How Whole Regions of America Have Been Destroyed in the Name of Quarterly Profits

[MrScorpio]

Bill Moyers and Chris Hedges: How Whole Regions of America Have Been Destroyed in the Name of Quarterly Profits

Hedges discusses his new book with Moyers and the totally unchecked corporate power that is destroying our democracy.

July 21, 2012 |

BILL MOYERS: Here we are, barely halfway through the summer, and Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have stepped up their cage match, each attacking the other, throwing insults and accusations back and forth like folding chairs hurled across the wrestling ring.

Governor Romney pummels away at the economy; President Obama pummels away at Mr. Romney—when he was or wasn’t at his company Bain Capital, his tax returns and his offshore accounts. All the while, as they bob and weave their way through this quadrennial competition, punching wildly, the real story of what’s happening to ordinary people as capitalism runs amok is largely ignored by each of them. But not in this book “Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt”—an unusual account of poverty and desolation across contemporary America. It’s a collaboration between graphic artist and journalist Joe Sacco, and my guest on this week’s broadcast, Chris Hedges.

CHRIS HEDGES: All of the true correctives to American democracy came through movements that never achieved formal political power.

BILL MOYERS: This is just the latest battle cry from Hedges, who, angry at what he sees in the world, expresses his outrage in thoughtful prose that never fails to inform and provoke. As a correspondent and bureau chief for “The New York Times,” he covered wars in North Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East—leaving the paper after a reprimand for publicly denouncing the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In such books as “War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning,” his weekly column for the website “Truthdig” and freelance articles for a variety of other publications, Chris Hedges has taken his life’s experience covering the brutality of combat and shaped a worldview in which morality and faith, and the importance of truth-telling, dissent and social activism take precedence, even if it means going to jail. ...

http://www.alternet.org/economy/156410/bill_moyers_and_chris_hedges%3A_how_whole_regions_of_america_have_been_destroyed_in_the_name_of_quarterly_profits/

[Octafish]

1. The ''Rust Belt'' is where the middle class came from.

It's only a matter of time before workers in the "Right to Work" states find their jobs aren't all that secure, either.

Wall Street's ownership will be all right, though. They know how to turn a buck, no matter what.

Funny how Moyers and Hedges are almost alone bringing any of this up. Oh. I forgot. Corporate McPravda doesn't own them.

PS: Thank you, MrScorpio. A must-read/must-viddy.

[ananda]

6. We need reports like these.

Everyone should be aware of what corporations are doing
for profit.

[KG]

2. 'All of the true correctives to American democracy came through movements

that never achieved formal' - Amen, brother.

[duhneece]

3. Short-term vision and concern

Versus long-term vision and concern.

Our country grew a strong middle-class with a long-term view.

[FredStembottom]

4. I would add....

....with regulations that forced a long term view.

[ananda]

5. A very great, enlightening interview.

Painful, disturbing, but important for public consciousness.