I had high hopes for the documentary film I.O.U.S.A., because it was conceived of, cowritten and executive produced by Agora Financial’s Addison Wiggin, coauthor with Bill Bonner of the excellent book Empire of Debt.
When the movie finally started, the opening credits even indicated that the documentary was based on the book.
I wish.
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I too was disappointed.
If you saw the original 60 minutes episode, you didn’t need to see this movie.
The timing of it’s release was heaven-sent, but in only harping on the size of the debt, and failing to educate the masses on what and who causes inflation, I think it squandered the opportunity to influence public opinion.
Disappointed? Can’t say my hopes were that high. Disgusted is more like it, once I found out that Buffet the Magnificent had a lead role.
How can anyone consider “Mr. I-don’t-buy-any-business-I-don’t-understand” credible after he sinks billions into Goldman, after years of properly calling derivatives “Weapons of Mass Destruction?” Hello?
He is playing it like he is trying to save a system, while to me it looks like typical rent-seeking by a favored crony.
I’m just glad I knew enough not to trust the folks at Agora*, and thus I haven’t recommended (nor attended) the film myself.
Too bad though, Bill Bonner is one of my favorite writers.
*I caught them putting an “invest in ethanol” ad at the bottom of an “ethanol is a scam” article they posted on the DR website. The author was not amused.
Ref”[Buffett] is playing it like he is trying to save a system, while to me it looks like typical rent-seeking by a favored crony.”
Buffett is ultimately looking out for Buffett.
Barack is looking out for Barack.
I’m looking out for me.
Unlike them, I guess I was not shrewd or smart enough to be a regulation maker (or regulation influencer) in the systems that support their lifestyles.
Regards,
F.
August 18, 2008
Movie Review: I.O.U.S.A.
Does I.O.U.S.A. state the fact that the Federal Reserve is unConstitutional? Why not? What is the motivation behind such an omission?
Does I.O.U.S.A. mention that the United States is imperialistic? Why not?
Does I.O.U.S.A. say anything about the fallacies of empirical economics or the virtues of classical liberalism? Why not?
After realizing that I.O.U.S.A. has an hidden agenda that diverts the attention of the slowly awakening American people away from the truth, it is clear that its half-truths are meant to serve as a smoke screen. Its intention, the motivation behind it, is to keep people from hearing what the lone statesman and classical liberalism scholar – Ron Paul – is saying.
Beware of the half-truths! Be ready to direct people towards classical liberalism and Austrian economics, not to waste their energy fighting against some amorphous phantom created by the usurpers of the Constitutional Republic. These usurpers are devious and they use their forked tongues to make themselves to appear sincere but they are nothing but ego-driven interventionists operating outside the rule of law; they are an arm of the unConstitutional coup.
Let’s hope the tables turn on them and that people find out what is really happening and arise to rescue our Constitutional Republic from the foul-smelling unConstitutional coup that is controlling the media and the two-headed puppet of the single party system in the United States.
I agree, I spent weeks pushing my father and brother to watch David Walker’s material on youtube, and nearly two years trying to get them politically/economically aware. After seeing this movie together they haven’t bothered to pay any attention to issues I try to raise. Big dissapointment and de-motivator.
The screening wasn’t a total waste of time though, the room was nearly all seniors and near the end one lady statred adding her own angry commentary, afterwards she stormed around cussing and screaming “who is responsible for this filth being shown in my library!(repeated 9 or 10 times while shoving people who had stopped to watch and giggle at her, then…) How can you say these lies about our debt and say its our fault and not mention all our military bases and the thousands killed!!!” She was nuts… and scary for an old lady. I couldn’t believe she ran from security. I saw her on the street later and was very tempted to ask what she found so infuriating… but my brother/father/girlfriend would have left me there and taken off.
After watching “I.O.U.S.A.” I couldn’t help but wonder why they never explained that the Fed loans the money to the government PLUS INTEREST!!! That is also what is causing the debt to rise!!!!! Since 1913, our dollar has been devalued by 97% if you compare the dollar in 1913 to 2008. I.O.U.S.A. movie also contradicted itself by revealing some mistakes of the Fed, but then showing people like Greenspan, Rubin, Buffet, and Volker as if they were actually preaching this message. Another big mistake is when they kept showing Senator Conrad speeches, making him look like he’s against wasting taxpayers money, so I went to check on his record and guess what I found????? He voter FOR the Stimulus Bill, and Iraq/Afghanistan Wars, so how good of a role model is he???? There are some positives in this movie. They gave Ron Paul some time to explain his case, which was good as usual. They also shed some light on the issue of government spending and the debt it causes. Overall, the movie would have been very good if it wasn’t such a red herring!!! They should have spent a lot more time interviewing people that actually have credibility and know what they’re talking about(Ron Paul, Peter Schiff, Gerald Celente, Jim Rogers, Lew Rockwell, Tom Woods, Alex Jones, etc…..) but RUINED it when they sucked up to the establishment figures.
Grade——–> D+
After watching “I.O.U.S.A.” I couldn’t help but wonder why they never explained that the Fed loans the money to the government PLUS INTEREST!!! That is also what is causing the debt to rise!!!!! Since 1913, our dollar has been devalued by 97% if you compare the dollar in 1913 to 2008. I.O.U.S.A. movie also contradicted itself by revealing some mistakes of the Fed, but then showing people like Greenspan, Rubin, Buffet, and Volker as if they were actually preaching this message. Another big mistake is when they kept showing Senator Conrad speeches, making him look like he’s against wasting taxpayers money, so I went to check on his record and guess what I found????? He voter FOR the Stimulus Bill, and Iraq/Afghanistan Wars, so how good of a role model is he???? There are some positives in this movie. They gave Ron Paul some time to explain his case, which was good as usual. They also shed some light on the issue of government spending and the debt it causes. Overall, the movie would have been very good if it wasn’t such a red herring!!! They should have spent a lot more time interviewing people that actually have credibility and know what they’re talking about(Ron Paul, Peter Schiff, Gerald Celente, Jim Rogers, Lew Rockwell, Tom Woods, Alex Jones, etc…..) but RUINED it when they sucked up to the establishment figures.
Grade——–> D+
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