Real-life stories save Michael Moore's 'Capitalism'

How do you make a movie about the country's current economic crisis and actually get people to see it? Two obstacles most obviously arise: illustrating such a potentially dry subject in a compelling way, and persuading audiences to pay money for information they can get at home -- and feel depressed about -- for free.

[So Sad]

Has anyone seen this movie yet? Any opinions after seeing it?

[Abraham Lincoln]

Moore, he knocks the very system that made him millions. If not so very sad it would be laughable, how people believe these hypocrites (liberals), instead of their own eyes and ears. Did you pay to get in to view the movie? "Thats capitalism".

[BBB]

Abraham Lincoln wrote:

Moore, he knocks the very system that made him millions. If not so very sad it would be laughable, how people believe these hypocrites (liberals), instead of their own eyes and ears. Did you pay to get in to view the movie? "Thats capitalism".

So TRUE...hating a system and then "capitalizing" on that system...all of them are hypocrites. Why charge an admission fee if capitalism is soooooooooo bad?

[Ignorance is Rampant]

BBB wrote:

<quoted text>
So TRUE...hating a system and then "capitalizing" on that system...all of them are hypocrites. Why charge an admission fee if capitalism is soooooooooo bad?

Who said anything about "hating the system"? By the way, charging admission to the movies is not, in and of itself, "capitalism". Communist China has movie theaters that charge admission. Is that "capitalism"? Hell, they even have McDonald's. Is that "capitalism"? Obviously, you haven't seen the movie. It is about how ALL OF US (including you) are being suckered by giant multinational corporations and how the government is complicit. It looks at how these giant, greedy corporations caused the economic crisis in which we find ourselves and how you and I are bailing them out. They want to "privatize" their profits but "socialize" their risks. Regardless of how you feel about Moore (I'm not too crazy about him myself), I strongly urge you to see this movie with an open mind. I studied Business and Economics at Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania, so I saw the movie in a different light than most. It was eye-opening. Remember when Moore released "Fahrenheit 911"? Everyone on the right was threatening to sue him for lying and so on. Not a single lawsuit. Why? Moore is too smart to put anything on film that is not true and verifiable. Do you really think Moore is going to release this knowing it's full of lies and misinformation? Look, there's nothing wrong with making a few bucks, or a whole bunch of bucks. The question is, HOW is that money made? We don't produce anything in the U.S. anymore. All our wealth is on paper. Example: in the 1960s, 95% of all clothing worn in the U.S. was made here in the U.S. Today, it's a mere 5%. I knew people who worked at Levis who were making a very respectable living. Now Levis doesn't even own the factories that produce its line of clothing, they're made by a contractor in China. The workers there make $1 a day. With this huge savings in labor cost, you'd think they'd lower the price of their line of clothing. It's all about the bottom line and the means does not matter. I have a friend who wrote his master's thesis (MBA) on Wal*Mart. He was impressed by what a fine-tuned machine it was. The inventory control and tracking was like something out of science fiction. He cannot step in a Wal*Mart now because of what he found during his research. Corporate America is sucking the life out of middle America and Moore is simply putting a harsh spotlight on it. GO SEE THE MOVIE AND GET INFORMED BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY JUDGEMENTS. How can anyone say "man, that movie sucked" or "It's nothing but Bu11 sh_it" without even seeing it?

[Abraham Lincoln]

Don't cast your pearls amungst the swine, which means don't waste your breath on someone who will never listen or agree with you. With socialism you have misery, and with capitalism you have prosterity.

[Abraham Lincoln]

Don't cast your pearls amungst the swine, which means don't waste your breath on someone who will never listen or agree with you. With socialism you have MISERY, and with capitalism you have PROSPERITY.

[Ignorance is Rampant]

Abraham Lincoln wrote:

Don't cast your pearls amungst the swine, which means don't waste your breath on someone who will never listen or agree with you. With socialism you have MISERY, and with capitalism you have PROSPERITY.

