Michael Moore: "The days of the majority of Americans being ignored and played for chumps are over"

"The days of the majority of Americans being ignored and played for chumps are over as of right now.
This weekend, consider your local cinema the REAL town hall meetings!" – Michael Moore

You've seen the movie or are about to or live somewhere you'll have to wait for it, read DU
and other reports and all the while wonder "What can I/we do to help take this country back?"

I saw the movie tonight and was in tears, as was the 60-ish man in the row ahead of me,
during the FDR Fireside Chat on "The Second Bill of Rights" -- which many of us knew nothing about. (See below)

In "Capitalism: A Love Story," Michael Moore introduced the word "Plutonomy,"
the corporate uber-rich' word for 1% of the population holding 99% of the wealth.

We still have One Person, One Vote. That's what they're worried about. Us voting.

So we still have some power, as individuals, as communities, as groups, as Americans.

Here's some inspiration, resources and ideas from the film, to thank Mike by answering his
call to action: We can thank the heroes, businesses and normal, non-chumps in the film,
including FDR for his courage and legacy. (Please add your ideas as well)





*Michael Moore
http://www.michaelmoore.com/


*US Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who bravely told the truth in the film about the bogus bank bailout.

OHIO'S 9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
US Representative Marcy Kaptur (D)
http://www.kaptur.house.gov/
Rep. Marcy Kaptur: Big Banks Stripped the Wealth of the Middle Class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mzJYze9Q-o&feature=PlayList&p=A3B1963F7C9351D8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7

*Senator Bernie Sanders, who bravely told the truth about Capitalism in the film.

VERMONT SENATOR
http://sanders.senate.gov/
Senator Sanders and Michael Moore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5rcnAWaC64

*Wallace Shawn, who looks good in blue
*
Wallace Shawn reads Howard Zinn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGCLHBSzqLw
My Dinner With Andre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRnUbEJueus&feature=related


*Alvorado Street Bakery
"We are changing the way the world eats -- one slice at a time."

http://www.alvaradostreetbakery.com/
Alvarado Street Bakery is located just north of San Francisco, in the rolling hills of California's Wine Country, heart of Sonoma County. Website Ordering Questions - weborders@alvaradostreetbakery.com



*Second Bill Of Rights

"People who are out of a job, who are hungry, are the stuff of which dictatorships are made..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaghvZWVrl8


http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/globalrights/econrights/fdr-econbill.html

Franklin D. Roosevelt
“The Economic Bill of Rights”
Excerpt from 11 January 1944 message to Congress on the State of the Union

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty. As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens.


*Info on Plutonomy
http://finance.paidcontent.org/V/?GUID=6260123&Page=MEDIAVIEWER
http://www.wordspy.com/words/plutonomy.asp
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/plutonomy.asp?&viewed=1
"What Does Plutonomy Mean? Economic growth that is powered and consumed by the wealthiest upper class of society. Plutonomy refers to a society where the majority of the wealth is controlled by an ever-shrinking minority; as such, the economic growth of that society becomes dependent on the fortunes of that same wealthy minority."

*Info on "Dead Peasants" insurance policies
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/P64954.asp
'Dead peasants' insurance pays your employer a secret, tax-free windfall when you die. Insurers have sold millions of policies to companies such as Dow Chemical.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1102-06.htm
Wal-Mart has taken out life insurance policies, known as "dead peasants" , on low-wage hourly employees that pay benefits to the company when the workers die. On top of that - before Congress began cracking down on the practice in 1996 - companies were able to take out loans against the value of these policies and enjoy a tax write-off on the interest payments.
http://jonathanturley.org/2009/02/25/peasant-uprising-widow-sues-late-husbands-employer-over-dead-peasant-insurance-policy/


Viggo who looks good and does varied good works, even though he's not in this film. Thanks, Viggo!

Viggo Mortensen reads Bartolomé de Las Casas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nxRvt5Rjx8&feature=related
Perceval Press
http://www.percevalpress.com

but i've come to the sad realization that a great number of americans are ignorant chumps that seem to prefer being ignored and played for chumps.

I was just going to post something similar, but you beat me to it.

:hi:

Everyone always thinks everyone else is the chump, not them.

Did you see the film?

ONE teammate cannot win the game alone. It takes the REST of the team, too, and all the support infrastructure in there also.

:-(

That's exactly what the ruling elite want from us: Learned Helplessness.

