text:
Washington influence peddling isn't new, but that doesn't mean the peddlers shouldn't be called out. Continue reading
Bill Moyers' broadcast commentaries have become an institution in public media. Connecting dots of history, evidence, personal experience, and logic, Moyers shares his honest take on the relevant events and controversies of our times.
Explore Bill's Video Essays
- December 18, 2012 | Blog
- December 14, 2012 | Moyers & Company
Bill takes you through the revolving door between Washington leaders and lobbyists to see how you lose and they win. Continue reading
- December 13, 2012| Bill Moyers and Michael Winship
Moyers and Winship say revolving-door politics allows corporate interests to have an upper hand in the close calls that determine public policy. Continue reading
- December 7, 2012 | Moyers & Company
In an original Bill Moyers Essay, Bill says there's more to Norquist's anti-tax pledge than ideology or principle. Continue reading
- December 5, 2012| Bill Moyers and Michael Winship
Ask the FCC this basic question: What part of NO don't you understand? Continue reading
- December 4, 2012 | Q&A
Bill Moyers speaks with former FCC commissioner Michael Copps about the effect a new FCC proposal could have on our news and our democracy. Continue reading
- December 3, 2012 | Q&A
Free Press' CEO talks with Bill about the campaign to stop the FCC from relaxing rules limiting media cross-ownership in cities. Continue reading
- November 16, 2012 | Speeches
Public remarks from Bill Moyers for the Forrest Church Lecture Series at the Union Theological Seminary. Continue reading
- October 19, 2012 | Moyers & Company
Bill calls out corporate executives strong-arming their employees to vote as they say. Continue reading
- October 19, 2012 | Blog
Not content with just buying American elections, corporate bosses strong-arm their employees to do political work on company time. Continue reading
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- frigate
Please read and comment:
The Initiative and Referendum Institute
Guidebook to Direct Democracy
In Switzerland and Beyond
- Gayle
There is no "Contact Us" that I can find. I want to know if your programs are available in MP3 format for downloads–I cannot find them. Thanks! Gayle
- Ana Sanchez
Just watched Kathleen Hall Jamieson discussing what we should be focussing on to determine what of the political ad campaigns can be fraudulent or misleading. That's a lot of processing for an individual to do for a 60 second ad!
What I would REALLY like to see is if your fact checkers found errors in a campaign ad they could report it to the FCC and the people who produce the ad MUST issue a retraction, receive a fine and ADMIT what they said incorrectly in a like forum, for example- an ad run on tv must have a retraction on TV, an ad on the radio likewise, newspaper and computer. PLUS they are obligated to pay the total costs out of their own pocket for the correction. They would be more careful of what they if there were penalties involved I don't understand how they can get away with such dishonesty in politics today!
- Gary Bradley
I watched your segment on the Financial Transaction Tax with some amazement that your guest purported that it was only a tax on rich institutions like banks. For a person near retirement, the tax on a typical 401K of $150,000 to convert to cash and then back to equities during a market correction would be $1500. This is no small amount to a person about to retire. A method that would, indeed, go after institutional investors would apply the tax over calender quarters, exempt the first $100k to $200k, and increase the rate for each order of magnitude of trading e.g. 0.01% below $1 million, 0.02 over $1 million to $10 million, 0.03% over $10 million to $100 million, etc.
This progressive variant of the tax would raise nearly as much, probably in excess of $200 billion, and target the most egregious players, those that try to skew the market with excess volatility to run mathematical models. I will assume that since nurses are paid more than the national average, she would not be in favor of a law that harshly punishes any of her union members that actively manage their retirement funds, but I could be wrong. If the goal is to punish the rich, a health care professional at the end of a forty year career probably qualifies.
- dsimon
I have two points to make on Kathleen Hall Jamison's segment. She decries the separation of campaigning and governance. I agree that it would be better to have campaigns focusing on real governance issues rather than portraying half-truths which avoid the hard decisions we need to make as a nation. But politically no one is going to deliver those truths until after the election. This is hardly a new phenomenon: both sides know that all the policy in the world doesn't matter unless you win on the politics, which is why we get debates over the Pledge of Allegiance (Bush-Dukakis) and lapel pins (McCain-Obama). So I think a little realism is called for here: that the time for putting forward a real plan for governance will be after the election, when there's the political space for putting forward unpopular but necessary measures.
Second, she, along with others, claims that we are a polarized electorate. I don't think that's entirely true. Congress is polarized, but there are many things that majorities in both parties in the electorate agree on (a balanced approach to resolving our fiscal situation, raising income tax rates on higher incomes, disclosure of political spending). Perhaps after this election, more of those in Congress will be willing to vote for the sensible preferences of their constituents instead of blindly following their preconceived ideology.
- David Lockmiller
I tried to post a story proposal in your "contact us" section. But I kept getting a message about illicit characters in the posting. I think that the story suggestion is worthy of your consideration. If you would send me an email to firstname.lastname@example.com, I will reply with a posting to the body of the email.
Thank you, and keep up the good work that you have been doing for this democracy for many years.
- moderator
- Michael J. Taylor
After watching your interview with Luis Alberto Urrea, I read The Devil's Highway. This book should be on every school's required reading list, not among its censored books, or rather – what was the euphemism? – the "boxed" books, to be requested at the risk of losing one's employment.
- Steve Woodward
"Moyers and Company" is available to download for free from iTunes Store.
- Goingnativenursery
Melvina Reynolds protest music is so relevant today as it was when she was alive. I hope she could get some airtime in this day and age. She has such a positive spin to her stuff, reminding people to remain compassionate towards the world and it's people.
- Mark
I was watching your conversation with Garrison Keillor on C-span, from last year, and you both were stumped as to how the evangelicals became so corrupted. I'd suggest you both should read St. John of the Cross's: "Dark Night of the Soul", which explains it brilliantly!
- Carolsachal
At last I am validated when my husband spouts his DOOM AND GLOOM, as a Russian, saavy of the Trilateral, the Committee of Foreign Relations, the sabotage of our brilliant constitution and me, the Great Great Granddaughter of Prof. Jos. Neumann who made the first SILK flag of the US in 1865, transported it to Congress in 1871, named his first son, George Washington Neumann, and his second son, my Great Grandfather, Abraham Lincoln Neumann…and I believe in THE INDIVIDUAL and here comes Tom Morello, if the forces "that be" allow him to breathe and tell our story, as so many have, including my only President, JFK, and I am so moved and inspired…
Thank you Bill Moyers…for bringing him to the attention of many…
- http://billmoyers.com BillMoyers.com
This may also help:
- Anonymous
education becomes a dangerous threat to the unschooled in the art of
political science when used in steering away from original
Constitutional studies of which are imperative. At this point we learn
that Sec.6, Art. 6 on TREATIES was an input after the Constitution was
originally ratified. This little item has been used as the the shaker
and mover in bringing America down. There is no other cause in the
flooding of our nation over the years as professional revolutionaries
have been flooding our shores since 1819 in setting up ghettos from
whence Communism found its birth in a land that offered freedom from
oppression. A stop gap must end this post socializing of our nation and
one must plow beneath the the surface of planned ignorance that has
perverted out national educational system. The ignorant and the super
ignorant must be awakened.
For an example comes the dredging up of
Harry Hopkins as just another political whore. Hopkins was nothing less
than a liberally driven sicko psycho genetically coined traitor.
Treading backwards through the furrows of time to our founding father's
era lies the master key to the declination of the American Republic as
the political science of pseudo democracy crept along our national era
saddled to a little known clause previously brought to light.
In the
final days of laying down a master plan for an emerging of a people
under the United States Constitution careful examination of this
document reveals the mystery of iniquity, as so subtly revealed in Art.
6, Sec..6 regarding ( TREATIES ). The only conclusion is that the little
known " CITY of Gold " housed in London England, but under a newer name
today, managed to sabotage our new born Republic in the beginning.
Please read this article carefully and ponder as to when and where
freedom of speech will finally be annulled. COMMUNISM is thought
control, nothing more, nor less; and out national republic is under
thought control! We cannot expose the enemy within. In essence, The
Disunited States of America is merely a province of mother England!
to Harry Hopkins is to recall that this pro-commie traitor was special
adviser to the late President Franklin Roosevelt. Hopkins became one of
the most important individuals upon the earth during WW!!. He was a
go-between Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill, Priminister of Great
Britain. In post WW!! England lost all of her colonies. Thus America has
been taken over by many questionable people from eastern Europe while
political whores and corrupt State Department employees use the TREATY
trick in putting a noose around an unthinking and brainwashed national
population. The problem is that we have too many Harry Hopkins holding
seats with the Congress of the United States.
The ancient
philosopher, Socrates, was a championed Republican/Democrat. Through a
pseudo democracy this wise man detested thought control. He was put to
death for warning Athenians that true Democracy was the best form of
government, being the brain child of Republicanism. The most frightful
situation in America is that the people are misinformed. We might
consider a national government being based upon Machiavellian intrusion
as alien to a free republic. Freedom of the press and open discussion
being suppressed, is the first step to a home made scaffold. A
Guillotine of political poison was designed as a form of death for
Socratese and of which is to bring our nation to an alike ending. A few
more planks under an unsuspecting nation that, like a scorpion, carries
the poison that will eventually kill itself, this is crime, corruption,
poverty and disease This is a fifty state prediction !.
- Mark Donnelly
I was very impressed with Tom Morello in the conversation with Bill Moyers tonight. I was aware of the band name "Rage Against the Machine," but hadn't heard the music and wasn't aware of Tom as an individual singer/songwriter. I grew up in a union family in New York – Steamfitters Local 638 and have long been inspired by the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen. I am currently writing a play about Mother Jones, the labor organizer from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tom Morello's statements, passion and music tonight have encouraged me to keep going. Thanks.
Mark Donnelly
- MR. M. Cornett
Why is there reading list???
- Mary McPherson
My comment is on a different subject –
Arizona's Secretary of State is ALSO chair of Mitt Romney's reelection committee in the state.
That was also a problem in 2000 (Florida – Katherine Harris) and 2004 (Ohio).
To me this seems like a conflict of interest.
If one is a "public servant", an elected officer supposedly representing ALL the state,
then one should NOT have a political influence for one party.
Is this worth a TV discussion?
I think it's WRONG !!
Also – do you have an e-mail address?
- Sanfiv
Correction, Bill Moyers, how can Al katani be the 20th hijacker, we thought they already used that excuse for Jose Padilla? Also, please do a show on Architects & Engineers for 9-11 truth. The FBI says there is no evidence linking Al-Quaeda to 9-11. Thank you!
- Maryvrc1
After watching today's show about our country's use of torture and its documentation of not only the experiences of its victims but the information which reveals the chain of authority and command which brought about this travesty, I was extremely disappointed when not one person asked this question. Did anyone or is anyone trying to make those responsible for ordering the torture accountable for their crimes against humanity? for breaking the Geneva Accords? For breaking American laws? If we can impeach a president for lying about sexual encounters where is the outrage against a sitting president who lied to go to war and killed and maimed our sons and daughters doing it? How could you not ask these questions?
Where is the law's power now that these abuses of political power and the horrible suffering of its victims have been revealed? Who will bell the cat?
We are watching and waiting and hoping.
Mary Cunningham, mother of three
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jer-Greenspan/100000127438210 Jer Greenspan
American Justice Belongs to Americans not others. I ask this simple questions of anyone who feels that the means we use against non-Americans to protect our county, bar what is is, Would you stop the torture if you family was about to die and you could save them, with any methods.?!!!!! And if you don't' get it, If you son, daughter, wife or family member was going to be blow up that evening and you could save them, would you torture the non-American yourself to save. If you say no you lie.
- Ocpeters
To Moyers & Co.~ Please consider interviewing Thomas Mann & Norm Ornstein who have been shunned by the media since they published their book criticizing the Republican establishment. The full article in Al Jazeera is at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/05/201252310114193943.htmlSince the mainstream corporate media won't interview them, it's up to you, Moyers & Co., to do what you do best – shed the light of good journalism on important news.Excerpt from Al Jazeera article cited above:"Consider this stunning piece of evidence: On April 27, two pillars of the American political establishment – Thomas E Mann and Norman J Ornstein, two of the most-quoted men in America – dared to break ranks with that dogma in aWashington Post op-ed, based on a book they've just published, It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism. Although the online response was unprecedented, generating more interest than for any other book they have written, the two have been entirely shut out of the Sunday talk show circuit and almost completely shut out of the top five national print outlets as well. The establishment they have been keystone members of, for going on four decades, has suddenly forgotten that they ever even exist."
- Branchard
Your show just sent me an email invite to re-watch your Jonathan Haidt interview. I'd sooner cut my ears off. I am totally confused over this new direction you have taken with this show. Just letting some book-peddling windbag make a speech while you question NOTHING? I have 12 relevant questions I would have asked him and I was only allowed one year of college.
- Jaycie
I just finished watching your Haidt program which I found confusing, at best! To me, here is the differnece between progressives and conservatives. Progressives believe in community – "We're all in this together" while Conservatives believe in individualism – "Every man for himself". All over the country, Republicans are defunding public schools; in fact, they want to get rid of public education, along with public libraries, public parks, the Postal Service, etc. What kind of a terrible country would this be if Republicans with their Paul Ryan budget actually got their way? What would it be like if there was no Social Security, no Medicare/Medicaid, no public education, no Public Health Service, no Food Stamps, no public service of any kind? What would it be like to have thousands, perhaps millions of people, including the elderly, homeless, living on the streets, begging for food, with no health care, no income of any kind, no public schools for the children, no public help of any kind for anyone? Is this really what Republicans, who claim to be "Christians" (they're actions show they're not) really want? I'm afraid so, and we're well on our way down this path thanks to Republican intransigence and the lack of courage on the part of Democrats to stand up to them!
- Michael Adkison
Just watched your show with the so-called social psychologist you had on, and I feel like vomiting. Liberals are just better, smarter, and much more compassinate than the rest of us, and could solve all the world's problems and ills if it weren't for us sorry conservatives. According to you and your guest, conservatives have no empathy for others who aren't like us, anyone who disagrees with us, and even animals. You and your guest are so out of touch with average Americans it is pathetic. Your wealth, perceived social statuses, and pseudo intellectualism separate you and your guest from reality and the problems and thoughts of average Americans in both parties. Demeaning conversations about anyone like the one you and your falsely pious guest just had, not to mention the ones that you have on an almost weekly basis on your show, divide the country even further, and prove that your understanding of the real America and real Americans in both parties is severely limited. I guess when you live in an ivory tower it is easy to recognize and point out all the perceived shortcomings of us peasants. It disgusts me that PBS has become obviously as liberal as CNN considering they receive some tax monies from the very Americans, who are also republicans, that are trashed on virtually every program that airs on PBS. Your program is some of the most vile and baseless liberal trash on all of television.
- Michael
Hating on Bush AGAIN. How original.
- Lucius
Prof. Haidt makes a case that left brain and right brain types need to learn to speak to one another across a conceptual and perceptual divide. But what happens when xtian fundamentalists teach little children that genocide is not only acceptable but endorsed by their 'god'? How is that chasm bridged? See…
The problem is not that each 'side' maintains different values and sees the world differently, but that there are folks on one side who are deranged sociopaths in positions of influence. Now I know Prof. Haidt would call that 'demonizing', but it's also calling a spade a spade. Teaching children that the extermination of non-believers is perfectly in accord with the 'wishes' of their insane 'god' goes well beyond simply maintaining different values. These kind of malevolent, demented values hearken back to Germany of 1939. All values are not created equal.
- Restepp10
I don't mean to sound cynical but
you should watch the PBS Documentary "The Mormons", it's very spooky to
have ONE of their cult running for President of the United States of
America, forget about all the rest of the regular political lies,
half-truths and broken promises, this is THE SCARY ISSUE. It may be
unpleasant and seem below the belt but it is what it is, YOU CAN NOT
- Jpotamites
Go back to the Jonathan Haidt show and count the universals , the absolutes, the superlatives. Add the declarations, the presumptions, the assumptions. And you'll see that few speakers, deities and their scribes have spoken so many in an hour or such short a transcript.
- Garyh3000
On the Jonathan Haidt segment : This man is an idiot, He leaves out Racism and Opression when he says that people want a hand out, give them jobs. In a neighborhood close by there are 200 wharehouses and other buisness that dont hire people from that neighborhood.
- Garyh3000
On the Jonathan Haidt segment : This man is an idiot, He leaves out Racism and Opression when he says that people want a hand out, give them jobs. In a neighborhood close by there are 200 wharehouses and other buisness that dont hire people from that neighborhood.
- Anonymous
I found Mr. Haidt's interview very provocative and I look forward to reading his book. It made me feel defensive and uncomfortable. I know my most significant learning takes place when I am forced to confront my assumptions.
Also, I would like to suggest Professor Robert N. Proctor of Stanford as a guest for the show. I am reading his new book Golden Holocaust and find it extremely interesting.
- David
I was unable to view the show with Jonathan Haidt, from the website, because when
I longed-on to it, the picture & sound kept starting and stopping for now reason.
I've NEVER had this problem before when viewing shows online, many times.
What's going on with the Jonathan Haidt, online video/show. It was aired on 6-1-2012.
Chicago, IL
- Crosstimbers Okie
Bill, an author you should interview is Neil Howe of "The Fourth Turning."
Expand your horizons a little.
- Karsten Sorensen
During the interview of Prof. Haidt, there was a missed opportunity to pursue the question of personal choice when the issue of the hypothetical man who refused to have health insurance and then became very ill. It should have been pointed out that this was not all that hypothetical as one of Ron Paul's staff became sick with pneumonia and died leaving behind a $400,000 hospital bill to the man's mother.
But the question that should have been pursued was "what if the hypothetical man did not choose of his own volition not to have health insurance?" The Paul campaign did not offer its staff health insurance. Likewise, perhaps this man's employer did not offer health insurance. There have been several articles in the N.Y. Times of the difficulty of finding individual policies. Or perhaps the man was refused a policy due to a pre-existing condition. Or finally, perhaps the available policies were just too expensive given the man's income.
I think the fundamental difference between conservative and liberal philosophies is that conservatives believe we are the product of our own decisions and willingness to take chances and work hard, while liberals believe that much of where we are is due to the "roll of the dice".
- Vincent DeMattia
Hello, Mr. Moyers… I watch nearly all of your shows and I always walk away from them, more well informed… but with a kind of empty feeling. I think those things mentioned in your shows are important and delivered truthfully without prejudices worked into them… but, I believe you need to bring guests onto your show who can tell us, what we can do about all these problems we know we have. It's all complaints and questions… but noone invited on to tell us what we can do to get the government back. I often think that Bruce Fein who has appeared on your program is one of the people that can do that. Tell us what tools the Constitution gives the People to bring about the taking back of the government. I think you should do a series of shows that aim specifically at solutions… strategies, etc. to wrest control of our government. I like Mr. Fein because he loves the Constitution… and if you can put together a panel of Mr. Fein and other Constitutional scholars… who can give us some ideas on just how to get that done. We need to take back the government from the special interest and lobbyists and the bought-and-paid-for politicians. I myself think of things like changing the number of terms a Senator can hold to ONE. Yes, One 6-year term… Period! Quite frankly, I don't see what the problem would be… after all, the President gets only 8 years… and he's gotta fight like hell to get the second four of those years. That would seem to reduce the need for huge campaign funds from special interest. Also, we've got to limit contact between Senators and members of the House with lobbyists. We should go back to lobbyists only having the opportunity to talk to members of Congress… in the lobbies of the Capital… and make it a crime for Senators and members of the House… to have any other contact with them. But, to go back to my original purpose here… whether we the People decide that those things would be good ideas… good remedies…. HOW DO WE GET THAT DONE!? Thank you, Mr. Moyers. And thank whatever God has blessed us with you!