Unfettered capitalism, which is what republicans want, is exactly what got us in this mess. This all started with Reagan, continued with Bush I, Clinton did next to nothing to stop it, and took on a life of its own under Bush II. I don't want socialism, either, but laissez-faire capitalism only breeds greed, NOT prosperity. The only winners in this type of capitalism are the very wealthy at the expense of the rest of us. My wife and I make a very comfortable living (six figure income, live in a very desirable part of town, million-dollar homes within walking distance, etc.) Our monthly expenses (including our mortgages, yes we own more than one property) are less than 25% of our monthly income. So, we do not live an extravagant lifestyle, but we feel the pinch (and our jobs are virtually recession-proof). Capitalism is a great thing, UNFETTERED capitalism is not. We need capitalism to be regulated. Regulations are nothing more than rules by which one has to abide, nothing more nothing less. Republicans want what amounts to "Capitalistic Anarchy", but once a corporation is on the verge of failing, they'll run to the very government they so despise for a handout and a bailout. They cry "let the market decide" and when it decides against them they cry "Uh, hold on a minute..." and you and I bail them out. Remember the Savings and Loans bailouts of the 1980s? The FDIC is in the red right now because of bank failures. Look at AIG (or whatever they call themselves now), the executives, to this day, are still giving themselves multimillion dollar bonuses with our tax dollars - Prosperity. Capitalism is a very good thing, if done correctly, not like a child let loose in a candy store.

[Abraham Lincoln]

I'm a Conservative not a Republican. There is a difference. Bush is a Republican, and the bailouts should have never taken place. How the hell do you think we came so far as a country if Capitalism breeds greed? Evil breeds greed, not Capitalism, Government breeds the greed. Reagan was the best President, with Lincoln a close second. With true Capitalism you have true prosperity. Capitalism isn't perfect, but it sure beats the hell out of Communism, Facism and Socialism. Which are all the same. I would rather be poor and enjoy my constitutional rights, freedoms and opportunity than be taken care of by the government and live a dull, regimented existence. Healthy people that believe they need the government for their food and shelter and health care are LOSERS. They have no pride to live and die by their own efforts. Misery and bitterness, with BIG GOVERNMENT (SOCIALISM). This never works, Tell me one time it has been successful. I have not been Indoctrinated, I am self taught, I would rather have common sense than be Indoctrinated. Read The 5000 Year Leap. I think of Obama and the Democrats in a candy store off their RITALIN. So happy you and your family are doing so well, this is after all the greatest country in the world.

[Petro]

Abraham Lincoln wrote:

Moore, he knocks the very system that made him millions. If not so very sad it would be laughable, how people believe these hypocrites (liberals), instead of their own eyes and ears. Did you pay to get in to view the movie? "Thats capitalism".

Those are the talking points of Fox News, Can't you think for yourself? Must you be led by nose all the time? What kind of an American are you? You need to get the Hell out of this country.

[Ignorance is Rampant]

Abraham Lincoln wrote:

I'm a Conservative not a Republican. There is a difference. Bush is a Republican, and the bailouts should have never taken place. How the hell do you think we came so far as a country if Capitalism breeds greed? Evil breeds greed, not Capitalism, Government breeds the greed. Reagan was the best President, with Lincoln a close second With true Capitalism you have true prosperity. Capitalism isn't perfect, but it sure beats the hell out of Communism, Facism and Socialism. Which are all the same. I would rather be poor and enjoy my constitutional rights, freedoms and opportunity than be taken care of by the government and live a dull, regimented existence. Healthy people that believe they need the government for their food and shelter and health care are LOSERS. They have no pride to live and die by their own efforts. Misery and bitterness, with BIG GOVERNMENT (SOCIALISM). This never works, Tell me one time it has been successful. I have not been Indoctrinated, I am self taught, I would rather have common sense than be Indoctrinated. Read The 5000 Year Leap. I think of Obama and the Democrats in a candy store off their RITALIN. So happy you and your family are doing so well, this is after all the greatest country in the world.

Abe, Abe. What happened to you? First you free the slaves, then you speak crap. it's as obvious as a kick in the nuts that you are speaking out of the orifice from which you defecate. Fascism, socialism, and communism are NOT the same thing. They are in YOUR pea brain. I grew up in the projects on welfare and foodstamps and I can tell you THANK GOD we had them. Who the hell knows where we'd be right now if it weren't for those safety nets. My siblings and I are all college educated and have great jobs. We are very productive members of society. I have many friends who grew up in the projects who are also college educated and productive. We have more than paid back the investment the government made in us. We attended such schools as Stanford, Notre Dame, Harvard, Yale, Penn, Texas, UTEP, Columbia, A&M, and NMSU just to name a few. I think the only LOSER here is you for having such a disgustingly closed mind and for displaying such grotesque ignorance. I tried being civil, but you blew it, Abe. History will show us that Reagan was not the god you make him out to be. But your mind is sealed shut and not even the light of day, much less knowledge, can get in there. Read your post and see how repulsive you are. No, government does not breed greed, the lack of regulation breeds it. If there is no regulation, corporations will be left to their own devices and economic meltdown will occur. No regulations means no rules, have at it, do as you please, that is a recipe for disaster. I'm sure your head hurts from trying to comprehend this, but don't think too hard, your ears may bleed. You're a waste of my time and any response to this post by you or anyone else of your ilk, will be met with a blank screen. In the words of Barbara Bush, "I'm done with you".

