Moyers & Company Show 141:Plutocracy Rising

The One Percent is not only increasing their share of wealth - they're using it to spread millions among political candidates who serve their interests. Example: Goldman Sachs, which gave more money than any other major American corporation to Barack Obama in 2008, is switching alliances this year; their employees have given $900,000 both to Mitt Romney's campaign and to the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future. Why? Because, says the Wall Street Journal, the Goldman Sachs gang felt betrayed by President Obama's modest attempts at financial reform.
To discuss how the super-rich have willfully confused their self-interest with America's interest, Bill is joined by Rolling Stone magazine's Matt Taibbi, who regularly shines his spotlight on scandals involving big business and government, and journalist Chrystia Freeland, author of the new book Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else.
Following the conversation, Bill shares his thoughts on corporate executives who -- enabled by the Citizens United ruling -- are strong-arming their employees to vote as they say, from the Murray Energy CEO who reportedly made his workers spend unpaid time at a pro-Romney rally; to David and Charles Koch, who sent anti-Obama and pro-Romney materials to the 45,000 employees of their subsidiary Georgia Pacific; to ASG Solutions boss Arthur Allen, who sent an intimidating email to his employees.

[@Logicalification]

This is one of the best discussions about our times I've ever heard. Fantastic. I wish as many people watched this as watch American Idol.

[@getoutofCanadaB4its2late]

This video has been up for 34 months and has has just 22,388 views. Sad. This is a GIANT issue that needs to be at the forefront of our news and socioeconomic understanding.

[@seththomas9105]

+Mark W Mark, don't you realize that Kim Kardashians ass and the cover of People magazine are what are important to the USA now? Don't pay attention to the economy, environment, foreign policy, energy policy or the eroding of civil liberties and rights, just go out and buy the biggest TV you can, get some cheap beer and Mountain Dew, Cheetos etc. and get busy watching Dancing with the Stars. Bread and circus is the opiate of the masses now, just like in imperial Rome at the downfall. God help us.

[@jackcarter3944]

+Louise Engels ??? The cost of settling refugees is absolutely trivial compared to the wealth available. Don't let them divide and conquer usby presenting refugees as some sort of insurmountable economic, political, and terroristic problem, please. --Fwiw, I'd love to see Corbyn in.

[@markteague8889]

Yeah! Definitely not going to hear about the nature of what has transpired from any of the major media outlets.

[@mihaelanora]

Mark W

[@ctdesign1503]

buy silver and gold

[@seththomas9105]

This is such an enlightening and informative discussion and it is typical of Bill Moyers. Thoughtfull and well examined. Too bad most of America ignores this issue. I'm a Teddy Roosevelt Republican and I can see how the Plutocracy is rotting this country from within. Thank you Mr. Moyers for bringing light to dark subjects.

[@jackcarter3944]

+Walter Strong What are you talking about? And why are you imagining this is an either / or problem? "Horribly filthy"? WTH??

[@Yourismouter]

this is brilliant, seeing a journalist with integrity like moyers interview two very young journalists who inspire me to want to get into it. fascinating topic,needs to be explored more but is shunned in mainstream media.

[@TheWashingtonEagle]

I read the book, "Plutocrats" by Freeland, within a month of its release. It was surprising, but not so surprising to find this video uploaded to KZbin. I enjoyed the expansion by the Rolling Stone writer on the not so rich, rich too. He added additional insight to this out-of-control global pandemic of entitlement held by the super-rich.

[@Rickwmc]

The upper class soars above the law. The middle and lower classes crawl under the law.

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

Thank you for this video. It is very thought-provoking and very accurate in what is happening to this country. The vast majority of Americans have no political party that truly represents their interests, at least not in the major parties.

[@TiasAhlgreN]

"Honest capitalism" in a central banking, fractional reserve fiat currency system? Hah! You crack me up. :) Thanks for making me laugh.

[@Larkinchance]

The job creators create public relation people, security forces and police to protect their interests..

[@larrydavis185]

Sharing this one once again. I am having a ver hard time understanding how any American voted for Trump and the DNC fought against Bernie Sanders. Sheesh

[@MrHarpette]

Hopefully you've had your answer by now. If not, you can watch Michael Moore's 11/9 film, and Jimmy Dore's videos. Also, well you can follow Matt Taibbi, since he is obviously an interesting fellow (and he has interviewed Jimmy Dore).

[@Yourismouter]

bill moyers please don't retire, your the last of a dying breed, and its just soo much better to have you on tv lol

[@whole2th]

Somehow, all this fancy talk overlooks the core issues. How about ending the Federal (not) Reserve (none)?

[@mrjones7222]

Thank you!!!

[@707westy]

I love his enthusiasm for anyone, ANYONE!, under 50 years of age who can figure just how screwed they're, and their kids, going to be!

[@Baylle100]

Well said Bill Moyers and guests.

[@rap36case]

"The Rich Don't Always Win" by Sam Pizzigati is a good follow on to this early broadcast.

[@gevdarg]

A third criticism of the bailout was the remedies, or lack thereof, for consumers, borrowers, etc. Wall Street may be needed for civilization, but guess what? So is Main Street.

[@Rickwmc]

The merger of corporation and state is not merely facism - it is corporatism. - Benito Mussolini.

[@stefanmischook5827]

Yep, this is the psychology of the sociopath. ... Listen well.

[@pbsfundingaddict509]

Funding for Moyers and Company is provided by me! The Park Foundation

[@benaiahwright937]

The women lost her moral credibility with me when she said she believes the bailouts were necessary to save civilization.

[@THEECF]

It's scary people take this seriously. 1mm stats to say "here's inequality" "here's racism" but they don't want to admit the cause is Federal Reserve monetary easing. - you create more money, it goes into the financial assets and the people with financial assets get richer.