- Ewan S Fallon
I think your anger is based on guilt. Are you really happy about Republicans ruining the world economy and are desperately trying to justify it?
- Ewan S Fallon
Bush-ites typical devastating response to all charges.
- Pam Andrews
Dear Mr. Moyers,
My husband and I watched your program with Marty Kaplan. We are of the same mind about the news "shows" and the "food throwing" discussions on CNN & Fox, etc. Mr. Kaplan's remark about "well, we'll have to end this for now…", and so because of these antics we are so turned off, and I can't describe how frustrated with the politicians and the news shows we are. We do like "Washington Week in Review."
But I have a question. What's a 66 year-old grandmother living in right-wing Oklahoma to do??? Am I supposed to start an independent party, run for office? Those are way out of my purview. Tell me, please, Mr. Moyers, what can one do? We feel our votes don't matter anymore. It could be said that Mr. Kaplan and you have left us in the lurch, too.
Pam Andrews
Oklahoma City, OK
- Wayne C Mason
Hello Bill,
I have watched you for years and felt that if you and Diann Rhems programs could be required listening or a video shown to every student in every senior high school each week in the US, this Country would be the best informed, most practical, and rational Nation on the Planet.
You are a master of presentation and with persons like Mr. Haight and Mr. Kaplan to bring truth and facts to all kinds of personalities, this World would be a better place.
Thank you so much for your valiant efforts!
- http://twitter.com/harveyjkaye Harvey J Kaye
Bill _ I would love to talk to you about what you wrote 5 years ago re FDR/NewDeal and American historical memory:
The great leaders of our tradition–Jefferson, Lincoln and the two Roosevelts–understood the power of our story. In my time it was FDR, who exposed the false freedom of the aristocratic narrative. He made the simple but obvious point that where once political royalists stalked the land, now economic royalists owned everything standing. Mindful of Plutarch's warning that "an imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics," Roosevelt famously told America, in 1936, that "the average man once more confronts the problem that faced the Minute Man." He gathered together the remnants of the great reform movements of the Progressive Age–including those of his late-blooming cousin, Teddy–into a singular political cause that would be ratified again and again by people who categorically rejected the laissez-faire anarchy that had produced destructive, unfettered and ungovernable power. Now came collective bargaining and workplace rules, cash assistance for poor children, Social Security, the GI Bill, home mortgage subsidies, progressive taxation–democratic instruments that checked economic tyranny and helped secure America's great middle class. And these were only the beginning. The Marshall Plan, the civil rights revolution, reaching the moon, a huge leap in life expectancy–every one of these great outward achievements of the last century grew from shared goals and collaboration in the public interest.
- Nrbowden
have you considered addressing the huge health threat from GMO's in our food sources? This is a well-understood problem in Europe but a suppressed story in the US. This is related to the parallel problem of bee colony collapse that threatens 40% of the diversity of our food choices. I recommend the website responsibletechnolgy.org. More and more doctors are seeing the effects of these non-natural foods, not only on digestive issues but potentially also underlying the rise in rates of obesity and of autism, among others. I believe this is the premier health issue in front of us today, and it needs reliable, fearless media coverage.
- Mharper91
the problem with $$$ in politics is that we read the mail and watch the TV ads…we need to fight back by getting our fellow citizens to get it….that the big $$$$ people want to buy our minds. We should have community bonfires and burn all the mailings unread and we should CLICK OFF THE SOUND when TV ads come on….we should make ourselves angry and ashamed to have our minds so colonized. We are the problem!
- Dawn E. Williams
I watch your show twice per week: the half hour after Washington Week on Friday and the whole hour on Sunday. I always bless you for returning to television as the voice of reason in a democracy gone off track . I was particularly touched tonight by your commentary about your grandson's graduation as I flew from California to Utah on May 30th to attend the graduation of a great-granddaughter, the second of her generation in our family to graduate and go on to college (with a Pell grant and a lot of faith). She is one of my 23 great-grandchildren and I worry about the country we are leaving to them. I am nearly 84 and will not live to see another 20 years, so I am doing all I can while I am alive to better their chances. I am sending you a copy of Jim Hightower's "Hightower Lowdown". a monthly newsletter of excellent investigative reporting. Texas does sometimes produce an honest native son/daughter. (Molly Ivens, we miss you!) Dawn Williams California Native Daughter
Why don't we, the [human being] people, form a "more perfect union" in order to have negotiating capacity against corporations which the Supreme Court has determined are people and that their wealth is speech? This "more perfect union" can be tens of millions of human beings strong! It can recruit and support candidates totally un-beholden to corporations and special interests, and be representative of "We, the people" envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
- Copyhawk
It may have been a post script to the Marty Kaplan interview but it took me back to the McCarthy days; I lived through them as a writer/editor at the Voice of America . What historians may not know is that Joe had allies in the agency's English language section looking for "subversives." They called themselves "the loyal American underground." Sound familiar?
- Ontherealproductions
On Campaign Disclosure,Two Words-" Noblesse Oblige"-
The Foreign Interest Whose Money As Well Can't Be Tracked in Our Elections (Just Keeping it Real),
Expect and Not Surprisingly so, a return on their Money, oops…, According to the Supreme Court Money is Speech, therefore…, Foreign Cryptic Citizens have gained more in Rights and Numbers than the mere 300 Million American Citizens could possibly imagine.
"To Whom Much is Given Much is Required". A Typically Disenfranchised American Middle Class Voter is a De Facto Foreign Serf!
- Pwilson651
I make this challenge to Bill Moyer. I challenge I make this challenge to Bill Moyer. I challenge you to stand up and debate me on the current would environment. I truly believe you do not have the "balls" to debate a real world person on national TV, hiding behind a none accessible media environment. media environment. Stand up and answer a real person and defend your side of the debate!
- Anonymous
Hi Bill,
Enjoyed your last program on Dark Money. The citizens united decision was affirmed by the five republicans on the supreme court. I agree that that is a travesty and our democracy will be paying the price. However, in the program you forgot to mention that an unfair moneyadvantage certainly contributed to Obama's victory over John McCain. Obama raised twice the money as McCain by not taking federal moneys so he didn't have to play by the rules. So, he manipulated the symstem to his advantage. Also, shouldn't we mention the dark money now in play by both sides – republican and democrat. So, my friend said that by portraying the problem as just a republican conservative cabal you lose credibility. Seems like there's plenty of dark money flowing around on both sides. Using money to manipulate the system is both and republican and democratic problem. Matter of fact it's a human problem.
- Anonymous
Well, this is a kind of a bazar example. If a person has no principles or values, they're going to do whatever is expedient. But who would want to live in a world like that governed by people with no values.
- Anonymous
Ralph Nader recently commented on the Wisconsin debacle. He said the problem was that the public sector union members stood idly by while private sector unions were ravaged, mistakenly thinking that they had no dog in that fight because their jobs were secure. Then their turn came. Now the Middle Class (code word for White) is under attack and falling into the void. They paid no attention when Indians languished on reservations (concentration camps without fences); blacks languished in ghettos; Latino braceros labored for slave wages in sun scorched fields; and the poor everywhere struggled desperately for meager food and shelter. Everyone who was doing fine ignored those who were not. Why are we surprised that the rich 1% are concerned with their welfare only and care nothing about the losers in a society favoring only them? In time, the economy will completely collapse. The dollar will lose its buying power. Then, and only then, we will all be on the same sinking ship.
- Multiservces
Attn: Bill MoyersA WAY AWAY
…But Don't keep building upon sand! The national
and world economy is dangerously flawed and unsoundly based and therefore now
undergoing severe long foretold judgments of 'many strokes" as governments so
dependent and built upon such 'sands' are collapsing from borrowing at exorbitant rates, insider trading, warmongering etc..
The stirring portrayals in a recent POINT OF VIEW
radio newsletter of certificate 'bills' comparisons , illustrates what Zechariah
centuries ago referred to as "'wickedness" "This is wickedness" he wrot See
Zechariah chapter 5].
Habakkuk too refers to the subjugating scheme from
which peoples will -and must- awake and throw off.
Thus too its because of such excesses, the current
onerous burdensome enslaving 'econonmy" IS JUDGED aright and being brought to
ruin; since the planets actual Owner has so purposed and also as long ago
written "He shall bring to ruin those who are ruining the earth." This is why
none of the 'bankers candidates' will 'turn things around' to their
Since each of the 'bills' portrayed cost no more
than the ink and paper to print, store and ship, the 'assumed profits' to the
bankers manufacturing them is wickedly exorbitant and as with 'Humpty Dumpty'
cannot be 'put together again'.
The further cause for alarm is what may yet occur
as the judgment precedes apace, as governments yet dare to wage war against God
The Almighty' Who is still determined to 'deliver us from evil' and have even
the 'sea give up their dead…'
and can do so as foretold in Daniel['s prophesy
'broken without hands " KEEP ON THE WATCH".
No government can prevail against "The Mighty God consigned to A never to be repeated history. email@example.com
916 978 4015
- Hardin Betty
Your programming disappeared from our Public Broadcasting Stations. We have been watching since January and suddenly it was gone! I now find it is being shown at 1:00 AM! Come on! Who do they think we are? We have lives! Your program is the most intelligent and encouraging one we have found concerning vital issues of our day. Something is wrong that the program is being relagated to 1:00 AM! This is KQED and other Bay area Public Broadcasting Stations! We need this program!
- Henrika Conner
The most intriguing, thought-provoking commentary anywhere. Thank you!
- Livent
Dear Bill,
yours "BM & Company" is the most watchable by me political show. I did it today, on 05/22/12, too, and I'd like you to do me a favor. In both parts, Matt Taibbi, Yves Smith in the first and Mr. Edelman in the second, the experts in the social and economical problems with pretty clear positions and deep understanding of the processes in our society, kept repeating "Oh, something is wrong in the system!", "Oh, something is wrong in the system!", and so forth. Could you please ask them – do they really know and could they say it clearly what is wrong and why and how deep exactly? If they know, why they don't say it? Are they afraid something and keeping the shadow side of the street? Is Jammy Dimon a criminal and is his place in jail? If they, very experienced, avoid to pronounce the verdict in just civic terms, where is the boy to say that the whole US king is naked?
Truly yours,
- Jaleh
Dear Bill,
I have watched you since your earliest appearances on TV. Your interviews add up to hundreds of essential university courses in humanistic thought. You enable me to breathe. Thank you.
- Kerry Pay Mann
I live in the East Bay KQED area and have Direct TV. The broadcast should be on somewhere between 7p.m.-11 p.m. and it is re-broadcast at 1 a.m. For a rental of $6 a month I just could not live without my DVR rental because I do not want the TV broadcasting schedule to dictate my live . Before the DVR, I use to set up my video tape recorder to automatically tape programs and I have hundreds of old shows that I have kept.
I live in Martinez the county seat of the Contra Costa County e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com
- Hazelreaves
hazel your kind are to afraid of meeting my kind { poor people} on camera.to see our thoughts on why some people are on food stamps
- Stephen_Tardrew
Bill I love your work and in fact love ya man. Am an Ausie who sees you as a shining knight in corporate USA. First contact was through Power of Myth many years ago. You would make a great President. Your journalistic ethics are second to none. I am a great admirer of your work and God only knows we need many more like you. Thank you for your gift.
In art and Love.
- Rdatesman
Was the 'greatest generation' a sham? so many within our nation seem to be bitter, vindictive and petty. How could we have forgotten so quickly the lessons of this past generation?
- Ellen_j_v
It is with great interest that I have been following your discussions, starting with the winner-take-all-politics series. I find your series a real eye opener. Recently, there was a discussion about political sociopaths. One thing no one has touched on are the outrageous salaries ($ 100k – $1 million) that are being paid at the university level, despite the cutback in classes as well as the tremendous increases in student fees. I feel there is a serious sense of entitlement going on among college/university presidents, chancellors, regents as well as coaches.
- LilClaraCohen
Dear, Wonderful Bill Moyers. Take care of yourself. Live forever, but PLEASE, PLEASE
mention the name of the book you're discussing for those of us who miss it during the
program. Like: Kahlil Gibran Mohammed's "Condemnation of Blackness" which took me a while to track down. Lil Cohen, Ithaca, NY
- Charles Hill
I was just watching the show with Khalil Muhammed and it was truly informative.It would be great if Mr.Moyer did a follow-up with guest and suggestions to over come these problems in our country.
- Ginniebivona
Brilliant show! I am deeply grateful to you, Mr. Moyers, as well as your extraordinary guest, Professor Mohammed for the incredible history I learned this morning. I think perhaps Jefferson framed the constitution for all white men with absolutely no concept of the black race as a part of it. Ownership of lesser human beings was as normal as the ownership of animals, and when he refers to ALL men being equal, he was not thinking about blacks at all. They didn't exist as men. He would have been more than baffled if someone had asked him if his work included men (not to mention women) of all races. It's up to us now to continue the work in the fullest sense of the words, not as they were intended then, but as what they mean today.
- Anonymous
Dear Bill,
I came to the US from my native Iran in 1981. While an engineer by training, I started with a minimum wage part time job and, although now a CEO, I have not forgotten my past. Since I heard your interviews with Joseph Campbell, I have been a strong fan of your humanistic way of dissecting and analyzing our society and politics. In this world of "high impact slogans" you have remained the thoughtful and generous journalist you always were and have always crisply highlighted the evolution of our politicians, especially of the Republican kind, that seem so eager to emulate the take-no-prisoners and the no-concession style of the ayatollahs of my home country.
You represent to my eyes the best of of America. Thank you for keeping the light of decency and intellectual honesty shining bright.
- Francine St.Jean
Dear Mr. Moyers-your sensitivity and intellect is magical! Thank you, humbly, for your work. Certainly, the way you interweave political/ historical discussion must be the way to realize the promise of America. I am so touched.
- NYCer
Your recent show, Confronting America's Past, left me pondering some unanswered questions. While I am a NYC resident that welcomes criticism of Mayor Bloomberg's administration, I found the discussion about NYPD's Stop & Frisk policy somewhat one sided. Firstly there are several undeniable truths: youths in NYC are often involved in gangs, gangs are predominantly made up of latino, black or asian youth and the territory for these gangs is in the disenfranchised neighborhoods and outer boroughs. The Mayor's policy does not seem unwarranted or repressive. Indeed the percentage of blacks and latino youth stopped may be very high, but what the statistics don't tell is how many of these annual police stops consist of individual repeat offenders?
Another facet of the debate over the policy that was not addressed is how do we reconcile the fact that law enforcement, public officials, educators and other city leaders are now diversely integrated. With so so many blacks and latinos in leadership positions and on the streets enforcing the laws, educating children, how then can the mayor's policy be seen as repressive? There is a problem with youth and crime in NYC. I believe that members of the minority population want it to be controlled just as much as anyone else. The problem is how and how effective are draconian measures like the mayor's policy.
- Zenda
Regarding your show on Unions – Public Sector Unions are failing because you are raising your members financial worth on the backs of the rest of us -the private sector workers that pay taxes, fees and assessments in order to pay for the over-sized saleries & Benefits of the public sector employees! "Public employees" weren't they supposed to be working for the benefit of the people? The greed that exists in the public sector,with employees retiring right after they get a salary upgrade so they can make more retired than they did employed, makes me angry. You claim it is because I am jealous -wrong- it is because I have no control over the greed I see on Wall Street & their out-sized salaries for No Work -but With the greed in the public sector I have a way to express my outrage -I can vote -not to pay them -and I will everytime I am given a chance!!!! I am not alone. And it is why Your Public Sector Unions will be brought down …You have over-reached -you have forgotten that it is the downtrodden -working 7 days a week private sector guy that pays your bills —–and Since we cannot express our outrage to wall street we will let you feel our outrage….You want it to change? Then give us a way to bring down the corporate executives..(besides outright revolution) and we will. Otherwise -stand back -because you have no clue just jow angry and fed up the private workers really are -with Unions -With Coruption in Goverment -With Gover't (especially small gover't corruption and beuaracry in general)….Nor does Governor Brown ….just wait till November when his tax proposal bites the dust…..Jerry -You should have read "Small is Beautiful" closer because man you have missed the boat too……..
- Comment#1
The problem with Unions has been their Public Relations. I think they must be nonexistent or sleep at the switch. The public should be reminded that Unions exist to defend individuals against big organizations such as corporations or government. The public needs to be reminded that unions are the reason for a big middle class. Of course Jimmy Hoffa didn't help the reputation.
- Tgreg99
Please stop ranting about what is wrong in this country. We are well aware of it. And please stop asking only "why" we have problems. We know the answer: usually its money. What we need are some well thought out SOLUTIONS! Some of solutions may be radical, but we need to consider them, discuss them, and improve them. Bill Moyers has a mass of followers who are sufficiently careful thinkers to make progress on this. Bill, please your position to organize a team to provide SOLUTIONS. Here is my suggestion: google direct democracy or tgmanifesto.
- anonymous
I was extremely disappointed that Bill repeated propaganda used by the 1% during his show on Labor. Bill stated that "Twenty CA counties allow some public workers to make more in retirement than they did while working; …and there's one county executive retied at 62 so she could bring down a pension of $272,000 a year for life."
Hello–this is a COUNTY EXECUTIVE NOT A UNION MEMBER!!! This is not what the average rank and file union member receives.I work for the Orange County in CA. I pay 19% of my meager social worker salary for my pension while our county executives have TWO pension plans totally paid for by the county. They received 5% raises while they laid off workers. Workers had to take furloughs and have had no cost of living raises for several years. The average union member in Orange County receives a pension of $29,000 a year .See OCEA website: http://www.oceamember.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=khKSIYPxEmE&b=6372337&ct=8827359In the public sector, just as in the private sector, there is great inequality. Please do not repeat propaganda used against workers.
- Revko
I thought the EXACT same thing although I was disappointed that the two union advocates didn't catch that either. There is a MAJOR distinction between a government EXECUTIVE and a government rank and file employee and this needs to be pointed out.
I had the same beef with union reps a few years ago on TV during autoworkers union discussions and the right wing exaggeration with how much an American auto worker was paid when all the union reps needed to do is get out a contract and SHOW them the pay scale.
- Sylvia DeR
The critiques below notwithstanding I see everyone of your programs as a valuable gift in a time of few gifts. Thank you.