[Abraham Lincoln]

I vote and pay taxes, also, I am American Indian. That would make me a DAMN GOOD AMERICAN. I know how Fox News gets to Liberals, those stupid talking points, Thank God for NBC, CBS, CNN, and the View, how else would people know that Van Jones was not a new pair of shoes, or that ACORN was something more than a nut.

[Abraham Lincoln]

Does your boxers or briefs get in a bunch when facts get in the way of blind Ideology? Don't you just hate that? Or, when an elitest can't win the debate and retreats to name calling, sooooooooooo first grade. For a self proclaimed educated Individual, its truly laughable. Facts are stubborn things.

[Ignorance is Rampant]

Abraham Lincoln wrote:

Does your boxers or briefs get in a bunch when facts get in the way of blind Ideology? Don't you just hate that? Or, when an elitest can't win the debate and retreats to name calling, sooooooooooo first grade. For a self proclaimed educated Individual, its truly laughable. Facts are stubborn things.

My friend, you resorted to name calling when you made a blanket statement calling anyone who has been on government assistance a "LOSER". No provocation at all. That is a typical conservative way of looking at things. It's only bad if someone else does it. You're a piece of work. Pathetic. Have a happy life wallowing in your ignorance.

[Ignorance is Rampant]

Abraham Lincoln wrote:

Does your boxers or briefs get in a bunch when facts get in the way of blind Ideology? Don't you just hate that? Or, when an elitest can't win the debate and retreats to name calling, sooooooooooo first grade. For a self proclaimed educated Individual, its truly laughable. Facts are stubborn things.

As for facts being "stubborn things", I can see you don't let them get in the way.

[Moderate Clam]

I might make a movie entitled "Socialism."

Of course, there will be no real-life moving stories of specific families who've lost their homes to confiscation, or airline pilots whose government controlled wages are so low, they rely on secondary jobs and food stamps to survive.

That's because those bourgeois criminals were all taken away and shot!

There may be a few toilet paper lines to film though.

[Abraham Lincoln]

Mr. Ignorance, so much for my Conservative views being a waste of your time. Where is the "blank screen"? I love how a liberal debates and states how I said all people are "LOSERS", when the facts are (that are stated above, use your eyes) I stated "HEALTHY" people that believe they need to be taken care of by government for food and shelter are "LOSERS",(NOT ALL PEOPLE), thats how all liberals debate. As a SELFPROCLAIMED EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL, you should be able to debate on the facts, not the fiction. You have been brain-washed and Indoctrinated, and yet you say you have it all, yet you still have misery. The name calling truly shows who has the small mind, my views will never change and I am very happy with my freedoms and opportunity, I belive in God and myself, thats all I need, NOT THE GOVERNMENT!

[Ignorance is Rampant]

Abraham Lincoln wrote:

Mr. Ignorance, so much for my Conservative views being a waste of your time. Where is the "blank screen"? I love how a liberal debates and states how I said all people are "LOSERS", when the facts are (that are stated above, use your eyes) I stated "HEALTHY" people that believe they need to be taken care of by government for food and shelter are "LOSERS",(NOT ALL PEOPLE), thats how all liberals debate. As a SELFPROCLAIMED EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL, you should be able to debate on the facts, not the fiction. You have been brain-washed and Indoctrinated, and yet you say you have it all, yet you still have misery. The name calling truly shows who has the small mind, my views will never change and I am very happy with my freedoms and opportunity, I belive in God and myself, thats all I need, NOT THE GOVERNMENT!

So you won't need the fire department when your house burns down, you won't need the police if there's an emergency, I wonder how you send mail. How do you get to work if you don't use the roads the government has provided? How are you using the internet without the electricity the government is making sure you have? THE GOVERNMENT IS ALL AROUND YOU !!! THEY'RE GOING TO GET YOU !!! YOU ARE A PARANOID FREAK !! For someone who believes in God, you sure are a hateful person. Is that what your god teaches - hate. Mine is the Prince of Peace, the God of Love and Tolerance. I bet your raggedy crap-stained underwear are in a knot knowing that Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Liberal. He was a long-haired hippie radical with crazy ideas who took on the establishment. Jesus taught us to care for one another, care for the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and provide shelter for the homeless. Everything LIBERALS stand for and everything conservatives hate. You are a pathetic and hateful person. Have fun playing with yourself.

