Today the nation's top 1% will be having a collective tantrum and it's already started....

[Skidmore]

with little Willie Geist and Courtney Hazlett. OMG, Michael Moore called capitalism "anti-Jesus" and undemocratic. Little Willie is always a good preview of his daddy, Joey, who will be frothing at the mouth this morning. Joey gives a gentle rap on the wall of the RW echo chamber which will be clanging like a bell by noon about class warfare and being mean to the millionaires.

[Skidmore]

1. Willie, did you unrecommend me?

I'm honored.

[trumad]

2. I countered it....

[lamp_shade]

3. Me too. The "Unrec Fairie" is up early this morning.

[CoffeeCat]

4. I've noticed that there...

...tends to be a contingent of corporatist unrec fairies.

[Jim Sagle]

8. Actually they're an AM shift of five buck an hour DLC hogwash dispensers.

;)

[kenfrequed]

14. It is surprising sometimes

I just can't believe it sometimes that there are people that are on just to spew conservadem talking points and unrec health care threads. But I have seen it too many times here.

[hfojvt]

23. This OP doesn't seem worth 52 recs to me

I expect to read something interesting and/or informative when it has more than 20 Rs. This tiny little diatribe doesn't cut it IMO. Perhaps because I really don't know (or care) who Willie Geist is. Perhaps I don't watch enough cable TV.

I gather this has something to do with Michael Moore's mistake.

Anyway, here's a video that's kinda fun. Little Wall-e, wall-e won't. go home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l5HzVVnOuw

[fascisthunter]

38. or perhaps you are a malcontent

who is generally to the right of most people on DU.

[bertman]

43. "Michael Moore's mistake." Please elaborate on that, hfojvt. Thanks.

[hfojvt]

66. we'll see how it plays out

my feeling is that Moore, somewhat like Nader, just shot himself and the progressive movement in the foot. It's not gonna matter to him though, I am sure he will be laughing all the way to the bank.

[wroberts189]

5. Michael Moore has hit a nerve and they never saw it coming.

God bless that man.



on edit knr +9

[TxRider]

20. He may have hit a nerve that even teabaggers will agree with.

I haven't seen it yet but from what I have seen it's right up their alley in several ways.

[girl gone mad]

30. I work with a lot of RW traders..

they have all been looking forward to MMs movie for months. Believe it or not, a lot of libertarian uber-capitalist types have an undying animosity toward the predatory banks and big businesses because they feel that the playing field has become much too uneven. I know traders who feel they should have been reaping enormous profits, but the government stepped in to ban short selling and pump up the markets at the behest of some the criminal enterprises behind the collapse. A lot of free marketers genuinely believe in free markets and support MMs efforts to expose corruption, even if they disagree with his socialist leanings.

[Lucky Luciano]

45. You work with traders these days. If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em?

Trading is fun though. I think you would be good at it.

[ooglymoogly]

52. MM has been playing those nerves like banjo strings for

some time now....and they are turning into raving lunatics...make that; They are so discombobulated they are starting to wear their underwear on the outside of their 3000 dollar suits.

[tekisui]

6. Fuck the 1% and fuck capitalism.

[TxRider]

22. I'm only in the top 10%, am I evil too?

I have owned several corporations as well.

[tekisui]

29. Are you throwing a tantrum?

[diane in sf]

40. No, you don't have enough for evil to be profitable to you, you're not in the upper 1/10 of 1%

[bertman]

44. TxRider, how would we know if you're evil if we know nothing about your corporations,

how you treat your employees, how you treat the planet, etc?

By the way, I own a corporation too--small one. Not in the top 10% but not poor either.

[grahamhgreen]

51. No sir, not even close. Call me when you have a billion in the bank.

[AllentownJake]

7. This movie is going to be a pretty big hit

and the powers that be are going to have to do a heck of a lot of spinning.

Attacking the messenger will be the first line of defense.

[Maru Kitteh]

9. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be a big hit. People equate "My paycheck = Capitalism"

I know, I know, I know......... But that's the perception.


People really LIKE their paychecks.. even the crappy ones.

[tekisui]

10. If they would jsut realize how their paycheck looks compared

to others. No one's life or time is worth so much or so little as the inequality suggests.

[AllentownJake]

12. As it was in France Pre-Revolution

People liked their bread...even crappy bread.

One day the bread disapeared and they went looking for the people that took it.

[anonymous171]

17. And make no mistake, the elites will take our bread too.

They may think of themselves as more "enlightened" than their aristocratic cousins, but they don't realize that the greed that proved so useful in buying and selling useless shit will ultimately drive them into the same ditch that the French aristocracy found themselves in 1791.