NO, I will not lie down and be a wussie to BULLIES.

I will help others and enlighten them FOR MY CHILDREN ... FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN.

Stand tall fellow Americans: Fight for your rights!

Help make your fellow citizens smart.

When your faith is all BUT gone, remember ...

God Hates A Quitter! :thumbsup:

:wow:


Great post!! :yourock:

bullies and psychopaths, narcissists and authoritarians, they are who make others sick. And we don't need them in our lives.And we should NEVER be manipulated into pitying these bullies,or mind/word gamed into tolerating them abusing power or any person!! The bullies of the world need to be taken OUT of power and stripped of their wealth and be forced to pay for the damage they do.And they MUST never be trusted again.

:hi:

are union, die=hard dems and flaming liberals. My grandpa helped form a railroad union in the 1930's. Try that one on for size. I loathe inequity, injustice and smug fucks owning everything and ignoring that God is watching and will remember what they do. I fall in line with Emeliano Zappata who said, "I would rather die on my feet a free man than live on my knees as a slave." Freedom is won one person at a time. Just feeling nothing can change is a win for them.

And Viggo is hotness. Thank you.

Interesting how our upbringings stamp us... :pals: Appreciate your comments and yes, VM will do in a pinch ;)

:hi:

:D

:spray: :hi:

Somebody would have to be an ignorant chump to believe it.

like the strong majority of human beings are persuadable. There's no limit to what you can't convince people of. That certainly includes working against there own interests.

All

out of that entire message, you only responded to the title, negatively, ignoring any possible positivity.

I disagree with Mr. Moore. It's that simple. And really, it's not an attack on either you or him. Don't be so defensive.

Sure, it's OK to disagree with Michael Moore.

However, we must *work together* and better organize in order to educate the people of this country.

Michael Moore is IMO, an American Patriot. :patriot:

:kick:

Nutty, it's not, which is an insult by the way.

Don't be so negative.

Don't deny you're reply depends on you thinking you're better than "them."

And you still ignored the body of the thread.

are persuadable. I think nothing much is liable to change because of that.

Wow, when you get stuck on missing the point by a mile, you really do. :spray: Any number of points and you missed 'em all. :wow:

I don't think that anything I'm saying is in opposition to it. I think Moore is being shallow here and that the complexities of human nature and culture, inextricably bound as they are, make his demands for revolution seem lacking.

else in the OP to comment on, or be positive about, or any comment on the film because you didn't see it, or anything besides pick on the OP TITLE ONLY and say HE is being SHALLOW. :crazy: :hide:

It's really sad that any "demands for revolution" or personal responsibility or deliberate action depend on TOO MANY Americans with such disconnects from reality, indicated by the majority of replies in the thread.

And no sense of FUN.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

:evilfrown:

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

why couldn't they be persuaded to work toward or for their own interests?

are saying this isn't possible? or are you saying this is something that is unpalatable to you personally?

people persuaded to do awful things. look how easy it was to persuade the majority to initially support the crazy illegal Iraq war. Look how hard it is to mobilize people to actively support single payer.

?

That isn't even remotely related to what I'm talking about.

of her superiority long enough to participate. A lot of people are afraid of their own sense of powerlessness and prefer to dismiss possibilities.

Let's help MAKE IT SO?!? :patriot: :yourock:

DEMOCRACY :bounce:

the only thing his latest movie will accomplish is making him some more money.

we're living smack dab in the dark ages, and there's no renaissance on the horizon.

The MSM will make sure the the revolution will not be televised, but they can't prevent it from being brought to you live and in living color.

A movie that makes us laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation will not change anything.

Everyone gets a healthy cry, and healthy laugh, and then leaves the movie theater feeling better that -someone else- will do something about it, because finally -they- see what is happening.

Not "everyone" is like that. And that's the point -- your excuse is just an excuse and a way to blame others for doing nothing yourself.


You made the exact same comment before the film came out. I don't believe you've seen it.

short of time and money. I will when $$ and time permits as I have all of Moore's movies.


If you want to believe that this movie will change the world. Be my guest.

Don't misunderstand. I enjoy his movies. They are quite powerful and moving, but its important to keep perspective.

And I'm hardly predicting failure. This movie will be an outstanding success. But it will not change the orbit of the Earth around Sun.


We can talk again when he makes his next movie.