[@desktorp]

Well, sir.. some people don't want to admit it's the Fed, just like some people don't want to admit that the Fed is a jewish usury scam.

[@ranterredhead5005]

The middle class is now the new poor!

[@rap36case]

So, what has happened in the past ten years, now 2022. Where do you sign up to battle this inequality?

[@finn6861]

with Ms.Freeland in her statements that this group truly believes that their undertaxed unregulated business practices benefits all society.If I could see the rise & prosperity of the middle class and below directly corresponding to controls put on the wealthy during these periods,surely they can too.We have been in the present situation & have been helped in the past only because of periods of less political influence.Less political influence will not be permitted to happen again.

[@chesterzeller9583]

Amen Bill Moyers, now I know that's right!

[@Rickwmc]

The strong take everything. The wolves claw their way to the top and the sheep are mauled.

[@jackjones9380]

fair & balanced & reality

[@Rickwmc]

Since 1964 SIXTY MILLION U.S. jobs have been automated. The buying power of U.S. job wages has stagnated for FORTY-FIVE years (since 1968). From now to the year 2050 A.D. ONE HUNDRED MILLION U.S. jobs will be automated. - Jeremy Rifkin (The End of Work 1994) and Marshall Brain (Robotic Nation).

[@SCWoodbury2009]

"I hope we crush in it's birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." ---Thomas Jefferson

[@SuperMrFriendly]

Its kinda ironic the Carnegie foundation is in on this.

[@drakekoefoed1642]

There is no too big to fail. the bailout goes to the people they can't pay, and the stockholders lose all of it. bail out the pension fund and let goldman sachs go under. They took huge bonuses home. civilization would have gone right along

[@bryngriffith]

very good doc. all you have to do is look at lobbying and you know the government are not pulling the strings anymore. lobbying benefits the rich to the detriment of society.

[@briancordero7674]

The Super Rich are American Heroes that are worshipped

[@VigilanteNighthawk]

Quick question: What evidence do you have that they shouldn't be villainized? What errors have they made in their analyses? Simply stating that their conclusions aren't nice to a group of people doesn't mean that they aren't correct in their assertions.

[@billypilgrim7838]

And the more things change the more they stay the same.

[@rogerhanson2731]

They are right though , its hard to tell who are democrats and who are republicans now . Everyone seems to want this whole globalisation and giving up nation state status , yet our governments can't even decide on real issues like Personhood . There are some things that still need to taken care of before us as a nation should go global .

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

"Those who rule over you, are those you can not criticize" - Voltaire ...your subject matter, is not hitting the target

[@laygomahaka5955]

The 21st should be about innovation, with genuine standards of sustainable outcomes, not media generated garbage pushed by billionaires and right leaning politics. It makes sense to introduce innovation as a international standard to help countries come up with ideas that not only support the economy, but more importantly the environment. With out the environment you can't have an economy, it's as simple as that. We rely on breathable air and the earth, earth does not rely on humanlty.

[@drakekoefoed1642]

Income inequality is not a taboo, it is what the rich do now want discussed so the two parties don't discuss it. what that will lead to is crossing the line to the level of inequality where a large sector has nothing to lose. And then the Lenin of our times will step on to the stage, and the mansions will burn to the ground. It may well be to the disadvantage of the people. They may get a Stalin, but they won't care when they light the molatov cocktails.

[@tallnuf4ya]

I really in my heart of hearts did not want to make a racial statement and yes i am black....but dude out of all the workrs... coal miners and i like energy, it's cold as hell right now in Northern Indiana........ coal miners have a dangerous job but then to yes their part of the Coal Miners Union part of that brotherhood is safety and benefits and High wages...My point.... I saw not one Black miner in all 70 to 80 miners standing behind Mitt Romney...this was a mandatory gathering by the company so i guess the "Brothers" that worked for the company got FIRED! that day....I wonder

[@Maralyssa]

I understand how you feel., However, you would not have to give up anything for free renewable energy., The reason we do not have it is because of Edison and JP Morgan destroying Tesla's inventions and laboratory. They set him up and killed his soul purpose. We do not have free renewable energy because "they" can't regulate it and charge people by how much they use. There are thousands of inventions that do not hurt our environment, but "they" don't care about this planet or the future inhabitants. I encourage you to check out the Venus project and Zeitgeist the Addendum.

[@thefakenewsnetwork8072]

Long live communism and freedom

[@hollypietrzak5214]

Is bill moyers in his late 80s now?

[@Rickwmc]

Jobs with living wages. Protecting the ecology. The end of poverty. An end to 15,000 children dying every day in the 3rd World. Saving the middle class. A world without war. It will never happen because the Upper Class does't want that.

[@PersianWolverine]

yes i agree........ ehh

[@ctdesign1503]

welcome to dystopia

[@OurAmazingWorld]

sad

[@ryanburchett8455]

Oddly, she criticizes the left while simultaneously discussing the problems the left has predicted all along. She seems to buy into some of the rhetoric, like whether people could move resources across the world or develop technology without a few people at the top owning the means of production. It really is an absurd thing to think. If she had ever read Marx, the predictive power would make him seem like an oracle to her. I have heard Matt fall into the same trap too.

[@richcandella9154]

Called raqueteering

[@Bamometha]

A lecture on Plutocracy from an aspiring plutocrat. How amusing...

[@desktorp]

Jewtocracy.

[@BubbaRub1]

You should learn to use apostrophes correctly in your lifetime

[@drakekoefoed1642]

Capitalism is the problem. we have been trained to believe in it like children in sunday school. and here she says she is a capitalist but canada is socialist and the things she says are still a problem are problems of capitalism.

[@thefakenewsnetwork8072]

Long live communism and freedom