The Phony Radicalism of Michael Moore
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The Phony Radicalism of Michael Moore
by Sheldon Richman, October 22, 2009
http://www.fff.org/comment/com0910h.asp
With phony radicals like Michael Moore around, the ruling elite has nothing to worry about.
The filmmaker likes to pose as a radical critic of the status quo, but he isn’t. All the evidence you need is in his latest documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story. Sure, he rails against home foreclosures, bank bailouts, low wages, other real and imagined problems, but his solution would not disturb the sleep of any big banker, corporate bigwig, or political big shot.
The tipoff comes right at the beginning of the movie. He paints an idyllic picture of life in America in the 1950s. His father worked for a big auto company, through which the family got free medical and dental care. All was well. He realizes that a major reason things were so good was that the U.S. military had destroyed Japan’s and Germany’s competitive industrial bases in World War II. But the dominance was great while it lasted. It was a time when an alliance of big government, big business, and big labor ruled the roost. The military-industrial complex was thriving. That seems fine with Moore, which puts him in the camp of the corporatists of Franklin Roosevelt’s Brain Trust, who thought free markets and competition among independent firms were passé. The new world required big monolithic entities that sat down together and worked things out nicely. The spirit of Mussolini hovered over all of it.
Of course, Moore blasts Wall Street because it got all that taxpayer bailout money and is not being held accountable for it. That is worth getting mad about. But how would he feel if the money had been given with lots of conditions and regulations? He might have liked that.
He certainly doesn’t mind that the government had the taxpayers’ money to give away in the first place. He never once suggests that the people should keep their own money because the political elite has no right to it. He also never indicts the Federal Reserve for its legal counterfeiting. That would be the true radical position. Moore sides with the politicians. He even complains that the top income-tax rate was lowered from 90 percent some years ago! Conveniently, he gets the history wrong. He says Republican Ronald Reagan cut the 90 percent rate, but it was really Democrat Lyndon Johnson who did it, following through on John Kennedy’s proposal. (Reagan presided over a cut from 70 to 50 and then to 28 percent.) At any rate, he is perfectly comfortable with government’s taking 90 percent of people’s earnings. He seems indifferent about whether the money is made through honest trade or political privilege.
Favoring a high top rate may not win him favors from some in the establishment, but for generations there has been a wing of that establishment that understood that high marginal rates were the price of the lucrative corporate state. So Moore may not be the pariah among the ruling elite that he makes himself out to be.
Moore’s movie contains much else to make us doubt his radical bona fides. He blusters about Robert Rubin, Timothy Geithner, Lawrence Summers, and their relationship to the current financial problems. Rubin, a Wall Street hotshot, and Summers were Treasury secretaries under President Bill Clinton. Geithner ran the New York Federal Reserve Bank from late 2003 to 2009, overseeing the Wall Street bailouts. In Moore’s eyes, they are the rogues who, along with former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan and former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, gave us the meltdown of 2008.
So far so good. But when he gets to the election of Barack Obama in November 2008 he declares, “This is not what Wall Street wanted.” Yeah? Then why are Moore’s bêtes noires Rubin and Summers close Obama economic advisors, and why is Geithner secretary of the Treasury?
A true radical would not have given Obama a pass. Moore says he’s for socialism, but all he means by that is that workers have some say in their companies. Nothing very radical about that.
If Moore were truly a radical critic of capitalism as he conceives it, he’d be for its true opposite: the radical separation of business and State — that is, the free market.
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Sorry but I am a supporter of Michael Moore, and I disagree with you.
There are more radical people than M.M, and for instance, the people in the Westboro Baptist Church...
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I love Michael Moore!
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Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:
Sorry but I am a supporter of Michael Moore, and I disagree with you.
There are more radical people than M.M, and for instance, the people in the Westboro Baptist Church...
Why?
So what about the Westboro Baptist Church? What's your point?
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Originally posted by angel3070:
I love Michael Moore!
Yes, I agree that his documentaries raise valid questions, but he doesn't go all the way. Perhaps thats why his documentaries are able to receive mainstream attention.
As the above article points out, Moore doesnt question the fundamental existence of this system, he merely criticises how its operated when the entire system is corrupt and rigged from the beginning to benefit a few.
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Originally posted by freedomclub:
Why?
So what about the Westboro Baptist Church? What's your point?
Wiki them.
Very long for me to explain
Ok basically they damn everyone in the world to hellThat is a hate group for you. M.M doesn't advocate hate... He is just expressing his discontent with the situation that is ongoing.
