Matt Damon: ‘Game is rigged’

[damnedifIknow]

“We’re at a point where politicians don’t really get any benefit from engaging with long-term issues. Instead, it’s all about the next election cycle. Those guys in the House don’t do anything now but run for office. So unless they can find some little thing that zips them up a couple of points in the polls, they’re not interested. There’s a consensus among scientists, though, that we face serious long-term issues. They’re saying that unless we engage with those issues, we’re genuinely f*cked. The way it looks, we’re going to wait until one of those big issues smacks us.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/matt-damon-game-is-rigged-85528.html

[Control-Z]

1. Love Matt Damon. n/t

[RomneyLies]

2. Can't say he's wrong. It's the FoxCNNMSNBC syndrome

Everything is all politics all the time, thus everything is all campaign mode al the time with the Congress.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Glad he has figured it out

because he has a big fan base who will listen to him.

[Confusious]

54. I think he figured it out a long time ago

Judging some of the projects he's worked on and the things he's said over the years.

[bluestate10]

69. I agree, Damon and Clooney, to name two of about a half dozen actors,

have been making clear and consistent statements of the dangers that we face as a society.

[Gman]

4. Also interesting because business doesn't look long term either

and only looks as far as the end of the quarter and end of the year doing whatever necessary to make the numbers that Wall Street expects, regardless of the consequences of those decisions.

[HiPointDem]

5. could be because it's all about looting in the usa & moving it offshore. business is being built up,

but elsewhere.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Quarter?

Most business are looking at the semi-monthly projections. It's even more shortsighted than your suggesting. Even seasonality is being ignored in many businesses.
GAC

[Gman]

14. Well, yes. Even daily and weekly goals and quotas all tied to the quarterly and annual goals

and they'll use semi-fictional numbers if necessary. (semi-fictional = something that is argued to be true in a convoluted sort of way)

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. Well we've been "running government like a business" for about 30 years now. n/t

[abelenkpe]

18. +1 nt

[bvar22]

67. That is only true at the lower levels of "business".

The Guys-at-the Top have 25 or 50 year plans.
Those guys are willing to take Quarterly Losses in a particular "business" if it advances their vision for The World.


I'm not talking about the guys sitting in the boardrooms,
or even in the CEO chairs.
I'm talking about the guys those guys report back to.

Look back over the last 25 years, and you will SEE these plans at work.
The creation and mass marketing of "Free Trade" is one of these plans.
That one was BRILLIANT in concept,
has worked PERFECTLY to funnel vast treasures from the Working Class & The Poor of the World into the pockets of the Very Rich,
and is STILL being marketed to gullible Americans despite ALL the evidence to the contrary.

[bluestate10]

70. Not totally true.

Privately owned businesses that have not issued public stock tend to think more long term. The danger to those businesses is what happens after the founding generations start to die off and pass them on to children. Republicans focus on inheritance taxes, but the real issue that kill privately owned businesses is conflict between the children of the owners and company management of money (not issuing debt or taking out bank loans, using earnings to fund the business).

[Gman]

90. Good Points

[LynneSin]

6. It all comes down to gerrymandering

Those house seats are made safe so that politicians can make lifetime careers out of their jobs. More people voted to have a democrat represent them in the house then a republican - but thanks to horrible gerrymandering in states like Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania, the GOP keep control of the house.

Yes we do it too especially in California. But I would rather we get rid of gerrymandering by defining how regions are divided that make bi-partisan sense. Then we'll start seeing some of these lifer representatives be held accountable for their actions in the US House.

Especially with the GOP - once they are elected to their house seat they will basically ignore the needs of the people back home in order to follow lockstep in line with what the GOp wants. The Dems do it too but there are some representatives who will vote what they want even if it's not the Dems party line.

[molonlabe91]

17. who was he talking about?

He was speaking about ALL politicians, and not just the house. Yes your beloved dems were in this too. And please with the horrible state of California's economy. I'm surprised you admit to being from there. The divisions of districts were drawn up last election by.... the dems lolol

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. so what do you consider yourself to be?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

36. Just another PPR'd troll.

MIRT was on their game with that one.

[HughBeaumont]

57. "Molon Labe" is a TeaSlogan.

Easy one to blast outta here . . .

[Walk away]

87. It basically means "try to take my gun away from me". How creepy! nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

60. I know! I was playing a "MIRT smoke out" role!

pretty easy one to spot, this.

