Line #24 Film/CapitalismALoveStory


1	[[quoteright:299:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/01ce15803e9c94b3ddcc42d96bb9a42c.jpg]]
2
3	-> ''"This is UsefulNotes/{{Capitalism}}. A system of taking and giving... mostly taking."''
4	-->–– '''Creator/MichaelMoore'''
5
6	''Capitalism: A Love Story'' is a 2009 documentary, by Creator/MichaelMoore. Twenty years after attacking General Motors' anti-worker policies in ''Film/RogerAndMe'', Moore documents what he believes to be the detrimental role that [[UsefulNotes/EconomicTheories Neoliberal-Neoclassical policies]] and big business play in our lives, how they caused the Great Recession, and how it will take people demanding change, and not compromising or giving in, for anything substantial to upset the status quo.
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8	----
9	!!Tropes Are:
10	* CapitalismIsBad: This documentary sets out to argue against UsefulNotes/{{Capitalism}} as its writers understand it, going as far as to equate it with sin.
11	* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Capitalism in general is criticized, so this is a given.
12	* HarsherInHindsight: InUniverse, Michael Moore shows a clip from his first documentary ''Film/RogerAndMe'', where he discusses with General Motors' Tom Kay the possibility that all the GM jobs in Flint, Michigan could be lost if GM wanted to avoid bankruptcy. Four months before ''Capitalism'' was released in the US, GM declared bankruptcy, by which time almost all the GM factories in Flint had shuttered.
13	* HidingBehindReligion: The film presents many crooked businessmen as doing this, claiming their ill-gotten gains as a gift from God, while a Catholic priest argues that capitalism is incompatible with the teachings of Christianity (Moore is an active Catholic). To drive the point further, clips from ''Series/JesusOfNazareth'' with [[GagDub edited dialogue]] appear to show what UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} would be like as a capitalist:
14	-->'''Rich man''': Master! What must I do to have eternal life?
15	-->'''Jesus''': Go forth and maximize profits.
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17	-->'''Israelite''': You say the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. But when exactly will it be?
18	-->'''Jesus''': When you deregulate the banking industry.
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20	-->'''Man with palsy''': Please help me. I've been this way for over 20 years.
21	-->'''Jesus''': I'm sorry. I cannot heal your preexisting condition. He'll have to pay out of pocket.
22	* HistoricalDomainCharacter: StockFootage of UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt explaining his "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bill_of_Rights Second Bill of Rights]]" appears in the the film, leading to discussion of how his death a year later hindered legislation for economic, health care, and arms reduction reforms.
23	* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''Roger & Me'', to the point that this film could actually be considered a sequel.
24	* ThatPoorCat: In the scene replaying [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush President Bush]]'s September 24, 2008 [[http://articles.cnn.com/2008-09-24/politics/bush.transcript_1_markets-financial-assets-economy?_s=PM:POLITICS "Our Economy Is in Danger"]] speech, animation in the background (by [[http://www.flickerlab.com Flickerlab]]) shows the White House wrecked by earthquakes, tidal waves, fire, lightning and hurricanes, which blow a yowling cat through the air right behind ol' El Presidente.
25	* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Conservative politicians and pundits love using the word "socialism" to describe any kind of reform or program as a negative. But Michael Moore picks up a dictionary and speaks with Senator Bernie Sanders, and finds that socialism (or at least [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialism democratic socialism]]) sounds surprisingly good.

Context Film / CapitalismALoveStory