A Review, Capitalism: A Love Story
by Ajamu Dillahunt
A Review, Capitalism: A Love Story
Early in October when the debates over healthcare reform were at a fever pitch, a very important movie hit the theatres. Michael Moore’s latest critique of the excesses of US society is perhaps the most comprehensive look at how we are exploited as workers and how the system can make life miserable for the people in so many ways. This salvo, joins the ranks of his efforts over the last two decades to expose the tremendous problems created by the profit system: “Roger and Me”-auto industry; “Columbine”-violence engendered by society; “Fahrenheit 9/11”-imperialist war; and “Sicko”-criminal health care system in the U.S.
Moore opens with the problem that has plagued millions of people in this country over the last three years, a foreclosure. It is a white family that played by the so-called rules being evicted from the home they have lived in for years. We see how cold and uncaring the system is where the lender prevails and the owner is “kicked to the curb.” His list of crimes and indignities go on. There is a private prison and a juvenile court judge who unfairly sentences youth in exchange for kickbacks totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. And then there is the little known “dead peasant” or “janitors” insurance” that employers can take out on their employees without their knowledge with the benefits being paid to the corporation.
“Captialism” aims much of its criticism at Wall Street and the financial institutions that were and continue to be unregulated and made risky investments and had to be rescued by taxpayers. This government solution for the wealthy is the subject of the campaign to “Bailout out the Workers, Not the Banks.” In a hilarious but on target action, Moore ties yellow police crime scene tape around the headquarters of one of the institutions and then attempts to make a ‘citizens arrest” of the corporate heads.
The strength of this film is the attention it gives to worker resistance. For Justice Speaks readers, supporters of the Black Left Unity Movement and the US Human Rights Network, it was uplifting to see the work of our allies in the fight back efforts that Moore highlighted. In Miami we see the work of the Miami Workers Center and the “Take Back the Land” campaign push back on a foreclosure eviction and actually occupy a house. In Chicago we see the heroic effort of the Republic and Doors workers, members of UE Local 22 occupy their plant demanding severance pay from the company and adherence to state and federal law in terms of notification for plant closings. They took on the Bank of America (BOA) the financial institution to which Republic owners owed money. Related to challenges of the banks we see a spirited demonstration at BOA headquarters in Charlotte N.C. in which members of UE Local 150, the North Carolina Public Service Workers Union, call out the vipers for their criminal activity.
As part of his scan of resistance Moore highlights two worker owned businesses or cooperatives. While many observers argue that these types of enterprises will not solve the problems created by the profit motive and individual ownership, we are challenged to think about democracy in the workplace from decision making around production to how the profits are shared. It takes the viewer beyond where, unfortunately, many of our trade unions are willing to go in terms of transforming the workplace.
Why this film is important
The film is timely given that most workers are questioning the system and trying to figure out why such high levels of unemployment, government support for corporations and failures to provide a real safety net for workers. In other words, unlike many other times in our recent history, including elections, our co-workers are questioning the system. There are many documentaries to be found that do this but as documentary films they are not circulated widely. Although Moore’s products do not get the same promotional support and exposure as typical Hollywood fare, they are part of the “establishment” film offerings and therefore can provide education and opportunities for discussion on a scale that the Black workers and the progressive movement cannot provide. It is for this reason we are encouraging everyone who cares about building a strong workers movement to see this film with coworkers and family members and hold discussions, study groups, etc. to tackle the issues raised in the movie and those that are not handled so well or not at all.
Moore has not raised how much and what type of political struggle will be necessary to complement the economic struggle and resistance which he suggests. Likewise he has not drawn out the especially egregious situation that Black workers face in comparison to other members of the US working class. Yet to his credit, Moore always focuses on people of color in raising issues even if he does not highlight the particularities of their oppression and the role of white supremacy and white privilege.
At the end of the day it is our role to both use this film as the excellent tool that it is and to fill in the gaps in analysis. A filmmaker, no matter how good, cannot build or lead a movement but their work can certainly help. Capitalism: A Love Story is definitely an aid. As would be expected, it has not remained in many theatres so if you cannot find it, it can be rented from Netflix or Blockbuster.
