless flag-waving are supplanting informed debate and commitment to democracy.
Now, in 2018, so many years later, slogans such as: America First, America the Greatest Country on Earth are having a powerful come back. Resistance to Superpatriotism – even if it is simply remaining seated or taking a [ . . . ]

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:58 — 19.9MB)

Michael Parenti: How I Became an Activist

By Michael Parenti Audio CDs, Newest Catalog Items

For a 30 second PROMO/Preview click HERE

Parenti rarely talks about his life. How does a NYC street kid get accepted to Yale? Hoe does he lose the privilege of his PhD. in an arrest at a demonstration against the war on Vietnam, and become an internationally acclaimed author and lecturer?
Michael Parenti grew up in a poor, working class Italian community in New York City. When he received his PhD in political science from Yale in 1962 he was the success and pride of his family. He risked and ended his academic career when he openly opposed the war on Vietnam. Ultimately the choice he made then was a good one. He now is an independent political writer and thinker and author of over 20 books. Invitations [ . . . ]

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:00 — 19.9MB)

Michael Parenti: Capitalism’s Apocalypse (ONE of ONE)

By Michael Parenti Films on DVD, Newest Catalog Items

For a 30 second PROMO click HERE

Why the rich can’t save anybody – not even themselves
Parenti predicted the financial crisis and said that giant corporate capitalism – by it’s very nature – is an apocalyptic system. When unregulated the built in elements of ever increased growth may well bring the whole system down. And he described the growing national debt not as a tragic mistake but as a means to shift ever more money from the tax payers to the financial institutions in the form of interest payments. This speech is an analysis of the many structural flaws of a capitalist system that puts it on a permanent collision course with democracy.
Recorded on August 23, 2008 at the closing reception for Maria Gilardin’s art show. [ . . . ]

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:02 — 19.9MB)

Michael Parenti Theocracy VS. Democracy – The Political Uses of Religion

By Michael Parenti Audio CDs, Newest Catalog Items, Politics

30 second Preview/Promo Part ONE click HERE
code MP004CD: To order a 45 minute CD click here: $10.00
code MP004DVD: To order a 48 minute DVD click here: $14.00

One selfcontained 29 minute program
Michael Parenti says that democracy can’t survive under religious rule – whatever that religion may be. Parenti’s warning in this archival recording is as timely and urgently expressed as it was when this speech was first given during the second term of the Reagan administration. This talk is also very funny. Parenti explains how God may be considered as a “founding father” and why Woody Allen calls him an underachiever. It is easy to extend this timeless analysis to the present circumstances.
With roots in a working class Italian district of New York and a Ph.D. in political science from Yale Michael Parenti has become an internationally known writer and lecturer. He is the author of twenty [ . . . ]

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:00 — 19.9MB)

Michael Parenti: Civil Liberties In The 21St Century

By Michael Parenti Films on DVD

In his November 2009 lecture at the University of Hartford Dr. Michael Parenti answers intriguing questions about democracy. Is US democracy a result of capitalism as some claim – or does it exist – such as it is – in spite of the current economic system. AND did the founding fathers even envision a democratic system – and why were so many of them opposed to democracy.
Parenti is one of the nation’s leading progressive political analysts. This is part one of his one hour lecture. He was introduced by the President of the University of Hartford, Walter Harrison. After receiving his Ph.D. in political science from Yale Parenti has taught at colleges and universities, in the United States and abroad. [ . . . ]

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Michael Parenti: God And His Demons

By Michael Parenti Films on DVD

This is Dr. Michael Parenti’s first talk on his most recent book: God and His Demons. The 2010 book covers the many evils committed in the name of godly virtue throughout history, and the threat posed by fundamentalists and theocratic reactionaries.
Parenti is one of the nation’s leading progressive political analysts. He is a prolific author and an engaging speaker. Parenti grew up in a conservative, catholic, working class Italian community in New York city. After receiving his Ph.D. in political science from Yale he has taught at colleges and universities, in the United States and abroad. He risked and ended his academic career when he openly opposed the war on Vietnam. He serves on the board of judges for Project [ . . . ]

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Michael Parenti: Diversity And Orthodoxy In The News Media

By Michael Parenti Films on DVD

This August 28, 2008 analysis of the media is Parenti’s most up-to-date contribution. He gave the keynote speech for the Modern Media Censorship lectures by Project Censored. Each year Project Censored gives awards for the most censored news stories of the year. Parenti lists important criteria by which to judge media bias, ranging from ownership to labeling, false objectivity and sensationalism, omission, outright lies and the denial of causality with the famous theory of “stuff happens”.
Michael Parenti has written and lectured on the mainstream media for decades. His key book on the topic is “Inventing Reality – The politics of the News Media.” With roots in a working class Italian district of New York and a Ph.D. in political science [ . . . ]

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Michael Parenti: Contrary Notions

By Michael Parenti Films on DVD

City Light books in San Francisco’s North Beach was filled to capacity for the book party of Michael Parenti’s most recent work: Contrary Notions. This is a rich selection from the writings of a life time on history, empire, wealth, class power, ideology and much more. Parenti goes where few political analysts dare to go and – with acerbic wit –  makes transparent how he arrives at his conclusions. This excerpt of his 45 minute talk addresses taboo subjects such as the murder of the town of New Orleans and 9/11.
This is a highly professional recording by Brightpath Video of Parenti in an intimate book store setting on January 22, 2008.
code MP046DVD: To order as film on DVD: Read More

Michael Parenti: Stop The Spray

By Michael Parenti Films on DVD

Parenti weighs in on the Apple Moth eradication
What do Homeland Security and FEMA have to do with the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s plans to spray the San Francisco Bay Area with pesticides? Is this more dangerous to us and our rights than to the light brown apple moth? Parenti says that 50 other states have plans for similar  eradication programs – so this is NOT a local issue.
Includes a 6 minute documentary of the Golden Gate Bridge march against spraying of the Bay Area.
code MP045DVD: To order as 42 minute film on DVD: $14.00

Michael Parenti: Race, Gender And Class Struggle

By Michael Parenti Films on DVD

Discussion of racism is usually a discussion about personal attitudes – not of the larger system of power that sustains and feeds institutional and systemic racism and sexism. Racism and sexism have historically served a number of real functions: they have created a surplus workforce and they have divided those who find themselves at the bottom of the social power structure.
In this talk Michael Parenti asks the important question: How were racism and sexism used by employers, colonial powers, the CIA and even by some on the Left to maintain the existing order. Recorded in Arcata, CA, April 9, 2006
code MP041DVD: To order a DVD click here: $14.00