Michael Moore Gets It Wrong

Please do a detailed counterpiece when it comes out, even though you've probably covered most of it before

Moore also fails to understand is that it was not “capitalism” run amok that caused today’s financial problems. In reality, it was a combination of ill-conceived government policies and an overzealous Federal Reserve artificially lowering interest rates to fuel a bubble in the housing market. Then it was government that took money from taxpayers and forced banks to accept it.

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Oh the Government made me do it, cries John.

You sound like a child.

If Michael Moore is against capitalism, will he be making all of his films available to the masses for free? Or, does he seek compensation for his work too?

"Oh the Government made me do it, cries John."

Um, the government did literally force banks that didn't want TARP funds to take them. Does pointing out an objective fact really make someone sound like a child?

The biggest robberies in the history of the world: excessive taxation and inflation from central banks. All government caused.

Hey Thinking: Why don't you offer an alternative explanation or argument instead of just making ad hominum attacks. Your statement is typical of left-wing loons.

Oh the Government made me do it, cries John."

Adam apparently went to public school and studied Alinsky instead of economics or debate.

Adam, the cry is actually "the government made it happen." Take econ 101. Lower price (interest rates in this case) increases demand (credit in this case) which drives prices up. In a free market, that would cause interest rates to rise, but the Federal Reserve did not. So housing prices rose. As a result, we ran out of credit. Hence TARP, the shoveling of our money into the pockets of the bankers,

During the rush, the government also demanded that banks lower their underwriting standards, hastening the process.

The banking industry is a dinosaur, and should be allowed to die off. The regulations and entry-barriers prohibit any real financial environments progression.

Hey Thinking: Why don't you offer an alternative explanation or argument instead of just making ad hominum attacks. Your statement is typical of left-wing loons.

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And You?

It his blog and he offers himself up.

I mean seriously then...why don't all these Hollywood folks work for free if they're so anti-capitalism?

http://www.regretmyvote.com/

And Adam, the answer to your second question is "Yes." The government did indeed force TARP money into banks that didn't want it. One reason was so that your beloved government could mask the identities of the banks that were floundering. Another reason was so that the government could seize control.

Oops! It was "Thinking" and not Adam that lives in a selective reality.

Stossel: "In reality, it was a combination of ill-conceived government policies and an overzealous Federal Reserve artificially lowering interest rates to fuel a bubble in the housing market."

In reality? Maybe in Stossel's imaginary world! Gee, I guess Stossel knows more than Paulson, who realized it was the derivatives backed by worthless Credit Default Swaps that sunk the financial sector. He thought he could save Lehman until he realized the extent of the CDS's - which had nothing to do with the government except a lack of regulation! The banks pressured workers to provide them with as many risky BBB rated mortgages as possible because they could package them into AAA rated derivatives with CDS's.

And, based of Stossels chain of misleading statements about teachers - particularly the ridiculous idea they don't work long hours - I wouldn't believe him about anyone else getting it wrong since he's so practiced at it.

Michael should make his money by becomming a NutraSystem pitch man. He can then afford to get his upcoming CABG in Cuba.

John, use should start doing some full length documentaries. Get the word out there.

John, use should start doing some full length documentaries. Get the word out there.

I enjoy Michael Moore's movies more as comedy thin documentary. There was a good documentary that followed Michael around and showed how he makes his films they are NOT documentaries this group was shunned by him and harassed by him. It was really good they even used his own tactics to sneak in cameras which Moore's staff then broke. How can he hate capitalism its what made him rich! It wasn't the state forcing every one to watch his movies that's for sure.

Oops! It was "Thinking" and not Adam that lives in a selective reality.
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Selective reality? Most of your large corporations, Industrial or Banking live off the Government trough. Capitalism fight to get Government contracts, building roads, Electrical grids, Health Care, War, Military, You name it they are there.

Capitalism with out the government? You wouldn't even have a job.

That is the reality.

You folks are the one who lives in some alternate universe.

Profit-seeking entrepreneurs have given us better products, shorter work days, extended lives, and more opportunities to write the script of our own life.
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All within the rule of Law and Government oversite.

Tell me how well the free market works in those countries with a usefull government.

"Most of your large corporations, Industrial or Banking live off the Government trough. Capitalism fight to get Government contracts, building roads, Electrical grids, Health Care, War, Military, You name it they are there."

Thinking, every one of your examples is of perfectly anti-capitalist behaviour. They're examples of rent-seeking and the use of state coercion to reduce competition.

Those are not examples of capitalism, any more than war is an example of peace.

And libertarians don't have any special love of corporations. Corporations aren't any better or worse than other private actors. And they often lean on the state to coerce others into behaviours that they can't induce voluntarily.