I for one can't wait to dust off the old guillotine.

[AllentownJake]

18. Problem with the guillotine

A good portion of the rat fuckers will leave the country and the mob will turn it on itself.

[Voltaire]

19. Music to my ears

I should learn to knit so I can be Madam Defarge. I might have to wear a wig and shave my mustache though.

[AlbertCat]

56. I might have to wear a wig and shave my mustache though.

In the 18th century, you can wear a wig AND keep your mustache.

[Chan790]

61. To be fair...

the people who took their bread were insulated and out-of-touch nobility that thought that everybody had free cake at their beckon disposal.

The people trying to take our bread and exploit us to fatten their own pockets know damned well what they're doing and that makes them 100-times worse.

[Maru Kitteh]

62. Yeah, see, the thing is

We are not anywhere NEAR being in the state of pre-revolutionary France - by a long shot.

The average American still has a pretty good gig.

PR France: Widespread starvation to the point of death.
US: Not so much. The average American household throws away 1-3 pounds of perfectly good food every day.

PR France: Poverty and death rates were astoundingly high, with a majority in abject penury.
US: Not so much. 9 out of 10 Americans own a car. Households in the mid quintile (the majority) earn about $35,000 to $55,000 a year.

I could go on, but you get the idea.


My point is, this particular movie of RM is not likely to be a big blockbuster, and if you are waiting for the natives to gather their pitchforks because of it .... you are priming yourself for disappointment.

[Joe Chi Minh]

27. Why do you equate no pay-check with no capitalism? What is being

discussed here, what Michael Moore is talking about, is hyper-capitalism, not capitalism with a mixed economy which has worked so well for Europe, and most significantly, its people? I think people get that, particularly in the context of the health furore.

[Maru Kitteh]

67. Did I say that *I* equate paycheck with capitalism? No I did not.

When you have a question about something that is posted sometimes it helps to go back and read it again.

I said *people* equate capitalism with earning a paycheck.

Don't believe me? Walk into any bowling alley, any Discount store, any public park, etc, and ask 20 random people there two questions.

Do you plan to see the new Michael Moore film attacking capitalism?

Do you think America should abandon capitalism in favor of some other system?


You are going to be sorely disappointed in the answers you are given.


I know MM does very important and valuable work. I just wish he didn't have such a tin ear this time when it came to choosing a title. That title is like standing at the entrance of the theatre with a live chainsaw saying "Come on in!" Most people are going to just keep walking.

[Maru Kitteh]

68. Did I say that *I* equate paycheck with capitalism? No I did not.

When you have a question about something that is posted sometimes it helps to go back and read it again.

I said *people* equate capitalism with earning a paycheck.

Don't believe me? Walk into any bowling alley, any Discount store, any public park, etc, and ask 20 random people there two questions.

Do you plan to see the new Michael Moore film attacking capitalism?

Do you think America should abandon capitalism in favor of some other system?


You are going to be sorely disappointed in the answers you are given.


I know MM does very important and valuable work. I just wish he didn't have such a tin ear this time when it came to choosing a title. That title is like standing at the entrance of the theatre with a live chainsaw saying "Come on in!" Most people are going to just keep walking.

[Joe Chi Minh]

69. We'll see.

[Cobalt-60]

55. If my check = capitalism

capitalism doesn't pay worth a f*ck.
I wouldn't have said that before 2001.
Before the Pukes took over capitalism was working for me.
Enter the pukes and viola- instant lasting poverty.

[HughBeaumont]

11. What are they going to do, defend the indefensible?

That it's somehow a "good thing" that the lower 90% of the nation has been given the shit end of the stick when it comes to unmitigated corporatism? That this movie is somehow lying? That wealth inequality is morally justified? That they're going to tell us with a straight face that they worked "harder than anyone else" to attain their money; therefore, they deserve it, and if we want to be just like them, we have to work even HARDER?

The reality of it is that the wealthy didn't work any harder or longer than any other small business owner, worker, student or the thousands that didn't make it did; they just happened to get lucky but steadfastly refuse to acknowledge luck as a mitigating factor.

I can hear them already .. .. "You know, let's not make US the bad guy here. How about MICHAEL MOOOOOOOORE and how big of a capitalist HYPOCRITE he is!??! I mean, how DARE he make a profit off of his wares and call US the criminals! The very THOUGHT!"

"Remember, no poor person ever gave YOU a job". OK, so does that mean I should be patting the rich man on the back? Really, how much notice would they give you if they decided to cut you off of your life just like that, and what would be the odds that you'd be able to make income on your own in a small business nowadays?

