Capitalism, we're through

[IndianaGreen]

Capitalism, we're through

For people without health care or who are losing their jobs, the love affair with the free market is already over--the question is when they'll find somebody new.

October 2, 2009

IN FRANCE, you pay nothing to go to college. In Britain, the National Health Service is free. And in Sweden, any woman who gives birth receives two years of paid maternity leave.

Meanwhile, in the richest country on the planet, the United States, college graduates are buried in debt, medical bills are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy, and if you have children--well, you're on your own.

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the former countries have formidable labor unions and even independent labor parties. In the latter, we have no such labor party.

But we do have Michael Moore. His new film, Capitalism: A Love Story, is at turns, infuriating, hilarious, shocking and inspiring. He could have made a film just about the financial crisis, or just about the foreclosures, or just about Wall Street, but he didn't. Moore made a film about the whole damn system.

His work is both an expression of a new consciousness and a catalyst for its development. Millions of people will find, in this film, confirmation of their own ideas, frustrations and aspirations.

http://socialistworker.org/2009/10/02/through-with-capitalism

[bbinacan]

1. And Moore continues

to enrich himself. Oh the sweet irony.

[Shireling]

2. I am so glad that he made this movie.

Would it be better if he remained silent? At least he is putting his money to good use. Most wealthy people just sit on the hill and forget about the rest of the us.

I love you Michael!!! :loveya:

[noiretextatique]

3. there's nothing ironic about it

you can make money doing informative documentaries, or you can make money in a number of other heinous ways, such as war profiteering, as the former vice president did.

[Joe Chi Minh]

4. Don't intoduce even a smidgeon of reality and good sense into poor

bbinacan's little world. It's just not kind. I don't think he's bright enough to be a political operative.

He and his pals have evidently discovered the word, "irony", just recently, and have been bringing it up again and again on the tribute threads to Michael Moore, evidently in the hope that bona fide DUers will say, "Gee. How right you are! What a nasty man that Michael Moore is!"

bbinacan. Forget it. You simply earn everyone's contempt at the shallowness of your thinking and your presumption in expressing it on this progressive board; and no matter how many times you repeat it, you will not succeed in diminishing peoples respect and affection for Michael. Though you evidently get personal satisfaction from expressing it, in fact, it has precisely the opposite effect to the one you desire. By arousing emotion, never mind that it's negative, you simply REINFORCE your readers' already-established attitude with your clumsy scoffing.

[bertman]

5. So, what's your point, bbbraininacan? Have you seen the movie? Have you heard and

seen its message? Do you think that being rich in and of itself is bad? Does someone who is able to use a medium as powerful as the movie theater have an obligation to use it to help to change the world for the better?

I know you were trying to be a smartass, but it would be really nice if you'd explain why.

[Patchuli]

6. His money obviously is used for

philanthropic purposes. He sure doesn't appear to be living it up.

[Deja Q]

9. I would genuinely love to see some links.

Not just idle comments.

I usually try to pony up links to comments to various quotes and claims.

[Patchuli]

13. Would you now?

I guess his filmmaking to educate the American people doesn't count...

[Deja Q]

8. Precisely. He speaks what everyone knows and laughs all the way to the bank.

People like Al Franken are genuine and noble.

Moore's no better than O'Reilly. Just on the opposite team.

Moore claims he'll be thrown to the lions. He'll probably just be sipping wine with them. If he's telling people to revolt, that in of itself is revolting and I sure as hell will not die... for him.

[Chulanowa]

14. And your point is what, exactly?

Al Franken isn't working pro bono either, man.

You realize that there is no conflict between the message of Michael Moore's documentary, and him making money off of it, right? Critiquing the theft, corruption, abuse, graft, and manipulations in our "capitalist" system does not preclude making a buck off of honest effort.

You sound like one of those idiots that claim RATM should have given away their music for free.

[TankLV]

12. And isn't that GREAT for Michael Moore?!!!

I knew you'd wish him well for his JUSTLY earned REWARDS for DOING GOOD and TELLING THE TRUTH!!!

[lame54]

15. only the poor should speak out because they have the biggest megaphone

[bhikkhu]

7. I don't know if I'm a Moore fan or not

But I love the idea that there is someone making movies questioning these presumptions. He is literally doing the work of millions, as far as educating and motivating the needy populace toward a more intelligent world.

[Deja Q]

10. Then where are the millions? Surely millions can spread more words than just one man?

You guessed it: In our workplaces, on discussion forums and blogs... all sorts of places.

Don't be a sycophant.

[bhikkhu]

11. I don't get it

"In a modern context a sycophant (from the Greek συκοφάντης sykophántēs) is a servile person who, acting in his or her own self-interest, attempts to win favor by flattering one or more influential persons, or by saying lies against a fellow citizen for gaining a kind of profit."

I believe that making well-intentioned movies highlighting social ills and so forth is a valuable contribution, and as they are seen by millions and discussed by millions...I'm not a fan personally, but I appreciate what he is doing.