The American Ruling Class

The American Ruling Class
Directed by John Kirby

A totally unique, highly stylized, feature-length dramatic documentary-musical hybrid starring Lewis Lepham, the renowned essayist and editor of Harper's Magazine, along with an all-star cast of public intellectuals, CEOs, politicians, folk singers, activists, and celebrity personalities.

Sundance Channel

US Theatrical Release: March 23, 2007

Check your local listings: http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500205173

http://www.cactusthree.com/theamericanrulingclass.html

Comments

[Anarcissie]

Sundance Channel?? Does this mean I have to get a television set and subscribe to cable? I tried to figure it out from their web site but it's one of those super-slick ultra-high-tech sites on which it's almost impossible to find anything you're looking for.

[Jacqueline S. Homan]

Interesting but very short blog. Here is a link to a very well-written web page and e-book about the ruling class whom the author, Douglas Smyth, refers to as the Selfish Class.

Apparently, just as in 21st century America, 5th century Rome also drank the Kool Aid about cutting taxes for the wealthy (and making said cuts permanent)and about shrinking government - a situation that precipitated the downfall of the Roman Empire: All because its Selfish Class didn't want to have to pay taxes to support infrastructure, keep people from starving to death, and pay the guards as well as the Roman Army to protect ALL its citizens from invasions from the Huns and Visigoths, leading to so much violence that road travel became too dangerous from desperate landless highwaymen and bandits(which impacted trade) and African grain ships refused to dock - and so the majority of Rome's people couldn't get food. The author draws an analogy between then and the lack of funding through taxes on the rich to support the repairs that would have kept the levees stabilized in the Gulf Coast and untold suffering in the wake of hurricane Katrina could have been minimized. Just like in ancient Rome, today in America it is always the poor who suffer the worst - and adding insult to injury, are always blamed for their own misfortune. Acknowledging the faults that are systemic requires the "haves" and "have-mores" (which are the Selfish Class of today) to stop blaming the victim and concede to making changes to minimize human suffering and tragedy.
http://www.roman-empire-america-now.com/selfishclass-2.html

[Hattie]

Excerpt on You-Tube with Ehrenreich and Lapham.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+american+ruling+class+lapham&search=
Great.

[Anarcissie]

It turns out I may not have to buy a television and get cable in to see this movie. Although it's not in Netflix's stable, there are pieces of it on YouTube.

Based on the pieces and reviews here and there, it seems to be a lecture about how the poor live worse than the rich and have less power. Having been poor and having lived with the poor, this wasn't news to me.

That doesn't tell us much about the American ruling class, because ruling classes in different places and different times are structured differently. We need to know, not that the rich are rich and the poor are poor, but exactly how the ruling class and the class system maintain the situation, in case we want to put pressure on it or change it. In fact we, ("we", the U.S.), are not very much like Rome at any period, although some phenomena, like the emergence of a government of poltroons, seems to be a universal feature.

Marx said, "The philosophers have only interpreted the world in different ways; the point is to change it." I don't think waking up a couple of pseudo-Yalies and an audience of gentry to the fact that the poor suffer is going to accomplish this. Telling them to be nicer isn't going to do the trick, because everyone, rich and poor, desires more power and wealth and believes they do not have enough and are already being quite nice about it. Just ask them.

[Hattie]

Barbara Eherenreich's orginal observation is that the true philanthropists in this day and age are underpaid service workers.
I think a lot about the "independent contractors" who clean, cook for the handicapped and elderly, do yard work, etc. and often do not have health insurance.

[Curly Earl]

Hattie,
What's all this about you and Hellmans mayonnaise on Youtube ?

[Hattie]

I know you never post without a big old Costco size jar right next to your monitor. What's your favorite brand?
Hellman's?

[Anarcissie]

I doubt if many people taking low wages for unpleasant, dead-end jobs is philanthropy ("love of mankind"). At least, when I did it, I and my co-workers were just trying to make a living for ourselves. If these service workers are truly underpaid, then they're not philanthropists, they're crime victims. It confuses the issue to say their low wages are a kind of charity.

Ironically, the poor _are_ more philanthropic than the rich: both absolutely and relatively, they give more to charity than rich people, and for purer reasons, since the widows get little credit for their mites, outside of the parable. But that's another thing, a different realm. If we're talking about wages we're talking about an exchange of value, not a gift.

[Curly Earl]

Pretty hard to be taken seriously when you have an addiction to mayonnaise and start your day off with "shooters" of emulsified egg yolks and oil uh ?

And why don't you tell all about the Costco incident ?

You want attention, so this will surely give you your 15 seconds of fame.

[Hattie]

Oh, I don't think I want to tell people what you did there.
Ms. Ehrenreich: I do think you ought to ban the troll. He can go on like this forever. And I really am interested in the serious matters you bring up for discussion. It means a lot to me, as it does to others here, I'm sure, to be able to dialogue like this with someone we respect and admire as much as we do you.
I think it's disrespectful to you, also. I really don't believe he understands who you are and the high esteem you enjoy as a journalist and author.

