Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Thinking about heading to the theater to see Capitalism: A Love Story?

Michael Moore's newest documentary film, Capitalism: A Love Story premiered this weekend in theaters across the United States. The film explores the drawbacks of our nation's economic system and the shortcomings of markets,

Progressives are sure to appreciate this film, which critically attacks the assertion that the pursuit of money results by default in economic security. Conservatives are sure not to... it conflicts head on with their ideology.

If you're a conservative reading this post simply to investigate what your "enemies" think, and you view criticism of your ideology as heresy, you are hereby advised not to see Capitalism: A Love Story.

Watching the movie will only make you unhappy and possibly result in you walking out of the theater, or short of that, lashing out against it after it's over. (If you work for the likes of Roger Ailes, then belittling this film is probably part of your job).

One of the more ridiculous facets of our economic system that is explored in this film is "Dead Peasants" insurance, in which companies get payouts when their employees die. Do they really complain when not enough of these "insured" employees are dying?

An elite 1% - the richest Americans - now controls more financial wealth than 95% of the population. The gap between the haves and the have-nots has become a chasm.

The film doesn't dwell on just the bad, however. It also describes a democratically run bakery, in which every employee earns more than twice the starting salary of the pilots who work for some airlines (which obviously are not democratically run).

The film does seem to give President Obama more of a pass than is prudent, considering that he hasn't forced Wall Street to change its unaccountable and greedy ways. However, as some people have said, it is sometimes better to give a leader like President Obama a great reputation to live up to, to help encourage them to do the proper thing.

(The President certainly did not get a pass on Saturday Night Live last night).

I went to the theater with someone who didn't particularly care for political documentaries, and wasn't expecting much.

After watching it, however, they were glad they went.

My advice to readers? Take a biconceptual along with you to see Capitalism: A Love Story, and enjoy it together. Or share feelings of frustration together.

For Moore about the film, see Michael's website.

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