Michael Moore, the man of many hats - documentary filmmaker, political scientist and now, singer.
Moore has been making the rounds to promote his new movie, "Capitalism: A Love Story." On NBC's Sept. 15 "Jay Leno Show," Moore appeared and was asked what was wrong with capitalism.
"Capitalism is actually legalized greed," Moore said. "There's nothing wrong with people earning money, starting a business, selling shoes. That's not what I'm talking about. We're at a point now Jay, in this country, where the richest 1 percent, the very top 1 percent have more financial wealth than the bottom 95 percent combined."
Moore explained that his vision of democracy is redistributionist, and he gave no voice to the idea that self-reliance and hard work can propel one to great wealth.
"That's insane, we live in a democracy," Moore continued. "We're supposed to have like fairness and equality. And you know when you have a pie on the table ... there's 10 slices and one guy at the table says nine of those slices are mine and the other nine of you, you can fight over the last slice. I mean that's essential the kind of economy we have now."
However, Moore didn't just use the platform of Jay Leno's new show to plug his campaign against the American style of capitalism. He also showcased his vocal abilities and performed Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-changin'":
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hallFor he who gets hurt
Is he who has stalled
There's a battle outside and it's ragin'Please, it'll shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times, they are a-changin'Come mothers and fathers throughout the land
Don't criticize what you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin'Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend a hand
For the times, they are a-changin'




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Question for Mr. Moore
September 16, 2009 - 09:32 ET by Iowa BoyIf capitalism is bad, how did you get so rich?
Now go away and be hypocritcal somewhere else.
"Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain." Official Motto of the State of Iowa
I saw that
September 16, 2009 - 09:34 ET by nwahsI was thinking - what's a sure fired way to get canceled before December? Have Michael Moore on to sing Dylan songs!
What are they thinking?
Politics is showbiz for ugly people
nwahs--
September 16, 2009 - 17:57 ET by Kat Outta the BagI'm actually agreeing with you on this one. LOL
We're at a point now Jay,
September 16, 2009 - 09:37 ET by motherbeltWe're at a point now Jay, in this country, where the richest 1 percent,
the very top 1 percent have more financial wealth than the bottom 95
percent combined."
And which percentage are YOU in, Mikey? The 4% in between? So take money away from everyone wealthy but you and your Hollywood pals?
Mr. Moore has the right to give away all his money if he so chooses. He has NO right to decide how much others should earn.
It's just too funny
September 16, 2009 - 09:36 ET by DuymonIf it weren't for capitalism he wouldn't be so damned rich.....
Yes, I wonder what
September 16, 2009 - 09:39 ET by motherbeltYes, I wonder what percentage of his ill-gotten gains Mr. Moore is willing to redistribute so that things can be more "fair."
so your royal
September 16, 2009 - 09:44 ET by red_dragon311so your royal fatness...why not donate YOUR millions set the example for all the "rich white guys" we are all suposed to be equal and fiar right...so show us how to do that.
you start, sahow us how it's done fattie and we will all follow you
UPDATE: I used the overwieght insults because , like libs say blonds can tell blond jokes, well being a "big" fan of newsbusters (265 lbs) i CAN this RICH fat bloated pig a RICH fat bloated pig
lib-think:
Male/female gender roles, especially the desire of women to be mothers, are purely social constructs. But homosexuality - and every other sexual proclivity - are immutable, ingraned biological desires that cannot be questioned
So he is donating all his
September 16, 2009 - 09:41 ET by 10ksnookerSo he is donating all his spoils to charty?
Hypocrits are not pretty sights.
I believe Michael Moore
September 16, 2009 - 09:42 ET by Roger the ShrubberI believe Michael Moore considers Taco Bell, Wendy's, Burger King, and Pizza Hut as his personal favorite charities.
So Michael Moore is boycotting
September 16, 2009 - 11:00 ET by Airforce_5_OJared and Subway?! The Bastard!
Liberalism: The haunting feeling that someone, somewhere, can help themselves.
No, if he were the liberal
September 16, 2009 - 10:32 ET by misterbee241No, if he were the liberal he professes to be, he'd donate 90% of his spoils to the government and let it distribute his wealth to the charties of the government's choice. ACORN comes to mind.
"I dont need to read a newspaper to know the world's been shaved by a drunken barber."