- Gjlarson89
Just this morning on "face the nation", top gun hot shot turned viet nam "pow" (because he was being an adolescent showoff for his navy pilot pals), john mcain (running mate of the brilliant sarah pallin in 2008) said the American taxpayers need to send more of our hard-earned (assuming we have a job to pay taxes on) money down a rathole so "we can overthrow the assad government in syria." When did America get into the business of foreign regime change when some republican legislator in a $2,000 suit says it's our responsibility, notwithstanding our huge federal deficit caused by President Obama's "tax & spend" policies? When bin laden was killed he was in pakistan, not iraq or afghanistan. We wasted thousands of lives, military & civilian in "the war on terror" in the wrong countries. Bin laden was in pakistan, our great "ally" all along. And how many TRILLIONS of dollars did we and are we continuing to waste in those 2 unnecessary wars? And then there are the thousands of vets and their families struggling with horrendous injuries PTSD (now that the military got their heads out os their collective butts &
recognized they had to help not ridicule these vets), and the lost dreams of these families &vets due to the trauma inflicted on them by the greedy pals of dick cheney at halliburton.
Then mcain had the gall to say that the economy & jobs are the key issue in this campaign!!!!
Most of the deficit is caused by dropping our money in quicksand in the middle east where corruption & despotism is the fabric of their culture & has been for 1,000's of years. The USA does not have a right to impose "democracy" on cultures happy with the status quo.
How was it that hamas came into power? Oh, that' right they had a "democratic" election & hamas won the election!!!! Thanks for wasting our money and our youth, W!!!
- Doris
I have just finished watching your program with the guys promoting unions and "togetherness" in dealing with the present state of the U.S. Here I was also introduced to the poet Mr. Appleman. The whole program was so very interesting (as are most of your shows.)
But this one was especially relevant as I am a senior citizen who was fortunate enough to have lived when unions were powerful. My step-dad worked for Lockheed in Southern California for 40 years, made a decent living, bought a home, and fed us five kids, and put some money aside. This was the benefit of collective bargaining in good faith. Thanks to this and to Social Security Mom and Dad were able to live comfortably for many years.I am going to buy EVERY book that Mr Appleman wrote. What a joy to hear his readings.
Doris Raisanen – Minnesota
- Ben7890
As a former member of a public employees union, in a state government whose method of setting wages is to pay 20% less for comparable work across the board, I'm amazed by people who see such employment as some sort of great deal, that it will someow improve their lot if they can just figure out how to screw it up for somebody else. The fact that public employment even looks good only shows how bad off the private sector worker is.
I have about 45 years in the workforce right now, and I've worked private sector, public sector, union, and non-union. I've worked for mom-and-pop operations, and national companies. I've seen a lot in that time. I would simply say that the vast majority of people who have worked in a union prefer it. The vast majority of people who would do away with unions have never been in one, and they really should try it before they condemn it.
Somehow, people in this country believe they can become wealthy, when every piece of evidence should tell them they don't have a shred of a chance. Worse yet, they let this delusion lead them to vote like the wealthy, against their own real interest. But in reality, their best chance of bettering their own situation would be to join a union. Their odds of being able to join a union are still quite good. And if doing so led them to actually vote like a working person, they would actually vote in their own interest for a change.
Of course, people really will vote to cut someone else's pay, if they can't ever get a raise in their own paycheck. They can even be fooled into damaging Social Security, as long as they themselves don't need it yet. That is human nature at it's worst.
The purveyors of poopyhead politics need to remember a simple truth about how the system works: You can forget about ever seeing more than a few cents of the "savings" you vote for, but you will most certainly see the effects of your decisions when the remaining competent and honest people are forced out of public employment and the ones that are left deliver your services. Or not…
- Elriv
I watched your recent program related to unions and found myself being pulled apart. Your guests had good comments and you also had good questions. However what struck me was the absence of their voices in mainstream media. After the Mexican election of Nieto who was the darling of Mexico's MSM, whose propaganda was noted by the movement "Yo soy 132!" (which was hardly mentioned here). After the recent devastating heat (forest fires, derechos, 72+ deaths, etc.) and hardly any in the MSM used the phrases "global warming" or "climate change". Even if pro-labor groups had excellent points, it will not be mentioned in the MSM.
Walker's recent success in WI was noted that a major portion of the populace stated "I didn't vote for him, but recall is not the way to do it". That very sentiment was advertised on all of WI's media for over a month. Control the media, control the masses.
If you look at the amount of Right-wing radio stations are in the area vs progams like yours, or Rachel Maddow, or Amy Goodman, the thought of being able to let the general public understand concepts like "collective bargaining" is closer to a dream.
There's a wonderful CD regarding the history of advertising and propaganda called, "The Century of the Self". I hope watch it. Perhaps you can make a program of how the USA is drowning in rightwing propaganda.
- Charles Adler
Music filled and starry skies
Bursting sprays of painted pride
Children laugh with open eyes
Their elders hide what's deep inside
Pale echoes of deliverance
We celebrate the birth
Of ideas grand with eloquence
Without measuring their worth
With hope and worry; wish and woe
We sailed forth with pride
Swamping every well met foe
Heedless of returning tide
The fireworks are on display
to underscore our might
The simple food and ways we play
Should fill us with delight
I cannot help but feel the pain
Of promise unfulfilled
The sacrifice with which we gained
What seemed divinely willed
The sins we left to hide away
And never show their face
Have looked upon us every day
From the soul of every race
The gap that widens evermore
Twixt what we live and claim
Anticipates what is in store
When anger turns to blame
What is the future for this land
Supreme in all the world
Content to shadow all it can
Beneath its flag unfurled
Renewal and rebalance
Is what we must pray for
Until we can remember
The meaning of the Fourth Charles Adler
- http://twitter.com/vernonsm vernon
Just finished listening to these 2 Union Organizers and it's so obvious that they are simply communists, despising Capitalism and promoting Marxist views. "Social Justice" is another way of saying we despise prosperity because it's unequal. This show was totally Marxist propaganda but Im glad I watched because the enemy of America became crystal clear to me —- Unions.
- Ernest Scarano
The patter and presentation was perfectly practiced……Phillip Applebaum. On the face of things, he presents like a sweet and cultured gentleman. The message that came across was just the opposite. For all the self proclaimed search for truth, he has found very little; at least in the selections that were chosen to be read. This man, who has lived a privileged life, filled with success; houses on stilts in Malibu, a talented wife who produces numerous stage plays, the gift of many years and a large income to explore life and love, is an ingrate. It seems to me he should be thankful for these blessings. While I can understand his sorrow about having to watch his mother suffer with arthritis, I hardly think blaming God is appropriate; actually, it came off as being petulant, somewhat pompous and more than a bit childish. While he still has time, someone should remind this man that he has a navel. The simple, significant, import of this is, that he did not create himself. Plainly stated, creatures, beings with navels, don't get to question the creator…which is, by the way, the single, major theological message of the book of Job (which he completely missed in his one poem)….."where were you when I placed fire in the wild stallion? were you present when I told to the sea you may go to this point and NO further? Was it your counsel I sought when I placed the stars in heavens?
So, he searched the major religions for answers….got none that suited him, and concluded that life is, or should be, an exercise in humanism…..it's more an exercise in Narcissism.
By simple definition, faith is belief in things that cannot be proven. You can search and study, and all this is good. But in the end, no one gets the answers….when you DEMAND answers you miss the entire point of the quest. All a sober and serious minded person can do is humbly request…."put me not, to the test"
Life is a mixed bag…..sometimes it is suffering and loss; pain and loneliness. Sometimes it is joy and incredible contentment…..but it is ALWAYS a gift…..the greatest gift from where I sit….you haven't lived until you've lived. And in the end you just don't get to demand answers.
- Joe Murphy
Dear Mr. Moyers,
I would recomend you cosider a guest speaker–known as Ms. Elaine Pagels of Princeton University. I've read many of her books with a few more to go. Much of her thoughts Can be found in Brown's book "The Devinci Code." it was after reading that book that I went into his sources and found Ms. Pagels. What she has to say about other Biblical sources is interesting and profound.
Thank you for any time and considerstion you give to this sugestion.
Joe Murphy
- Dell Hood
Mr. Moyers,
Thank you for your continuing excellence in thoughtful and provocative commentary, and for the superb quality of your guests. The American people ignore the perspectives you give at their peril. May you long continue in this needed work.
Dell Hood
Wimberley, Texas
- http://www.facebook.com/gregory.adams.9480 Gregory Adams
it was a good thing that you came back my wife and i had missed you and your commentary i am 63 my wife is 60, i was raised on a small farm im michigan, its sad to think that monsanto and others want to monopolize the seed industry, GREED IS WHAT IT IS GREED They are out to kill us all with their seed the judge that gave them the ability to do what they are doing should be ran out of town the congress and senate and house should be ran out of town,what is wrong with the american people, why cant they see what is happening to them, maybe that is why they want to get rid of those of us who know what they are attempting to do,I am a Black american,born and raised in the US, what do you really Think about Obama, is He a Lyndon Johnson,I dont think so what happened to executive orders.
- http://www.facebook.com/gregory.adams.9480 Gregory Adams
This has become an America for the rich we must stop paying them to kill us i say get rid ofmtrhe federal reserve, file bankruptcy against the debt, I agree with ross perot what ever happened to him and his type he was rich but he wanted everyone to live these people dont want you to live they want you to die,
- Barbara Sarao
Bill Moyers:
Thank you for your continuing offering of wonderful, insightful, individuals you interview who add so much enlightenment to my life. I am a 69 year old widow, probably a "moderate democrat" who benefits from your, and your guests information and sharing of their view of our world. I am not as well informed as I would like to be, however your presentations have added much to my understanding of many opinions and situations, I may never have even considered. Keep up providing this kind of programming.
- Justicepatiencecourage
Well said, but these candidates must be un-beholden to the two parties also.
- Justicepatiencecourage
Mr. Moyers, My book, due out by years end, hones closely to both of last nights guests: Sheila Bair and Vandana Shiva who was a refreshing person to hear. But it does have controversal analysis that you would likely disagree with. Titled – I'd Much Rather Laugh!/Preferisco Ridere! with a sub-title of How You can save America from Ridicule and Ruin, I hope to get a copy to you and have you see a citizens view of our collective difficulty and hope. Vinny Licitra
- Sshrrd
Your shows are informative but deeply depressing to me. We seem to be in a plutocracy with no way out. Even when the bankers are clearly guilty, no one gets charged with criminal behavior. No one goes to jail. One thing I would like to know is when these banks/investment companies are fined do they actually pay the money or is it some sort of accounting write-off? Where does the money go? Into a general fund or does some of it go to pay for the apparently needed staff for investigations by the SEC?
Is this just another gimmic to make it look like banks are getting caught and fined but the fines are never collected?
- Catherine Burke
There may be a way to stop voter suppression — the 24th Amendment to the Constitution. See info following.
TWENTY-FOURTH AMENDMENTSECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.EXPANSION OF THE RIGHT TO VOTERatification of the Twenty-fourth Amendment in 1964 marked the culmination of an endeavor begun in Congress in 1939 to effect elimination of the poll tax as a qualification for voting in federal elections. Property qualifications extend back to colonial days, but the poll tax itself as a qualification was instituted in eleven States of the South following the end of Reconstruction, although at the time of the ratification of this Amendment only five States still retained it.1 Congress viewed the qualification as "an obstacle to the proper exercise of a citizen's franchise" and expected its removal to "provide a more direct approach to participation by more of the people in their government." Congress similarly thought a constitutional amendment necessary,2inasmuch as the qualifications had previously escaped constitutional challenge on several grounds.3Not long after ratification of the Amendment – applicable only to federal elections – Congress by statute authorized the Attorney General to seek injunctive relief against use of the poll tax as a means of racial discrimination in state elections,4 and the Supreme Court held that the poll tax discriminated on the basis of wealth in violation of the equal protection clause.51 Harman v. Forssenius, 380 U.S. 528, 538-40, 543-44 (1965); United States v. Texas, 252 F. Supp. 234, 238-45 (W.D. Tex.) (three-judge court), aff'd on other grounds, 384 U.S. 155 (1966).
2 H.R. Rep. No. 1821, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. 3, 5 (1962).
3 Breedlove v. Suttles, 302 U.S. 277 (1937); Saunders v. Wilkins, 152 F.2d 235 (4th Cir. 1945), cert. denied, 328 U.S. 870 (1946); Butler v. Thompson, 97 F. Supp. 17 (E.D. Va), aff'd, 341 U.S. 937 (1951).
4 Voting Rights Act of 1965, � 10, 79 Stat. 442, 42 U.S.C. � 1973h. For the results of actions instituted by the Attorney General under direction of this section, see United States v. Texas, 252 F. Supp. 234 (W.D. Tex.) (three-judge court). aff'd on other grounds, 384 U.S. 155 (1966); United States v. Alabama, 252 F. Supp. 95 (M.D. Ala. 1966) (three-judge court).In Harman v. Forssenius,6 the Court struck down a Virginia statute which eliminated the poll tax as an absolute qualification for voting in federal elections and gave federal voters the choice either of paying the tax or of filing a certificate of residence six months before the election. Viewing the latter requirement as imposing upon voters in federal elections an onerous procedural requirement which was not imposed on those who continued to pay the tax, the Court unanimously held the law to conflict with the new Amendment by penalizing those who chose to exercise a right guaranteed them by the Amendment.5 Harper v. Virginia State Bd. of Elections, 383 U.S. 663 (1966) (invalid discrimination based on wealth).6 380 U.S. 528 (1965).
- Lorielevine
What's even more exasperating (than secrecy and theft) is how poorly these people handle power! When it is suddenly foisted upon them they don't know whether to acknowledge it (the elephant in the room), shrug it off or ignore it. How many of them actually address issues openly and directly as human beings? They live in bubbles and the only human discourse is philisophical oration laced with jokes promises and humor. I really wish they had more positive charisma(at least). Ifeel violated as an individual. The issues are not problems that they will correct even on a human level, but inflated air baloons they use for their careers(which seemingly wouldn't exist were it not for problems they have no intention of truly correcting).
- Lorielevine
the world truly lives on credit. the only difference is that big shots and governments usually don't pay off their balances, like most people. Credit is money.
- Lorielevine
did you write that awesome poem????? It's pure poetry! have you read 77 dream songs by john berryman? he has one about the 4th… "while the dying man forgone by you creator is betrayed by you who forgives, cries "thomas jefferson still lives…invain in vain in vain….I am henry pussycat, my whiskers fly. Not the right words, but something like the ending of the poem.
- Lorielevine
you are a godsend in a confused inarticulate world. and being thus at least you are a pacifist (there are too many belligerent yet powerful and articulate people in this world)
- Art Baron
Dear Bill, We are so thrilled to have you back at this critical time. One thing just came to me the other day. The Supreme Court has granted all the rights of personhood to corporations. That is a given now, and one I hope comes down. But while we are saddled with this, how about the other aspect; along with the rights of being a citizen, then would't it follow that the corporations would have to follow the RESPONSIBILITIES of being a person? Doesn't it follow that in order for corporations to enjoy the rights of being a citizen of the USA, that they have to pay the responsibility of paying taxes? A corporation enjoying the rights of citizenship then has the responsibility of paying its fair share of taxes. How is this point missed?
They can no longer have it both ways. Pay up, corporations. No more loopholes, off-shore banks. PAY YOUR TAXES LIKE THE REST OF US. Thank you so much, Art Baron, NYC
- Simon
In your recent show with Ms. Shiva there was a comment fresh fruits and vegetables and food stamps. In Vermont, many farmers markets provide a service where a person can exchange food stamps for "currency" for shopping. At the end of the day, the farmer turns in the "currency" for cash. This program is supported by the state to ensure everyone can shop locally. Quick and easy solution.
- Azskye
I love your show – it's a favorite in our household – thank you for doing this service for our nation!! This week's show with Chris Hedges is a great example of your week-in and week-out excellence in reporting and critical thinking. I fear we may be too late to make significant change, but like others, cannot remain silent. Protest must continue — revolt may be necessary — but we cannot leave *this* country/world to our grandchildren. Our generation really screwed this up and we must take responsibility for change NOW! Your thoughtful voice continues to give us renewed strength and resolve!!
- Azskye
The Unions are the enemy?? I fail to follow your logic. Without unionized labor, our middle-class existence would not have happened. We have safer workplaces, pensions and insurance, better health and medical care, improved transportation and communication, etc., etc., thanks to unionized labor. Yes, they are not perfect, and need change, but we owe them much. If you are a regular viewer, then you should see how unionized labor pales in comparison to the bankers, wall street and general corporatized greed!!
- GuestToo
If Bill stopped ranting about what's wrong, who would be left? Every week Bill brings us new voices and perspectives that are critical to a well informed voter and citizen. Yes, it would be lovely if he had solutions handy too, but just because he doesn't, should not mean he should, instead, be quiet!! It's up to every person to be inspired by this show, and create thoughtful conversation and perhaps, also a solution.
Discussion must be kept alive and well for solutions to be birthed. We must also remember that failure is not an evil, but a learning tool that hones our resolve and approach to problem solving. Those who hold failure in contempt have feared of the trying, and are weakened by it. 'Tis better to try and fail … and keep trying!
- alex
The most powerful show on TV. I cant believe you are allowed to have a show. your lasts two interviews with Chris Hedges and Vandana Shiva brought tears to my eyes. I have never seen anyone EXPLAIN our times so clearly as they did. Thank you for your show and your commiment to help humanity.
- Herbert Pairitz
This is a letter to Bill Moyers as well as the general public. I have written a manuscript that has outlines what is wrong with our government and our economy and how to fix it. If the programs recommended were to be installed it would result in prosperity for the working-class citizens, so promoting the manuscript would be a service to the public. The first part of the manuscript is presented below for your review to determine it is worth your consideration. If Moyers and Company desires to present the entire manuscript to the public I will send it to them. If the readers want to view the remainder of the manuscript they can purchase it as a book from Amazon.com under the title of Fixing Our Government.
Section 1. What's Wrong With
In the last ten years we have experienced a
cultural degradation whereby businesses are no longer required to help the
American workers and have resorted to reducing their benefits and
sending their jobs overseas to the lowest bidder. With all of our resources we would be able to provide prosperity
to every citizen, but greedy big business investors chose not to let this
happen. The United States Government is
not serving all of the people as it should.
It is doing exceptionally well for the wealthy business investors, but
doing poorly for the working class citizens.
And why is this so? The wealthy
have the money to invest in their financial futures and assure themselves of
financial stability and they influence our government to their advantage. Most working class citizens have to depend
upon business owners providing them with a job whereby they can earn a living
wage to obtain the necessities of life and possibly a prosperous future. This struggle between the "haves"
and the "have-nots" goes way back to the age of the cave man. Back in
those days they didn't have a government but probably there were family members
that said that if someone is starving you should help them. Today we do have a government and I believe
it is the responsibility of our government to give assistance to those that are
in a weak financial condition. This
could be due to health problems, living circumstances or just a desire to avoid
working for a living. I believe our
government should assist them all, providing the loafer with only the bare
necessities of life. The creators of The Constitution of the United States
thought so when they wrote the preamble to" promote the general
welfare," which I believe is the underlying meaning of the whole
document. Unfortunately there are many
people in high government offices that don't believe in this idea and fight it,
with very little opposition from politicians, government office holders and the
news media. They found out that you
don't make much money by promoting the general welfare, you make it by
promoting the corporate welfare. Big
corporations do not have humane thoughts, just boards of directors who only
value their final profit line. A good
government should strive to insure that the working- class citizens get a fair
share of business profits and that the big corporations are not permitted to
exploit them and drive them into poverty.
