Michael Moore explains the major flaw in capitalism

[elwoodblues]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Also, having a lot of wealth is thedefinition of greed

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it isn't (not even from your linked definition.) It is a COMPONENT of the definition, though the key component (what distinguishes being greedy from being wealthy) is the excessive desire to accumulate wealth. It is the "excessive desire" that matters, not the wealth. One can be greedy and own next to nothing just as one can be very wealthy and not be greedy. Nothing that I have seen suggests that Moore is greedy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course, neither of us can prove what goes on inside Michael Moore's brain (what he desires).

But I'm going to use some logic. Because he wants to charge $10.50 per person to see his films, we can deduce that he desires money. Like I said, nothing is stopping him from giving his movie away for free. So we know he has a choice on whether or not he wants to collect that money.

Also we know he has enough money to live the rest of his life in comfort. At this point, every nickel he earns is excess and we both know it. Thus, we can only deduce that Michael Moore is in fact, greedy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, this has been fun. Changing the meaning of commonly used words is a great way to get your point across --- what was your point again? Oh yeah, Michael Moore is a hypocrite because he has money (and is therefore greedy) and doesn't publicly give enough of it away (to your liking.) You win --- I guess.

[mosdef]

[ QUOTE ]
But I'm going to use some logic. Because he wants to charge $10.50 per person to see his films, we can deduce that he desires money.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does he really have any control over that?

[ QUOTE ]
Also we know he has enough money to live the rest of his life in comfort. At this point, every nickel he earns is excess and we both know it. Thus, we can only deduce that Michael Moore is in fact, greedy.

[/ QUOTE ]

The dictionary definition of greedy is wanting more wealth than one needs or deserves. If he thinks he deserves to be paid for his movies, that doesn't make him greedy. On the other hand, that wouldn't be consistent with him thinking corporations are greedy for wanting to paid for their services.

[GoodCallYouWin]

A better definition of greed would be "when the love of gold causes you to commit immoral acts".

[Nielsio]

elwood,


I thought you were libertarian leaning. But lately you've been pretty staunch status quo pundit.

Maybe I'm taking you for someone else?

[TomCollins]

[ QUOTE ]
elwood,


I thought you were libertarian leaning. But lately you've been pretty staunch status quo pundit.

Maybe I'm taking you for someone else?

[/ QUOTE ]

Elwood a libertarian? LOL. Sure, and Moorobot was a die hard anarchist and Iron is a big Bush fan.

[nietzreznor]

[ QUOTE ]
A better definition of greed would be "when the love of gold causes you to commit immoral acts".

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think this is a very good definition; greed is bad in and of itself, and doesn't require that you do anything bad in addition. Greed is a vice, and like all vices, it is some excess or definciency of a virtue that makes it "bad". (Also, you can be greedy about stuff besides money).

I think the definition here is perfectly fine.

And to be honest, while I have no real opinion as to whether or not Moore is greedy, I would think we might need more information than what has been given in this thread to make a case for 'greed'.

[kyleb]

[ QUOTE ]
Being for social change is one thing, but he reeks of tin foil hat conspiracy.

He thinks there is some secret corporate cabal that meets in in the Fortress of Evil deep under Mount Doom every two weeks to plot various deeds of evil.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I get these letters all the time for my small business. "Please attend secret meeting of American corporations at Mount Doom, [state redacted]."

I've got better things to do.

[MelchyBeau]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Being for social change is one thing, but he reeks of tin foil hat conspiracy.

He thinks there is some secret corporate cabal that meets in in the Fortress of Evil deep under Mount Doom every two weeks to plot various deeds of evil.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I get these letters all the time for my small business. "Please attend secret meeting of American corporations at Mount Doom, [state redacted]."

I've got better things to do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, if you go there, they mug you. So I wouldn't attend those if I were you. You are a small business so they are just going to destroy you.

[kyleb]

I knew it.

[Ron Burgundy]

[ QUOTE ]
Ah, I love this documentary. My girlfriend watched while I was grinding, and one of their arguments for how evil corporations are was as follows:

A corporation goes to a low income country and hires people for low wages. Eventually, the standard of living in the poor country rises and the factory has to re-locate somewhere else to find lower wages. ZOMG! SO EVIL!!!

This was their honest to god proof that corporations were evil. What a bunch of socialist monkeys.

Don't they realize their argument can written exactly as follows:

A rising standard of living is a good thing for poor people. Corporations are truly altruistic because they go to a poor country, give jobs, and cause the standard of living to increase because that factory brings hard currency to a poor country. Then once their work is done, and the poor country's standard of living has increased, they find a new bunch of poor people to help somewhere else. ZOMG!! TRUE ALTRUISM!!!

Now, I don't think socialists are monkeys. I happen to disagree with their beliefs, but if they make valid arguments, I will just disagree and not consider them monkeys. The people who made "The Corporation," however, are definitely monkeys!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, that was my 2nd favorite part of the movie. I like how that one guy acted like he was blowing the lid off of some evil scheme when he discovered that Kathy Lee's company was using cheap labor. Then at the end of that segment, in a gloomy voice, they said Kathy Lee's company is still using cheap labor today. So despite the best efforts of socialists, Kathy Lee and her company have found a way to continue helping the poorest people and give them jobs.