[Curly Earl]

I know about Barbara Ehrenreich. I think her blog is one of the better ones around.

One of the reasons why you are sniffing around, hoping to poach some of her readers and leave some pretty mindless stuff .

I have always said you were a very petty, jealous person. Your hatred of men and your incitement of hatred all because you have 6 hits aday at www.pitiful.com is very unbecoming.

You are so quick to label commenters trolls, when in actuality, you may be the best example of a troll.

Your butt kissing might work in other venues, but this blog is for people with something worthwhile to contribute, and all we have had from you is troublemaking.
You are like a big black cloud.
You should confine your manbashing hatred to your your own little corner of misery.

[Hattie]

Well, at any rate you can't post on my blog, because I have banned you forever.
Hater.

[Curly Earl]

Look who's calling the kettle black.

One reason why I don't really like what you do is that you hate just about everyone, anything.

Well, at any rate, I look forward to posting at worthy informative blogs where other intelligent posters hang out, and I can read useful, substantiative material, rather than your jibberish hateful rants after reading the morning paper.

Cheer up you grumpy old woman. Stop your hating.

[Hattie]

70.48.23.3

[Justin K.]

That was not only childish but also kind of pathetic. Grow up you two!

[ro278ck]

m285k

[Kevin Carson]

I'm real glad Barbara's blog meet's Earl's high standards for making informative, socially redeeming comments about mayo (eye roll).

[Anarcissie]

Justin -- these people are trolls, vandals. They are probably not very bright and it's the only way they can get anyone to notice them. Unfortunately, that sort of thing is widespread on the Internet. Barbara should delete their comments and ban from the site.

[Justin K.]

it's so sad.

[Anarcissie]

Unfortunately human beings are not the nicest or most reasonable of primates. That is why they have many of the problems we discuss on this blog, such as oppression in the workplace and poor living conditions. None of that is necessary -- it is repeatedly chosen.

[Curly Earl]

Anarcissie, Yeah I agree that some individuals come to blogs hoping people notice them.Sort of like using a name based on the word anarchist.

Are we trolls ? Well I'm not. Hattie might be. Why don't you ask Mr Carson, or Justin Jr. They seem to know all the answers to everything.

[Jennifer Cascadia]

I'm aware of this troll. I think the mayonnaise might be a subtle reference to his masochistic appetites.

[Curly Earl]

So I see Hattie's fellow hater jumps in. Perhaps even crazier than Hilo Hattie, she throws the troll label at anyone who opposes her vehement manhating,rants.

DO they have blogs where haters who heavily use SSRI's can hang out ?

[Justin K.]

What dose this have to do with The American Ruling Class?

[buena]

Right on, Justin. Surely there is an administator for this blog? It's getting ridiculous.

[Gaurav]

Good ..
Hey You can view my Blog its also Good

[Hattie]

I have contacted Ms. Ehrenreich and asked her to moderate the blog, and she said she would contact her webmaster.
New IP Number of "Curly Earl" is 76.64.49.152
I've already banned that address on my site.
Sorry for all this. He came over here because I have banned him, and he's following me around wherever I comment.

[Luciano]

Hi, I am just visiting for the first time...I think someone is disturbing...

http://www.lucianobove.blogspot.com/

[b]

Yeah, what's going on over here? At least Chris, who is a little prickly, has the decency to present an argument and not get personal. I like coming here for the differing opinions, but it's getting petty...and worse...BORING

[Anarcissie]

There are some on-topic messages here. Ignore the trolls.

[Curly Earl]

I agree with b, we should keep it nonpersonal. Chris does duel with a few of you, and I feel it's only a matter of time before you take issue with one of his opinions, and like other whiners, you will quickly label him a troll. Just you wait and see.

My beef is with Hattie who came here to stir up things and create controversy. I just can't let her vicious hating go unchecked.

[Curly Earl]

I agree with b, we should keep it nonpersonal. Chris does duel with a few of you, and I feel it's only a matter of time before you take issue with one of his opinions, and like other whiners, you will quickly label him a troll. Just you wait and see.

My beef is with Hattie who came here to stir up things and create controversy. I just can't let her vicious hating go unchecked.

[roger]

i work at a food stamp office in utah. i have interviewed hundreds of families. utah is a stable, relatively prosperous state with significant opportunity for folks to have success. we do not have many of the social ills which i read about online and in first hand accounts by politically active and progressive authors. the people i have interviewed have by and large failed individually to prosper. i draw a couple of observations here. for those who insist that the present ruling class is bloated and vindictive, who is it do you propose we replace them with, assuming this would even be possible. which class do you draw from and how do you annoint these people. the ruling class in this country has forged a system of govt and an economic system which has provided security for most of its inhabitants. i do not overlook the truly oppressed groups: women and racial minorities. on the whole however, given human's propensity toward tawdriness and vulgarity we have benefited by this democratic experiment. additionally those of you who rail against american extractive capitalism, what is it you propose to replace it with. socialism has failed in each experiment. i would recommend and excellent book: my unamerican chilhood by ann kimmage. capitalism, with all its faults has benefited the majority of people who are impacted by it. look no further than zimbabwae or bolivia or sudan or north korea for contrasting circumstances. we would do well to recognize how fortunate we are living under this system of checks and balances and market forces.

we would do well to look at the big picture.

