Comments on: Colbert Interviews Michael Moore

By: anal yst

anal yst — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:36:52 +0000

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.

By: increasinglyhopeless

increasinglyhopeless — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:57:45 +0000

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.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:29:11 +0000

If Moore hates capitalism so much, I'm sure he's not going to keep any profits off of this movie, right?

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:05:07 +0000

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??

By: d

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:58:58 +0000

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.

By: day

day — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:45:38 +0000

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.

By: the other

the other — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:07:36 +0000

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?

By: jones

jones — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:14:27 +0000

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.

By: MikeW

MikeW — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:03:51 +0000

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.

By: notig

notig — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:42:22 +0000

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

By: Erich

Erich — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:46:18 +0000

I feel like Democrats will grow a spine and stop compromising in the center when they start losing seats to The Green party or other parties that are more liberal than them.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:15:04 +0000

These celebrities drive me crazy! I don't care what side they're on, I'm tired of hearing them make it sound like their income is like the normal everyday person. Give me a break! They make just as much or more money than the rich Wall Street people they attack. Shut up and stop trying to influence people with your celebrity power and let people think for themselves.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:38:55 +0000

Ahh he just defined collateralised debt obligations not credit default swaps… his researchers should be fired

By: Smith

Smith — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:28:42 +0000

I like the part where Moore tapes off Wall Street as a crime scene. Wall Street are walking away from the crap pool they wallowed in and expect the American taxpayer to clean it up. They snigger on the sidelines, jeering the taxpayers while they wonder what all the fuss is about. From an outside perspective, I cant believe the American people are taking this crap from Wall Street. I would have thought riots on the streets would have been the least you could have done by now.

By: Josh Ribakoff

Josh Ribakoff — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:51:18 +0000

NONE OF YOUR VIDEOS EVER WORK FOR ME

Error loading stylesheet. RSL http://media.mtvnservices.com/global/flex/rsl/framework_3.2.0.3958.swz failed to load. Flex Error #1002: Flash Player 9.0.115 and above is required to support signed RSLs. Problem occurred when trying to load the RSL http://media.mtvnservices.com/global/flex/rsl/framework_3.2.0.3958.swz. Upgrade your Flash Player and try again.

WIndows Vista / Firefox 3.5.3 flash player 10.

By: July August

July August — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:44:10 +0000

Greed is in an inherent and inescapable human quality. If you have a system that is open to being taken advantage of by greed, it is your fault for using that system. Out of all the people with the most money in the world, few have actually "earned" it or done anything of such great accomplishment to warrant such a huge reward.
It is hard to avoid being cynical when the top business interests will collude on matters affecting billions of people with their motive being profit. Humanity suffers in these cases. With globalization there is emerging a separation of class like we haven't seen in ages. Keep fighting for your feudal landlords, you peasant retards. How else could you be both fervently christian and pro-life yet be against healthcare over a cost issue, and still willing to shell out coins for war. People are dumber than ever, myself included as I have no idea how we're going to fix these massive problems. good luck

By: Yak

Yak — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:37:07 +0000

How many of you numbskull detractors have actually seen the movie? Oh, none of you? That's what I thought.

By: richard

richard — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:10:51 +0000

Michael Moore makes some good points, but he ruins his credibility by stretching the truth way too much. Capitalism isn't bad, it's greedy people that are bad Mike. If we lived in a communist society there would be greedy people there too.

In Sicko, Mike made out like the Canadian system was super, but the reality is far from that. For other than emergencies, healthcare is extremely rationed here, and yes many Canadians go to the US for elective surgeries like hip replacements.

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:06:23 +0000

I understand the message Moore is trying to get across but it's not working. Yes, capitalism is great but doesn't work all the time for the people. The health care business is focused on making money and doesn't care about providing affordable coverage for folks. Heath lobbyist have bought our congressman. Wall Street is not regulated and a mess. However, Moore how capitalism is bad for America across the board doesn't work for me. I even voted for Obama and I like Moore and his documentaries. However, this doesn't work for me and his approach is not going to win many at the end of the day.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:30:56 +0000

"You know, the problem I have with Michael Moore is the problem I have with a lot of people who are fanatical and push really hard on things, which is not willing to say the other side is wrong. They have to be evil.
And what I'm looking for is him to just say, maybe people are making mistakes. But it's always this conspiracy thing. There's always a conspiracy out to get him and a bunch of people doing things that are evil and psychotic and not simply wrong. And he's so cynical. He's so incredibly cynical."
– Penn Jillette,