Week 7 — The Blueprint & The Powell Memo

This week we examine Chapter 10 and Appendix E—the Powell Memo in full. This single 1971 document is the blueprint for how corporate America captured the political system and set the stage for decades of working-class decline.

Discussion prompts:

• Reading the Powell Memo in full—what is most striking about its strategy?
• How much of what Powell called for has come to pass? Provide examples.
• What is the lesson for our movement? How do we write our own memo?

This is a pivotal week—share your analysis of the Powell Memo’s legacy.