Inequality for All

Great must see documentary. Get rid of all notions of "republican vs. democrat" before you go because it's really all about the economy stupid and those with money who really run the show.

Robert Reich is thoroughly likable and entertaining. Also a very smart, educated man. You can't help but to like him. He is a person for us all. Since when did the MSM abandon smarts and reason (not to mention Congress)?

Highly recommended movie for all walks of life.

Highly entertaining and interesting. Reich is a true leader. And the opposite of a man with "short man syndrome". You will laugh during this movie. You may cry during this movie. And you may feel anger. Go for it!!

I consider myself well informed about what's happening in our economy here in the United States, so I didn't expect to learn much.

Wow! Was I surprised! This move is a "must see" and should be required viewing for all, especially high school and college students.

Anyone who cares about this country, and who wants to change things must see this movie to truly understand what is needed.

Robert Reich has a rich way presenting information so that even those of us who find economics difficult can follow what's happened in the United States.

With easy to read graphs and entertaining narration, Robert shows us exactly what went wrong, and exactly what is needed to fix it.

I think Reich and Co. did a nice job of not being heavy handed while presenting some of the bleakest trends we're living through in 2013. Unlike a lot of doom and gloom docs, this vital information was presented with a human touch and actually offered some solutions towards a positive outcome.

There's some whimsy and self-deprecating humor throughout this film as well as Reich makes light of his own stature, but it's also very serious in how it pertains to his seemingly life-long struggle against bullies. And that, folks, is what the vast majority of Americans are up against: ideological bullies and wormtongues at Fox News; and a corporate-owned political system run by lobbyists. Reich presents some specific examples of wealth disparity and even gets a multi-millionaire to agree with his overall sentiment.

Super well done.

I just caught this film at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival, and I'm glad I did, because the film was one of the most informative and, quite frankly, entertaining documentaries I've seen via the Festival, and most of the credit for that goes directly to the film's "star" Robert Reich.

Reich is a charming and personable individual who is obviously passionate about the sorry economic state of the middle class. He presents facts and reviews history (assisted through some terrific graphics) to make his case that a strong middle class is the bulwark upon which a thriving upper class must balance. Most importantly, this middle class is made weaker by the disparity in incomes and by a tax system that seems to reward "job creators" who don't really create a single damn job or, at best, create jobs overseas.

The issues are pretty damn complex, but Reich and Kornbluth do an excellent job of laying out their interpretations in a simple, forthright manner.

At the Q&A following the film, I asked Kornbluth and Reich if they felt any need to "balance" the film with alternate economic takes on the same facts. The film trots out the usual cartoonish Fox News critics, but I wondered if they thought about heading off the sure-to-come criticism that the film is too one-sided and doesn't present any intelligent alternate viewpoints. While Reich just shook his head "no" (one gets the impression he feels he isn't wrong so why bother,) Kornbluth responded that questions like mine ticked him off, as "there always doesn't have to be two sides to a story." He compared it to the issue of evolution and "intelligent design". Just as intelligent design's complete lack of factual basis has no business in a documentary about evolution, he felt the economic facts presented are facts and they were presented accurately in his film.

This film is a terrific pairing of a passionate filmmaker with a passionate advocate for the working class of this nation. Recommended viewing for anyone with a stake in our country's economic survival - regardless of political affiliation. That means everyone. That means you.

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Liked that Reich documented the many problems faced by the 99% in trying make a living in a country dominated by the compromising effects of big money and very rich people. Charts and graphs galore showed vividly the striking connections between lowered taxes and rich power..........the deception of jobs creator and trickle down phony baloney, neo-con babble..........big business offshore jobs and robots here eliminating American jobs.......the effects of the decline in unions, and much, much more serious proof of gross and purposeful social inequality encouraged by many in our gov't and businesses.

As background and qualifications, Reich detailed his genetic condition that led to his short stature, told us about his upbringing and education, and told more about his college and gov't jobs through the years. He is an engaging, friendly and yet very serious man without being pushy, and is stone serious about his mission for better equality. But, IMO, that will be a very difficult thing to achieve under current social conditions in America, and he will have to have better and more effective suggestions to his students and to viewers than to "go out and make a difference". How about every student in his class pledging to encourage, develop and uplift American workers when these students in writing to become influential managers and bosses in the quest for more equality? To bring more jobs back home? To not be a part of the inequality problem in all of society but a big part of its solution? Run for political office and do something better for America than just get rich taking PAC bribes? And, never, ever forget these hard days in America for the 99% that were caused by the 1%.

I consider this film to be Part I. There has to be more on specific solutions after the complaining and pointing fingers are worn out. Influentials have to actually do something specific and accountable to change and help this crisis beyond lip service. This film was a preamble of what must be done later.