Walter Brennan, The Colonel, Meet John Doe, 1941
Is it a goiter or just
September 16, 2009 - 09:49 ET by rwesleyIs it a goiter or just flab? I haven't figured it out yet.
Since when is greed illegal?
September 16, 2009 - 09:51 ET by iiiireaderAs far as I can remember, there aren't any laws against being greedy - so why the comment "legalized greed". Being greedy isn't necessarily very nice but now this doofus wants you to go to jail?
Pie?
September 16, 2009 - 10:02 ET by okiehawk44There's something about Michael Moore using a pie in an analogy that's just wrong.
I no more (pun intended) want to visualize Moore eating more (pun intended) slices of the pie than he has a right to in a fair society than see him have sex.
Moore is a pig (fact -- no pun) and his ideas are fatuous (pun) and wrong -- just like Obama admitted to Joe the Plumber about "spreading the wealth" when he was off the teleprompter script for just a nano second last year.
Irony, thy name is Michael
September 16, 2009 - 10:32 ET by ReaverGlad to see that I'm not the only one amused by MM using a pie metaphor. And eating more than their fair share too, priceless.
I wouldn't recommend sex, drugs or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me. - Hunter S. Thompson
Note to Michael Moore
September 16, 2009 - 10:08 ET by CarlosS1: Donate all your wealth to charities
2: Move to Cuba for 10 years
3: Talk to us then abut the evils of "legalized" greed
shawn
September 16, 2009 - 10:09 ET by larry on LIthat decision to put mighty mouth on was a prime example of the liberal left mindset in action.
"Capitalism is actually
September 16, 2009 - 10:12 ET by MightyMouth"Capitalism is actually legalized greed"--Michael Moore
"Liberalism is actually legalized stupidity" --MM
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
MM I love it!!
September 16, 2009 - 10:37 ET by Radical1979MM I love it!!
Thanks, I did a bing and
September 16, 2009 - 10:40 ET by MightyMouthThanks, I did a bing and google search for the exact phrase and ...no hits so I am taking credit! :-)
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Who Is Greedy
September 16, 2009 - 10:15 ET by dboYou know what's worse than financial greed? Political greed. The top 1% have 100% control over all of us.
Excellent!
September 16, 2009 - 10:25 ET by MightyMouth"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Another Reason to Avoid Leno!
September 16, 2009 - 10:15 ET by slickwillie2001Between this and Kanye I'm just piling up reasons here to not watch the hack Leno and his 'new' show.
He
September 16, 2009 - 10:20 ET by jessieHHe forgot to mention the race card.
I Wonder
September 16, 2009 - 10:30 ET by misterbee241I wonder how many of his personal millions Moore is wiling to "redistribute"?
I wish Leno had asked him why do you hate capitallism so much when you made millions under that system.
But you know what is said about wishing.
"I dont need to read a newspaper to know the world's been shaved by a drunken barber."
Walter Brennan, The Colonel, Meet John Doe, 1941
I wonder how many of his
September 16, 2009 - 10:36 ET by Radical1979I wonder how many of his personal millions Moore is wiling to "redistribute
and the answer is- 0! Not that anyone here is surprised. The book "Liberals and the Lies they tell" outlines the small amount of money liberals are willing to give away of their own money!
Their Greed is not bad
September 16, 2009 - 11:07 ET by Airforce_5_Obecause they are trying to make the world a better place. They want to buy the world a coke and teach it harmony!!!! See it works in a liberal sort of way.
Liberalism: The haunting feeling that someone, somewhere, can help themselves.
Michael Moore is ridiculous
September 16, 2009 - 10:33 ET by somethingsteveI simply can't follow his logic some times.
But I do agree that capitalism is legalized greed. Isn't that exactly what Rand argued for?
"Greed" is wanting more than
September 16, 2009 - 11:19 ET by robert108"Greed" is wanting more than you have earned. By definition, only govt is greedy; it always takes more than it earns. In our free enterprise system(not "capitalism", an incorrect term), one gets rewarded in proportion to what one earns, which is the epitome of "fairness". Moore also made the false statement that "democracy" is about equality; actually, our country is founded on the principle of equality of opportunity. Big difference.
Very good points Robert.
September 16, 2009 - 13:19 ET by rimskyVery good points Robert. Thanks!
