Catching the Detroit premier of Capitalism: A Love Story with Rep. Marcy Kaptur and Michael Moore

     Michael Moore has not been permitted to enter GM’s Renaissance Center for more than 20 years.  The Detroit premier of his latest film set the stage for another showdown between RenCen security and Moore, who finally gained entry after much convincing.  Moore’s latest muckraking documentary Capitalism: A Love Story is a call to action, drawing out the absurdity of recent bail-out packages and the havoc the recession is causing in Middle America.
     Moore connects the dots between the bank bailouts, massive job-losses, home foreclosures and the drastically widening gap in socio-economic status.  Throughout the film, he ties these problems to a more systemic argument against unbridled capitalism and the moral challenges presented to the citizens of the United States.
     Toledo’s own Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur plays a significant role in this film, providing fiery opposition to the bailout and the incestuous relationship between the U.S. Treasury Department and Wall Street.  Many times throughout the film, I found myself with a proud smile on my face that the voice of Northwest Ohio was being represented in a loud way, without political rhetoric but with sheer common sense.
     Rep. Kaptur provides a unique context from inside the Capitol, detailing the politics of fear employed by the Bush administration leading up to the bank bailout vote and the subsequent lack of accountability.  She provides a veteran voice condemning the extent of corruption in the financial system and affirming the right of homeowners to challenge the legality of foreclosure proceedings.  According to Mr. Moore, Marcy has been a big hit with audiences at the LA premier and the other film festival screenings.   
     Enough with the details.  The fundamental theme of Michael Moore’s latest documentary is really pretty simple -- with a widening economic gap between the big guys and the little guys, it is inevitable that there will always be more little guys.  So if the little guys don’t like that the big guys are gambling at the Wall Street Casino with their homes, jobs, health, families, savings, education and communities ... ORGANIZE!  In the Q&A section following the screening, Moore and Kaptur teamed up to talk to the many people at the premier about getting out and taking activism and engagement in the democratic process seriously.
     Regardless of your political affiliation, Capitalism: A Love Story is worth viewing.  Right or Left, big guy or little guy, you’ve felt the effects of this recession.  Moore’s latest film certainly answered some pretty important questions for me; I’ll be shopping for a pitchfork in the near future...as soon as I get my next paycheck.        
     Special thanks to Rep. Kaptur for the invitation to attend the premier.

Capitalism: A Love Story opens at Levis Commons Showcase Art on Friday, October 2.