Michael Moore: '"It's the end of capitalism as we know it-And I say good riddance."

[kpete]

Michael Moore: 'It's the end of capitalism as we know it'
David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Thursday November 20, 2008

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Moore was equally certain that union demands for higher wages are not at the root of the problem. "I'm stunned, actually, at how much they've given back," he said of the unions. "This is not the workers' fault. The workers don't design these cars. The workers don't have this arrogant attitude that the public will buy whatever we make for them."

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"As soon as the banks or the financial institutions or the people that just gambled the money away -- as soon as they were wanting some dough, boy, the trough just was laid out for them," complained Moore. "But when it came time, now, to help the people, the working class of this country, it's like, 'Ah, I don't know about that.'"

However, Moore himself is not in favor of a Congressional bailout. He acknowledged that "if General Motors collapses, then there goes hundreds of thousands of jobs, if not millions of jobs." But he also insisted, "I don't think these companies, with these management people, should be given a dime, because that's just going to be money going up in smoke or off to other countries."

"I'll tell you what it really has proven to me," Moore observed. "These guys, after all of that stuff they've been telling us all these years about capitalism, free market, free enterprise -- they don't believe in any of that. They don't believe in free enterprise or a free market. They want -- they want socialism for themselves. ... To hell with everybody else, but give it to them. And I think, really, what we're seeing here right now with them, with the banks, we're seeing the end of capitalism -- the end of capitalism as we know it. And I say good riddance."

more at:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Michael_Moore_sees_the_end_of_1120.html

[Downtown Hound]

1. I couldn't agree more Michael, except for one thing

I'd personally be in favor of the bailout, on two conditions. First of all, the automakers must bring all of their factories back home and build cars here in the U.S. Second of all, they must drastically improve their fuel economy. If those two conditions are met, then I'd be in favor of the bailout.

[xxqqqzme]

5. plus all upper management HAS to go.

Their arrogance, at GM anyway, sent AlL the GM EVs to the junk yard to be flattened.

[noonwitch]

13. Ford cleaned house a couple of years ago, to some degree

They will make it to January. Mullaley is one of the smarter guys in the mix-he saw which way congress was going, and he sold all that Mazda stock back to Mazda, so that Ford would have cash to make it into 2009.

Chrysler is toast, GM may end up in bankruptcy. Either way, my state pays the price.

[NorCalDem]

7. Exactly.

If we, the taxpayers bail them out and stave off bankruptcy, then for all intents and purposes we OWN the companies and as such, should be able to dictate policy to the CEO's. If they don't accept those terms, then they can go fuck themselves...

[groovedaddy]

2. We haven't had "pure" capitalism for awhile now. The rich are calling the shots

and that's why they've become richer. Working people are poorly organized and thus unable to agitate the system to get a larger slice of the pie.

[NorCalDem]

9. This is also true.

It's my favorite response to rapid right wingers. Whenever they try to tell me how awesome the free market is I respond with "i agree that in theory the free market is great, but since in the history of mankind we have yet to actually observe a 'free market' it's all still theory at this point..."

That always leaves em scratching their heads...

[SharonAnn]

3. Management does whatever will give themselves the biggest bonuses.

That's it. They're rewarded for short-term results, so they do whatever it takes to get those results.

I worked for a company that manufactured large equipment and most of the orders for it were closed in the 4th quarter of the year (and the end of the 3rd quarter.

They promoted an equipment salesman to be General Manager of the plant. He figured out that his bonused was based on various things, including inventory. So, being a salesman by trade, he figured out how to maximize his bonus (by reducing inventory).

Then, when the orders came flowing in at the end of the year and customers wanted theri equipment ASAP, there was not sufficient inventory to build the equipment. Some of the parts required had 6-9 month lead times.

So, he got his bonus, the company lost many millions in revenue that year because they couldn't deliver the equipment and book the revenue. And guess what, competition quickly took the business that my company couldn't fulfill.

He lost his job, but with that bonus I'm sure he didn't care much. The company restructured the bonus calculation system, but there will always be someone who tries to game it.

[Marrah_G]

4. It's easy for people who won't be put out of a job to say those things

It's also easy to be idealistic when you don't have to worry about putting food on the table.

This will break the UAW.

[xxqqqzme]

6. of course it will - that's the point.

[Greyhound]

11. Just as UAW and others cheered on Raygun while we demolished the lives and futures of

the steel workers, the farmers, etc.

Now the parasitic worm has turned on them and they are afraid. I understand and sympathize, but I'm in the same boat, or rather sinking without a boat, so it's hard to get all worked up over their plight.

[Greyhound]

8. Ironic that, if what he says is true, Amerikan Capitalism begins and ends with the auto industry.

The standard of a corporation's only duty being maximization of profits, regardless of any other circumstances or motive, was the result of Dodge v. Ford.

[izquierdista]

10. Capitalism works

For all the non-essentials of life: tomatoes, tampons, toothpaste, toiletries, turnips, turkey pot pies, towels, etc. All items for which an easy substitute can be found if the market doesn't deliver (which it won't in times of economic stress). For the essential things -- education, health care, pensions, safe consumer products -- the market is not so omnipotent and all knowing.

[ben_meyers]

12. All right Micheal!

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!! And in a show of good faith I'm glad to hear him say that he will go first. His needs are simple, and his financial contributions to the greater good will be much appreciated.