Very good points Robert.
September 16, 2009 - 13:19 ET by rimskySorry.. double post.. itchy click finger
The fact is this is not a
September 16, 2009 - 15:39 ET by Bo HammerbagThe fact is this is not a democracy it is a republic, another incorrect term. He also said that he is a redistributionist. Is that another name for socialist?
There is just so much to
September 16, 2009 - 10:34 ET by fitzfongThere is just so much to mock and ridicule about Michael Moore's appearance last night: calling capitalism "legalized greed" (you want to talk about legalized greed, take a look in the mirror, fat boy), using the pie analogy (at least the "greedy" capitalists would leave a piece on the table for others, he'd swallow the whole pie in one gulp). The guy is simply a bitter economic illiterate who bullies the little guy (secretaries, security guards, etc.) in public to give the impression that he's attacking the "corrupt" "big guy"...CEO, CFO, etc. He's not a man of many hats, he's a man of many stomachs.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
moo-la
September 16, 2009 - 10:46 ET by jon_torlinHe's not a man of many hats, he's a man of many stomachs.
So he's a cow. Got it. Definitely can't argue with that.
-Jon
I turned Jay on the first night.
September 16, 2009 - 10:40 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson5 minutes later I changed channels.
Last night it took 30 seconds to decide there was no value.
http://gjresult.com
This a-hole is an embarassment to my state...
September 16, 2009 - 10:41 ET by JTPEcspecially when he wears the MSU hat.
Hey Mikey, if I BAKE the pie and want to eat 9 pieces and give the remaining 10% to charity that is called tithing. That is a good thing you moron.
"Live for yourself...there's no one else more worth living for.
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more"- Rush--Anthem
Capitalism = Legalized Greed????
September 16, 2009 - 10:58 ET by kufir77So greed was against the law in the USSR? Really?
Greedy capitalist
September 16, 2009 - 10:59 ET by cajun2Hollywood signs mega millions to work 3mos to make a movie, A-Rod signs MLB contract for $100million. How do these people get away without criticism for their "excess wealth"? How much do you make Leno? I make $40k a year but its my money you want and if I bitch about it I'm an unamerican racist. Had enough. Sorry guys, I'm still "fache'" this morning.
Greed
September 16, 2009 - 11:14 ET by ForeverOnTheRightGeed is a part of human nature, it is what makes capitalism work and prevents socialism from working. There is no legalization in capitalism for greed nor is it outlawed, it acknowledges indirectly or directly this human condition. Without greed we only work hard enough to put food on the table, a roof over the head and clothes on the back. Some laws restrain it from running amok, but moral code, self restraint is what restrains greed the most, and is what liberals reject, namely religion, Christianity specifically. With lack of moral restraint, self restraint, we must create external restraints with laws and law enforcement, courts etc. etc. Mr. Moore, for someone that has been able to amass wealth, you don’t understand this?! Perhaps you are a fool.
And Michael Moron....
September 16, 2009 - 11:17 ET by JeffWeimerYou're one of those 1%.
Stuff a sock in it.
Judging by the photo, that
September 16, 2009 - 11:25 ET by Jack BauerJudging by the photo, that Cuban healthcare is working out really well for Michael 'Mr Creosote' Moore.
Fit, tanned, taut -- oh sorry, that's not a crazy mirror from a carney show?
Oh yeah -- come the inevitable heart attack they'll have to knock out the window and lower Moore's bloated corpse to the street by crane.
Now if Michael Moore
September 16, 2009 - 11:34 ET by equusartsNow if Michael Moore redistributed his OWN wealth, I'd be listening. I am so sick and tired of these hollywood snobs coming out and playing politics.
One. Most of them are pretty politically ignorant and academically inferior. The ONLY reason they have a platform is because our society worships celebrities.
Two. Hollywood types are by far the most hypocritical of the lot. They hoard their millions, buy their private this and thats, mansions, etc. then have the nerve to support obama's agenda and jump on every politically correct bandwagon.
Why, if they are so keen on the idea, aren't they turning their backs on their "capitalistic gains" and living in a cabin somewhere making peace necklaces?
"Hypocrisy, the lie, is the true sister of evil, intolerance, and cruelty."
NBC thinks we're all stupid....