If you want to make a lot of money you are less likely to get it from
the wealthy citizens or businesses. But
if you can extract just one dollar from each member of the working class by
some gimmick or scam you end up with about three hundred million dollars. The
easy way to make lots of money is to exploit the working class. The financial spread between the working
class and the wealthy in this country has increased greatly since the
regulation of businesses has been decreased. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics the lower 60% of households (which is the working class) possess
only 4% of the nation's wealth. This is
morally and economically wrong. This unbalance of wealth proves that the wealthy
people in this country are taking advantage of the working class people. The wealthy people have money that they will
never spend or need, yet some people do not have access to the bare necessities
of life. The members of the working class in America are not primarily the
victims of circumstances, coincidence or natural economic activities, but are
primarily the victims of a planned attack by the wealthy big business investors
and politicians who intentionally exploit them to satisfy their greed for
So why is our government
promoting corporate welfare and ignoring the promotion of the general
welfare? Everybody knows the answer,
but few people want to talk about it because if you do you lose your
contributions from big corporations to government office holders, politicians,
the news media and just about everyone else. Even The United States Supreme
Court ignored the general welfare in favor of corporate welfare when they
concluded that campaign contributions (a form of bribery) were a form of free
speech and should not be limited. This
further strengthened the control of big corporations over our government. That
brings us to the basic number one reason why Congress or the White House cannot
get any legislation passed to resolve our economic problems and many other
problems. Big corporation money has
completely corrupted our government and controls the operation of the
government. Currently most of the
members of Congress receive large campaign contributions from big
corporations. This money is intended to
be spent for the benefit of the individual members of Congress, so it is their
money to be used to keep them in office, maybe for life. Most of it probably pays for campaign
expenses, but it can also be used for making your wife a member of the campaign
at $100,000 a year, parties at a night club, personal court costs, etc. The rules are very flexible and they
certainly are not enforced. Politicians
and officeholders claim they are given this money because the donator likes
their ideology and wants to support it. However, if the politician or
officeholder reverses his or her ideology the money will be cut off and they
both know that, so it is a pure bribe. Another device employed by big business
investors to influence office holders is the threat of launching a negative
publicity campaign against any office holder that opposes their desires. We no longer have a democratic form of
government that is "ruled by the ruled," but have a plutocracy, which
is " ruled by money." Our government is corrupt, and so
are most politicians and both political parties and many office holders that
take bribes and favors from big corporations for complying with their wishes.
If you were a member of Congress would you pass a bill on complete campaign finance
reform where the taxpayers finance all campaigns or would you choose to receive
a slush fund of about five million dollars a year from big business to keep you
in office indefinitely? Most of the members of Congress have chosen the latter,
and the working class takes a big hit!
Government offices have been purchased by spending overwhelming amounts
of money on campaigns and it has been estimated that members of Congress now
spend over half of their minimal working hours on fundraising. There is no
recovery in sight until we take the money out of politics and the control
of our government is given back to the citizens.
- Roland West
In 1913, the US Congress passed the Federal Reserve Corp Act. The stock of this corp was sold to the wall street banks. These banks were bailed out using US taxpayers money. The book, The Secrets Of The Federal Reserve, by eustace Mullins, second printing 1984 published by Bankaers Research Institute, pages 34, 35, 173, 174, 179 contains information on these transactions. This book should be read by all taxpayers. The magazine, Mother Jones, Feb. 2010, article, Capital City, pages 37 through 43 contains information on the wall street bank mergers, and lists the top 10 politicians that received money from the wall street banks. Nine of the top 10 were democrats. Although we are told that republicans support the wall street banks. This book and magazine article should be read and a report and program be done by Bill moyers.
- Anonymous
Bill Moyers is one of the all time great interviewers – it is too bad his show is not required viewing by members of the House and Senate. I would love to see him do an interview that examines the difference between the pay and pensions for the senior executive suite of corporations like ford, gm. Boeing, etc versus that of the ordinary employees who are seeing their pay and pensions cut to support the high living senior people.
- Anonymous
What a great post – good to be reminded with facts about just how grotesque the efforts by faux Republicans to deprive people of their voting rights. Some voting rights organization should assemble a wall with photos and information about each person – starting with florida- told that their citizenship was suspect (91 year WWII hero born in Brooklyn) and required to spend time and money to clarify the situation. Each state doing this should have to post online and in public exactly what information they had that suggested that the people targeted were not citizens and if it was based on some 3rd party input – who exactly that 3rd party is – name and everything. No secret denunciations in this country.
- Anonymous
The real reason that we care at all about Afghanistan is because of Pakistan which has proven nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver them quite long distances. No one should think that taliban al queda types are stupid just because they are religious and political fanatics.
- Paul Booker
Bill. Thanks for being the voice of sanity. With the likes of Fox and other media outlets that mistakenly are referred to as news and not entertainment, you brighten my heart and mind with both information and hope that we Americans can find a way to step back from the abyss of violence and death that our culture is most adamantly pursuing. Please don't quit. We need you!
- David Jacquez
Hello Bill Moyers:
I though you had retired. Its great to know that you are still around and there is still a voice of reason and fair jornalism in this age where some many newspapers and television networks have sold out to greed.
David Jacquez
- Anonymous
I've been a progressive for a long time and had imagined that I had heard all the arguments, but this show consistently introduces me to new ways of looking at things and very interesting people.
- timpala
My view of our veterans was unexpectedly, yet conclusively, reversed within the span of a few sentences tonight by Karl Marlantes. Whereas I knew better than to jeer our returning troops for fear of political consequences, it is secretly what I've wanted to do. I actually thought military volunteers were entering service for all the wrong reasons — financial or social desperation, bravado, military breeding — and did not deserve high praise for their commitment to fighting our battles (OUR being the operative word). It's been a surprisingly emotional wake-up call…if young men are actually enlisting for my suspected reasons it is on us…not them. Cheering those combat veterans is a mindless activity. Solemn, respectful support is what is owed them, especially those who pretend to still lust after the violence of war.
- Fran
We always tune in to your show and the interesting guests. Thank you.
May I mention that I appreciate that the camera is still and not moving around the stage as before. It makes me dizzy and I find concentration difficult when the camera moves around.
- Dave Kay
There aren't words to express my admiration for Bill Moyers. His dogged pursuit to open the eyes of the people to the fact that the "Roman Empire is crumbling" is inspiring.
However, he must be utterly discouraged. I get discouraged watching his weekly "expose". He has to live it everyday! How does he do it???
"Change it with your vote", it is said. That is a mere platitude. Vote for who? Vote for which criminal? Even if a good man were to get into the presidency or congress, they are helpless against the machinery. And it is only a matter of time before the most scrupulous are corrupted.
Witness our current president. He was not raised in the machinery. He came from humble backgrounds. He wasn't in congress long enough to get fully corrupted, and he has high ideals for what is truly right. But he was quickly beat into submission. He then had turn to the power people to "potentially keep his job. Ergo, the scrupulous get corrupted.
Is there really an answer?
Rome is falling, and the privileged few will gain the spoils.
Even if we got 435 Bill Moyer's into congress and a 100 more in the Senate, kicked out all the corporate lobbyist, it would still take another 100 years to undo the tangled web the lawyers, lobbyist, and the self-serving politicians have wove.
Regardless, I'd like to see Bill Moyers sitting in the oval office for just ONE TERM, just long enough to turn the capitol upside down and shake out all the corruption.
Bill, will you do it ? ? ? ! ! !
- HypatiaX
Bill, Regarding Moyers & Company interview with Marine Vietnam Vet…Why not ask the fundamental question: Why War?' It is important to hear how one man's life was destroyed by his need to kill or be killed, but the fundamental question must be addressed: Why War?'
Foucault identified the objective of 'defining' others as different, which then allows the powers that be, to target them in ways that are unjust – Nazi vs. Jews and Romany, US colonists vs. Native Americans, etc…ad nauseum… War mongers do the same thing…Why is it that American values evaporate one we cross our frontier?
Plese see my note below on the same theme: Humanity and Respect below:
Subject: Humanity and Respect…
Date: May 28, 2012 8:05:41 AM PDT
To: email@example.com
Memorial Day Concert cancelled due to storm. It was sad to see that happen, yet, somehow, it was a relief from all the grief: the result of old men sending young men to war.
Wait a minute? If we are all human beings on Planet Earth, surely it is time to change our thinking to match that reality.
I wish we could all begin to think 'outside the box'…of one's country…dying for one's country…and think rather in terms of being 'Earthlings'…living together on Planet Earth…
'How can we work together…help each other?' Rather than, 'Accept my ideas of how the world should be…or I will kill you!' The latter being little better than that of all the murderous dictators of the past and the present…In destroying others, we destroy ourselves.
We are all citizens of Planet Earth, not just of a particular geographical area, with particular cultural practices, each deserving of respect.
What if we all undertook an exercise in defining what the idea of respect might mean in actual practice? And then, further undertake the continuous task of translating 'respect' into our cultural, social and interpersonal behaviors? Let the huge US military apparatus lead the way?
Just look at what the United States did in rescuing the blind Chinese so-called dissident – there is a beginning of the notion of respect in practice. We have so much more to do…Let us not waste a minute…I suggest that next year's Memorial Day Concert be conducted around the theme of 'Respect.' Respect for ourselves, for the other.. for Planet Earth, and all its inhabitants, human and animal It calls on the best in humanity: generosity and kindness. War, on the other hand, brings forth the worst…Just look at the atrocities committed – of which we are rightly ashamed…I do not need to name them…
What contribution can we make during our short lives on earth? Can we not begin to harbor the thoughts, the thinking that will allow us to move beyond power and force, to truly institute values of love and respect in our daily lives. If we did so, we could change the world and in doing so, change ourselves, irrevocably.
PS Am posting this here…as can't seem to post it elsewhere on your sites? Sorry…
- falcon
On What's it like to go to War – great insight into the topic too bad he didn't have more time and could be less PC … many items were missed like putting it down on our own troops and the friendly fire issues – I know I was ordered to put it down and killed some of our own – try living with that ! (remember we also saved a lot of lives as well because of this action) also today we have an all volunteer Military and we should tell our sons and daughters that by definition they are classified as Mercenaries i.e. professional soldiers that in some cases Kill for a Living otherwise support the killers – in Nam we were Patriots and drafted against our will (70% of the time as unlike WWII most did not support the involvement).
This is a BIG distinction between Nam and Today's Military troops – not to mention all the material support, and great benefits today's troops get to join and retain their services.
I have no reservation saying that if today's troops were treated like our Viet Nam Military were – recruitment would be down to near nothing even with the dismal job market.
Dose of reality for discussion from someone that was THERE!
- ryanson
I wish every American watched mr. moyers interview of mr. marlantes.In particular the people who run this country.i doubt we would be going to war so easily.One young man was on his seventh tour in afghanistan.this is criminal.Just another example of how broken we are a s a country
I am sooooooo calmed when I watch you and your show. I wish you were our president! A voice of reason and perspective! Please continue doing what you do best and never give up!
- Catherine67
Great show with Karl Marlantes, and yes, our service men deserve 'good' healthcare. It would be wonderful if you would investigate and do a segment on the actual care our service men are getting or are trying to get. Interview those that have been required to use it for their service related injuries. Now that would be interesting.
- David Crooks
Love your program; been watching Moyers shows regularly since mid-1980s, and have loved them all. He even persuades my wife and I to contribute to our public TV station regularly, both when we lived on the east coast and since coming Arizona. Only other show on TV that approaches it in quality is CNN's Fareed Zakaria.
- http://twitter.com/janedarle Darla Jane Treat
Thank you Bill, for coming back to us. Your voice and your guests voice really need to be heard. I watch you today about voter id and wanted to share my story. I moved from Texas to Indiana in 2005 to care for my father. In 1997 I divorced and changed my name through my divorce decree. It is an AKA. At the time, in Texas, social security, my employer, DMV, credit cards, etc., accepted this change. Indiana did not accept my Texas ID.or my vehicle registration. To switch, Indiana wanted my "original" birth certificate, marriage licence, divorce decree. Born in Michigan, they would not give me my birth certificate because my ID did not match the name of my birth certificate. Luckily, Mom was still alive and I was able to get it through her. Also, luckily, I had a decent job and was able to afford the costs of originals of all these documents. The fact that Indiana would not accept a Texas ID baffled me. I attributed it to 9/11 at the time, but now I know better. I am a white female. I can only imagine what the poor, elderly and minorities are going through. It saddens me. I am a Navy veteran of 10 years and USPS postal employee (now retired), and none of that made a difference. i always thought of myself as a proud American citizen, a patriot, and that is all fading in these changing times.
- Lake Carlson
I watched your show on Voter Identification Laws (8/3/12) and I kept wating for the other side of the argument. How can you spend an entire show on an isssue of such importance and never once offer the other side of the issue. It's impossible to have a meaning full conversation without an opposing viewpoint and its value is neither newsworthy nor truthfully informative.
- Pat Davidson
Anthony Baxter missed the mark with "Trumped (sic)…". And Bill Moyers was less than sharp by letting this interview go with no mention or outrage toward the local Scots who backed Trump. Who were these men/women? What are their names, how did they conspire to get Trump everything he wanted, why were they not named, exposed, questioned, listed as some of Scotland's anti-heroes???? We couldn't (my husband and I) believe that such effort and talent went into this film and then such prominent exposure given by BM to this disgrace and NOTHING was brought home about the real people behind this destruction. Locals, mayors, officials, even THE QUEEN, must have had some input. Were they all bought? Seems so! The shame is not Donald's but THEIRS! Next time, let's hear about the living, breathing 1% of idle rich Scots who put their greed ahead of their land. Shame them! Name them! Document them!! PLEASE. Trump doesn't
- snagger
voter suppression? you mean like what obama is doing in ohio with the military vote?your selective outrage is disturbing Bill
- Jay R Smith
I was recently channel surfing and saw Mr. Moyer's interview with Keesha Gaskins and Michael Waldman on how difficult it is for some American's to vote. As if voting laws are somehow disenfranchising them? LOL…..it's called (Get an ID) Is that really that hard? C'mon! I'm not buying that rubbish for a minute. I would assume they are talking about some of the same folks who have no problem obtaining food stamps or government assistance of some sort? I wouldn't even know the first place to start with that and I'm not rich. But I do have an ID. I even needed it to return a Christmas gift to Best Buy this past year. Wow! Really? I think Ms. Gaskins and Mr. Waldman could really find something more productive to do with their time. In the spirit of fairness, I think we as American's would all want free and fair elections. Not multiple votes by individuals or those that somehow return eerily from the dead to vote for their favorite Democrat. ID to vote vs ID to return a Christmas gift. Hmmmph.
- Jared
.I am watching your show on immigration, which generates controversy 24/7 in the U.S. Have you found anyone willing to talk about what is being done in Mexico to create development and opportunity for its' own citizens?
Mexico is repuited to have tremendous resources
- aiti aiti
I would like for Bill to have someone on to discuss the Tran-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. I am concerned that there has been no news regarding the secret Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement on Morning Edition nor on All Things Considered. I understand that major corporations are writing the agreement. When I called my Senators the persons who answered the phone knew nothing about it.
I do not understand how a trade agreement that is going to include so many countries and is being written by corporations is not generating any news articles or information regarding what it contains. I am curious regarding what exactly it contains and why my Senators staff are not familiar with it.
From the little I have read about it, it is not going to provide jobs for the citizens of the US. nor will we have any right to protect our environment from foreign corporations who decide to come to the US.
- Artelle
Who do you trust? For my parents generation it was Walter Cronkite. For me it has been Bill Moyers ever since he introduced me to Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth. I was elated when Moyers and Company made its appearance on PBS and I follow closely all of the subjects. Where else, I thought, can I be directed with reasonable assurance through the tangle of extremist rhetoric blasted at me through the media.
A list of suggested reading on BillMoyers.com appeared about the same time the authors of Reckless Endangerment and Winner Take All Politics were interviewed. I took seriously the need to be an informed citizen and I purchased eight of the books, which included these two and also Age of Greed, Shock Doctrine, This Changes Everything, Corporations Are Not People and Democracy, Inc. I've read all of them and I am now embarking on Throw Them All Out.
This last book has me befuddled. It is beginning to sound alarmist and not informative but decidedly biased. So, I decided to take a look for commentaries on the internet. I've come upon MediaMatters for America. An article titled "Throw It All Out: Schweizer's DOE claims rest on Bad Math." This has me wondering; was this suggested reading thrown in to appease conservative viewership? Have the other books I've read been offered to appease the left?
Am I informed or am I a molded mind? Who can I trust Bill?
- Eleanor Telemaque
Fantastic program and tremendous work by your editors to give your program the best and most honest analysis of today's events for all ages, including old fogies like me born in the radio age and computer illiterate
- Björn Lindgren
Dear Bill Moyers,
I hope you are well and ok.
First, many, many thanks for the excellent way you interview people.
The way you do it is warm, compassionate, curious, and faithful to
deep values, norms, goals, and good hypothesis about reality. In
search for and insistance on the truth, satyyagraha.
Second, the late Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess has written
Ecology, Community and Lifestyle, Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge 1989. One of the most important books I´ve ever read.
And I have read many books.
Naess´ book is extremely relevant and valueable. By looking deeply
into our norms and values, he writes and reflects about our place in
space, gemeinschaft, and the future in a long – long! – perspective:
With a minimum of effort, we should achieve a maximum
of satisfaction and joy. But we do the opposite!
Maybe, there is a point in interviewing one of his colleagues and friends,
(Bill Devall or and George Sessions)?
Warm regards
Björn Lindgren
PS: Pushing back "economists", military, and (Christian) Fascists is,
indeed, a compassionate and blessed work.
Björn Lindgren
- Duane Strickland
I just recently found your podcasts. I have downloaded all that are available and am listening to them on my long commute to work. Thanks for coming back. You are very much needed in these difficult times..
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1298105599 Chris Peterson
Mr Moyers: I just finished watching your program about the Nuns on the Bus, and while I understand that Robert Royal was there to provide a counterpoint to Sister Simone, I'm disappointed that some of Mr Royal's assertions were not challenged. For example (paraphrasing):
> "churches built sanctuaries, schools and hospitals without government funding" – not true, because churches are exempt from property tax, and donations made to churches are tax deductible by those who make them.
> "50% of the people pay no taxes" – this is a conservative talking point, and it's incorrect. The poorest among us pay no federal income tax, but they pay payroll taxes, state taxes, property taxes (directly or indirectly) and sales tax. That's a far cry from "pay no taxes."
> "the wealthiest people pay 70% of taxes" – this makes the wealthy sound magnanimous, but it's a function of what they earn. If I earn 10 times more than you, I'm going to pay a lot more tax than you, unless I'm gaming the system. The income gap is so great that it should surprise no one that the wealthy pay a large portion of tax revenue, and, as Sister Simone pointed out, a lot of wealthy people pay a lower effective rate than those in the middle class.
> Mr Royal spoke of Europe's current economic woes without noting that they stem, at least in part, from the kind of austerity programs that he seems to support, and which the United States has not yet adopted.
> "Does Paul Ryan look like the kind of man who would [hurt people]?" – a patently absurd question that deserved laughter, if not contempt.
I doubt that challenging these assertions would have changed Mr Royal's mind (he seems fairly well rooted in libertarianism) but letting them go gives them credibility they don't deserve, and with the greatest of respect, Mr Moyers, I expect better from your program.