[LynneSin]

74. Are you fricking kidding me? You suck at geography, probably why you vote republican

[LeftyLucy22]

80. actually, it was a bipartisan group that did the districting . . .

And they did a pretty good job. California is on the road to recovering from Schwarzenegger.

[Walk away]

86. I think there should be rules on trolls....

1) they MUST at least be clever

2) they have to make an effort to blend in for a minimum of 10 posts

3) they should try to have an amusing name

[bluestate10]

71. That is why sitting out elections or wasting votes like in 2000 and 2010 is so damaging for

our side. Both of those instances took place before a census and allowed republicans to gain a strong hold on office in Congress and states. It took 6 years to reverse republican control of government after the 2000 election and it appears that we will go a full decade after the 2010 elections before republican control of states and the House is reversed - I hope once 2020 comes, some of us stop voting insane or not voting at key times. Progressives will get what they want only if they are disciplined, if not, we will continue to have fits and starts and creep toward change that we should have had by now.

[ErikJ]

7. Being a GOP pol is required for becoming a 7 figure lobbyist. nt

[rury]

8. Maybe Matt has finally figured out the

Kabuki Democracy President Obama is dealing with.
Just maybe Matt Damon is now aware that Obama didn't "roll over" for Wall Street, as the actor had previously accused him of doing.

[cui bono]

25. How so? n/t

[bitchkitty]

51. Can you elaborate please? n/t

[truedelphi]

79. I think Damon was aware from day one.

As an Irish kid watching some rough events happening to poor Irish people in Boston, he was also a neighbor of Howard Zinn's. Zinn basically helped Matt with his education, befriending the bright youngster and helping him understand just who it is who is allowed to arrive inside the Gates of Power.

(And it is always someone who has made a deal with the Devil, one exception being FDR. And possibly JFK - although Kennedy was eliminated too early on for us to ever really know.)

Anyone who disputes this needs to view my DU archived comments regarding a very important conversation between journalist Dorothy Thompson and F. Sinclair.

[coldbeer]

10. I'm happy, thanks to Social Security

I inherited nothing. I am successful because I am
a union paying democrat. If it wasn't for taxes and
insurance I'd buy a new(er) car. This fiscal cliff and
austerity is for people at least ten times wealthier
than I am. Hey Cliff, drop over some time (my old buddy
Cliff, haven't seen him for a while).

[spanone]

12. he's right. the house is a shit infested hell-hole.

[wildbilln864]

13. k&r! nt

[AzDar]

15. Spot-on.

[jillan]

16. Please run for office Matt. And if not - just marry me!

That was my 20 seconds of incredible courage

[soleft]

61. He was a made a good one in the Adjustment Bureau

[Skittles]

85. get yer mitts off Matt, jillan!

he's mine!!!

[Manoverde84]

19. Of course Damon is usually on the money

Right on the money Matt!

[2naSalit]

21. This reinforces the reality

of a need to end the era of the career politician and to reform (in a big way) their pay... they have lost any concept of what their function and fiduciary responsibilities are.

[Initech]

22. George Carlin warned us several years ago:

[defacto7]

23. K&R

Go Matt.

[blueclown]

24. That's how I feel about rich people who don't pay their fair share in taxes.

Wonder how much Mr. Damon pays in taxes?

[cui bono]

26. Why do you wonder that and what does it have to do with what he said? n/t

[blueclown]

27. I wonder that because he says the "game is rigged".

I feel the same way as him in that regard. The only difference is that I feel the game is rigged against middle and low-income people in favor of the Matt Damon class of people, who don't want their taxes to be raised.

Put your money where your mouth is, Matt. Donate some money to the U.S. treasury. Help with the budget deficit. Let's see his tax returns. What was his effective tax rate?

Mr. Damon is your prototypical latte liberal.

[cui bono]

34. By telling someone like that to donate to the treasury you are actually calling for liberals

to pick up the tab of the whole country. I would bet Damon would be happy to pay more in taxes but I doubt he or anyone else would want to do it alone. That's BS. The tax code should be changed, we shouldn't use the Republican talking point used against Buffet against our own.

I understand your sentiment, but feel you should be speaking out about the tax code and not against people who are speaking out for progressive and issues that would make this country's democratic process work better.

Plus, this really has nothing to do with what he said, so you're just attacking the messenger without addressing the message. Really, whose side are you on?

