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Well, Michael Moore's latest is much what you'd expect, a com-doco, that
mixture of grim humour and documentary; lasting just over two hours.
A love story? Yes, in the sense that just after WWII, the average
American never had it so good - high tax on the rich used to fund social
services, full employment, strong trade unions, and a rising Middle Class.
All equated with Capitalism, which, in turn, was equated with Free
Enterprise, Individualism, and the American Way.
But then the advent of Reaganomics, and the rot set in, as the banks were
freed of regulation, and taxes on the rich were halved.
If a little bit of capitalism is good for you, then a lot must be so much
better - well, for us rich, at least.
The rich got richer, and the poor, poorer, while the Middle Class
disappeared virtually altogether.
This movie gives a good historic summary of past and present, and many
of the credits are of persons "playing" Himself or Herself, including
archival footage.
There is a recurring religious theme, and here the movie may not be on
such sure ground, as the Church is nowadays part of The Establishment,
unlike in the days of the radical Jesus Christ, and thus the Church tends to
a prudent stance - sanctioning the Status Quo, but ready to switch if it
senses Change we Can Believe in.
Still, in spite of a perhaps premature religious triumphalism as end
credits roll, a worthy production.
Is the Love Story over, and will any Marriage end in Divorce, or is Half
a Marriage better then None at All? The movie may pose the Question, and
hint at an Answer, but final decision is up to the Voter - or is it? Wall
Street might have other ideas, and Main Street meekly submit; as Mr & Mrs
Street battle it out. After all, most public funds went to bailing out
capitalism, not victims of sub-prime foreclosures. |
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