- Joe J.
I was a bit surprised to see someone like Robert Royal on the show tonight. Not because of what he said, but because of how he said it. Perfect authenticity. Smug, selfish, condescending ideas presented in a smug, selfish, and condescending manner. And to a nun no less. It is refreshing to see a lobbyist unapologetically act in a way that represents his ideals. He was the best possible support for Sister Simone's argument.
- LNelson
That is what Moyers does best.. discusses the liberal point of view… His old boss LBJ got elected in Texas by counting the dead….Chicago voting has a history of being very corrupt.. Old man Daly helped JFK carry Illinois buy creative accounting of votes..
- LNelson
The program was all about condemning the Ryan budget when in fact Romney has his own ideas about his own budget.. The nun put false fear the viewers minds.. I ask is that Christian?? She acted like mankind was going to suffer because of Ryan's budget which is not going to be activated.. He is not on the top of the ticket.. Moyers got his scare tactics accomplished… again the Romney ticket.. There was not discussion about Obama's plan… Because he has not told us of one.. Just letting Medicare go broke without a plan to save it. Is that leadership
- Steven
One thing that was overlooked on the "Nuns On A Bus" program was that the conservative policies have been done before with disasterous results.
- Steven
One thing I meant to mention. Many people who have been disappointed with Obama are wondering whether they should vote in November.
But, surveys are showing that the Republicans have a chance of taking the Senate while retaining control of the House. In that case, if Romney/Ryan gets elected, it will give the Republicans, once again, control of all three branches of government.
Considering what happend last time, do we want a repeat? Do we want Ryan's radical agenda imposed on the nation? For, there will be no one in government to say no!
- LNelson
Steve, you speak about what happened last time.. Are you referring to the repealing GlassSeagel by Clinton which allowed commerical banks to operate like invest banks… fast & lose… coupled together with the deregulation of the commodities market by Robert Rubin; Larry Sumner; Allen Greenspan & Chris Dodd, who stated the market would "regulate" itself.. How did that work out with the credit default swaps; direvitives; & hedge funds????? Yes the last time with clinton & the present time with a failed administration is something this nation does not want to go forward with unless you like to Greece economy.
- Mary Ann
Thank you for the excellent program "Nuns, Faith, and Politics". It showed that not all Catholics agree on various issues, that there are thoughtful and substantive and faith-based disagreements. It was the kind of civil discussion that we need to see more of in this contentious and partisan election-year environment. It also showed that Catholics are not a solid voting block. and should not be thought of in such a simplistic way. Please keep up the good work!
- http://www.facebook.com/pennyfickle Betty Douthitt
Robert Royal doesn't know what he is talking about. He is out of touch with the working USA Citizen. I am 55 years old. I have worked since I was 16 years old. I was a single parent at age 21. I have never received any assistance from any State or Federal Governmental agency. My wages have always been taxed by the Federal Government automatically deducting Income Taxes, Social Security Taxes, Medicaid and more. The state where I live has State Sales Taxes and the community where I live has local sales taxes that I pay. My current net income barely pays my mortgage, utility bills, homeowners and auto insurance responsibilities, cost of gasoline for my daily commute to my job, food and necessities. My utility bills are lower than most people I know and I am very conservative. Costs of the aforementioned items have enourmously increased over the last 20 years while my income has not risen to even come close to keep up with the rise in the cost of living. Does Robert Royal actually realize the differences in the stagnation of the rise in wages compared to the enourmous increases in the costs of food, gasoline, Medical Costs, Auto and Homeowners Insurance, Medical Care and other necessities people have? Twenty years ago I could pay rent or mortgage, car payment, Child Care expenses, utilities, buy food, necessities, pay auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and other necessities and I lived significantly better than I do now. I have no savings for retirement, therefore I feel I am in a position where I will have to work until the day I die. Because, even after having Social Security taxes deducted from my income for the last 40 years, the Trustees of the Social Security Admin. believe that Social Security will be bankrupt before I reach the qualifying age to receive any benefits from my lifetime of contributions. I believe that the US Governemt that was supposed to be, "Of the People, By the People, and for the People", is bankrupting the working people and working for the Big Banks/Wall Street, Insurance Companies, large Corporations and taking care of themselves giving themselves pay increases, making sure they have plenty of money for retirment and Medical Benefits. The people we elect to offices in Congress, the House of Representatives and the Presidency only care about making sure that the Taxpayers pay tax dollars while they wastefully spend it.
- Tony Marvin,
I wish you'd asked Robert Royal how much money he'd need to live on
- Adele in Clarkston WA
I just saw the show featuring Nuns on the Bus and want to extend my suport to those women for their outstanding activism; to the priest who runs Faith and Reason, I find much less reason than I found the usual "don't let government run social policy". His comment that there is no free lunch hit a real sore spot with me as I have just finished reading "Free Lunch" about how the policies that are enacted by senators and representatives many times written for them by corporations/lobbists provides them with so much of an advantage that social justice is greatly weighed in their favor. Thank you Bill Moyers for your tremendous contribution in getting people information that is essential for our knowledge of how our country is operating.
- http://www.facebook.com/pepe.soria Pepe Soria
Dear Mr Moyers, on the show you did with the nun and the conservative, I. Believe that many of the numbers he was using were inaccurate. I wish you would have asked him to support his assertions. He parroted right-wing talking points, and you were the mechanism by which he achieved this.
- Steven
In particular, I was referring to the period under George W. Bush.
However, as far as Clinton is concerned, I consider his administration a failed one, an era of false prosperity, like that of the 1920's. Clinton, with the help of the Republicans built upon the foundation laid by Ronald Reagan, a foundation that was the beginning of policies that lead to the current economic collapse.
As has been pointed out by Mr. Moyers before, the monied interests have bought our government to the point that the same policies continue no matter who is in power. Yet, a Republican three branch government will hasten the end through no checks on an extreme agenda.
- Steven
In particular, I was referring to the period under George W. Bush.
However, as far as Clinton is concerned, I consider his administration a failed one, and era of false prosperity, like that of the 1920's. Clinton, with the help of the Republicans built upon the foundation laid by Ronald Reagan, a foundation that was the beginning of policies that lead to the current economic collapse.
As has been pointed out by Mr. Moyers before, the monied interests have bought our government to the point that the same policies continue no matter who is in power. Yet, a Republican three branch government will hasten the end through no checks on an extreme agenda.
Please excuse if this is posted twice, it seems my first attempt did not take.
- Paul Wortman
I found Robert Royal VERY irritating. He's not an economist (nor am I), but he kept making economic pronouncements supposedly from some vague place of faith. What he and others have missed is the great political unraveling over the last century as the Rooseveltian works to create a more equitable and just and viable society through Teddy's progressive income tax and trust busting, and Franklin's social security, Glass-Steagall, and home refinance programs have been chipped away by conservative Republicans and some Democrats like Bill Clinton to the point where there is once again a huge economic and social imbalance. We need to restore the balance by restoring the policies that have been dismantled–a more progressive income tax, a new Glass-Steagall to separate and regulate investment banks, a new home refinance program like the New Deal, and an increase in the minimum wage. Royal harped on it being too "complex" and the need for local action, BUT the great unraveling is the main problem and that has occurred mostly at the federal level. Deregulation under a misguided view of laissez-faire, free market capitalism has ignored history and pushed us once again into the endless "boom and bust" cycles that plagued our country in the 19th century, culminating in the Great Depression of the 1930's Unfortunately, that generation has passed away and collective memory seems to have passed away with it.
- http://www.facebook.com/buddy.james.332 Buddy James
New York Bankers and the FDIC, how can we get away from them. What if Mitt has a legitimate point. Don't do business with them. Off shore accounts are a legitimate option aren't they? Discover the possibilities.
- firstname.lastname@example.com
Having lived on a kibbutz for a few years, I was able to see both socialism and capitalism exist cooperatively. Big business is an activity that supports the general society, and government supports both. In the US unfortunately, people are almost "systematically" alienated from their true needs, in order to be "regulated" into a Pavlovian plan of "fetch(a paying job)" and "retrieve(bring home the wages and pay your bills)". Their only alternative is jail or homelessness.
- http://www.facebook.com/katina.jordan.9 Katina Jordan
Sensational shows….you're a national treasure and you're guests are FANTASTIC! GOD BLESS!!
- Roberta
People need to realize that President Obama's hEALTH cARE has given millions opportunities that they would not have especially for their children. It is my opinon that the Republicans would rather destroy America than to really practice democracy. I also think if Romney and Ryan get elected, anarchy and civil war might occur. The way Presidemt Obama has been called names and disrespected also shows that racism is
very much alive today. I think the Nuns have the best idea that everybody work together
as the Christian Nation founded by the Pilgrims in1620.
- Mike
This reverts back to the Nuns/Bus program, which we'd recorded and only tonight had the chance to watch. Joe J. and Chris Peterson, below, are on target. I'll add that they were too kind to Robert Royal, who misses the points, not only of Catholic social teaching, but of what poverty, hunger, and medical need mean, both to the poor, hungry, and needy and to the society that inadequately responds to them. His notion of economics seems simplistic–even simple-minded–and he gave no evidence that he has even a simplistic concept of social justice. He should (try to) read, e.g., Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz, who (however ironically) show far better what actual Christian economic thought and social practice should and could be than the egregious Paul Ryan, who, on his own admission, was primarily influenced, not by any Christian/Catholic social teaching, but by Atlas Shrugged. On what that means, see Krugman, especially his column, Galt, Gold and God.
- LNelson
You are deaf to the false charges against Mr Romney.. He's been called a felon; he has been called a murderer of someone who is not even connected to Mr Romney Ops.. that OK because liberal can play dirty but don't like a conservative anything negative.. We dare not mention "Chicago" because your proprganda network NBC stated that was racist.. It appears all white conservatives are racist
- ACousin
Dear Mr. Moyer
Please dedicate yourself to ensure your insightful voice of reason will speak out and inform us throughout the turmoil that is surely upon our doorstep. This may sound somewhat omnious, but history will repeat itself. We can slip into chaos very quickly and the world stage is fraught with potential trip wires. It appears that informed, temperate political governance has given way to the base forces of money and power. and the public has given up thier political responsibilities for theatre and spectical. Rome is burning.
The party is over…and Mike Lofgren has given us an insiders clarity of the rot that is festering in the body politic.
Like him, we ernestly hope that somehow this will all right itself – but remain deeply concerned that the battle lines are being drawn…and the people will be sacrificed…America needs a new vision….go back to the Declaration of Independance and enshrine the ideals…She has the heart of greatness…don't let the dream get hijacked…we need you to be a strong partner on this planet as we move into the future.
- Gail O'Leary
I am not fooled by the Republican message not the Democratic plan of tax and spend. I AM JUST A VOTER TRYING TO FIND THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS. If I vote for Romney, it doesn't mean I have been duped by Reed. If I vote Democratic it does not mean that I am pleased with Obama's performance. I have not heard one plan to get us out of 15 trillion debt. Most of your shows are informative but sometimes you just fan the flame of hate between both parties. My vote for the last 5 elections have been cast with doubts and without enthusiasm. I want facts not slogans about candidates. I would like a position paper with definite ideas from each candidate. Why do elections use emotional rhetoric? Do they think I vote with my emotions?
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Ned-Smith/100000172127034 Ned Smith
How can I vote for someone who has reneged on every promise he made in '08 and has proposed nothing of substance in his acceptance speech. Not one single word on how he proposes to deal with – the unemployment crisis, the energy crisis, the budget crisis, a bloated defense budget, the war on drugs fiasco, the failure of our educational system. And that's just for starters. The Pragmatist in Chief has no political philosophy – doing "whatever works" will not lead this country out of the crisis we're in.
- lakshmi
I am tired of hearing about the safety net. Why do people need help from taxpayers? It is because a person who works hard does not make enough to meet their basic needs, such as rent, food, health care etc. The minimum wage is not a living wage!!! In other words, the government allows businesses to pay low wages and makes up the deficit by giving Food Stamps, Medicaid and Earned Income Credit. These programs are a subsidy to businesses and not a hand out to citizens.
Why don't people like you talk about the cause of poverty including bad environment , inadequate education and low wages?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001557595834 Rose Rohal
It is my understanding the Walmart Family is the richest in the world. I understand that they pay their employees minimum wage and PASS OUT FOOD STAMP APPLICATIONS to new employees. THIS IS A DISGRACE!!!!! When taxpayers are funding the food stamps.
- mary franzese
Great show ,l Learned a lot of information.
Thank You , Mary Franzese
- Johrio
Thank you Bill for the wonderful work you are doing. You bring people and issues to light that aren't getting covered in the mainstream media. You touch my heart and mind and I am grateful.
- Lynne Gray
I listened to your Q&A with Bernie Sanders today and must say I'm still puzzled about who to vote for. It's definitely between Pres. Obama and Jill Stein, however, I'm so disappointed in his performance as Pres. Yet Bernie makes a point that we need to keep the radical right out of the White House and work later to energize the masses — a populist movement that I long ago endorsed. It seems that the country's timing and my timing are quite different. I thought that is what we elected Pres. Obama for–but no, not yet. The question is when? I may be 6 ft under by the time it occurs. Thanks for all your great shows and thoughtfulness.
- Dean Kisling
Republican bullies vs Democrat weasels. Darwin vs Yahweh. Sex, lies, and politics. Bad language, bad faith, and bad actors. All your favorite cocktail party topics. An invitation to both conservatives and liberals to use their brains to recover democracy. wp.me/2JT3v
- Jan White
I think the flaw of Anthony Scallia and the other originalists on the Supreme Court is that they treat the US Constitution fundamentally as an experiment, and, as such, one that may either ultimately succeed or fail, it really isn't up to them which. Their job, in other words, is merely to interpret it theoretically as it was intended in the eyes of the original framers, as seen in their day and time. And if America falls apart as a result of their intellectual pastime, then so be it. They fail to realize that they are charged not with theorizing, but with ensuring that the Constitution succeeds, and that it must in fact succeed at all costs for all our sakes. Thereby, by playing theorists, they shirk their most basic duty as Supreme Court justices. Scallia, for example, can write the most obtuse law books endlessly discussing the most subtle points of law, yet he fails to realize that what he does on the Court is an everyday make or break test for America. The future and success of America are not merely theoreticals that should be taken for granted by any of the intellectuals on the Supreme Court.
- Jan White
Is the Constitution merely an experiment to the originalists?
I think the flaw of Antonin Scalia and the other originalists on the Supreme Court is that they treat the US Constitution fundamentally as an experiment, and, as such, one that may either ultimately succeed or fail, it really isn't up to them which. Their job, in other words, is merely to interpret it theoretically as it was intended in the eyes of the original framers, as seen in their day and time. And if America falls apart as a result of their intellectual pastime, then so be it. They fail to realize that they are charged not with theorizing, but with ensuring that the Constitution succeeds, and that it must in fact succeed at all costs for all our sakes. By playing theorists only, they shirk their most basic duty as Supreme Court justices. Scalia, for example, can write the most obtuse law books endlessly discussing the most subtle points of law, yet he fails to realize that what he does on the Court is an everyday make or break test for America. The future and success of America are not merely theoreticals that should be taken for granted by any of the intellectuals on the Supreme Court.
- Andrew Mills
Dear Bill,
I'm hoping you might have heard that the "9/11: Explosive Evidence – Experts Speak Out" video has, for the last ten days, been the FIRST most watched and FIRST most shared video on the national PBS website. I invite you to take time to view this excellent film at http://video.pbs.org/.
Andrew Mills
Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002
- M. Cox, retired
I don't know if this is the right forum, but it's one of the few I access – even when I was a Republican, I admired Bill Moyers. I recently received an email I think all of you should think about – I hope many of you have already received the same email – Warren Buffet's suggestion for breaking the Congressional 'logjam': Congressional Reform Act of 2012. Find it, think about it and pass it on
- George T. Karnezis
I've been grateful in the past for the presence of Kathleen Jamieson on the program; however, her last appearance (9/30) was less than rigorous and too often filled with sanctimonious platitudes. For me the worst moment was when she committed the ultimate verbal sin of using the word "entitlements" erroneously. She did this when she said that both candidates had to come clean about the possibility of "raising the entitlement age."
Huh? How can someone as smart at Jamieson fall into the stupid habit of referring to social security payments as "entitlements," a word that is used disparagingly by conservatives to designate unearned and undeserved income. Surely she knows that social security is no such "entitlement," but a program that has been paid for; and mindlessly designating it as an "entitlement" only furthers ignorance, and promotes the conservative belief that "liberals" want something for nothing. Surely someone who has studied language as carefully as Jamieson should not fall into such linguistic traps.
The other low point in her "analysis" was her general respect for the presidential "debates" as somehow being the means for sorting out the truth. Instead of acknowledging that the debates, as conducted, were merely a series of speech prompts, not an occasion for real dialogue, she missed the opportunity to dwell meaningfully on her hint that the quality of the debates depended on human agents, namely, the "moderators" and those chosen as questioners (who, curiously, are always media people, never college professors or, like her, those who have some insight into the language and technique of argument i.e. rhetoricians.) How true! But do these human agents ever really help to deepen the discussion? Hardly. The moderator's role seems to be to "manage" the event by keeping time and the questioners just offer predictable speech prompts that merely enable stale talking point recitation. No questioner, much less any moderator, is capable of approaching a level of Socratic questioning and Jamieson, instead of trusting to the magic of "the debates" to separate truth from rubbish, needed to go into greater detail about just what a good moderator would do to deepen the discussion and challenge the candidates, not merely manage the event. In short, she needs to show us us how they need to be active participants in the discussion and, at times, real referees when it comes to "truth" claims on either side. (Consider an example from the UK: Jeremy Paxton was interviewing an MP and when he didn't receive an adequate answer to one question, he simply kept repeating it back to him…He did so numerous times. Can you imagine any moderator or interviewer during a debate doing that?)
I would have appreciated some effort on Jamieson's part to analyze the strengths and, for me, the obvious weaknesses of this telegenic debate format and the often disappointing performances of both the moderators and the questioners. Instead, Jamieson offered "insight" into a couple of campaign ads, one that pretty much could be arrived at by most politically astute middle school students.
Again, while in the past I have cheered Jamieson's commentary, this show left me stunned by what seemed to me a distinctly mediocre performance with entirely too many sanctimonious jibes at journalism's obvious failures which she believes can be remedied. But the fact is that these journalists, and many of the so-called communications consultants and "experts" (many of whom I'm sure are graduates of communications' programs) have done little if anything to raise the level of public discourse or change the routine means we have for tuning into candidates' positions.
The fact that so much of the program's time was spent on reshowing and "analyzing" a couple of ads was particularly disappointing.
Finally, as for Jamieson's faith in Americans' analytical abilities and decision-making skills (oh, yes, as evidenced, according to Jamieson, by their consulting medical experts when they've got a serious illness — a fatuous analogy at best; yeah, everyone agrees also that Americans will rationally choose a mechanic when their car ails, but that's hardly evidence that they favor facts when it comes to arguing policy or values questions) —- it would be interesting to have a show where Jamieson and Professor Drew Westen, author of THE POLITICAL BRAIN, had a conversation of what influences peoples' thinking when it comes to choosing those it is entrusting to govern them.
