Notes | Brutkey

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

When you see comments on Social Media defending the violence of ICE, it is worth keeping this quote in mind.

"Violence is so often the
preferred weapon of the
stupid: indeed, one might
say it is one of the tragedies
of human existence that this
is the one form of stupidity to
which it is most difficult to
come up with an intelligent
response.".
.
- David Graeber

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

When Giant Oil Companies fund Trump and Republican Party, it is not bribery - it is "fund-raising" or "lobbying."

"Once there was a time when giving
politicians money so as to influence their
positions was referred to as “bribery” and
it was illegal. It was a covert business, if
often pervasive, involving the carrying of
bags of money and solicitation of specific
favors: a change in zoning laws, the
awarding of a construction contract,
dropping the charges in a criminal case.
Now soliciting bribes has been relabeled
“fund-raising” and bribery itself, “lobbying.”
.
- David Graeber

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

If John Pilger was around today, he'd have a lot to say about the Venezuela situation.

In my lifetime, the United States has overthrown or attempted to overthrow more than 50 governments, mostly democracies. It has interfered in democratic elections in 30 countries. It has dropped bombs on the people of 30 countries, most of them poor and defenceless. It has attempted to murder the leaders of 50 countries. It has fought to suppress liberation movements in 20 countries.

The extent and scale of this carnage are largely unreported, and unrecognised; and those responsible continue to dominate Anglo-American political life.

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

During times like this, the wisdom of John Pilger is very much needed.

“Imperialism is not a word that belongs in the past. It is alive and thriving, though its language has changed. It is now called ‘globalization’, ‘humanitarian intervention’, or ‘spreading democracy’. Its victims are still the same: the poor, the powerless, and those who happen to live where powerful nations want control.”

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

The UK is a bizarre country where its seen as just fine & normal for people to sleep in tents in the freezing cold. Temperatures to hit -4 this week

But the idea Billionaires could be less rich. Not poor, not struggling, just a bit less rich, this is seen as extreme and radical

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

If you want to read more about David Graeber's thoughts on this topic. Here you go: https://davidgraeber.org/articles/revolutions-in-reverse/

Feminists have long since pointed out that those on the bottom of any unequal social arrangement tend to think about and therefore care about those on top more than those on top that about or care about them. Women everywhere tend to think and know more about men's lives than men do about women. Just as back people know more about white people. employees about employers' and the poor about the rich. David Graeber.

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

At the end of the month we will have an event on Decolonisation.

Kadija George Sesay will speak about the Decolonisation of Radical Black Publishers in a Pan-African World

https://davidgraeber.institute/kadija-george-sesay-the-decolonisation-of-radical-black-publishers-in-a-pan-african-world/

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

Just imagine.

Poster - of the place you'd go if you were not opprssed by wage labor and class society.

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

“The worst slavery is that of heavily indoctrinated happy morons who adore their chains and cannot wait to thank their masters for the joy of their subservience.”

David Graeber Institute
@DGI@graeber.social

Revolutions in Reverse is a book from David Graeber about politics, violence and art.

If you are searching for a book to read for 2026 that will make you think about different possibilities for this world - make you think about alternatives to capitalism, this might be a good pick.