"Inequality for All" Leaves the Audience with a Deficit
Robert Reich's movie about inequality in America certainly has good graphs. And while I like good graphs, and have enjoyed graphs in movies in the past, graphs aren't enough.
Once you learn the basic problem with wealth inequality in America and why income is almost completely rising to the top 1%, there's not much in the film to enlighten us. You could learn what is in the film in two graphs and a 1000 word article. While I admire Reich's work in economics and his self deprecating humor, the film is too narrow in its scope. Let me count the ways.
1. It doesn't address NAFTA (a law that was passed during his time working with Bill Clinton) and how it helped increase inequality.
2. It didn't address Welfare to work, another bill pushed through by his buddy, President Clinton, and its affects on the working poor.
3. The film mostly ignores military spending.
4. Though the New Deal is seen as the beginning of good times for workers, Reich doesn't discuss the job's programs and infrastructure programs of the New Deal to show what the government can do to share the wealth.
5. And much much more!
His vague call to "educate America", and help unions, lacks specifics that I would think a world class economist might be able to share with us. His prescriptions are as disappointing as the film itself. Rating: Rent it. There is no reason to see this on the big screen, even to promote documentaries about economics making it to the theaters. However, there are a couple of interesting interviews in the movie and enough information to glean that it's not a complete waste of time.
Peace, Tex Shelters
Robert Reich's movie about inequality in America certainly has good graphs. And while I like good graphs, and have enjoyed graphs in movies in the past, graphs aren't enough.
Once you learn the basic problem with wealth inequality in America and why income is almost completely rising to the top 1%, there's not much in the film to enlighten us. You could learn what is in the film in two graphs and a 1000 word article. While I admire Reich's work in economics and his self deprecating humor, the film is too narrow in its scope. Let me count the ways.
1. It doesn't address NAFTA (a law that was passed during his time working with Bill Clinton) and how it helped increase inequality.
2. It didn't address Welfare to work, another bill pushed through by his buddy, President Clinton, and its affects on the working poor.
3. The film mostly ignores military spending.
4. Though the New Deal is seen as the beginning of good times for workers, Reich doesn't discuss the job's programs and infrastructure programs of the New Deal to show what the government can do to share the wealth.
5. And much much more!
His vague call to "educate America", and help unions, lacks specifics that I would think a world class economist might be able to share with us. His prescriptions are as disappointing as the film itself. Rating: Rent it. There is no reason to see this on the big screen, even to promote documentaries about economics making it to the theaters. However, there are a couple of interesting interviews in the movie and enough information to glean that it's not a complete waste of time.
Peace, Tex Shelters