[Starry Messenger]

38. Damon on taxation:

“It’s criminal that so little is asked of people who are getting so much. I don’t mind paying more. I really don’t mind paying more taxes. I’d rather pay for taxes than cut Reading Is Fundamental, of Head Start, or some of these programs that are really helping kids. This is the greatest country in the world. Is it that much worse if you’re paying 6% more in taxes? Give me a break. Look at what you get for it. You get to be American.”

http://affluentangst.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/matt-damon-for-president-or-at-least-secretary-of-the-treasury/

[tavalon]

46. Not in the least bit surprised

He's the real thing.

[JackRiddler]

28. Do you have any info on whether he's taken a position

on the tax question?

Because it's not my impression he's against higher taxes on the rich.

Is it yours?

[blueclown]

29. I would like to see Mr. Damon create a movie about the historically low

tax burden of rich earners in the United States.

But I guess that wouldn't stroke his ego. Or Hollywood's massive collective ego.

[NoOneMan]

30. Yes! Lets tax, tax, tax rich people until atmospheric carbon magically drops

People have their head so far up civilization's ass that they can't even tell the difference between important issues and issues that are going to fuck up their very viability as a species

[blueclown]

31. Taxing the rich to pay for social services is not an important issue?

[NoOneMan]

32. Ah, if the machine is to continue rolling on smoothly, sure

In the context of distracting from impending issues that threaten our viability as a species--according to scientific consensus--erm, well, gee....



Frankly, by the time any "tax activists" gets their way, I'd posit that the system actually welcomes such a change to maintain order and to further increase growth and the velocity of capital/energy (part of its primary objective). Afterall, the vampire class largely understands they have sucked much of what they could away during this last boom/bust cycle, so most of the show in the meantime is simply to apease their subjugated prey and pacify them with a sense of an enormous victory. In any case, that does little to curb the very consumption that is destroying our ecosystem, and very well increases it over some longer time span.

[JackRiddler]

39. It's not such a bad strategy...

As long as the tax, tax, taxes (and borrow, borrow, borrows) aren't spent on powering war machines to go blow up oil fields, as has so often been the case.

I mean, given that air pollution (my preferred term for global warming, since it's the cause and not the symptom) is partly a function of over-consumption by those who have too much. We could take more from those what has to spare and put it into converting the energy infrastructure into something less poisonous and more sustainable.

But I digress.

[NoOneMan]

42. "partly a function of over-consumption by those who have too much"

Ah, but if "spreading the wealth" in a social-democratic manner is to lead to a stronger economy, then surely it stands that disparty strangles aggregate growth, and thereby, consumption.

[JackRiddler]

52. Yes, but you'll notice I anticipated the point.

The wealth should be spread, not the illth. Tax the rich (and chop down the war machine) to pay for an infrastructural conversion that takes us out of the fossil fuel age. Which means jobs, but not in the stupid way we've been doing it where Keynesianism is only supposed to be about aggregate growth even if this is achieved by just giving bonus money to everyone so they can spend it on whatever junk of the season is in.

[NoOneMan]

66. Creating more energy infrastructure doesn't guarantee we abide by some arbitrary bounds

We still do not know if mankind, as a whole, will play the game we are crafting rather than utilize all available energy (as has been our pattern). This is a very optimistic view technophiles revel in, but we also know that creating surplus energy in the past has led to accelerated energy consumption.

In theory, yes, paying for green infrastructure could be advantageous if its immediate carbon debt is not prohibited (by its damage to the environment), but if this alternate energy simply makes dirty sources cheaper for 3rd world countries, then there will be no substantial progress.

[JackRiddler]

77. Sure, it requires understanding and vision.

Any time I use that phrase (conversion of energy infrastructure), the first most easily available new energy sources I think of are

1) efficiency gains (especially in buildings) and elimination of at least some bullshit consumption (starting with the maintenance of a costly military empire), plus some viable tech like smart grids, etc.

2) railways and mass transit measures, carfree zones in urban areas

3) less work, less sprawl & commuting (a book's worth of details)

followed by

4) solar power generation and and solar hydrogen development

5) wind, tides, non-destructive hydro and geothermal

Clearly this means an enormous shift in societal values.

Clearly, if it doesn't intend and actually seek to implement an end to fracking, MTR, shale-oil, ocean floor drilling, internal combustion in urban areas, and power generation from hydrocarbon burning within a transition time of a generation, it's bullshit.

