Review of Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) by Bruno L — 20 May 2010

A general inside-out look at a few aspects of the housing crash and recent bank bailout crisis (during the Bush administration). No matter your position of wealth, I believe it is a valid piece of initial criticism of the system that perpetuates the rich getting richer. This is primarily aimed at white Christian middle class Americans who believe that Capitalism = the Great American Way and yet feel a bit burned by corporate greed.

Politically, he is not as slanted in this film as in others. He does a better job at sharing the blame between both Repubs and Dems this time, although it is still quite obviously a liberally-sided piece. He interviews people who have been victims of bad mortgage deals, the workers at "Republic" who fought against Bank of America for their right to keep their jobs and pensions, airline pilots who make abysmal salaries, and his Dad. Most of these kinds of stories have been heard in one form or another over the past year on the news networks.

There was something that was brand new to me called, "Dead Peasants" - life insurance policies taken out by companies on their employees, reaping thousands of dollars to companies like Wal-Mart and Winn Dixie. Very disturbing indeed. Obviously, greed seeps in whereever it can... These policies must end. And anything else out there like this (can we say "derivatives"?).

I was also surprised to learn about FDR's "second Bill of rights" which was seemingly transplanted to nations like Germany and Japan across the world following WWII in order to "lift them from the ashes of war" but never passed the US. He claims these countries treat their workers better than we treat ours.

And there were 2 examples of companies who have gone against the Wall.

Street model for running things and offer everyone in their company an equal vote and equal piece of the money pie and seem to be doing quite well because of their level of happiness in their position and monetary reward. Inspiring, to a degree. Where can I sign up to get paid $70,000 to bag bread and own a share of the company?

MM doesn't offer any concrete answers here, or even hint at a suitable replacement for capitalism (other than plain old democracy) but he takes issue with some of the biggest flaws in our current economic Wall Street based system which only the super rich would support. I miss the crazy all-out "Bowling for Columbine" style wit that he was loved and hated for, though. I believe he is a much softer director than 10 years ago. He obviously is on a mission, but at the end, we are not quite sure what that mission is exactly.

I would recommend this film, despite it's lack of punch. It's a good conversation starter.