September 24 at 9:46AM
Colbert Interviews Michael Moore
Michael Moore's supporters will tell you that he's a gifted filmmaker who makes strong points using compelling, if controversial, methods. On the other hand, his detractors will tell you that he's a fat fatty who fats fat fats using fat, if fat, fats. Clearly a spirited and thoughtful debate. Perhaps Moore's appearance on The Colbert Report last night will settle it once and for all.
The Colbert Report airs Monday through Thursday at 11:30pm / 10:30c.
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the problem isn't capitalism it is fascism. In america there is some capitalism.. but there is also some socialism and fascism. Fascism being the cooperation of the government and corporations to the detriment of society. Without the governments help corporations cannot get away with what they do… and instead of regulation working to break up monopolies and encourage competition it instead… just raises costs that are passed to consumers
Umm… message to Mr. Moore: first, how about making a film about people. people are what constitutes a society; their inherent values and ideals, the goals they aim towards, etc. A system is a set of inputs (the people and resources within the system) that create a set of outputs (In Moore's case, greed and corruption). If the inputs are the same (people) then simply changing the way the inputs are computed will not change the outputs (greed and corruption). Second, I cannot stand people who simply argue in the negative. To simply argue that capitalism is bad does absolutely nothing to solve the problems he believes exist. In other words, all he wants to do is complain about a problem without coming up with a solution. Perhaps this is because he's no smart enough to come up with a solution, or there is no better solution that could replace capitalism with a better system; simply look at history for this answer. Third, what Moore fails to realize is that he is only able to thrive as a film-maker and social commentator because we have a capitalist system. In any other system (despotic or utilitarian fascism or socialism) he would be thrown in jail for speaking out against the system in place, and for going against authority, and he would also have no way to market his film even if he was able to make it.
Stop complaining, and do something productive with your life.
I agree with some of what Mr Moore says, but I disagree when he says that 80% of the foreclosures were the direct result of banking and lending fraud. A lot of banks capitalized using loose practices, but I think a lot of lower income folks were irresponsible. I am in the industry, and I have friends crying to me about mortgages that are $4000 a month. I ask them, did your rates suddenly go up? "No" they say…well, $4000 for two adults is a lot but if it was fine when you signed the deal, why isn't it now? IT's called "House Poor" my friend!
Plenty of people up and decided they deserved to be homeowners at the top of the market. Not everyone can own–sometimes you have to be a renter until things wind down, your income has stablized, and you've SAVED for a larger downpayment…The trouble is, the poorer classes are victims of media, advertising, and the lure of credit, without thinking through the consequences down the road. Cash is king and if you don't have it, pinch your pennies like the rest of us have to.
I was thinking of signing up for the democratic party and becoming a self declared liberal after hannities show on california's water shortage, then I watch this and find the systematic untruths and fallacies, and blunt stupidity on both sides,
Are you independent? Then, why aren't you politically?
Michael Moore is right about capitalism, but he needs to go deeper – watch this short video from Raymond Lotta on "the rape of the congo and your cell phone." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBhiEKZezhY).
You also need to hear what he has to say about revolution and communism being the solution. Lotta is doing a webcast tues – behind the economic crisis, capitalism is a failure, revolution is the solution… find out more at http://www.revolutionbooksnyc.org Tune in and bring your hardest questions.
i lost my home to pay medical bills. my rent is higher then my mortgage was. soon i won't be able to live here & it's the cheapest place i could find.
i am sick & tired of hearing about people thinking that we are losing our homes because we over bought..
i didn't. i had a 5% fixed mortgage.
Awesome! I'm really glad Stephen brought up these "life settlement-backed securities" aka DEATH BONDS. I mean, really?? It's so grim.
A friend and colleague of mine picked up a camera and a mic and did some guerilla video on Wall Street to get some answers about this newest scheme.
You can check it here:
http://www.nodeathbonds.com
This is just another bubble waiting to burst. What are we going to do about it this time??
If Moore hates capitalism so much, I'm sure he's not going to keep any profits off of this movie, right?
I love the spirited debate in this country: "Well, you've just shown me how other countries health care systems may be superior to the United States, but I'm here to tell you (without any actual proof or evidence to support my stance) you are wrong." Great job guys. "2+2=4!" and then some one screams "Nah ah, you fascist-socialist anti-american-homo! I was told its some other number entirely by someone at some point! And you can't tell me no different!"
Knock it off, don't go looking for things to tear down and tear apart. Stop being afraid, be wiling to accept that other people, other nations, other systems might just be as good or better than Americas. Try and learn what we can all do together to fix this awful mess we are in. Michael Moore, whether or not you agree with him, is doing something, he is trying to affect change. He works within a broken system to try and motivate people to do better, be better. If you don't agree then do something about what you feel will help things – reduce unemployment, bring health care to those in need. If you love your capitalism so much, if you really believe it just needs one more chance to work, then go out and make it happen. Show us that we are wrong. I dare you. And when we are all living high on the hog, when it works and I finally have a job again and health care and I can afford to put food on the table and a roof over my head I will not be afraid to admit I was wrong, I will not detract from your victory. I will, instead, be happy that we came through the crisis as a nation united in the cause to help its own people. Until that day arrives, my ear bends to those people who at least sound and act like the have mine and other's best interests at heart instead of their own bank accounts.
colbert mistook credit default swaps with securitization, which is pretty different. Credit default swaps were insurance on company bonds, so that if the firm defaults, the bond holders still get paid. Securitization is just debt diversification. In the end, michael moore is just a populist fag who appeals to the liberal bleedheart, kill the rich types.There is very little of substance being explained here.