September 16, 2009 - 12:03 ET by Irene FlickWe tevo'd both nights to watch instead of Letterman. Plenty of crude jokes for the hour, pandering to gays, the Idiot Kanye, and now this Embarassment to Michigan. Let's just bring back Bob Hope from the dead, eh?
At least Moo lives in a New York penthouse and got his fatness out of the ruined Michigan. It was guys like him who helped take it down, and NBC thinks we want to watch this tragedy? Who makes these stupid decisions about guests?
I'm liking "How It's Made" more and more.
TERM LIMITS FOR ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS!
And, yes., I am shouting.
It should make no money
September 16, 2009 - 11:57 ET by upgradeI wonder how much money it cost for him to make the film and produce it. How much time was invested in that process of creating something? Is he creating any trailers or advertisements to spread the word about this 'film'? Should people actually willingly go to the theater, pay for a ticket at a theater (a part of which goes to the film maker), pay for the snacks and spend 2 hours watching it? He did seem to like Jay Leno's free shows in Detroit idea so he copied it. October 1st you can go see his film for free. Why accept no money for your work for only one day MM? You don't like capitalism and therefore shouldn't be paid a dime for your effort. Just put it on the Internet and others will spread the wealth around for nothing.
If it werent for the
September 16, 2009 - 12:10 ET by Long Island PeteIf it werent for the ignorant drones that follow him, he wouldnt be so rich.
The next time I see Michael Moore on TV, it better be...
September 16, 2009 - 12:25 ET by R D Helm...to see this rich, fat hypocrite eat the hotdog that is going to finally cause him to explode.
-Dave
I agree with Rush. It's time for Obama to resign.
if not that, then this
September 16, 2009 - 12:56 ET by jon_torlinThere's always that scene in Team America (not for the faint of heart) that shows something like that.
Yeah, that movie was raunchy, but you get to see all the celebrities and personalities that you love to hate, you see their puppet avatars get blown to pieces and etc.
-Jon
Part of the smarty smarts
September 16, 2009 - 15:29 ET by jdhawkPart of the smarty smarts of hollyweird, Moore, a multi-millionaire (his films have grossed over $172 million dollars), manufactures dissent whereever he goes. In Fahrenheit 9/11, obviously a favorite of "reverend" wright and bambi the first stupid liberal, he portrays President Bush a part of a massive conspiracy that was systematically shown to be untrue, maliciously edited, and bordering on treasonous by an independent study (http://www.davekopel.org/terror/59Deceits.pdf).
In Sicko, his opus for socialized health care, he received much criticism for dishonestly ignoring the problems with, in particular, the British national health service (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/minette_marrin/article2753620.ece)
In 2004, Moore warned that if Bush was re-elected as President: "...he's going to bring back the draft. He will be forced to. Because, thanks to his crazy war, recruitment is going to be at an all-time low. And many of the troops stuck over there are NOT going to re-enlist. The only way Bush is going to be able to staff the military is to draft you and your friends. Parents, make no mistake about it - Bush's second term will see your sons taken from you and sent to fight wars for the oily rich." Over four years later, the draft had not been reintroduced.
Moore says that corporations are "terrorists" and has said "I don't own a single share of stock" but IRS records showed he owned at least several hundreds of thousand dollars in stocks in Pentagon contractors like Boeing, pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly, and even Halliburton, the company most vilified by Moore in Fahrenheit 9/11.
Moore uses a private jet on his book tours and stays at the Ritz Carlton hotel when in London, but conducts press interviews in a cheap hotel nearby to give reporters the impression he is staying there instead. Moore calls himself "an Average Joe from Flint, MI" and says, "Once you’re working class, you’re always working class". The reality is that hypocrite Moore lives a luxury-class lifestyle out of reach of most Flint residents.
Moore says that Americans who live in white neighborhoods are racist, but lives in a town (Central Lake, Michigan) which according to the 2000 Census, had a black population of zero.
Meanwhile, the ever less funny Leno has ever more bizarro leftists on his show. This is just the first of many. When I heard Moore was going to be a guest, I changed the channel.
MORE SOCIALISM COMIN FOR MM
September 16, 2009 - 17:06 ET by reelman46THE TAX MAN COMETH PHASE I
Senate 10-Year Health Fix Price Tag, $856 Billion
WASHINGTON 9.16.09– DEMOCRAT Sen. Max Baucus on Wednesday released the
much-awaited Senate version of an American health-system remake — a
landmark $856 billion, 10-year measure that starts a rough ride through
Congress without visible Republican backing.
