The American Ruling Class

I thoroughly enjoyed this mock-documentary. I have chosen to review it after reading some of the reviews that completely missed the point.

The movie truly shows how the incredibly rich and powerful people rule the United States. All of the acting is staged, and shown to be this way throughout the movie.

I wish it was a satire about how the U.S.A. is run, but it is one of the truest accounts out there.

I watched Oprah the other day, and the topic involved Class structure and rule in society...and I told my wife about this film, since it does a far better job explaining what the different class structures are.

It truly comes down to the super-rich, and the rest of us. I have a very good job, and make a fantastic living financially, and can pretty much do whatever I please without money being any type of issue. However, I am much closer to the bottom of the ladder than the top, no matter how much designer crap I buy...or vacations I take...or homes I own. On the surface it may look like I have a lot more, but in reality I am in the same boat as everyone else.

This movie shows how dramatically different the 99% of us live to the 1%...so different most people are completely clueless, and will miss the point of this movie entirely.

As far as the quote Lapham gives...he's not the perfect actor, but people can use those quotes to understand what America's ruling Class truly thinks and believes.

This movie is well worth seeing.

Lapham narrates and guides two young investment banker wannabees through a post-modernist adventure into the private lives and thoughts of some of the America's most interesting and powerful people. If the information that Lapham attempts to distill from this powerful and effective documentary could be related to more people, perhaps the country would be in better shape. The movie is at times sad and frustrating-the nickel and dime singin' working class dignity is a poignant revelation- but overall it is a vision of hope for the future. I am not familiar with Mr. Lapham's political inclinations, but the film achieves a remarkable milestone, clearly identifying problems in contemporary America without assigning blame. The whole thing reminded me of Barak Obama's winning attitude and the hope of an intelligent and bi-partisan, or at least meritocratic solution to the world's toughest problems. The film suffers from a bit too much cuteness, but I have never seen such efficient use interviews with people that really matter. If you are interested in politics,history, or just care a lot about humanity, this is essential viewing.

This was entertaining, educational & humorous. Well done and highly recommended to people who still believe that there is more to life than the love of "the green". The world is in the motion of changing and our awareness levels as a global economy are heightened. It was a refreshing look at the new and upcoming and how perception can be so misguided. Traditional values are important, money holds value but people do count and there is enough to go around for everyone. Balance is the key, give back to move ahead. Empirarcal hierarchy is on a down slide and this movie did an excellent job demonstrating what the average working folk experience. Abolish exploitation and enhance the quality of life for people who put the "elbow grease" into an honest days work.

The acting is terrible, especially when normal people are told to "act". The only way using non actors works is if they behave naturally, otherwise it's high school play time. I also found the music very annoying, except for the Phillip Glass thrown in there, but even that is distracting, Glass works much better in "Baraka" and "Koyanisqatsi" because there is no dialogue. The final sequence is confusing and aggravating.

It is amazing though that people like James Baker can actually sit there and say the U.S. is a force for good in the world, in 2005! It's incredible the lies that some of these people tell themselves just so they can look at themselves in the mirror.

There are a few good bits, namely the the two economists (looking very much as economists do, stone faced and exceedingly dull) sparring with each other over realism and idealism. One of which seems to get his lunch handed to him when he suggests that there American wealth is more spread out than in 1950. In fact it is much more concentrated.

Lewis Lapham does seem a snooty old bore, looking smugly at this "case studies" throwing off pretentious quote after pretentious quote. Even though he seems to decry the wealthy he offers no other alternative than despair. This film is almost a long guilt ridden apology, almost to say "I'm sorry I sold my soul, but there really is no other way, have pity on me!".

This Movie is well done in the sense that it shows us how our Elites in this country have been usurped!! with false choices. and false messaging. It poses a dangerous proposition to our young graduating elites either join us in beggar your neighbor destroying the planet and our civil rights along with the constitution or be a penniless pauper.

in the end this will destroy everyone and they know it. the road leads to fascism and control of everything and everyone.

The third choice is one that we were founded on and that is think progress. think merchantilism and the Chinese whom copied it from us is the best example of how successful it is. A continuation of current events in this regard is best understood from historian webster tarpley at tarpley.net