:)

You don't change things by whining on a message board. Cynicism and pessimism is a nefarious, destructive force that gets in the way of positive change. Obama clearly stated last year that he can't wave a magic wand and fix everything, WE have to be the change.

In fact that was my point.

99% of the people who leave the theaters will be happy because they now feel that -others- will get it and start doing something.

People Have the Power
Patti Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zva9mnZCrWU&feature=related

I was dreaming in my dreaming
of an aspect bright and fair
and my sleeping it was broken
but my dream it lingered near
in the form of shining valleys
where the pure air recognized
and my senses newly opened
I awakened to the cry
that the people / have the power
to redeem / the work of fools
upon the meek / the graces shower
it's decreed / the people rule

The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power

Vengeful aspects became suspect
and bending low as if to hear
and the armies ceased advancing
because the people had their ear
and the shepherds and the soldiers
lay beneath the stars
exchanging visions
and laying arms
to waste / in the dust
in the form of / shining valleys
where the pure air / recognized
and my senses / newly opened
I awakened / to the cry

Refrain

Where there were deserts
I saw fountains
like cream the waters rise
and we strolled there together
with none to laugh or criticize
and the leopard
and the lamb
lay together truly bound
I was hoping in my hoping
to recall what I had found
I was dreaming in my dreaming
god knows / a purer view
as I surrender to my sleeping
I commit my dream to you

Refrain

The power to dream / to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it's decreed the people rule
it's decreed the people rule
LISTEN
I believe everything we dream
can come to pass through our union
we can turn the world around
we can turn the earth's revolution
we have the power
People have the power ...

Marcy Kaptur was BRILLIANT in this film. Of course, I have always loved her, so I may be biased.

They pretend to be afraid of our votes, but at the end of the day, they know all they have to do is cut a check and they will get whatever they want from our elected representatives. Reference Max Baucus' PO positions.

This Supreme Court case about Corporate donations to campaigns is going to have a HUGE say in how this country moves forward. EFCA is also another bellweather.

I'd never heard of Marcy Kaptur before. Is she your Rep?

If you haven't seen this, it is classic Marcy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF_vU7WZpUE

She is leading the "Produce the note" movement.

....sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him, for he is the harbinger of death.

Dr. Zaius
29th Scroll: 6th verse

It makes for good speech though.

*Second Bill Of Rights

"People who are out of a job, who are hungry, are the stuff of which dictatorships are made..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaghvZWVrl8

Image
http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/globalrights/econri...

Franklin D. Roosevelt
“The Economic Bill of Rights”
Excerpt from 11 January 1944 message to Congress on the State of the Union

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty. As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens.

And what we've got so far is dick.

I agree with Moore. The American people can and shall triumph over the economic royalists. It is only a matter of time.

:toast:

Edited to add that Roseanne Barr is someone else who has been speaking out-her blog rocks!

http://www.roseanneworld.com/blog/

They are part of the status quo, no matter how good their intentions. I give you, for instance, the current WH occupant.

I appreciate your sentiment and adore Michael Moore. But a revolution will only come from those who have nothing more to lose, who understand the need, and who are ORGANIZED.

I see no one getting organized, and meaningful changes will be few to none until we are organized.

Wat

:hi:

Learn how to IDENTIFY the personalities that make others sick and who abuse.
http://www.bullyonline.org/

Than when you see the personality problem in action at your office, or anywhere else you go,deliberately destroy their power games,do not let them get their way, and disable their overweening ambitions,do not cover for them,do their work or allow them to dominate.Don't lie for them,or do as they want you to do.DEFY them. Do embarrass them with the truth, expose their dirty tricks and discuss it with others,don't be ashamed,don't go along with any schemes by the bully. Instead EXPOSE the schemes.If a boss is a bully,stand by the coworker whom is targeted and condemn the boss. DO NOT TOLERATE abuse aimed at yourself or anyone else or the undermining and abuse of power through any social structures.

If you have abuser in your home get away or get rid of the abuser press charges make him go to jail.DO NOT PITY any abuser no matter what they say,and you should be aware YOU can't change them.

Another suggestion,Find other non- psychopaths,people with a conscience,who don't bully or manipulate or control form alliances with them.For there are far more people that have a conscience then there are people without one..Defend organizations,communities any social arrangement by excluding or not accepting or tolerating abusive,manipulative behaviors and promptly dismiss the problem personality.Than WARN others about the problem.