Remember that this isn't his only film. He did Bowling for Columbine and Sicko as well. Not forgetting Fahrenheit 9/11...
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It's like an African arguing with an American Negro about who's more black.
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Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:
Wiki them.
Very long for me to explain
Ok basically they damn everyone in the world to hellThat is a hate group for you. M.M doesn't advocate hate... He is just expressing his discontent with the situation that is ongoing.
Remember that this isn't his only film. He did Bowling for Columbine and Sicko as well. Not forgetting Fahrenheit 9/11...
Yeah well, my point in posting the above article is that he isnt exposing the root problem for what it is. If he is aware of that, then he is just false opposition.
But his work is commendable for raising such issues in the mainstream media.
If you really want a documentary that points out genuine problems and solutions, go watch Zeitgeist Addendum. Of course such documentaries never receive mainstream attention.
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But there is so much rubbish in the first Zeitgeist film.
And what they are pushing for is basically communism.
Those who don't know about basic princples of communism won't be aware that what Zeigeist is selling is communism.
Zeitgeist
I have a movie for all of you to watch, it shows the inherant flaws of the U.S. Monetary system and why it is doomed to fail. it is called "Zeitgeist" sadly you must google it in order to find it, but nonetheless its a great learning tool
zeitgeist is way too full of conspiracy theory nutjobs, best left to their own devices.The Zeitgeist movement
Interesting organisation. They are basically re-inventing the wheel a little, and stand where the socialists stood about 1840.
http://thezeitgeistmovement.com
On the positive note, its seems to be a very dynamic organisation.I guess some people would like communism just if it wasnt called ''communism''...But nice try at distancing yourself and completely misunderstaning it. -
Originally posted by freedomclub:
Yeah well, my point in posting the above article is that he isnt exposing the root problem for what it is. If he is aware of that, then he is just false opposition.
But his work is commendable for raising such issues in the mainstream media.
If you really want a documentary that points out genuine problems and solutions, go watch Zeitgeist Addendum. Of course such documentaries never receive mainstream attention.
Well then he must have his reasons for doing what he does...
I'm sure he did careful sourcing and plannng before he came out with watever he made...
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Originally posted by angel3070:
But there is so much rubbish in the first Zeitgeist film.
And what they are pushing for is basically communism.
Those who don't know about basic princples of communism won't be aware that what Zeigeist is selling is communism.
Zeitgeist
I have a movie for all of you to watch, it shows the inherant flaws of the U.S. Monetary system and why it is doomed to fail. it is called "Zeitgeist" sadly you must google it in order to find it, but nonetheless its a great learning tool
zeitgeist is way too full of conspiracy theory nutjobs, best left to their own devices.The Zeitgeist movement
Interesting organisation. They are basically re-inventing the wheel a little, and stand where the socialists stood about 1840.
http://thezeitgeistmovement.com
On the positive note, its seems to be a very dynamic organisation.I guess some people would like communism just if it wasnt called ''communism''...But nice try at distancing yourself and completely misunderstaning it.From TZM FAQ:
How does The Venus Project compare with Communism?
Communism used money and labor, had social stratification, and elected officials to maintain the communists' traditions. Most importantly, Communism did not eliminate SCARCITY nor did they have a blueprint or the methods for the production of abundance. Machine production rather than labor will dominate the future. Perhaps through no fault of their own, they also had to maintain huge military expenditures to protect themselves from invasion of fascistic and capitalistic institutions.
Communism being similar to a resource-based economy or The Venus Project is an erroneous concept. Communism has money, banks, armies, police, prisons, charismatic personalities, social stratification, and is managed by appointed leaders. The Venus Project's aim is to surpass the need for the use of money. Police, prisons and the military would no longer be necessary when goods, services, healthcare, and education are available to all people. The Venus Project would replace politicians with a cybernated society in which all of the physical entities are managed and operated by computerized systems. The only region that the computers do not operate or manage is the surveillance of human beings. This would be completely unnecessary and considered socially offensive. A society that uses technology without human concern has no basis of survival. Communism has no blueprint or methodology to carry out their ideals and along with capitalism, fascism, and socialism, will ultimately go down in history as failed social experiments.
