The One Percent - Full Documentary

The One Percent is a 2006 documentary about the growing wealth gap between America's wealthy elite and the citizenry on the whole. It was created by Jamie Johnson, heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune. (From youtube)
charliemsays...

Im torn between my hatred of disgustingly unjustifiable arrogant greed, and any steps towards socialism.

Both are pretty fucking despicable, there has to be a better middle ground.

Regulation to curtail corrupt and immoral greed, estate tax, loopholes etc. All that needs to be tightened, curtail self-destructive greed.

It doesn't seem right for a multi-million inheritance kid to sit on his throne and proclaim that everyone is created equal, with opportunity to be rich, while at the same time fighting to keep his million-dollar slush fund from his deceased relatives.

lesserfoolsays...

"[the wealthy] aren't influencing anything... they're... they're playing a role in the political system but congress is ultimately going to be influenced by public opinion... by what the public wants... the public will get what the public wants" - Milton Friedman 2006

Weee!

nach0ssays...

This guy made another movie about rich kids and how they deal with that status. His heart is in the right place and he has amazing access. I like his movies... I just hope he keeps improving on his techniques and preparation. Some of his questions to his interview subjects were just amateurish. He was totally unprepared for Milton Friedman. I'm not sure what he knew what he was getting into when he knocked Friedman's door-- the most prominent leader of the Chicago School of Economics (the economic philosophy) and a Nobel laureate... he is a famously adept debater. He suffers no fools apparently.

Maurusays...

I think I understand some of the reasoning behind the problems these rich people have with talking about their wealth and the growing social-economic gaps in society.

It is probably easy for them to change the lives of a couple of people, but the more lives are involved the more complicated the "proper" solution becomes up to the scope where judgment of what is the right thing to do in any given circumstance becomes very blurry.

World history is after all full of examples of misjudgment with the intention of general good.
Some of them might prefer their self-groomed naivete to facing the responsibilities put on their shoulders by their wealth and anybody who argues otherwise should probably ask himself if he is helping making the world a better place to the best of his abilities or not.

Then, there's of course the regular dickheads ... /*end rant- interesting documentary

poolcleanersays...

If I were part of the one percent, I would do things like produce movies and video games, sponsor MMA fighters and comedians, and/or melt the icy shores of Antarctica to free the eldritch gods I serve.

cybrbeastsays...

Wow fascinating insight. Great documentary for such a young filmmaker, but as said it could use some polish.

I'm baffled by the reaction of Warren Buffet though. I've always held the image of him as a great philanthropist and progressive. I even remember seeing an interview with Warren Buffet where he challenged any CEO to produce evidence that they paid more taxes than their secretary. So I can't understand why he was against this documentary and so harsh on his granddaughter. Maybe his pride was hurt by her going behind his back.

Mi1lersays...

>> ^charliem:
Im torn between my hatred of disgustingly unjustifiable arrogant greed, and any steps towards socialism.
Both are pretty fucking despicable, there has to be a better middle ground.


really? whats wrong with socialism? Taking care of each other and paying higher taxes, how is that despicable?
I am going to go out on a limb and say your from the states. Socialism isn't evil. Universal health care isn't evil but it is pretty socialist.

charliemsays...

Socialism is terrible outside of bare-bones essential services.

And im not in the US

Capitalism is the best we got for society, but it needs regulation to ensure corrpution and excessive greed dont self-destruct the entire shebang, ala. the current situation.

Had Clinton not revoked the regulations put in place by hoover, had Phil Gram and all his republicronies not pushed for further deregulation, and bush not pushed foward the housing bill basically forcing banks to give shitty loans, none of this would of happened.

The gap was actually shrinking post hoover pre-clinton. The wealth was being spread out in a capitalist society, whoda figured.

Unfettered capitalism is just as bad as tightly wound, wide-scope socialism. Capitalism needs regulations to keep it going.
Socialism puts you into the same boat as China, North Korea, Russia....etc.
Economically the nations (except NK) seem to be doing not so bad, but the standard of living is shithouse.

toastsays...

The problem is the laws and regulations that make it so hard for the poor to get richer.

The problem is not that some people are rich - but the fact that the rich can buy off the government with a wad of cash.

You want socialism? You want the most incompetent people to run health care and to give money to anyone they wished (including themselves)?

In the UK, the MPs used to be able to get tax payers to fund their SECOND homes to the tune of thousands and thousands of pounds when in many cases they did not even need them.

dystopianfuturetodaysays...

"Socialism forgets that life is individual. Capitalism forgets that life is social." -MLK

The choice between one or the other is a false one, because both systems fail in absence of the other. The best solution is an even balance of the two.

siftbotsays...

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Sunday, April 19th, 2009 11:38pm PDT - promote requested by dystopianfuturetoday.

rottenseedsays...

Hahaha I went from this kids point of view before watching this to against his point of view afterwards. Whoops counterproductive! unless...he WANTED IT THAT WAY! Those wealthy are smart buggers.

Send this Article to a Friend



Separate multiple emails with a comma (,); limit 5 recipients






Your email has been sent successfully!

Manage this Video in Your Playlists




notify when someone comments
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
  
Learn More