- Barry Buchanan
I always enjoy watching Bill Moyers & Co. Our politicians won't answer the question when challenged to defend bigotted, xenophobic, intolerant, repressive, inconvenient or elitest policy positions. The core Republican Party from Lincoln to Romney advocates the interest of Privileged White Protestant Old-School Men. This is the meaning of Conservatism, a 19th century theory of social organization rooted in the demographic facts of post Civil War America. The Democrats are less worse, responding to the demography of post World War II America. Harvard is the school for Democrats; Republicans go to Yale. Our common interest, the well of good government policy, should look forward to the demography of the 21st Century, diverse in culture, dense in population, and limited in physical resources.
I love your program, but why not just tell the people of the world that Mother Nature/God gave us different skin color to protect us: England: white, Equator: black, etc. This should be taught in grade school, but tonight, I wished you had said it! Thanks for doing
what you do. RLF
Mr. Moyers: I really enjoyed Sunday's segment with Ms Salinas and Mr. Ramos. Impressive–two reallly articulate journalists. I am an American–of Spanish descent–Hispano, not Latino. I want to stress that I in no way object to any person coming to the United States–after all, our country is a melting pot–so diverse with so many interesting peoples and their cultures and wonderful foods. However, to what I do object are people who come here illegally, who get paid under the table, don't pay taxes, and send their money back to their countries. I have friends in the medical profession who have told me that there are unwed young women (one was 16 years old) having babies almost every year, In one case, during the discharge instructions, the young woman's mother was asking when the hospital was going to give them a car seat–gutsy, ay? Not only are they demanding but feel they're entitled. I've also heard them say that they have no desire to become citizens. So I say to those people, if you don't want to come here legally and become an American citizen with two passports (like Mr. Ramos), then stay in your own country and quit trashing and disrespecting our cities by hanging out your laundry and your mattresses on the chain link fences.
If Romeny has oversea's money, which country is he claiming… how can someone who owns overseas property, as well as have so much money overseas, say they are an american. I Presidents residents, has his money, belongs, is 100 percent an American.
- http://twitter.com/senuv1 Joseph Elliott
President Obama endorsed Senator Feinstein's Bill to repeal the Federal Law which states that Marriage is between a man and a woman. President Obama stated before he was elected that marriage is between a man and a woman. He has now changed his mind. President Obama swore on the Bible that He would defend the laws of the USA. He has broken that promise twice. He refused to defend the law when a gay couple where asking for their federal rights. He refused to defend the Immigration Laws in a respectable manner. He had promised to act on immigration reform in his first year of office. He had Democratic control of congress at that time. His excuse for not acting is I was too busy with economic recovery. He did have enough time to repeal the Don't ask, Don't tell policy. He decided after three years of his Presidency to finally help the people who where brought here illegally by their parents. While I agree that these people should be respected as any other citizen, I disagree with the President's method of assuming more power than Congress or the Courts. Senator Feinstein is not representing the majority of Californians who passed Proposition 8. Governor Brown refused to defend Proposition 8, which was his Sworn Duty. The courts have decided proposition 8 is unconstitutional and that expert witnesses are more reliable than the Majority Vote of the State of California. We the People, the Majority, are no longer being represented by our Representatives or the Courts. We the People have a clear choice this November. We can vote for Democrats who endorse abortion, contraception, and abnormal families or vote for Republicans who believe in promoting normal families and natural birth control. Please send copies of this to everyone.
- Thomas I. Ellis
Dear Bill–
You are by far the finest, most honest, intelligent, and decent journalist we have in the nation right now, and probably the best we have ever had. At present, you are the only source of truth left on television. If Romney and Ryan win (or steal) the election, we will probably lose PBS, and at that moment, the ideal of free inquiry in our mass media will vanish from the airwaves, and we will be left with what Orwell aptly called "Prolefeed"–24/7 brainwashing of the public by mindless distractions, advertising, and empty, jingoistic propaganda to prop up our corporate-run plutocracy and our endless warmongering.
Before the final death of democracy and free speech, I have one favor to ask you. Although you have featured many courageous truth-tellers in your interviews over the years, you have never featured anyone who questions the "official story" of 9/11–which is the keystone event that catalyzed the dismantling of the Bill of Rights and the rise of corporate/militaristic fascism throughout our nation and the world. I can understand why you have refrained thus far to interview David Ray Griffin, Stephen Jones, Richard Gage, or Niels Harrit–four men of impeccable credentials and integrity whose efforts have completely discredited the "official story" by demonstrating it to violate the basic laws of chemistry and physics alike. You have not interviewed them because you knew that if you did, PBS would remove you from the air in an instant, and you would probably lose all your grant money. But if Romney and Ryan win, you have nothing to lose in exposing the Big Lie of 9/11, which has enabled the subsequent dismantling of our democracy by the military-industrial complex. If you have the time, I would like you to look at the following extended interview with Dr. Niels Harrit, who authored the peer-reviewed study in Bentham's Open Journal of Physical Chemistry which proved decisively that nanothermite particles were found in abundance in all the dust samples they collected from the 9/11 site…thus proving, beyond any possible doubt, that the buildings were brought down by controlled demolition. Here is the link: http://vimeo.com/20574556
Best wishes,
a long-time admirer.
- Anonymous
I am sorry but simply making all viewers aware of the various corruptions and dire situation are not enough. No one is dealing directly with the corporations including those purporting to be NGO's aren't aware of the sick in difference as long as there is money to be fleeced out of any taxpayer . If my point is not dramatic enough please check on the billions of dollars spent on so called efforts to help Haiti and imagine if you lived like they are force to and yet major private criminal enterprises set up (here we go again) phoney charity private corporations are making a financial killing, literally. I have seen and heard enough —how about some action—boycotting and withdrawing tax funding of any governmental level that perpetuate a discovered misuse of taxpayer funds. Bottom line corporations and banks act as though they are totally in charge.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Annette-Tchelka/100003018127131 Annette Tchelka
I agree with a lot Christia Freeland said on your show. However a great book is Janine Wedel's Shadow Elite. Both Taibbi and Freeland mentioned their stints in Russia and the privatization they saw there. They did not mention the role of the Harvard Institute (yes, that Harvard U in Cambridge, MA) and their infamous relationship with the Chubais group that was responsible for most the privatization, bilking the Russian peoples out of all their resources. Larry Summers was involved (yes, him again). Wedel also exposes Flexians and the Neocons and how they have infiltrated the business world, academe and work as government consultants the world over including in the US, enriching themselves while avoiding accountability and prosecution. A book worthy of your show.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Annette-Tchelka/100003018127131 Annette Tchelka
The $716 billion cut Obama made that Romney is always crying about is actually overpayments to doctors and hospitals that Obama is putting back into Medicare, extending the Medicare program for another 8 years. Ryan wants to take the exact same amount from Medicare and give it to the wealthy–who don't need it. Also how do you know Romney is not going to adopt some version of the Ryan plan? Romney's head swivels around like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist–first he says one thing, then he retracts it the next day. And you want to put the fate of the nation in this man's hands? Also don't forget if anything should happen to Romney, Ryan would be President, God forbid!
- http://www.facebook.com/ewan.fallon Ewan Fallon
Bush loving AGAIN. How original
- http://www.facebook.com/ewan.fallon Ewan Fallon
Change that to "The Contender in Chief" and you got it right
- Kathleen Ropoer
So how does the takeover by the plutocracy differ from fascism? Does the fact that corporations are now people figure into this? Just asking.
- Anonymous
Its been pointed out by many sources that if Obama takes 716 Billion dollars from doctors & hospital as well as other providers they will be less likely to service medicare patients..Some hospitals will close.. my doctor said he will retire rather than take less for his services. This affects the senior on Medicare.. not matter what the admin says..They are doing some "creative accounting with public" I for one would welcome a Ryan presidency vs Biden in the oval office.. That would trouble allot of folks. A court juster is not a presidential qualification.
- Guest
Has it occurred to you that Obama understands that there is both good and back in capitalism. He actually does say that we are living in a time when the benefits of capitalism are not lifting all boats. What do you think his legislative is about? He has made it very clear that wealth does not make some people better than others.
Change of this magnitude has to happen slowly or you end up with Russia and puppet governments and we have seen this time and again. You and the rest of us should not be so naive. What is your manifesto?
- Guest
it occurred to you that Obama understands that there is both good and bad in capitalism. He actually does say that we are living in a time
when the benefits of capitalism are not lifting all boats.
What do you
think his legislative accomplishments are meant to do? He has made it very clear that wealth
does not make some people better than others.
Change of the magnitude happening in the world can be done a number of ways. If it happens too quickly, you end up with
a company like Russia or a puppet governments and we have seen this time and again. We should not be so naive.
- http://www.facebook.com/lucy.garrick.5 Lucy Garrick
Has it occurred to you that
Obama understands that there is both good and bad in free markets. He
actually does say that we are living in a time when the benefits of capitalism are not lifting all boats.
Who do you think his legislative accomplishments are meant to benefit? He has made it very clear that wealth does not make rich people more entitled to opportunity than poor people.
Change of the magnitude happening in the world right now can be done a number of ways. If it happens too quickly, you end up with a country like Russia or a puppet regime. We have seen this time and again in the world.
We should not be so naive as to think we can just rip off the band-aid without pain. We need to keep moving forward deliberately and methodically, with craft and insight to overcome the plutocracy. Fighting back with an eye toward unintended consequences.
The best thing you can do is vote in Obama and a democratic congress.
- albumin
Love it! Shakespeare was right in the economy " Certainly, the Jew is the very Devil incarnation"
- Dan Athearn
The claim by your two guests that the left has no compelling ideas that do not invoke the specter of big government seems to ignore the thought of Richard Wolfe, endorsed by Jim Hightower and others, of ownership of corporations by workers cooperatives. Should you have Prof Wole on the show?
- Anonymous
What is an alternative definition of virtue?
One suggestion:
Lynn White Jr., "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis," SCIENCE, 10 March 1967,Vol. 155, No. 3767, pg. 1203-1207
- fedup
I think the Plutocrats who have become so thin skinned need to realize that if they continue to disenfranchise us, cut off social benefits, leave us to the unemployment line, take away any tax benefits we might have (earned mortgage interest and earned income credit), or hire us at a non living wage, continue to make fuel, food and medicine beyond our reach we will not just go off and die quietly. No sir, we will not go quietly!
- Lorraine
After watching this episode I think of one thing only in despair.. the quote Jesus gave "No rich man shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens." How can we arge with him?
- Sloppy Tomson
You talk a lot about the too-big-to-fail banks. How about the bailed-out insurance company AIG (American International Group)? I worked for them way back in the 1970s, and they were squirelly even then. Questionable bosses' bosses, silly but serious amateurs running things. Bosses getting eye-bag surgery, rather than doing their jobs, that sort of thing. Might you look into AIG? It might be an interesting inquiry.
- Anonymous
we can no longer just pray for renewal and rebalance. we need to fight for it as well. thank you for the poem just the same.
- Anonymous
you may not vote via your emotions but too many americans do! what I wonder is why it is sooo difficult to find the truth. here's one more reason I won't vote for robme.
- Kathryn Bonnell
I'm trying to find your program on ALEC. I saw it once, and want to see it again. I also have recommended it to friends and want them to see it. Where did it go?
- Leroy Evans
How do I order materials?
- Herbert Pairitz
The Value of Free Enterprise
Politicians frequently promote the phrase "free
enterprise" so that their big business investor donorscan be unregulated and exploit the working- class
citizens by outsourcing their jobs, trade with $2/hr. labor countries, etc.
Free enterprise also fosters middle-man occupations where a person or company
intercedes between someone who has something to sell and someone who needs that
item or service. One of the latest middle-man scams is the businesses that
offer to obtain Social Security disability payments for people who don't want to
fill out the forms or get help. There are so many of these businesses on the
computer web that it is difficult to find the true government program on ssa
.gov. This should not be permitted. They now
advertise on TV and state that " you don't have to pay us until you obtain your
benefits." (How generous?) For a full
explanation of what is wrong with our government and how to resolve our economic
dilemma read the book entitled Fixing Our Government.
- http://profiles.google.com/joyrip.r Joyce R
Re: Matt Taibbi and Chrystia Freeland on Plutocracy Rising
I have just finished listening to this interview and I am a bit upset by Ms. Freeland's declarations about Canadian banking being so solid. Banking is a globalized institution and I would expect that all countries, including Canada, would feel the results. It is not true that Canada's banks were not bailed out. They were. Canada's banks are being de-regulated, too, but in a way that is allowing banks to become insurers, investment banks and deposit banks all in one as well as undergoing mergers with smaller American banks (especially RBC and TD). We may be 10 years behind the US but we are going in the same direction with TBTF:
The Harper government has said that the Canadian banking system withstood the financial crisis better than any of the GC 7 or OECD countries because of their fine
regulations and capital requirements.
That may be true but Canadian banks are global institutions and were NOT untouched by the crisis.
First, Harper and Flaherty initially insisted that Canadian banks were not bailed out.
But they do admit that the banks received "liquidity" right after the crisis and others would call a bailout.
See: http://gangstersout.blogspot.ca/2012/04/great-canadian-bank-bailout-fraud.html
The blog above has links to sites that show that the Canadian government bailed out the banks to the tune of $69 Billion!
Also see: http://www.globalresearch.ca/canada-s-75-billion-dollar-bank-bailout/12007
Second, not much was made of a Canadian bank receiving indirect bailout funds from the AIG bailout.
See: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1395655
and http://www.aig.com/aigweb/internet/en/files/CounterpartyAttachments031809_tcm385-155645.pdf
for BMO money from AIG bailout;
Third, five Canadian banks tapped the US Fed discount window for
See: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/big-five-tapped-fed-for-funds-during-financial-crisis/article1820857/
See: http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/gono/CPFF%20Foreign%20Banks.jpg
(goes with above graph)
One would hope that Ms. Freeland would be more aware of Canadian banking before she makes statements about how great Canadian banking is.
Joyce from Canada
- Myron Chapman
I was surprised last night when you were interviewing the authors of "Winner Takes All", that you didn't acknowledge that the entire conversation described our loss of democracy because most members of Congress have sold their votes to the highest bidder. They no longer represent the people in their district. They represent the people who have bought their votes. This is most plainly called bribery.
- James D. Poisson
Today I watched the show about Winner Take All Politics. The analysis of the problem was clear and well grounded. My question is: what can I do about this? The affluent right wing is well organized and has been since the days of Reagan. What specific steps can I take to help get the 99% organized so that we have a voice? The authors of the book featured today gave no suggestions about what we can do. I fail to see what the good people at Occupy Wall Street have accomplished or can accomplish. Back in the days when Gramm-Leach-Bliley was before the Senate, I pleaded with our two Rhode Island Senators not to vote for this bill. Both of them voted for it. Since then I have continued to write to them to point out their complicity in the destruction of the middle class that this bill has engineered. Neither of them has ever answered my letters and emails. Jack Reed is still in office, and Lincoln Chafee is now our governor. I think they are both honorable men but are as helpless as I am to do anything to solve the problem. What organizations are there already in place that we can join? I was born during FDR's first term; I have very little time left.
- Robert G. Stepanovich
Ok, Bill, now that after 45 years thinking the Liberals were going to fix everything and finally figuring out they are all Republicrats, maybe you are ready to listen to the Cato Institute and the American Institute for Economic Research among others who can teach you about the gold standard, getting rid of the Federal Reserve, and all the things the Austrian School of Economics and Ron Paul could teach you. You're my age but hopefully we're not too addled to learn.
Robert G. Stepanovich
- http://www.facebook.com/molly.cruz2 Molly Cruz
This is a question to which I can't get an informed answer: isn't it possible that if laborers due to retire at sixty five were offered the same deal to retire at sixty; a whole generation of jobs would suddenly be available, as well as a generation of retirees young enough to enjoy it spending money and travelling and doing charity work and in general stoking the economy??? I'd adore an informed response. firstname.lastname@example.com
- Susan Kilroy Hahn
To reform campaign finance and the corruption we need to adopt the British system of political campaigns. The campaigns last 3 or 4 months and all ads are on public radio and t.v. The government gives each candidate so much money for campaigning so there is a level playing field. Of course this would need to be implemented probably through a constitutional amendment from the states because Congress would not pass such legislation.
- Kohles
I advocate that all vote. We must now be decided to vote not for republicans nor democrats. The two major parties have failed us over the decades. Lets vote for other parties and eradicate the plutocratic greed. That is how we can take back our country.
- Kohles
The supreme court case of Citizens United has solved our tax problem! Since the court has decided that businesses are persons, then they must pay taxes as a person citizen.
As the rest of us, we cannot deduct operating expenses as a household. We cannot deduct utilities, food, leases, mortgages and any other household expenses. Example: we cannot deduct electricity to conduct our personal household business (heating, cooling). A company (as a person) may not deduct these items. The tax deduction is gone and businesses (persons) pay a lot more tax!!! THE BUSINESS TAX IS GONE! The IRS should obey the law and tax the new persons as they do the rest of us persons.
- James Stewart
So off we go in lock step to the voting booth.
Our conviction so feeble that we put aside all the indignity of being lied to and pushed aside by big money to do our "civic duty".
Our civil duty should be to reclaim our government!
Nothing will change however . . .
Next election will be 3 Billion spent, more gregious tactics, lies and more Super PACs.
And again we'll march off to the voting booth.
Bill Moyers, please start a John Doe Club?
- Don sassano
After leaving his CBS anchor job, Walter Cronkite mentioned he'd felt uneasy about his ending summation, "And that's the way it is." This all-encompassing assessment was grandiose and inaccurate. Too bad that todays "newscasters" eagerly chirp out the even worse: "We've got all you need to know" or "We've got all the details," etc. Really? You do? I'm comforted. I need not look elsewhere.
- ward riggins
In regards to money well spent. Roughly, 710 million dollars
were wasted on PACs that have no constitutional bases. How is this ok? Why does
the silent majority ignore this abuse of our system? Doesn't it bother you
Bill? What can we do?
- Rob
Enjoyed program as usual. One comment about and to Mr. Fallows, who was mostly right on is, though people and networks may say "mainstream media", it would help all of us if he and others woul refer to it as it is, "the corporate media".
Thx for your great work over the years and you can not ever retire!!!
- BadgerBob
Eliminating the gush, thank you Mr. Moyers. I've watched you since I was a young dog learning new tricks. I absolutely thank you for your work. Always.
- Jon Rivno
Bill Moyers show is excellent. I never miss it. It's the most real and honest news show on Sundays. Keep up the good work. The guests always make me feel called to get involved to make a difference and improve the US. I am very concerned about the lack of banking regulation, wall street stranglehold on washington, on the selling of American public assets to foreign entities to make up short falls in current budgets. What can we do to change this?
- Anonymous
Why Jane…
I heard a guest say he didn't think the spending was a problem yet. I think it is the out of control spending that has sapped the strength out of the once great nations economy.
Maybe this will help make the danger of fiat money clear.
Imagine you and me are setting across from each other. We create enough
money to represent all of the world's wealth. Each one of us has one SUPER
Dollar in front of him.
You own half of everything and so do I.
I'm the government though. I get bribed into creating a Central Bank.
You're not doing what I want you to be doing so I print up myself eight more
SUPER Dollars to manipulate you with.
All of a sudden your SUPER Dollar only represents one tenth of the wealth of
the world!
