American Chaos

As a non US person seeing much good in either party I was hoping for something impartial, like the great film Fail State about the US tertiary education $y$tem. I will be fair the film did give voice and good unedited air time to a range of people and did not try to make them look stupid. I have no doubt the intentions of all involved were good and honest and it showed. I just don't think these same people were able to overcome the structural elephant in the corner that West and East coast elites (ie the people who made this film) don't experience the lives of those in the "fly-over states", which is the heartland of the country- these people once a middle class, now a country with so many 1 to 2 paychecks from a wipeout. I don't think they are mentally capable of grasping the answer to the questions they were trying to find answers for. Obama gave the same hope to millions that Trump did, different side of the same coin. Those people under Obama were left worse off, as I think those hoping Trump will deliver long the structural change will also eventually be worse off. The swamp is as Democrat as it is Republican and doesn't care for anyone but the elites, insiders and donors. I felt the film tried to give an honest voice, but never really wanted to find actual understanding. In that the techniques of propaganda and subtle mocking are still evident in this film. This is part of the problem. It seems to have been produced for fellow lefts/ Democrats. Stern would have done better to not make it so much about him. Louis Theroux would have done a better job. Less myopic, less inherently biased, and bringing no baggage From an entertainment perspective and struggling with these unavoidable biases I give it a 3. From an achieving its objective, even in a shallow kind of way I'll give it a 7 because I think the voices interviewed were entitled to be heard and it still commands a worthwhile place on the shelf of the conversation. If you really want to understand those who voted Trump read the book Deer Hunting with Jesus by the late Joe Bageant. There is a 10 year old interview with him on YouTube titled "LONGVIEW: Deer Hunting With Jesus" which does better in 7 minutes than this film does

Greetings again from the darkness. Politics in the United States is an embarrassment to any citizen who is paying attention these days. And by "these days", I'm referring to at least a couple of generations, if not even more. The bickering between and within political parties is more closely related to playground arguments than debates among statesmen. The most effective wall being built is the one between the two sides - it's a wall that has little to do with reason or "the greater good", and everything to do with standing steadfast in one's belief that an opinion is a fact that should be shared by all. Enter stage and film producer Jim Stern ... a self-described political junkie.

Mr. Stern grew up in a house of "Kennedy Democrats" and all but worships former President Barack Obama. He opens his film with clips of past Presidents, dating back to Theodore Roosevelt, and states his purpose as a desire to understand how so many Americans could vote for Donald Trump. It's an admirable mission, and Mr. Stern is to be commended as one of the few extremists (on either side) willing to listen to what the other side is saying. It's 9 weeks after the election, and Stern is in the audience for Obama's farewell speech. He (Stern) has tears in his eyes, as the man he so admires is being replaced by one who inspires little faith or respect.

We now flashback to 6 months prior to the election. Stern paraphrases Atticus Finch from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and pledges to try and understand the other side by getting to know their point of view. His road trip takes him from Florida to Cleveland to West Virginia to Arizona. Stern's approach is to present himself as a neutral interviewer so that folks don't get defensive, and instead just open up about their views. He speaks to a man who is a legal immigrant from Cuba, a Midwest Pastor who is every bit as adamant in his beliefs as Stern is in his own, a conservative radio talk show host in Arizona who eloquently states her case, and folks in West Virginia who just want the coal mines back up and running so that they might escape poverty. One of the men he speaks with is part of the infamous Hatfields and McCoys feud, and he admits to voting for Obama twice - but is now convinced Trump is the best hope for rescuing the state's economy.

Stern uses the ongoing campaign as the structure for his road trip and story, and doesn't shy away from admitting Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables" speech was a turning point ... as was the last minute renewing of the FBI investigation into her actions. But since we know all of that, what is most fascinating here is listening to regular folks ... voters ... providing insight into their viewpoints. These mid-America citizens are tired of politicians being bought and sold. Trump was saying what these people were thinking - he was reaching out to (mostly white) disaffected voters. Stern is stunned at the ovation Trump receives at the Republican convention in Cleveland. He is surrounded by tens of thousands of Americans who don't believe what he believes. It's a powerful moment for him and the film.

"They hate her (Hillary) and they hate Obama too." Stern is hit with the harsh reality that his idol is not idolized by all. His most accurate statement is that blue state voters and red state voters simply do not understand each other. With so many of one group clustered in California and the northeast, while the others are spread across the middle of the country, it's really no surprise that these citizens have different views and needs. It's also not surprising that since the "mainstream media" is equally clustered in those two geographic areas, that information distributed is skewed towards those views and issues. Abortion and gay rights appear to be non-factors in his discussions, while jobs, corruption and illegal immigration are what matter.

Again, Mr. Stern is to be commended for letting these citizens speak their mind. It's a nice contrast to another high profile documentarian renowned for editing to prove his own well-publicized views. Stern's brother was a key negotiator in the Paris Accord, so he certainly has a personal stake in the drastic political change. In fact, we often see his true emotions despite his ability to remain impartial to those speaking on camera. Election night with violin music is a bit too much, but for the most part, Jim Stern and Atticus Finch work together here to enlighten the "other" side.

James Stern, to his credit, displays what a clueless liberal looks like. He is totally detached from the realities that most Americans face and the values they hold across the greater part of this country. He attempts to educate himself, but rather than "listen" as he claim, he cops a condescending attitude toward the religious hard working middle Americans that make up much of America. I though he actually had an "ah ha" moment when he talked to the rancher on Arizona border about the illegal immigration crisis and the realities of illegal border crossing but then defends those who would open American to those not invited or welcome here. People watching this video can, unexpectedlly, reaffirm that America made the right decision in 2016.

This guy Stern is a loser and a cry baby, just like the rest of the Liberals. Trump will go down as the GREATEST President of all time, slightly edging out Reagan. Dont forget Reagan was a democratic, he realized the democratic party is a scam, ran as a republican and blew out his opponent, twice!! The only way Democrats EVER win another election is with illegal votes, example NO ID REQUIRED TO VOTE. Can you believe these Democrat states with their garbage policies! You need ID FOR EVERYTHING in life, but not to vote??????? Now states like NY are letting illegals obtain drivers licences, these liberals are tearing this country to pieces. G-d bless Donald Trump!!

Sad to watch the eye rolling, head shaking, blank stare, complete uncomprehending disbelief of this documentarian. Oh, I am a 58 year old white male veteran who has never been unemployed since I turned 14 years old.