Comments on: Michael Moore’s New Movie Packs A Punch To The Gut (So, Alas, Did The AfterParty)

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By: Rachel Sklar

Rachel Sklar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:11:37 +0000

Thanks M – what can I say, I was just being honest about how over-the-top and weird it felt to be at that party. I went, I ate, I didn’t make a scene, but I did feel weird. And it was weird to talk to the Hackers. I’m not personally anti-capitalist by a long shot, nor do I think that capitalism necessarily equals greed, and nor do I think the Esquire apt. is evil – it’s good business, and made possible by sponsors who think that they are getting their money’s worth, and they do stuff for charity to boot (see Dylan Stableford’s write-up in the Wrap here: http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/michael-moore-celebrates-capitalism-premiere-capitalism-fueled-penthouse_7568). But the juxtaposition of the very visceral movie and the very over-the-top swanky party was pretty pronounced. Fair or not fair, the feeling it evoked in me was one of cringey-weirdness. For what it’s worth.

By: m

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:13:27 +0000

So in essence, while I don’t agree with everything Michael Moore says, I don’t find it hypocritical at all of him attending an after-party like that, even if it is of a movie critical of capitalism. Modern socialism isn’t anti-capitalistic – they’re just reluctantly pro-capitalist. Just look at Tony Blair, Gerhard Schröder, Göran Persson and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, et al.

By: m

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:06:43 +0000

Thanks for the write up, Rachel Sklar. It will be an interesting movie, indeed.

I’d want to mention though that, just because Moore is a Social Democrat (an off-shoot of socialism; basically want to run the economy more democratically) and is critical of capitalism – doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s anti-capitalist or against capitalism. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are a socialists, and nobody jacks them for flying private jets across the Atlantic.

One of the richest people in the world, Invgar Kamprad, is a self-declared socialist. He was born and raised and gained his wealth in one of the most socialist countries in the world, Sweden. Is he anti-capitalist? No. Critical? Yes.