[AllentownJake]

13. They are about to go into hiding

It soon isn't going to be too popular to be rich. The lie they sold on if you work hard you can be like us is evaporating, as that evaporates so does their security.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous would not be a good show to air during a depression. Espicially to a populace that is used to having disposable income and some luxuaries.

[Centrisms Voice]

16. Wealth inequality just can't be so extreme, that's all

Wealth inequality is inevitable (look what happened to communism), but that doesn't mean that the rich can't or shouldn't kick in many times more money than they are now - to ensure a reasonable safety net exists for the bottom 90%. And even with that, socialist countries still have lots of rich business people.

[jotsy]

24. Luck has nothing to do with it, and neither does working harder or longer.

What one has to be willing to sacrifice is any sense of ethics and/or integrity. Thousands among us work for these companies knowing full well how unfair the terms and conditions of doing business is to the consumer, and still, only the rare whistle blower surfaces from time to time. It shows that too many of us are willing to step on the fair treatment of the rest, to stand taller in a world that measures value in all the wrong ways.

[bertman]

46. Hugh, I will take issue with one comment in your post: many wealthy individuals are

NOT just lucky. They are smart and understand how to make money or they have good ideas that they use to make money.

Of course, as Michael Moore pointed out in his interview with Wolf Blitzer, it's not that some of these people are rich or even super rich, it's about the fact that their greed knows no bounds and they have no sense whatsoever of the damage they are doing to "the least among us".

[HughBeaumont]

48. Sorry, but it's inaccurate to say luck doesn't factor in at all.

Lots of other people who are smart also worked hard and put in long hours. Why are they not at the upper echelon? Does that mean poor people who happen to be smart and put in long hours at what they try to do and accomplish aren't working hard enough, since it's not about luck?

You may not have the audience for the product you thought you would have. Your service may become obsolete literally overnight. What if you don't have the needed start up capital? Tax laws may change. Economic climates change. Something like an unforseen illness, financial setback or workplace accident may happen. A corporation's powerful lawyers could sue your claim to prior art or patent. You may be undercut in price by a corporation. Not even the most fireproof plan can see these things coming.

Saying that luck doesn't factor in veers into the territory of justifying the "Horatio Alger" myth, and in turn, the right wing canard of "ANYone can make it big! The only thing stopping you . . . is YOU". This is not only patently false, it's poisonous. That's just not the way life works anymore. There are many, many reasons people aren't successful that don't always have to do with them, but with circumstances beyond their control.

I'm not saying "Don't thrive for anything better", but know you're playing against a stacked deck. That's not to say the old quote "The secret of a great success for which you are at a loss to account is a crime that has never been found out, because it was properly executed." applies to everyone who was ever successful. But to be successful, some luck IS required.

[bertman]

49. Whatever.

[earcandle]

53. True dat. Since Reagan

[Kievan Rus]

36. I wouldn't be shocked if the movie industry tried to stonewall Moore

[Codeine]

58. I love Mike.

I loathe capitalism.

And yet I'm fairly confident this film will flop. I hope I'm wrong.

[HughBeaumont]

64. Supposedly, it's a really powerful film, but I wouldn't doubt it may not do well.

1. Like one poster said, only "the choir" will likely attend, since Michael Moore for whatever reason is equivalent to a traitorous Satan in middle America's eyes.

2. The media is already semi-successfully demonizing his message into an "either/or" mislead. The movie's obviously about the very real plague of unbridled corporatism taking precedent over a socially democratic mixed economy, but the corporate media's already hitting him with "weeeelll, what's thuh solution - SOSHULISM??!? haw haw haw." This turns fiscal moderates and independents who believe pure capitalism works away from it.

[femrap]

15. Capitalism and Corporations

hate Jesus.

[TxRider]

21. You do realize

That the vast majority of corporations are small mom and pops right?

I've owned several.

[drm604]

25. You do realize

that the corporations being discussed here are the large multinationals, right?

[Hawkowl]

26. The vast majority of corporations don't own shit

It is the handful of huge corporations that own 85% of EVERYTHING in the country. These handful of corporations are owned by less than 1% of the population.

You need to make a distinction between your itty bitty mom and pop concerns, and the mega-oligopolies which are crushing the life out of this country and the entire world.

[femrap]

31. Then I guess you are

2 people. And yes I know some small business incorporate. I hate the Fortune 500, the multi-nationals.....does that make it clearer for you...and the other you?