The bill by DEMOCRAT Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee,
would make major changes to the nation’s $2.5 trillion health care
system, including requiring all individuals to purchase health care or
pay a fine, and language prohibiting insurance company practices like
charging more to people with more serious health problems.
Special: Your Inflation Emergency Plan — 8 Steps to Take Now
Video: Liberal Senator Complains of High Taxes in Health Overhaul!
If THE DEMOCRAT Congress is serious about addressing economic growth
and unemployment, it should make all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts
permanent before the following expirations [1] can occur:
* Capital Gains: Rates will rise to 10 or 20 percent, depending upon income, on January 1, 2009.
* Dividends: Rates will rise to match standard income tax rates on January 1, 2009.
* Child Credit: This credit will shrink from $700 to $500 per child on January 1, 2011.
* The Income Tax: Rates will increase between 3 and 4.5 percentage points in each bracket on January 1, 2011.
* The 10 Percent Bracket: The bracket will be eliminated on January 1,
2011, raising the income tax burden of many workers by 5 percentage
points.
* The 15 Percent Bracket for Joint Filers: On January 1, 2011, the
upper limit of this bracket will shrink from 200 to 167 percent of the
upper limit of the 15 percent bracket for single filers, creating a
marriage penalty.
* Standard Deduction for Joint Filers: On January 1, 2011, this will
shrink from 200 to 167 percent of the standard deduction for single
filers, creating a marriage penalty.
* The Estate Tax: The top rate for this tax will increase to 60 percent
on January 1, 2011, and the value of an estate exempt from taxation
will shrink to $1 million, which is less than it is today.
Andrew Grossman, Senior Web Writer/Editor at The Heritage Foundation.
[1] The Executive Office of the President of the United States,
“Analytical Perspectives,” Budget of the United States Government:
Fiscal Year 2005 (Washington: GPO, 2004), 240-246.
http://conservablogs...
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
"Michael Moore, the man of
September 16, 2009 - 17:59 ET by Kat Outta the Bag"Michael Moore, the man of many hats..."
And even more chins.
Re Chins
September 16, 2009 - 20:14 ET by slickwillie2001Another couple of pounds, and he is going to look like Fat Bastard from the Austin Powers series.
He'd have to lose a lot of
September 16, 2009 - 20:59 ET by fitzfongHe'd have to lose a lot of weight to look like Fat Bastard.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Trickle down theory
September 16, 2009 - 18:31 ET by LindamaeBut Mike, these are the people who hire the rest of us and pay us well. Would you rather the government pay us? But, you forget that the government gets its money - our money - from taxes and then reallocates it in salaries or welfare. Let those greedy capitalists earn their money because when they do, the rest of us have jobs. Surely you've heard about the loss of income from hotels, restaurants, small companies who subcontract to larger ones, cities (Las Vegas) small companies who provide service to the larger ones - we are doomed when we shut off the faucet of capitalism. Mike - please take a few courses in economics and political history before you release this film. Learn how money works. Check out the problems facing the UK with unemployment. You might be able to handle paying 50% of your income or more to taxes but the rest of us can't and don't want to. Just drive up to a poor neighborhood, open your door and start handing out $100 bills to those who need them. Or, start a company and start helping people earn a living which will support them, their families, and our economy and our government. Take that economics course. PLEASE! Otherwise, you are an ignorant fool.
Richest 1%?
September 17, 2009 - 01:26 ET by bobdogThe "richest 1%" Moore is complaining about includes George Soros, most members of the Senate, most of the Hollywood elite, and Moore himself.
I'd believe him if he would do a huge mea culpa and simply turn over his assets to the US Treasury.
Hypocrite.
I'm going to set up a "RobinHood" group.
September 17, 2009 - 10:29 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonPeople of his ilk can turn over ALL their...... (well, I was going to say assets, but in moores case...) Wealth they have gained from CAPITALISM, and I will personally 'rob from the rich' and return to the PRODUCTIVE.
The real Robinhood stole from the tax collector and returned the money to the PEOPLE that earned the money and was stolen by corrupt government officials.
http://gjresult.com