Communism is a political system managed by a form of ideology, which does not necessarily relate to human or environmental needs. Communism uses money, banks, armies, police, prisons, charismatic personalities, social stratification, and is managed by appointed leaders and uses indoctrination. The Venus Project's aim is to surpass the need for the use of money. Police, prisons, banking, advertising, stockbrokers, military, and government would no longer be necessary when goods, services, healthcare, and education are available to all people. The Venus Project would replace politicians with a cybernated society in which all of the physical entities would as quickly as possible be managed and operated by computerized systems. The only region that the computers do not operate or manage is the surveillance of human beings. This would be completely unnecessary and considered socially offensive. A society that uses technology without human concern has no basis of survival. Communism has no blueprint or methodology to carry out their ideals and along with capitalism, fascism, and socialism will ultimately go down in history as failed social experiments. One of Communism's concerns is the condition of labor and the working class. The Venus Project's major concerns are producing products with limited labor and eventually eliminating labor and at the same time giving people all the amenities of a prosperous, high energy society. It is not our aim to produce a society that does nothing but enjoy leisure time. Instead people will be introduced to limitless opportunities to explore, create, participate, and learn.
The Venus Project offers science and technology in the service of humankind on a global scale and eventually helps to eliminate all the artificial boundaries that separate people. The system uses no money and makes goods and services available without a price tag, debt, barter, or servitude of any kind. If we use our technology intelligently, we can create an abundance of goods and services for the entire planet. We use machines and automation to produce and distribute all manufactured products, which will be available at distribution centers to everyone. The purpose of this high technology is to free people so they can pursue their own interests and fulfillments.
We would surpass the need for human participation in the production of goods and services. There is no taxation or obligation of any kind. We advocate no government by human systems. They have always proved inadequate. Computerized systems and cybernetics would be applied to the social system and must comply with the carrying capacity of our global resources. The machines' main purpose is for the manufacturing and distribution of goods and services while maintaining a clean environment with service to all and profits to none. When people have access to resources, most crimes will disappear. The need for police, military, and prisons will eventually vanish with it. Of course this will coincide with the necessary changes in education. I hope this helps to clarify some points. We realize this is a simplified description of how it differs from communism.
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Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:
Well then he must have his reasons for doing what he does...
I'm sure he did careful sourcing and plannng before he came out with watever he made...
Probably because he was afraid of going too far...
A documentary with 'inconvenient' messages wouldn't make it to the mainstream, much less make much money.
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Originally posted by freedomclub:
Probably because he was afraid of going too far...
A documentary with 'inconvenient' messages wouldn't make it to the mainstream, much less make much money.
Added to the fact that ABC News boycotted his shows.
He needed as much publicity as he could.
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Originally posted by freedomclub:
The Venus Project offers science and technology in the service of humankind on a global scale and eventually helps to eliminate all the artificial boundaries that separate people. The system uses no money and makes goods and services available without a price tag, debt, barter, or servitude of any kind. If we use our technology intelligently, we can create an abundance of goods and services for the entire planet. We use machines and automation to produce and distribute all manufactured products, which will be available at distribution centers to everyone. The purpose of this high technology is to free people so they can pursue their own interests and fulfillments.
We would surpass the need for human participation in the production of goods and services. There is no taxation or obligation of any kind. We advocate no government by human systems. They have always proved inadequate. Computerized systems and cybernetics would be applied to the social system and must comply with the carrying capacity of our global resources. The machines' main purpose is for the manufacturing and distribution of goods and services while maintaining a clean environment with service to all and profits to none. When people have access to resources, most crimes will disappear. The need for police, military, and prisons will eventually vanish with it. Of course this will coincide with the necessary changes in education. I hope this helps to clarify some points. We realize this is a simplified description of how it differs from communism.
That's similar to the views of this site:
In socialism, everybody would have free access to the goods and services designed to directly meet their needs and there need be no system of payment for the work that each individual contributes to producing them. All work would be on a voluntary basis. Producing for needs means that people would engage in work that has a direct usefulness. The satisfaction that this would provide, along with the increased opportunity to shape working patterns and conditions, would bring about new attitudes to work.
http://www.worldsocialism.org/articles/what_is_socialism.php
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Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:
Added to the fact that ABC News boycotted his shows.
He needed as much publicity as he could.
Yeah, one news agency boycotted him. But still, Capitalism still got into mainstream cinemas.
However people like Alex Jones and Peter Joseph, whose films is more powerful than his, never get similar mainstream attention.
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I'm 50/50 on Alex Jones.
50% of what he presents is true and should be taken up while the other 50% - mostly conspiracy theory stuff - is pure horseshit.
I am afraid that people new to politics will see the 50% truthful stuff and find it interesting and helpful and then blindly go and buy into the 50% conspiracy bullshit.
That is a worry of mine.