And yes, I realize it's a way to limit liability....the other you takes on the liability.

Corporations should not have the same rights as human beings....it's ridiculous.

[femrap]

65. Well....aren't you

the special little texan?

Ignored.

[Mithreal]

34. They hate the hippy Jesus, not the ass kicking name taking Jesus

of End Times.

Oh and the baby Jesus too.

[TheKentuckian]

28. Why mom and pop business owners that have incorporated

or really even those many times larger than that even think people are talking about them is beyond me. I know it stings the ego to accept that your little supply company or whatever is never going to be AIG or DuPont or something but get over and swallow the reality that even if you pull down some millions that you're closer to us than them by miles.

[Fire1]

32. I know somethng is going on. Don't know what but I've

gotten some pretty dirty looks today for some reason.

[Mithreal]

33. Just as I rec'd there was an unrec as well, argh. nt

[Kievan Rus]

35. Let's give 'em a better reason to tantrum: 50% IRS taxes on the top 1%

[bread_and_roses]

37. here, too, the defenders of the status quo get in a fever of justification.

Get over it. Capitalism is by its very nature brutal, destructive, and deadly. Yes, the Europeans manage it better, but that only goes to show how truly simple most people's satisfactions are - a little security, some leisure, some entertainment, children, a community. And still, EU is part of that sector of the world gobbling up all the natural resources while killing the planet (they are doing better than the US, yes - as in 'bout everything else, including, according to what I've read lately, surviving the Great "Recession" - interesting that, for the capitalist lackeys who might ponder their higher tax rates for the rich and expanded safety-net and services for the rest of us).

[leftstreet]

57. +1

[fascisthunter]

39. why would anyone here defend corporatism?

not because it is right or wrong, but because they themselves are comfortable with it, while the majority are suffering because of it. And they can't fathom why people with a conscience actually reject it as the end-all-be-all answer to everything.

[JMMendez1989]

41. Both systems are evil

Socialism and Capatalism are evil in their own ways. Thats why we have a mixed economy. This BS that we have Capatalism is so over blown. We have a mixed economy. If we had only Capatalism, we wouldn't have roads and schools and so many other things. If we only had socialism, everything would be held by the government and no bussiness would grow. Its a MIXED ECONOMY! Thats what we have! Did we not go to school?!

[Luminous Animal]

47. Our economy is not mixed enough.

Our system leaves to many people struggling and without the best luxury of all, time.

[JMMendez1989]

42. Both systems are evil

Socialism and Capatalism are evil in their own ways. Thats why we have a mixed economy. This BS that we have Capatalism is so over blown. We have a mixed economy. If we had only Capatalism, we wouldn't have roads and schools and so many other things. If we only had socialism, everything would be held by the government and no bussiness would grow. Its a MIXED ECONOMY! Thats what we have! Did we not go to school?!

[dusmcj]

50. free market bimbos, put them out on a streetcorner, that's a free market too /nt

[earcandle]

54. I am all for free enterprise but distinguish between privateers, profiteers, and

people who provide great goods and services and are rewarded
by profit that they reinvest into themselves and their
community.

People who run good businesses that make a difference in the
quality of life and don't harm anyone or anything should be
able to make profits and grow, even if they are started as a
government service first.   We need to grown independent
contractors who can soon employ others.  I would like to be
able to employ someone.  Maybe more than one.  Maybe millions!
 

So we need to move from Machiavellian Profit Centered
economies to Enlightened Capitalism.  We shouldn't throw free
enterprise into the corruptions baskets, but provide
opportunity for small businesses to grow and employ others but
in a transparent system with good support from institutions
funded to do that already.

IMNSHO, of course. 

[live love laugh]

59. Courtney Hazlett...ugh. She subbed for Ron Reagan once and fawned

over murderer Joe Scarborough.
I called in to `make a comment about her apologist behavior and her screeners blocked me from getting thru.

[flamingdem]

60. MICHAEL MORE IS JESUS !!!!!!!!!!!! SPREAD THE WORD @!!!1111 nt

[Iwillnevergiveup]

63. K&R

What I especially appreciate about Michael's message is that we've got to get the money out of our politics. "We the people" are no match, for example, to the health/pharma/insurance industries pouring over $1 million A DAY via their lobbyists to defeat a public option. Yeah, we elect representatives, but as Thom Hartmann has pointed out numerous times, every day those elected representatives wake up, they must find ways to raise $20,000 to stay in office. As an added benefit, public financing would greatly reduce the time spent campaigning.

I wish Michael much success with this movie - he's been on a media blitz this past week and makes the case.