I'm sure we can agree on the outlines. As to whether it will work - whatever. You got a better alternative? Does it involve depopulation?

[NoOneMan]

78. There are alternatives and there is reality

Civilization's urgency for self-preservation precludes the viability of any of my preferred alternatives; frankly, I am unsure that civilization will accept any feasible approach that may contradict its objective of infinite growth and domestication of the wilds. Can this entity produce minds operating within its confines that can devise a plan to move forward (grow, cultivate, advance) without further ecosystem breakdown? Is such a thing possible?

Depopulation isn't a viable strategy that's acceptable, but rather, the inevitable consequences of business-as-usual. My ideas are rather useless while the juggernaut rolls forward, on to threatening half of the world's population with famine by mid-century. But perhaps after the bottleneck events of the 21st century when civilization is down for the count, can real alternatives be heard and implemented among people looking for a real way to survive for another hundred thousand years.

The ideas that we come up with then may or may not involve more work, more technology, more domestication, more advancement, more separation from the environment, etc.

[JackRiddler]

33. Matt Damon voiced "Inside Job"

A very important movie about economic inequality and the depravations of the new gilded age. Which won the best-documentary Oscar. So maybe you should try to back off on your assumptions, at least until you've grounded them in fact rather than what appears to be a knee-jerk attitude.

[Starry Messenger]

37. +++

Add to that, he's vocally pro-union. Very much so. He's taken positions on it that went against the tired Hollywood stance of unions as dinosaurs and roadblocks to progress and hails labor.

I went from lukewarm on him to really paying more attention to his work, both artistically and politically.

Plus his next feature is about fracking. It's not like he just blow dries his way through life.

[tavalon]

47. I have nothing but admiration and respect for Matt Damon

Sure he's done huge blockbusters but he finances much of the stuff you just mentioned. He's very political and our politics mesh closely.

[Starry Messenger]

48. Same here, and as a teacher I was thrilled with his public support of education and teachers.

I don't go in for celebrity worship, but he's literally the last person that should be accused of being some red carpet airhead on DU. I honestly hope he runs for office in some capacity some day.

[tavalon]

50. I'm on board with that

He's a wonk just like us here at DU. And it's the smart ones who don't buy all that claptrap coming out of the Beltway.

[cui bono]

35. He wrote a movie about fracking. He can't do everything.

Oh yeah! And as Riddler mentioned above, he narrated Inside Job.

[JI7]

40. his mother is a public school teacher

he has been active in politics and on the liberal side.

[tavalon]

45. He's a true blue liberal, so I expect he pays his fair share and

would be willing to pony up more. He's one of the good guys.

[4Q2u2]

63. You may be able

to find out. Not sure if he is still a Mass resident. If he is, Ma has a voluntary check box that allows you to pay 5.3% State income tax vice 5% income tax. If he does that, the money is most definitely not going to Repub. Ma is pretty True Blue.

[uppityperson]

73. Welcome to DU. Trying to figure out your name, what it means. I can come up with

a rude way, but not sure if that is simply my mind. Thanks and welcome.

[blackspade]

41. He is not wrong.

[DeSwiss]

43. K&R

- Matt has learned that corruption can't be fixed.....

[tavalon]

44. Hurricanes in the last decade have been smacking us, right and left

And still the politicians seem to be oblivious.

[bluestate10]

72. The unfortunate thing about hurricanes are they mostly damage Blue regions

of the country. Regardless of the state, even Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, hurricanes do their most damage in bluer regions. Change won't happen until tornado's, which are increasing in intensity start to wipe out conservative interior parts of the South, Midwest and West. This is a sad analysis, but I am convinced that it is true. Congress has lost the capacity to act as a national unit, instead acting as fiefdoms controlled by more extreme local voters.

[ecstatic]

49. Why didn't he run?

I'm sure he could win and make a difference if he wants to.

[gtar100]

53. Truth... Most republicans don't see the truth until they get smacked by it.

Even then it's kind of iffy whether or not they will heed it. Trouble with their denial of climate change is that we all will get smacked.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

55. Obama is a direct refutation of Damon's thesis. Obamacare is a case in point.

Note: "Obamacare" was pushed by Obama in his first term, not his second term. He didn't play it safe. Obama engaged with the long-term issue.