They already solved that. if a person gets popular enough to viable for presidency, the banks simply donate money to the person to be indebted to them.

a person who has a very strong conscience and will.Someone radically willing to bite the hand that bribes,after they are elected.And will bite it to shreds in a very public way.As they write presidential exemptions to screw over those who fucked up the world.

Someone who knows what psychopathy is and is not intimidated or manipulated by them at all.
Someone with intelligence and sharp teeth and who knows not to pity the bullies,and cannot be shamed or bribed, and who will not compromise ANYTHING concerning his inner locus of control or his ethics, knowing there is no negotiations to be had with psychopaths be it a bully or a corporation..if you want a democracy you can't have one under the feet of a bully or abuser of power.

Find someone willing to fund a campaign to EDUCATE the public about toxic personality types,aim it at adults and kids.Teach people how toxic personality types can damage everything they touch.And in schools kids need to be taught how to recognize what a bully is and how to defeat a bully,until becomes a skill learned by all in elementary school.Than kids who have these pro-human social skills can act swiftly to contain or stop the personality problems that arise ,as they grow up. And maybe for once,with younger kids knowing to be intolerant of abusers, we will eventually get and keep this democracy.

:hi:

:yourock: I see you're rousing the rabble again. :patriot:

thinking "if only..."

then he touched that chord.

The man in front of me was really weeping.........

youtube.

:hi:

so i can go back to youtube without having to hunt it down--

excellent post

:pals:

of those you've singled out. Bravo & Kick!:kick:

I didn't know Viggo's other side, he's even more attractive knowing he's got high values & ideals.
Brava!

:hi:

you are most welcome :toast:

watched this film in a theater in the northeast part of Houston, Texas that is known for it's Republican idiocy. Even with a small audience, everyone of us stood and applauded and stayed until the film credits were over. Walking out all of us were commenting that we would be going home and recommending this film to our friends, neighbors and co-workers. I will gladly support Rep Marcy. Kaptur in any endeavor she should wish to pursue. I intend to write to President Obama every week and perhaps every day, demanding he replace Tim Geithner immediately because Goldman Sachs is nothing but a criminal organization and he was one of the top criminals. My husband and I even talked of withdrawing our retirement funds from Merrill Lynch and the list goes on and on. Talk to your neighbors, talk to your co-workers. We, like Michael aren't leaving and we won't go down without a fight.

:yourock: Loki and family! Great post. Thanks!

and made out to be tinfoil-hatted loons for their truth-telling.

I hope Mike's right. I love his optimism and hopefulness.

Never give up Mike, it gives me hope and makes me feel less alone.

Like some of Michael's earlier movies, this is a kitchen table pitch-- deep questions highlighting our current predatory capitalism and asking us -- ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS?

He didn't whip the audience into an angry frenzy like those right wing PR firms did to our desperate fellow citizens, getting them to storm town halls against their own best interests.

He reminded us of what we've lived through and how the faulty ideas were pitched to us instead of the Second Bill of Rights FDR had hoped to bring about. Some European countries gave their citizens a lot of that but we were treated to millions of hours in favor of the "free market" ideology-- free the corporations to take over their markets and our government.

So here we are, with millions of our fellow citizens being evicted from their homes, having to beg to get a decent public option for our health security, while billions are still being spent to maintain our heavily privatized military and war criminals running free.

I understand the cynics who feel the great power of our conservative-dominated media. We have had lots of brilliant experts tell us what is wrong with our predatory capitalism, and demonstrate that when taxes on the rich were higher, our economy did much better, our infrastructure didn't crumble, our public education was much better, and our safety nets helped a lot of people.

But the truth has not been enough to overcome the very complex, well funded, multi-faceted campaign the right wingers have engaged in for 3 decades now to destroy "the enemies of free enterprise." They even have their 24/7 channel to slam Democratic ideas.

And our Democratic legislators are obviously very frightened of the power of the right wing machinery. They bend and scrape to accommodate even potential right wing opposition-- doing lots of dumb stuff like taking the best option, Single Payer, off the table before the public debate even begins. Giving the Bush Gang their first-strike war on Iraq even though a lot of us knew the pretenses were false. Jumping onto the bandwagon vote to defund ACORN, even though they let our government continue making deals with big corporations that have actually been convicted of defrauding us.

But I'll keep watch and show up for the next demonstration, and continue writing my next emails to our president and congress.