Social Question

filmfann's avatar

Is Michael Moore an Occu-poser?

Asked by filmfann (52488points) October 29th, 2011

Wednesday morning, the Oakland Police Department came in to the Occupy Oakland tent city, and used concussion bombs and tear gas to clear the area of protesters.
Two days later, Michael Moore shows up to lead the protest in a moment of silence for an injured protestor.
The Occupy movement is leaderless, I thought.
Does he think his being there shines a light on it?
Does he really belong there?
Has the Oakland Police Strong arming made you consider going down to take some hate?

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16 Answers

Simone_De_Beauvoir's avatar

I think his life’s work shows that he’s more than just a poser. He doesn’t need this limelight.

lillycoyote's avatar

I would have to agree with @Simone_De_Beauvoir. His work shows that he is more than just a poser. I also think that he is possibly one of those people who is situated to be damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. If he didn’t make at least a showing at one of the Occupy Wall Street protests he would be criticized him for ignoring the movement and if he does show up he might criticized for not being involved enough.

Jeruba's avatar

> Does he really belong there?

Is there some criterion for judging people as not belonging there? Who would decide that, and what would it be?

zensky's avatar

He’s nothing if not genuine. He’s also the antithesis of a politician, so who should be there if not him.

augustlan's avatar

It actually seems like a perfect cause for him. I don’t see anything disingenuous about it. Like him or hate him, he’s always been pretty clear on where he stands. In this case, I imagine he’s firmly with the 99%.

marinelife's avatar

I believe that his body of work and his stated positions make him perfect for the Occupy movement.

Jaxk's avatar

He may sympathise with the 99% but his personal wealth puts him firmly in the 1% category. Other than that, I couldn’t care less about where he goes or what he does.

Jeruba's avatar

What’s his personal wealth got to do with it? Is he a bank or an investment firm? Has he swindled people with questionable deals? Has he sold bad securities? Has he taken million-dollar bonuses after crying “Save me” to the government? I don’t think so.

Is he a citizen with good reason not to like the way the present system distributes and withholds wealth and favors corporate interests when exorbitant profits go to shareholders rather than to creating or even retaining jobs and lowering consumer prices? I’d say yes.

CaptainHarley's avatar

Michael Moore is a money-grubbing fat man. What else can I say?

Jaxk's avatar

@CaptainHarley

And those are his good points.

lillycoyote's avatar

@CaptainHarley What makes Michael Moore “money-grubbing” in your opinion? Why shouldn’t he make money off his films and books? He’s not cheating anyone. It’s an honest living. He creates product that enough people want and are willing to pay for that he makes a pretty good living; isn’t that the way capitalism is supposed to work? How is that “money-grubbing?” Is getting his money some other way? At least he works for it, instead making money speculating or by creating “financial instruments” that are made out nothing but smoke and mirrors.

Jeruba's avatar

And how is his weight relevant to anyone’s view of what he says and does?

filmfann's avatar

@lillycoyote Whoa, whoa, whoa! Michael Moore is certainly a successful film maker, but anyone who has seen and researched his films might have trouble with the word “honest”.
I like his movies, but as someone who has seen how reckless he can be for a laugh, I wouldn’t use that word.

lillycoyote's avatar

@filmfann I said he made an honest living, I didn’t necessarily say his films were always entirely honest. He has never been dishonest about where his politics are. No one should ever go into any kind of film and swallow it hook line and sinker. He has always been clear about his position. But he is not cheating anyone. He is making a product people want and are willing to pay for. He is not stealing from anyone. I would still like an answer from @CaptainHarley as to what makes Michael Moore “money-grubbing.”

jonsblond's avatar

I don’t think so.

Kanye West, on the other hand….. he’s ready to give the recognition to Beyonce.

Jeruba's avatar

…any more money-grubbing than any other filmmaker, entertainer, author, or anyone else who earns money from a paying public through commercial media.

Or anyone else who makes and sells something, or otherwise works for a living in a fair exchange of value for dollars.

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