[FilmProf]

Abraham Lincoln wrote:

I'm a Conservative not a Republican. There is a difference. Bush is a Republican, and the bailouts should have never taken place. How the hell do you think we came so far as a country if Capitalism breeds greed? Evil breeds greed, not Capitalism, Government breeds the greed. Reagan was the best President, with Lincoln a close second. With true Capitalism you have true prosperity. Capitalism isn't perfect, but it sure beats the hell out of Communism, Facism and Socialism. Which are all the same. I would rather be poor and enjoy my constitutional rights, freedoms and opportunity than be taken care of by the government and live a dull, regimented existence. Healthy people that believe they need the government for their food and shelter and health care are LOSERS. They have no pride to live and die by their own efforts. Misery and bitterness, with BIG GOVERNMENT (SOCIALISM). This never works, Tell me one time it has been successful. I have not been Indoctrinated, I am self taught, I would rather have common sense than be Indoctrinated. Read The 5000 Year Leap. I think of Obama and the Democrats in a candy store off their RITALIN. So happy you and your family are doing so well, this is after all the greatest country in the world.

Perhaps you haven’t noticed that this country has long since passed its zenith.
By virtually every measure, America is on a steep and rapid decline. Low educational achievement; highest incarceration rate. The economy doesn’t work for most people, although it works very smoothly for the extremely wealthy. Capitalism DOES breed greed. Have you not been paying attention? Just look around at the disparity between the ‘have everythings’ and ‘have nothings.’ Hard work, which was the underpinning of the American Dream, doesn’t work at all for those who earn substandard wages which can’t provide for the most basic human needs of food and shelter.

When you say you would be rather be poor and enjoy your constitutional rights, freedoms and opportunity than be taken care of by the government and live a dull, regimented existence, are you implying that one cannot have constitutional freedoms and not be poor? Maybe you haven’t noticed or even considered it, but the underclass in this country--which is growing by leaps and bounds--are in fact, living a ‘dull, regimented existence’ and it’s all they’ll ever know.

And I have to be a bit disdainful at your claim of being self-taught. What does that mean? If you’re like most humans, what you chose to teach yourself was self-selected and what you found personally interesting and within your learning capabilities. Did you self-teach yourself quantum physics? Differential calculus? Organic chemistry? Chinese? I think you’re confusing ‘self-taught’ for ‘well-educated’(or in your term,‘indoctrinated’) which are two different things. If “The 5000 Year Leap” by W. Cleon Skousen--a Joe McCarthy, commie-hunting/hating wannabe--is the extent of your self education, you are woefully uninformed.

[Ignorance is Rampant]

FilmProf wrote:

<quoted text>
Perhaps you haven’t noticed that this country has long since passed its zenith.
By virtually every measure, America is on a steep and rapid decline. Low educational achievement; highest incarceration rate. The economy doesn’t work for most people, although it works very smoothly for the extremely wealthy. Capitalism DOES breed greed. Have you not been paying attention? Just look around at the disparity between the ‘have everythings’ and ‘have nothings.’ Hard work, which was the underpinning of the American Dream, doesn’t work at all for those who earn substandard wages which can’t provide for the most basic human needs of food and shelter.
When you say you would be rather be poor and enjoy your constitutional rights, freedoms and opportunity than be taken care of by the government and live a dull, regimented existence, are you implying that one cannot have constitutional freedoms and not be poor? Maybe you haven’t noticed or even considered it, but the underclass in this country--which is growing by leaps and bounds--are in fact, living a ‘dull, regimented existence’ and it’s all they’ll ever know.
And I have to be a bit disdainful at your claim of being self-taught. What does that mean? If you’re like most humans, what you chose to teach yourself was self-selected and what you found personally interesting and within your learning capabilities. Did you self-teach yourself quantum physics? Differential calculus? Organic chemistry? Chinese? I think you’re confusing ‘self-taught’ for ‘well-educated’(or in your term,‘indoctrinated’) which are two different things. If “The 5000 Year Leap” by W. Cleon Skousen--a Joe McCarthy,****-hunting/hating wannabe--is the extent of your self education, you are woefully uninformed.

Very well said. Sadly, this will not budge Abe's stubborn, closed-minded views. You can lead Abe to knowledge, but you can't make him think.

[Abraham Lincoln]

Sticks and Stones, Liberals, Sticks and Stones. You keep your "CHANGE", "MISERY", and "BIG GOVERNMENT", I will keep what money I have left, my GUNS, freedoms and opportunity (CAPITALISM). See you at the polls in 2010. I am sure it will be crowded. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE VOTED FOR CHANGE, NOT MARXISM. If what you have displayed, is called Educated, I will keep my SELF TAUGHT Education and common sense. In the words of Al Gore, "The Debate is Over" The American people will win. By the way, more people are conservative in this counrty. Liberals are like dogs,travel in packs.