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lol
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Originally posted by freedomclub:
Yeah, one news agency boycotted him. But still, Capitalism still got into mainstream cinemas.
However people like Alex Jones and Peter Joseph, whose films is more powerful than his, never get similar mainstream attention.
I think Fox boycotted him too, but that is besides the point...
I think Michael Moore is a champion on rallying his intended audience
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Originally posted by angel3070:
I'm 50/50 on Alex Jones.
50% of what he presents is true and should be taken up while the other 50% - mostly conspiracy theory stuff - is pure horseshit.
I am afraid that people new to politics will see the 50% truthful stuff and find it interesting and helpful and then blindly go and buy into the 50% conspiracy bullshit.
That is a worry of mine.
This from the guy who tries to incite hate against Peranakans and trying to tell us that Hokkien is the language we should speak? -
Originally posted by freedomclub:
From TZM FAQ:
How does The Venus Project compare with Communism?
Communism used money and labor, had social stratification, and elected officials to maintain the communists' traditions. Most importantly, Communism did not eliminate SCARCITY nor did they have a blueprint or the methods for the production of abundance. Machine production rather than labor will dominate the future. Perhaps through no fault of their own, they also had to maintain huge military expenditures to protect themselves from invasion of fascistic and capitalistic institutions.
Communism being similar to a resource-based economy or The Venus Project is an erroneous concept. Communism has money, banks, armies, police, prisons, charismatic personalities, social stratification, and is managed by appointed leaders. The Venus Project's aim is to surpass the need for the use of money. Police, prisons and the military would no longer be necessary when goods, services, healthcare, and education are available to all people. The Venus Project would replace politicians with a cybernated society in which all of the physical entities are managed and operated by computerized systems. The only region that the computers do not operate or manage is the surveillance of human beings. This would be completely unnecessary and considered socially offensive. A society that uses technology without human concern has no basis of survival. Communism has no blueprint or methodology to carry out their ideals and along with capitalism, fascism, and socialism, will ultimately go down in history as failed social experiments.
Communism is a political system managed by a form of ideology, which does not necessarily relate to human or environmental needs. Communism uses money, banks, armies, police, prisons, charismatic personalities, social stratification, and is managed by appointed leaders and uses indoctrination. The Venus Project's aim is to surpass the need for the use of money. Police, prisons, banking, advertising, stockbrokers, military, and government would no longer be necessary when goods, services, healthcare, and education are available to all people. The Venus Project would replace politicians with a cybernated society in which all of the physical entities would as quickly as possible be managed and operated by computerized systems. The only region that the computers do not operate or manage is the surveillance of human beings. This would be completely unnecessary and considered socially offensive. A society that uses technology without human concern has no basis of survival. Communism has no blueprint or methodology to carry out their ideals and along with capitalism, fascism, and socialism will ultimately go down in history as failed social experiments. One of Communism's concerns is the condition of labor and the working class. The Venus Project's major concerns are producing products with limited labor and eventually eliminating labor and at the same time giving people all the amenities of a prosperous, high energy society. It is not our aim to produce a society that does nothing but enjoy leisure time. Instead people will be introduced to limitless opportunities to explore, create, participate, and learn.
The Venus Project offers science and technology in the service of humankind on a global scale and eventually helps to eliminate all the artificial boundaries that separate people. The system uses no money and makes goods and services available without a price tag, debt, barter, or servitude of any kind. If we use our technology intelligently, we can create an abundance of goods and services for the entire planet. We use machines and automation to produce and distribute all manufactured products, which will be available at distribution centers to everyone. The purpose of this high technology is to free people so they can pursue their own interests and fulfillments.
We would surpass the need for human participation in the production of goods and services. There is no taxation or obligation of any kind. We advocate no government by human systems. They have always proved inadequate. Computerized systems and cybernetics would be applied to the social system and must comply with the carrying capacity of our global resources. The machines' main purpose is for the manufacturing and distribution of goods and services while maintaining a clean environment with service to all and profits to none. When people have access to resources, most crimes will disappear. The need for police, military, and prisons will eventually vanish with it. Of course this will coincide with the necessary changes in education. I hope this helps to clarify some points. We realize this is a simplified description of how it differs from communism.
And how do you intend to implement that without a totalitarian government like the Communists did ?By voting on it ?
You would think with their aging population and advanced robotics the Japanese would have implemented the idea a long time ago.
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Originally posted by Stevenson101:
This from the guy who tries to incite hate against Peranakans and trying to tell us that Hokkien is the language we should speak?No, I don't think that is correct.
I never sold such propaganda.