[chris]

According to the blurb for the film:

"Lewis Lapham, long-time editor of Harper's magazine, presents a provocative examination of power and class in America's presumed classless society."

First, Lapham is no longer the editor of Harper's.

Second, Harper's is a bankrupt publication that exists today ONLY becaue the MacArthur Foundation -- that evil enterprise that gives out the Genius Awards -- provides funding.

This magazine is aimed at people who feel guilty for having a few bucks in their pockets. The Anguished Affluent. The Contorted Capitalists. They feel better after receiving their monthly public spanking given them by those who write for this magazine.

This magazine is found on the coffee tables in the waiting rooms of every psychologist in New York City, and probably every other city in the country.

The Blurb States:

"Guiding two actors playing recent Yale graduates, Lapham introduces the duo to privileged holders of power - James Baker III, Bill Bradley and Lawrence Summers - who respond to Lapham's thesis on America's ruling elite.

Of course recent Yale grads are such innocents that they need help in this department.

Meanwhile, Baker is at the edge of the power-broker world. Bill Bradley is a has-been politician and has no role in the power-brokering world.

Larry Summers is the only prominent person I can identify who has publicly mused about why women never rise to the top of the Mathematics world. It would astound me to learn that wondering about that question earns a man the reputation of a power broker.

Personally, after watching a number of athletic competitions, I concluded that blacks are the best at most sports because they are genetically superior. I am not troubled by this conclusion. As I am not troubled by the notion that men are genetically superior to women when it comes to mathematics.

I have thought about women and math, therefore, like Larry Summers, I am a power-broker.

The Blurb Concludes:

"An unusual hybrid of documentary and scripted drama/satire, complete with an occasional musical number."

In other words, an absence of truth, just like a Michael Moore movie. By the way, I took my Sicko-Cratic Oath the other day, swearing never to watch his latest lunacy, even if it appears for free on my computer. I'll expand my Oath to include the Lapham goofiness as well.

Finally:

"With Howard Zinn and Barbara Ehrenreich. John Kirby directs."

Porn for left-wing screwballs.

[Anarcissie]

roger: ' ... for those who insist that the present ruling class is bloated and vindictive, who is it do you propose we replace them with[?] ....

I think the theme of the movie was not that the ruling class should be replaced or abolished but improved, in the sense of being nicer about the difficulties of the poor and the working class.

If everything is comparatively wonderful, of course, we need not trouble ourselves with this question.

[roger]

when the instrument to be used for public improvement is the blunt instrument of the govt (see katrina response) then the question becomes is it possible for govt to induce the ruling class to advance an agenda for the poor which would be more beneficial to the poor. if the poor insist upon making faulty life choices (drug abuse, crime, inadequate career planning, inadequate education, rejection of the institution of marriage, impaired child rearing values) then it should not come as a surprise that the middle class is reluctant to pour more money down that rat hole. my experience has been that many in society will do the very least possible in order to receive a govt benefit all opportunity for success notwithstanding. the most recent statistic for the amount of waste and fraud resulting from the govt response to hurricane katrina was 1.4 billion dollars. better to have an adequate safety net and push for greater economic prosperity for all persons in the country thus affording the greatest percentage of persons possible to create their own security rather than look to govt to deliver this security.

[chris]

roger,

excellent commentary

[Jonathan]

I agree with 100 % with Roger's commentary too. I mean a slacker or deadbeat falls into this "poor" category and they know how to get out of it, but they like it there.

People work hard at bettering themselves everyday. There are thousands of examples happening on a daily basis.

Hey I am sorry some of you have had a bad streak, but if you listened to your teacher and got an education etc....

[roger]

thank you

[Brian Stewart]

Driving across the San Fernando Valley to a day labor job, years ago, I stumbled onto your interview about going undercover as a waitress and just trying to live at that level and was very impressed. And having just read the adventures of one Dr. Reddy as you did again I must say you have kept your integrity all these years. And sanity. To honestly just see what is really out there is an observational gift, actually an artistic gift. Its more than the "writers eye" as it includes maintaining one's soul at a stable level and not selling out. To just not sell out yet maintain your humility and decency is a big accomplishment in this culture. And its nice to see your work product is even yet better. I will buy your new book as I know it will have some honest and useful real information and it will have been written by someone with a decent human soul. Sanity like that is priceless.

[BrovkinPEtrO]

Hello!Dear
Just found an amazing site.
Wanna get free ringtones now? Any phone and carrier supported. Download Now For Free. Tons of Music. Millions of MP3's.
Come on in: http://www.ringtone-i.net
Let's meet all!!!