That isn't the only thing though. You need to get busy and get to work
because YOU'VE BEEN STIFFED with the bill for the money I PRINTED UP to get YOU
TO DO what I WANTED.
That to me represents what has been happening to the economy, and us, and
why so many of our occupations just can't keep up with the fake money presses.
They print up what ever it takes to push, and push, and push us wherever they
They have been beating us with our
own stick.
- Philip B Fregeau
Dear Bill
I am much relieved knowing that Governor Romney has lost his bid for the Presidency. But, although I voted for President Obama, I did so with misgiving and trepidation. I am one of the many who, while appreciative of his accomplishments, view with alarm his apparent belief in the imperial presidency. I am frightened by his expansion of the Bush assault upon the Constitutional freedoms and principles which underpin our Democracy and which he had sworn to preserve and protect.
I remain unable to reconcile his rhetoric with his pliancy and apparent eagerness to bend to the will of the Republican right. The result is my uneasy feeling that he would be much more comfortable as a center right Republican.
I would very much like to believe that we will see a new Obama, using the steel backbone referred to by the Vice President, standing tall and strong for implementation of the grand concepts of his marvelous rhetoric. But I find it difficult to overcome the apprehension engendered by four years of disappointment and feelings of betrayal.
There are many challenges which the President must confront in the new term. I fear that his temptation will be to plead again for bipartisan support and, once again, volunteer sacrifices, that are not justified or required, from the people, in order to appease the Republican establishment.
I refer specifically to the Bowles/Simpson (BS) proposal for a "grand bargain" to solve a group think debt "crisis" which does not exist. Congress need only look to the current situation in Europe to witness the result of unwarranted austerity policies and foolish abandonment of stimulative measures. The loony policies of the World Bank and the IMF, in league with the discredited credit rating agencies, have forced the European Union into more lost jobs, renewed recession, and the chaos of near rebellion.
Meantime, in the U.S. we provide a bottomless source of funding for the War Department, (remember when we used to call it what it is). We give tax cuts to the wealthy, subsidies to big business, fund "homeland paranoia" and 16 different "intelligence" agencies. We stubbornly fund a foolhardy "war" on drugs. And we squander blood and treasure on a "war on terror" that will never end.
We are told that America is broke and must cut programs loosely classified as jobs, social well-being, the safety net, health care, and nation building at home because we can't afford "luxuries". Social Security is a target, even though it is self-funded and has 2.5 trillion dollars in reserve.
The fact that the Congress saw fit to spend those dollars in return for government securities must never be considered justification for defaulting on the American people. Nor is it justifiable to diminish the benefits that have been paid for by current beneficiaries or to proffer the excuse that only the younger workers will be affected.
Does anyone in Congress believe that the elderly harbor the attitude toward their children and grandchildren that, "We got ours, kid, you are on your own"? And why should low earners pay the tax on every dime they earn when high earners pay only on a portion of theirs?
The cost of medical care will be solved when we cast aside national pride and devotion to the insurance and pharmaceutical interests. We must structure our program in a similar manner to the rest of the developed nations of the world because they do it better than we do. The United States does not have the best health care in the world and there is no acceptable way to make it better that requires a reduction in health care benefits.
The above only scratches the surface of my concern. There is the economy, climate change, infrastructure, women's rights, marriage rights, immigration, wealth disparity, and the victims of the mortgage industry. And what about education, the still too big to fail banking and investment firms, our unfair tax system, our broken Senate, and our hegemonic foreign policy?
The media claim that America's two parties are too far apart to solve our problems. I disagree. I believe that they have become two sides of the same coin. The Democratic party is now a shadow of what it was when I cast my first vote in its favor 70 years ago. It has forgotten the working people's issues it once genuinely cared about and worked for.
The media extoll the middle ground, but the middle ground is no longer in the middle. Our parties are now right versus extreme right. Perhaps President Obama's most important job will be to re-infuse his party with the democratic idealism that it once had, to re-awaken the leadership it once provided for the "common man issues", to re-invigorate its belief in government for the people, by the people.
I am ready to help him. I know that you are ready to help him. We can only hope that he is ready to re-new the American dream and turn his brilliant oratory into the kind of meaningful achievement that once was the hallmark of the Democratic Party. All of our American brothers and sisters deserve nothing less.
- Diana Legg
My hope for America is renewed. The recent election confirmed that the overwhelming majority of Americans reject "Winner Take All" politics. For me the election was not about black or white or Latino or gay or straight or man or woman; It was a clear choice between Latin American style government of the wealthy as brilliantly outlined by your recent guests and a government that is truly By Of and For the People. We have spoken and all Karl Roves billions can t drown our voices
- Lauren Ayers
I'm listening to "What It's Like to Go to War." You mention the high rate of suicide amongst veterans. Can you please follow up on this hopeful research (below)?? The Pentagon is doing nothing with it, a little journalistic investigation might kick start the process.
"Study links DHA levels to military suicide risk," by Lynda Waddington, 08.24.11
Scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism teamed with researchers at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Maryland to analyze a sample of suicide deaths among U.S. military personnel on active duty between 2002 and 2008. The researchers compared levels of omega-3 fatty acids of 800 individuals who committed suicide with those of 800 randomly selected controls — service members who were matched with the suicide cases by age, sex and rank. They found that all the service members had low omega-3 levels, and that suicide risk was greatest among individuals with the lowest levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the major omega-3 fatty acid concentrated in the brain.
- Lewis
Just got to see the re-broadcast of Mr. Moyers' conversation with Karl Marlantes (Matterhorn, What it is like to go to war). That was one of the best. I particularly appreciate and agree with Mr. Marlantes' statement something to the effect of "…. those kids are over their (killing and dying) because some adults failed to come to a resolution of this conflict … they are cleaning up a mess because of our failure ….". We can blame the politicians until the cows come home but the ultimate responsibility stops with us, the citizens of the U.S. After all it is we who elected those politicians or at least permitted them to come to power. It reminds me of a comment in Tim O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried' something to the effect of " … don't be surprised when your young men (now also women) come home from war talking dirty. If you don't like obscenity you don't like the truth and if you don't like the truth be careful how you vote."
Lewis Downey
Salt Lake City, Utah
Army MARS Radio AB8AAL
Phu Loi Base Camp, RVN 1971-72
- Herbert Pairitz
Individual Voting vs. Political Parties
When our founding fathers set up
our government they established the right to individual voting by the
citizens. Years later a number of them
expressed their concerns about the trend of group voting through political
parties, which gave certain politicians control of the voting process. This meant that on certain controversial
issues like slavery many loyal members of the party had to accept legislation
promoting slavery even though they opposed slavery. At our current time in history the political
parties have perfected the political party voting process to the point where
about half of the voters vote with their party to oppose controversial issues
like abortion even though they may favor abortion. The founding fathers did not provide group
voting with political parties but over the years the big business money
purchased it from our politicians and office holders through campaign contributions
and favors. All of this proves the point
that we cannot have a true democracy (ruled by the ruled) with the existence of
political parties. For more details on
how to improve our government and our economy read the book entitled Fixing Our
- Ken Piaskowski
Mr. Moyers, Joe Campbell can Help Macafee. That's all we need say about crackups.
- Herbert Pairitz
The 47% Are Not Freeloaders
In WWII many of the young men gave their lives to prevent
Adolph Hitler and Hirohito from taking over our country, which permitted the
wealthy big business investors to retain their freedom, businesses and wealth.
Years after the war the big business investors continued to increase their
wealth by exploiting the very same working class that saved them from
catastrophe in WWII. They employed price
gouging, replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labor, failure to
fairly share the profits, improper money manipulation, etc. This was morally
and economically wrong. The wealth of
this country that the working class worked for, and also died for in WWII,
should be redirected to the working class and also used to decrease our
financial deficit. The greed of big business for money has denied the working
class benefits to which they are entitled to under a democratic form of
government. The book entitled Fixing Our
Government explains in more detail how to provide prosperity to the
working-class citizens of this country.
- Herbert Pairitz
Big Business vs. the Working Class
In the last ten years we have experienced a cultural
degradation whereby businesses are no longer required to help the American
workers and have resorted to reducing their benefits and sending their jobs
overseas to the lowest bidder. With all
of our resources we should be able to provide prosperity to every citizen, but
greedy big business investors chose not to let this happen. The United States Government is not serving
all of the people as it should. It is
doing exceptionally well for the wealthy business investors, but doing poorly
for the working- class citizens. And why
is this so? The big business investors
chose to exploit the workers by influencing the government and the politicians
with campaign contributions and favors.
Most working- class citizens have to depend upon business owners
providing them with a job whereby they can earn a living wage to obtain the
necessities of life and possibly a prosperous future. Our government should
give assistance to those that are in a weak financial condition. This could be due to health problems, living
circumstances or just a desire to avoid working for a living. I believe our government should assist them
all, providing the loafer with only the bare necessities of life. For more information on how to achieve
prosperity for the working-class citizens read the book entitled Fixing Our
- Chet Horn
Dear Mr. Moyers,
I am regular viewer of your show and enjoy it greatly. This evening I was watching your commentary about the "revolving door" in Wash., D.C. and couldn't help but notice your tie. Could you please tell me the brand name or the maker of the tie. Thank you!
Chet Horn
- Susan
I look forward to your program every week. Just watched the segment on Mr. Autry. Wow!
- Mark Baldirdge
I believe why Obama will fail to solve our countries problems is because he is not a progressive. The
difference between a progressive, capitalist, and socialist is that a
progressive is a person that comes up with solutions to problems in order to
create a better democracy. The best political progressives are Abraham Lincoln
with the issue of slavery; Theodor Roosevelt with land development by creating
National Parks; Franklin D. Roosevelt with the Depression by developing the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) a public work relief program to create jobs, Social Security to help
seniors citizens stay out of poverty, Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC), and the Glass–Steagall Act; and Lyndon B. Johnson to deal with racism by passing the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
- George E. Wamser
Dear Mr. Moyers, I deeply enjoyed your program on global warming, I am an environmentalist and what you covered was completely true. However, when you got to the commentary at the end on firearms, I must with the deepest respect disagree, because you paint all gunowners with a stigmatizing negative brush, that is not accurate, and is innapropriate. I pondered this, as you are one of my true heros, and I thought about how Joe Campbell might have handled this, because your myth system regarding your opinion on this issue is entirely lacking in objectivity, swayed by that most powerful thing in our lives. We LOVE those children SO much, that we hurt in equal porportion to that, this creates an atmosphere of myth clouded by such "good" agonizing excruciating pain. This is a weakness, especially for a journalist of your caliber, and it only shows your humanity, therefore I forgive you, for trying to take away a precious right from me.
Yours, in deepest possible respect; George E. Wamser email@example.com
- Marie
I am an 82 year old woman with a college degree and time that I could use to make changes in our country. What do you think is the most important thing I could do?
- http://www.facebook.com/aloysius.dalli1 Aloysius Dalli
Dear Mr. Moyer please visit/read: http://www.dalli.com/updates/holidays/ and then do as you wish.
Aloysius Dalli
- Hans Heuchert
Mr. Moyers: We have been watching your shows since we came the this country in 1969…and are very positively impressed. Your recent interview with Anthony Leierowitz about Climate Change hit the nail on the head. However, this subject is focused too often solely on CO2 emissions. Neglected are emissions of other, often deadly, pollutants such as, but limited to hydrogen oxides, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and so on. The EPA estimates that some 170,000 people die every year in the US due to such toxic pollutants. Furthermore it is often missed that dire consequences await the world for being insanely dismissive! The Popular Science magazine had some time ago an excellent essay explaining that the longer we wait for cleaning up our mess the more expensive the cleanup will cost. The cost go up in the square of time! There exists the distinct probability that the warming of the Atlantic Ocean will stop the Gulf Stream sending Northern Europe into a man-made ice age. Will the EU start a war to force the US to clean up? Similar effects can be expected in the Pacific where most. if not all, coral reefs are dying due increased temperatures and acidity.This will drastically reduce the fish population worldwide! Will then the Asian countries start a war with the worst – long time – polluter…the USA? To force the richest nation on earth to clean up?
Why is it that 70% of Republicans don't believe in climate change? What does party affiliation have to do with climate change science? Why is it that nearly 50% of Republicans don't believe in evolution? Democrats are much more willing to believe in climate change and evolution. For heaven's sake…why? Is it all because of our perverted capitalistic system, where the holy Dollar is more worth anything else on earth? Or is my theory correct that says that REASON has been lost in the US of A, because of lead and mercury poisoning, disturbing our brain function and the logical thinking and reasoning of humans, combined with an unprecedented love of greed and the advent of the age of the golden calf…all over again?
In pictures: We are destroying our planet, which in fact may be the only one around.
We are sinking the Titanic all over again, because we are unsinkable?
We are cutting of the branch we are sitting on?
- Raymond Hoche-Mong
Mr. Moyers, how about having Elizabeth Warren on as a guest soon?
Thanks for having Paul Krugman on.
Raymond Hoche-Mong
- J Vaccaro
Dear mr. Moyers, I just watched you interview with Larry Cohen, You didn't ask this question; What is the final vision of the progressive agenda? I'd like to know what do they want America to really be like. How America would be like to live in for the common folk .
- john m. giannnone
Dear Mr. Moyers:
Thank you this evening's program on crony capitalism and Roe vs. Wade, and more for
your superb work through the years. The country is lucky to have you in its life. That said, allow me to say that I want no one woman, or (the unacknowledged) man to feel
or be forced to bring a fetus to term. Of course, men do not enter into conversation–as they did not in tonight's program-and shall make no attempt to suggest it now. However,
while to broadcast is still on and I am no longer listening, I want to say that I did not hear
you raise the great moral question about terminating a life because of reasons that have to do with practicalities such as a "mother's work schedule" or intentions of one sort or another.
Clearly, I am not referring to matters of incest or rape which, I suppose, may trump the condemnation of taking a life. Specifically, you followed in the current approach that sees women as privilegedly in matters of her "own body". Nowhere in your program did I hear any acknowledgement that abortion is a profoundly moral difficulty. Nor did I pick up anything that might reasonably be called accompanying complexities–those that make abortion a hell hole no matter which way one turns. Additionally, and likely the most obvious, and therefore most suppressed, did I hear anything about the importance of difficult and responsible sexual conduct.
The general tone of the conversation centered on a womens' self claimed political rights . . . rights they hold as absolute. However the struggle of a people does not always rise
to the level of a ground . . . sometimes it is just required background in need of principles. The chief difficulty with today's termination-of-life issues is that they fail to recognize the us-in-others whether those others are Vietnamese, Arabs in Palestine, native Americans, Iraqis, the fetus, or, for that matter, the natural environment.
I wish you well
- http://www.facebook.com/mary.m.potter.5 Mary McAvenia Potter
For some unknown reason, KERA in Dallas no longer has closed captioning for the Moyers program. As a person with some hearing loss, this really diminshes the impact and understanding of this fine program. I wish the closed caption option was reurned.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Bernard-Foy/100000132349992 Bernard Foy
Mr. Moyers –
regarding your comments about President Obama and Guantanamo Bay: you reported that Obama pledged to close the military detention center, and then failed to carry out his promise. What you neglected to report is that Senate Republicans prevented closure of the base — they acted to prevent any expenditure by the administration to close the facility, and they also prevented the trials of Guantanamo detainees in US courts within the country. Your summary mischaracterized Obama's intentions, as many other journalists have done.
- Brian Dickinson
To Bill, (I hope you read this),
I posted the following comment regarding your show on 15th February 2013. I am interested in your comments:
I always watch Bill Moyers' programs and rarely disagree with the
content of his guests but this last show of "The Fight to Keep Democracy
Alive" I could not disagree with the content more.
First it should have been titled "The fight to keep a REPRESENTATIVE democracy alive." We don't have a direct democracy.
Second,I don't agree with fighting fire with more fire. It's as though we want
to keep money in the "game" of politics. We should step back and ask why
do we need a representative democracy in the first place? Like so many
systems in place today we are perpetuating an old design. A design that
is older than our nation.
I analyze systems for a living (or used
to), as part of analysis one must remove the old design so a new one
can be identified that fulfills the real need. Unfortunately the old
design, in this case the representative democracy, has gotten so
entrenched that rarely is it questioned and it certainly isn't
questioned by those that profit from the current design.
I took an objective view of this in one of my YouTube videos at :
I'm not saying that a new design can be implemented easily; implementing an
email system or online banking was not easy or cheap, but I don't want
to go back to the old designs of these.
I'm also not saying
everyone would want a direct democracy. people, usually want to delegate
the decision making process (not I) but that is not a reason to stop
everyone from having the option to vote directly on things they find
important. I say in my presentations "Don't get rid of the manual bank
teller when you introduce the automated teller", let the customer
I'll stop here, I've probably upset enough folks already
because a government that takes from Peter to give to Paul can usually
rely on the support of Paul.
- life well lived
I hope you receive this.
First, thank you for all that you do and have done.
Secondly, let me say that, at 70, having worked all my life,
professionally as an environmental lawyer for nonprofits (back with
nonprofits made no profits, when the pay was as much for the heart as
pocketbook), I continue to be hopeful and inspired about the indomitable
American spirit, which you frequently touch on, enabling us to infer,
although you do not suggest, that there is something, somewhere that will
take this country from the mess in which we find ourselves to something
truly good, as Plato would define "good".
I have five college degrees — J.D., 2 MA's, 2 undergrad degrees, am a
licensed bartender, and licensed librarian, and licensed teacher. I am
living on less than $1000 a month (because of the nonprofit work), waayyy
below the poverty level.
My specific question to Dr. Wolff: What about Darwin, evolution, Complex
Adaptive Systems (CAS)? We are animal, we have evolved, and we are part
of a CAS, worldwide and locally. Do you believe it is possible we might
evolve our way out of this mess, not by rules, regulations, numbers, and
nouns (I know you're an economist, but nouns and numbers ain't
everything!), but by some sort of animal desire to be "true, good, and
- Jery
Questions for Richard Wolfe – Do yo see tax reform as part of the answer to "fix" the economy? What do you think our tax system should be? It seems to me that it is counter productive to tax any corporation or business because they treat taxes as a cost of doing business and charge it back to us in the price of their goods and services where it is multiplied by their markup and even more importantly it becomes a "hidden tax" because we have no idea how much we are paying. Flat tax? Sales tax? a combination?
- dacodave
Just watched Susan Jacoby's interview. To quote her "…my God there really is a hell…"
Interesting statement from an atheist.
- mel lederman
Thank you. You are a true American. But I do not understand why you never ask the question which is on every citizen's mind. If a corporation is convicted of fraud and pays a penalty of 700 million, why aren't executives convicted and sent to jail? Those are the ones who are guilty, not the "person", the corporation. What a difference this would make. Possibly restore some of the faith we have in our government.
- Herbert Pairitz
The Right to Vote Was Initially A Powerful Tool
We know that the writers of our Constitution represented the working-class citizens when they stated "promote the general welfare" in the preamble. They included the right of every citizen to vote independently in order to obtain the benefits of a true democratic form of government. At a later date some of those members expressed a concern over the formation of political parties that changed independent voting into a block voting system that was controlled by politicians. As time progressed the members of Congress, the White House and political parties were influenced by large campaign contributions and started to represent the big business investment donors on all economic issues, another case of taxation without representation. As a result, our form of government was changed to a plutocracy with money completely corrupting our government. In order to regain the power of voting the citizens should refuse to vote in any elections until the money is taken out of our election campaign system. All election campaigns should be financed by only taxpayer money. For more details and verification on this subject read the book entitled Fixing Our Government.