[amandabeech]

91. I thought that Obama should have focused on the economy in his first term.

We have made very little progress in producing decent jobs.

The unemployment rate quoted by the press is almost useless because so many people have dropped out of the labor force.

The most important rate now is the labor participation rate, and very few press outlets discuss it.

However, producing jobs and getting the economy going would probably have angered the top few percent because as far as I can tell, it would have had to include elements of protectionism that would have channeled more profit from the shareholders, who are generally not the folks needing jobs if they're even here in the U.S., to workers here. Those people are not the ones that Obama cares to offend. Even now, the president could focus on jobs, but I'm not counting on it. He and his friends are safe.

[JustAnotherGen]

56. I agree with him

And some at DU are a part of it. If you are already salivating about who is running in 2016 - you've fallen for their trick. We've got to engage in a full court press with the elected officials we have now - damn the consequences four years from now.

The so-called fiscal cliff and Bus Tax Cuts For The Rich that we're SUPPOSED to sunset a few years ago are a good example to look at. He wanted that radical approach to revenue in place forever. He and the folks who voted for him are getting their way. So - why not push "stuff" Obama can look back in ten years and say - I'm happy that is in place forever.

[sulphurdunn]

58. Besides the environmental

degradation there's the usual short sighted, sell as much as you can as fast as you can mentality. Presently, prices for NG are so low that the industry is desperate to create export markets for it that will require huge port facilities and pipelines subsidized with public money. The consequences will be another get rich quick, boom bust, gold rush economic cycle. The idea of controlling the price by conserving the resource and mitigating the environmental effects as a result is not possible while our current government and economic system are dominated by the expectations of capital markets.

[WillyT]

59. HUGE K & R !!!

[CrispyQ]

62. I love this man!

He narrated the documentary, "The Eleventh Hour," where he stated one of the most striking comments about our current situation: "We are consuming our ecosystem for the profit of a few." That resonated & it ties in with his current message - our leaders are on the gravy train. They know the human race is in for a major setback & all bets are off - it's every man for himself.

[damnedifIknow]

64. I say we let them have it.

Yep, let the Republicans have it all. Let them have their guns, their warped politics, their fear, their hate, while we liberals move to a location with abundant sunshine and warmth and live the way we are supposed to be living.

[Peregrine Took]

65. We found this out following Howard Dean. It was the Democratic establishment

that brought him down and what did they do but go ahead and lose anyway, John Kerry and Ted Kennedy.

[Autumn Colors]

68. If he's still a Mass. state resident

... would he be interested in running for John Kerry's senate seat?

[sellitman]

83. Markey has that covered.

He polls very well next to the shitstain Brown.

[No Compromise]

75. worried about polls? They don't give a shit about what the American people want

The polls show that the politicians are getting away with completely ignoring us.

They don't care about us because elections are rigged. They care about what corporations want.

I think he is way off on this, has he even been paying attention?

Polls show 65% don't want those assholes to touch Social Security, but what are we talking about every day?

But he wants us to redirect attention to global warming, while they are stealing our social security and working on more free trade agreements which will lead to more pollution? Talk about a distraction...

[LeftyLucy22]

82. sounds like u and Damon are in complete agreement

Global warming is just one of the long term issues he feels we need to address but aren't becuz the game is rigged by the corporate-owned pols.

[AmBlue]

76. So Matt should run for office! n/t

[Uncle Joe]

81. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, damnedifIknow.

[Skittles]

84. thank you Mr. Damon

for being a member of the .01 % who has our back

[patrice]

88. Yep! Look at the relationships between how PUBLIC debt is financed & PRIVATE securities, ie, The Fed

And you'll see another instance of the profoundly hypocritical nature of what calls itself "capitalism".

American "capitalists" are utterly dependent upon holding public debt/the commonweal HOSTAGE to PRIVATE profits. They very likely COULD NOT survive as capitalists except as PARASITES on the deficits that they precipitate AND PROFIT OFF OF.

It's absurd, completely absurd.

Time to wake up, America.

[patrice]

89. Maybe this explains to why, apparently, the higher you go up in income brackets, the LESS capable

they are of actual entrepreneurship, job creation, that is if you accept the supply-side model, EVERYTHING goes into holding up the house of cards built out of PUBLIC RISK and PRIVATE PROFITS.

What I said to myself this morning: It's The Federal Reserve, dummy, just like we've been saying all along.