Do you think Michael Moore is a hypocrite?

[agkm800]

For more than 20 years, he himself has been making mega money in a capitalist society by criticizing the rich in his films. He's probably in that 1% of the mega rich population in US, yet he's acting like he's caring for the bottom 20%.

Isn't he artfully using or at least benefiting from the 'evil' capitalism? Do you think Michael Moore is a hypocrite?

[thegoldenmackid]

I mean, everyone is hypocritical to some extent. iThink that his most recent movie might present some contradictions, but he mainly has been in objection to Big Business.

Go watch Roger & Me, iThink it might show a lot of his beginnings.

[Rt&Dzine]

For more than 20 years, he himself has been making mega money in a capitalist society by criticizing the rich in his films. He's probably in that 1% of the mega rich population in US, yet he's acting like he's caring for the bottom 20%.

Isn't he artfully using or at least benefiting from the 'evil' capitalism? Do you think Michael Moore is a hypocrite?

Did you see the movie?

[Andy348]

For more than 20 years, he himself has been making mega money in a capitalist society by criticizing the rich in his films. He's probably in that 1% of the mega rich population in US, yet he's acting like he's caring for the bottom 20%.

Isn't he artfully using or at least benefiting from the 'evil' capitalism? Do you think Michael Moore is a hypocrite?

Hypocrite? No, not extremely.

Exaggerates? Yes.

I still enjoy his films and learn a lot from them though.

[Zombie Acorn]

From looking at the movie I don't think his message was that capitalism is bad in all forms. I must admit that was what I originally thought though when hearing about him making the movie.

[jav6454]

For more than 20 years, he himself has been making mega money in a capitalist society by criticizing the rich in his films. He's probably in that 1% of the mega rich population in US, yet he's acting like he's caring for the bottom 20%.

Isn't he artfully using or at least benefiting from the 'evil' capitalism? Do you think Michael Moore is a hypocrite?

He can show the bad things in a very detailed and trivial way. See, Roger & Me. I remember seeing that movie in 10th grade. I remember the disappointment of some of my classmates because of the end results in the long run (see 2008's & 2009's Depression). I was, how can some one screw up a whole town and care less.

Point being, we can be on the spot, but too much on the spot if you get what I mean. So much that many will take it as battle stand and march down... not saying this in a literal way.

Is he a hypocrite? Who knows, I don't know the man well enough. I do know he tried helping others view his movie by using ticket sales as means to help those who couldn't....

Also, I like to keep my mind open after each of his movies.

[agkm800]

Did you see the movie?

I did. His films are fine. Now, did you see his interviews and hear what he's actually saying?

[Rt&Dzine]

I did. His films are fine. Now, did you see his interviews and hear what he's actually saying?

Yes, I've seen some of his recent interviews, but I haven't seen this movie yet. In his interviews it sounded like the movie is anti corporate socialism, rather than anti capitalism. Since you've seen the movie, what is your take?

[NT1440]

For more than 20 years, he himself has been making mega money in a capitalist society by criticizing the rich in his films. He's probably in that 1% of the mega rich population in US, yet he's acting like he's caring for the bottom 20%.

Isn't he artfully using or at least benefiting from the 'evil' capitalism? Do you think Michael Moore is a hypocrite?

He uses his money to spread his message.

To the underlined, there are many rich people that have more money than they could ever spend, but care deeply and help out the bottom 20%. The two are not mutually exclusive by any means, see Bill Gates for a great example.

[leekohler]

He uses his money to spread his message.

To the underlined, there are many rich people that have more money than they could ever spend, but care deeply and help out the bottom 20%. The two are not mutually exclusive by any means, see Bill Gates for a great example.

I also find it interesting that people like Bill Gates aren't the ones who complain about taxes.

[bobber205]

I also find it interesting that people like Bill Gates aren't the ones who complain about taxes.

Warren Buffet, another person like Gates, says he should pay MORE in taxes (to make it more fair). Currently, he can if he wants, pay a lower % in taxes than say his secretary. Of course the dollar amounts are different, but I think most people would base fairness of taxes in terms of percentages instead of flat amounts.

[Zombie Acorn]

I also find it interesting that people like Bill Gates aren't the ones who complain about taxes.

I imagine most of Bill's income is only taxed at long term capital gain rate (15%).

[rhsgolfer33]

I also find it interesting that people like Bill Gates aren't the ones who complain about taxes.

When you make it to that level you don't have to care. The amount you pay in taxes is so trivial if you're a billionaire, paying taxes has no affect on your lifestyle. If you make $500k a year what you pay in taxes likely will have an affect on your lifestyle.

I imagine most of Bill's income is only taxed at long term capital gain rate (15%).

More than likely Bill doesn't pay taxes on a lot of his wealth. You don't have to recognize gains on your stockholdings until you sell them, ie capital gains that you mentioned, at which point he only has to pay 15%, so essentially Bill has probably accumulated most of his wealth at very low tax rates (since most of it was probably accumulated via stock).

Unfortunately for Bill, he can't write off all his home mortgage interest since his mortgage is for more than $1 million. ;)

Back to Michael Moore. I've seen a few of his comments regarding the amount of money he has made and how capitalism has done nothing for him and how he is not "loaded" in the way people describe. I find it all a little annoying. The guy has made in excess of $50 million from his films, now I have a pretty different definition of rich, but $50 million definitely qualifies. I do feel kind of bad though, he has to charter Gulfstreams, he is just not rich enough to buy his own. Is he a hypocrite? I don't really know, but he could really use a reality check with regards to how loaded he is.

[Eraserhead]

Warren Buffet, another person like Gates, says he should pay MORE in taxes (to make it more fair). Currently, he can if he wants, pay a lower % in taxes than say his secretary. Of course the dollar amounts are different, but I think most people would base fairness of taxes in terms of percentages instead of flat amounts.

Yeah, people who want a flat tax want it in terms of percentage.

When you make it to that level you don't have to care. The amount you pay in taxes is so trivial if you're a billionaire, paying taxes has no affect on your lifestyle. If you make $500k a year what you pay in taxes likely will have an affect on your lifestyle.

Nowhere near as much as if you made $50k/year.

[rhsgolfer33]

Nowhere near as much as if you made $50k/year.

I don't necessarily disagree with you. The about $6,350 a single filer taking standard deductions and one personal exemption would pay could go quite a ways, although it is small portion of income in comparison to the person making $500,000 (around 13% versus around 30%).

Ultimately, I think the best system would be one with a flat rate and standard deductions to limit the flat rate's effects on people with lower incomes. Our current system is far to complicated and costly, a flat rate has the possibility to be extremely simple. But then again, as someone going into the tax field, I hope they keep it extremely complicated so I can charge people $500+ to do their returns.