- Isabel Malavet
Hi bill: I have been an avid listener and viewer of your show and an activist in my community. I just want to say that what I think we should be doing today is to start and develop an alternative or third Party in this country that willl not only run candidates if need be but primarily serve as a a source to pressure the system to do the right thing for the working poor and rising middle class. TO SERVE AS A PRESSUEE POINT TO THE PLUTOCRATES AND THE RICH to insure that the income levels stay as equal as can be.
Isabel Malavet
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-Josloff/745381437 Bruce Josloff
The framers of the Constitution gave considerable clout to the land owner class.
- Margaret Garcia
I just heard about the value of cooperatives in the business world, Moyers interviewing a person (don't remember his name) who praised Mondragon business in Spain for their cooperative company culture. However,in looking at the Monragon business site, only 1/2 of the company's many businesses are cooperative. People, do your own research.
- Herbert Pairitz
The Wrong Form of Government
Years ago the writers of our Constitution set up a
democratic form of government that promotes the general welfare, which includes
prosperity for the working- class citizens.
As time progressed they expressed concern about the growth of political
parties that were promoting their own welfare rather than the general welfare.
About 200 years later our democracy had been transformed into a plutocracy (ruled
by money) with some questionable capitalistic programs. America had evolved into a form of government
that consists of two political parties competing for the large campaign
contributions from the big business investors who are then permitted to exploit
the citizens by outsourcing jobs, etc.
We now need to change our government back to a true democracy by
eliminating the political parties, manufacture and sell most products and
services within the United
States and finance all political campaigns
with taxpayer money. For more details
and verification on this subject read the book entitled Fixing Our Government.
- Mike Gilmore
Love your shows, and the great guests that participates. Sherman Alexie is great, i love his chastisement of the mono-dimensionality of the modern e-communicational tools as not being sufficiently "human". but i wonder how this differs from the format of all poetry past and present. These forms do allow for the expression of emotion/feeling to come across but in the end, are not they still the same – just WORDS? like twitter? or whatever? (still one imagines how Shakespeare would have handled twitter….)
- http://www.facebook.com/RPManke.solar RevPhil Manke
Dr.Jill Stein, Green Party candidate, who was arrested for trying to join the phoney debates, has a debt restructuring plan with meaning that, however, may shift wealth to other corporate entities with more jobs, less oil and coal and nuke wealth. So, you see untill there are more than TWO parties available, nothing will change.
- curt zimmer
How about 'The Constitution in Crisis'?
- Paul Scott
Bill, I think your are one of the best interviewers and journalists alive today because you ask probing questions and get to the heart of matters. Recently, your interview with Marshal Ganz hit a note of truth I have yet to hear from others on your shows regarding the solutions to ineffective government and the corrupting influence of money. He said "making all votes count" will work. I agree. There are democracies that work very well – two of the most notable are Australia and New Zealand. In April 2011, the Stanford Institute for Economic Development (SIEPR) issued a policy brief titled "A Sovereign Fiscal Responsibility Index". Australia and New Zealand ranked 1 & 2 respectively, the USA 28th, just after Italy and before Hungary & Ireland. Perhaps a look at how these 2 successful democracies vote for their government will be helpful. My understanding is that voters rank their vote for a particular office (who they most prefer, then less prefer and so on down the list). If a candidate does not get a majority of #1 ranked votes, #2 are counted, then #3 & so on until a majority vote is accounted for. In those democracies, people truly have a vote "that counts" and the results seem to have an enormous impact on many of the indicators of successful governance. I would love to see you do a program that takes a closer look at this issue (how we vote and it's impact on our electoral process) as it appears to be a very simple and critical aspect of the USA's overall health as a nation.
- Sunshine
You sound wonderful…the man of my dreams. You are probably married and living on the west coast and I am unmarried and living in the south.
- Carol Marychild
I am so grateful to you and to the unseen hand (not of the marketplace) that led you back into Service after your well deserved retirement. You and I and a lot of your guests and viewers know that there is a core issue underneath the glaring injustices of our "market economy," our politics, our media, our whole American Way of Life. We are in a spiritual crisis, and life on our planet is at stake. We have already brought millions of species to extinction and are working hard at bringing ourselves to extinction.
You and your guests are wonderful at exposing the fruits of our spiritual malaise: the worship of the "market economy" that leads to economic and political exploitation of everybody who doesn't have enormous material wealth, and you look for practical ways that "we the people" can have more say. You do a lot of connecting the dots.
I feel a need for even more dot-connecting. We are indeed all in this together. It is not easy to hold it all together, to hold all of us together. The primary manifestation of our failure in our culture is consumerism, the desire to fill our spiritual hunger with stuff. The fact that we need some things to survive as physical beings can obscure the fact that consumerism is a cancer, taking normal needs and turning them into unbound monsters that consume the whole creature. It is tempting to see the huge disparity of wealth as depriving the poor of the opportunity to join the consumer culture. And a great many of the poor want to join it. We are, after all, herd animals.
We need to address head-on the vacuousness of our culture, the lack of a center that calls us to be part of something greater than ourselves. The impulse is there; it manifests when there is a natural disaster, when people rally to help and feel that their participation adds meaning to their lives. It's harder to see the ongoing disaster we have created, and to see the malaise behind it.
We need a new Great Awakening. Most religions, which were intended to be containers to provide a safe holding environment for spirituality, quickly become ossified shells that restrict the movement of Spirit. Religious traditions could still become more permeable and help to give direction.
Maybe you could invite Matthew Fox or others who connect the dots all the way from spiritual longings to acts of justice to be on your show.
- Roberta Patrow
Thank you for all your wonderful documentaries. I am currently the Indian Health Board (IHB) of Minneapolis, Board Chair. You did an incredible documentary called "Why Did Gloria Die" many years ago (1970s). Please come back and see us now – some things are better, many are not. Most respectfully and with the kindest of regards, Roberta Patrow
- Anonymous
Is this the only place where one can comment on "Bill Moyers and Friends"? This spot is all but hidden from access; having stumbled on it, I'm still not sure that it's designed for discussions of the shows.
For lack of an answer, I'm plowing ahead and commenting on the show tonight (6/7/2013). I appreciate the discussion with Richard Woolf; very thought-provoking. Nevertheless, I'm sorely disappointed by the description of what were described as recent tax increases. The "increase" in the payroll tax was a rescinding of a *temporary* two percent cut in the payroll tax, an economic stimulus measure. It should not have been painted as a measure to harm the middle class. Such a painting ultimately undermines the integrity of the view that Social Security is a benefit that recipients have *earned*. Fixing income inequality problems requires more creative and broad-gauged views and discussion.
- Anonymous
Mr Wolf posed many problems with the capitalistic system & a representative govt.. The system is far from perfect but he did not enlighten us on what system he would replace it with.. He quoted Senator Sanders who most folks libel as a Socialist. We have observed the Socialistic countries in Europe… I say no thanks The free market system has brought much wealth & prosperity to this country with leading innovatives & inventions which was encouraged by venture capitalist rather than big govt.. The stockholders of most US companies are the folks via Mutual funds or pension funds. Our biggest challenge is to acquire honest govt who will regulate industry
- Jimmy Cracks Capricorn
Hey Bill, with regard to the NSA issues at Booz Allen Hamilton – This private company is owned by the Carlyle Group, a hedge fund, in the business of mergers, acquisitions, and competing with rivals in business. This spy network gives them an unfair disadvantage in the free market by allowing them to spy on competitors, gain inside information on M&A activities, inside information on competitors customers, and potentially blackmail or extort competitor CEO's and executives, congressmen, SCOTUS justices, or even the POTUS, all paid for by US taxpayers.
Why isn't the media saying ANYTHING about this? This isn't the Government spying, this is a private firm doing the spying and selling the spying network to the government!!!!
- Alan
Good point.
- nina wax
I know you are going to do a show on malpractice insurance next week. I like you very much, but I think you are misinformed. I worked at the largest malpractice insurance company in the U. S in Risk Managerment. I was a whistleblower. Patients suing doctors does not drive up doctor's fees and their rate of malpractice insurance — Insurance companies do this, who set the rates. In fact it is very hard for a patient to sue a doctor, especially in California. The insurance companies lobbied to limit pain and suffering, so that attorneys do not have an incentive to sue. Attorneys must pay medical expert witnesses at least $300 an hour to testify and medical litigation cases can go on for years. Very few doctors will do this work due to the Code of Silence adhered to by doctors. Doctors make mistakes all the time (medical errors are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.)— one of the current examples is the protocol of cutting off women's breasts who have the BCRA gene 1 & 2. (Who don't necessarily have cancer.) Women over 60 and above have a high rate of "failure" due to "breast reconstruction." One plastic surgeon stated the failure rate was 45%. Doctors do not know that women's breasts are part of their sexuality nor do they care (breast implants of any kind have no feeling.) Reconstruction can cause necrosis (similar to gangrine.) Why shouldn't patients be able to sue in the millions for the pain and suffering doctors cause? Working on a car is different than working on a human being.
Please contact me:
Nina Wax, Author Occupational Health, former Reporter WebMD. (510) 536 5079, (510) 978 9226 after 12:00 pm PST.
- Anonymous
I've been reading about the Carlyle Group for years. There's a book about them where the author cites all anonymous sources because they retaliate – big time.
I love your connection and echo your question. But maybe the reason the media isn't going after this connection is they don't want to end up like Michael Hastings and Clifford J. Baxter.
Mr Moyers,
Who are the actual racists in our current society? Is there a non-white comedian out there who can stand up without smearing whites? I challenge you to go to the many ghettos and report on the singular focus of their frustration. They live in their own filth and blame whites for it. You are a very embarrassing representative of taxpaid media. Do you see the coward in the mirror?
- gonexpat
i do not trust the american style of healthcare. when bigpharma can make billions off "black box"warning drugs, something stinks!
hey bill how about a chart showing who has health insurance, who doesn't and how much is spent on coverage by workers and employers?
- Anonymous
You all Complain about Huger and how to get more handouts,,,Why don't you help US get our jobs back. We need to make our own products like we used to,,,TEACH US TO FISH instead of GIVING US FISH. You must bring up corporate Greed, (Treason) to the USA and outsourcing. Food Stamps are needed more now because people need jobs that don't require a college degree. We must have American wealth creation (manufacturing) JOBS in the inner City Ghetto would help STOP crime, STOP Hunger ,replenish TAX revenue and bring back PRIDE to the inner City…We are conservatives for BUY AMERICAN and Increase food Stamps for the working poor. We are Americans and we must Stand together and BRING JOBS BACK,,,APPLE Computers has 4 million jobs in CHINA and wants to bring them back to the USA but cant afford 39% Corporate TAX,,,,We must GROW IT , MINE IT or MAKE IT here in the USA and we could all prosper….TRADE DEFICIT is 500 BILLION , STOP THE MADNESS….FREE TRADE IS TREASON TO OUR CHILDREN…BUY AMERICAN
- Anonymous
PROMOTE BUY AMERICAN on your show…PROMOTE AMERICAN JOBS JOBS bring wealth and DIGNITY…..STOP RED CHINA ripping off our Economy,,,,FREE TRADE IS TREASON to the middle class. OPEN your eyes and help us little people. We could feed the poor if we had wealth creation (manufacturing) STOP Madness PUT the USA first… BUY AMERICAN
- P.J. Baker
Economic inequality and the decline of the American family are truly very real and tragic events. Since we no longer have labor union to increase and or maintain the status of the middle class, I suggest the following: Much is made about the high taxes paid by corporations and the adverse effect of such high taxes on "trickle down economics", although most corporations pay less than the standard tax rate and "trickle down economics " is — and has always been– just a myth. However, suppose we cut the corporate tax rate in half — providing at least 30% of the taxes that would have been paid are distributed to wage earners each year in the form of productivity bonuses. Why not? Hasn't their productivity contributed significantly to corporate earnings? This would leave the remaining 70% to be used for executive bonuses or re-investment into the company. The plan is eminently fair and every one has a share in corporate profits. I would like to see Congress give this plan serius consideration as part of tax reform.
- P.J. Baker
Correction: Part of the remaining 70% should go to stock holders as well, i.e., those who invest in the company.
- commentary on Charlie Rose Sho
I saw Bill Moyers on Charlie Rose show. There is some animosity between the two. I remember the time that Charlie Rose did ask Moyer why he was such a radical and Moyer brought up this comment in this recent interview. Both agree that the U.S. has been good to them. However Charlie Rose cannot help himself but bring up the topic of "will" power. I think that this has to do with force of character; that is why some people are successful and some are not. I did not think that this topic was a good way to end the show. I cannot remember how Charlie owes his career to Bill Moyer. About the middle class: I think we had the middle class because of unions?
- Bob Yuhnke
Last night was the first interview I can remember on Charlie Rose that focused on issues of why the American middle class is shrinking, equality and economic fairness. It was also the first time that I remember seeing Bill Moyers challenged on screen. Bill does not invite to Moyers & Co those who challenge his world view, and Charlie rarely invites those who challenge the American power elite. I felt that I saw more of the true Bill Moyers, who seemed at first ill at ease with this kind of challenge, but ultimately rose to the occasion. I just wish you had been ready with examples of how Obama speaks the message of restoring the middle class but then fails to support words with policies designed to achieve that result. I also wish you had been more willing to challenge Rose for his subservience to America's power elite.
it was undoubtedly one of the most scintillating exchanges on public TV during the last decade, or more. Two powerful intellects testing each other, in a contest for the mind of America. Thank you.
- Tony Shelton
Seemed like two engaged guys to me. Came down to Charlie asking, almost desperately, what can be done. Conversation really needs to begin here. Raising minimum wage/taxing financial transactions won't happen with this congress.
- Anonymous
Having watched these two men interview various they are great at it until ti comes to politics.. Rarely do they have a conservative point of view on..Their idea of a conservative is David Brooks who does not qualify as a rino.. Men like Tom Sowell & the late Milton Fredman , all great economist had not made their guest list that I'm aware of. Most of the political guest the Wash elite.. media & admin mbrs along with "popular" progressives..I do joy both men when they have non political guest.. they do a professional interview
Bill Moyers I never thought I will be seeing a true HERO in
my life time. Thank you sir!
- Richard Kait
Dear Bill,
I've been promising myself for a long time to write this note. I'm not sure that this is the right forum for it. I salute you for consistently pricking the conscience of your viewers by championing the underdog, by exposing corruption, by clearly showing how race in America is still one of the stickiest of issues. Your latest effort, "Two Families," left me aching and angry at corporate greed (only the bottom line counts) and the disconnect our politicians have concerning poverty in America.
So, Bill, you help me to keep the fire in my belly. I'm sure you will never lose yours.
With great admiration,
Richard Kait, Englewood, NJ
- tatateeta
Wow! I'll have to find the video. Coincidentally, I was looking for something to watch on my cable-less TV and I saw a guy from the WSJ (I think) talking about how nothing works in America and blaming it on the president. I never watch Charlie Rose. In fact, both PBS and NPR have become so corporate (perhaps they always have been and I was too ill-informed to notice) that I rarely watch or listen to them. This time, though, I will watch at least that segment of Charlie Rose.
- Anonymous
I'm afraid I couldn't take more of Martin Kaplan's conversation. It seemed to indicate the Brazilian people's outbreak was in response to the "educated" readership/viewings of the media. Ho-ho. Search internet for "journalism in Brazil" and you get an outpouring of criticism that sounds very American-like by pundits such as ________ (you can fill in the blanks). And the Brazil outbreak of rejection of a fare increase is not so much the "public" outrage of civic virtue, found lacking in New Yorkers' lack of outrage, but of a greater economic disparity in Brazil than in the US. Oh, there is plenty wrong with the country, but the insights offered by such as Martin Kaplan–and indirectly now Bill Moyers–is discouraging. So what if Kaplan has received awards. Let me tell you a story: Years ago I worked for government and had a very good friend who was an illustrator. There was a competition for illustrations, art works, graphics, and I said to Bob, "you should enter your work. You got some great stuff." Bob replied, "Hey; these competitions are judged by some of my peers. I don't think they're very good, and I don't think their judgments are either!"
So be it. I guess I'll have to find another source of "news." And of actions that can make a difference.
Goodbye, Mr. Moyers. Nice knowing you…..we're parting…company.
- Michael Gene Sullivan
Three things about the new, recently published stage adaptation of Orwell's "1984:" It's been running of-and-on around the country and the world for a few years; It's written by a black writer; and it's right on time.
- Bruce Wing
Moyers has a ridiculous haircut and an even more ridiculous outlook through his liberal lens. We oppose his point of view in almost every category as unConstitutional and socialist. Hey Bill, we have the right to defend and protect and legislate our borders and the people we allow in. Though Congress has allowed virtual Citizenship does not mean we encourage amnesty and no border control. Every country, including Mexico,do police their borders and protect thier citizens from unbridled invasion.
The aliens here have no right to self determination nor any right to stay here and dilute our Citizenship pal.
- mikeC
Hey Bill,
enjoy your show every week, but have returned to comment on J. Hacker and P. Pierson's book Winner-Take-All Politics (u know the rest). Absolutely awesome! i feel like i've been asleep for 30 years like Rumpelstiltskin and upon awakening someone handed me this book. i've been aware of the typical news & media ploys we've all heard, but this book is spot on, intelligent to such a high degree i had to write about and thank you. not only does it tell us who, how, and why, SPECIFICALLY, but it highlights what is missing in so much of the general media. obviously these pacs and politicians want to stay out of the limelight even though the SJC demanded transparency. Only Jacob and Paul in their book have brought us this. Thanks again and keep up the great shows!!!
- John Lennon
Who Has Seen the Wind?
Who has heard the truth?
Neither I nor you:
But when the whistle blowers sigh,
The truth is passing through.
Who has seen the truth,
Neither you nor I:
When the government speaks,
The truth is dead.
Bill Moyers "the best in his field", Mr. Moyers investigate the truth in politics, religions, social "classism", I applaud him for being him….
I would hope that he does investigative research on ACORN vs SER SCSEP and see why ACORN lost the battle….The truth will be known and it is time.
- Albert Elijah
YES Mishu… you are on point !!!
- Albert Elijah
Play 'Working Class Hero'.. how incredible Lennon was. Maybe he was going to warn us about the 'Big Game' or before he did they got rid of him. RIP John Lennon
- Mike K
I want to get Bill Moyer's autograph on a baseball. Can some please help me.
- dave kay
I am in the middle of a month free of netflix. I have watched 30 documentaries on everything from The Koch Bros. Exposed to Billionaires Tea Party to OutFoxed to Sarah Palin: You Betcha to One Percent to The Best Government Money Can Buy . . . on and on.
These are all tiny independent film makers and seemingly unconnected, yet they all had common refrains: Our country is controlled by a moneyed few.
This may sound like an obvious point, and even I knew this, in thanks to Mr Moyers. I didn't, however, realize the long long arm of this fact.
This problem appears to be so far "down the road" that there doesn't seem to be a way back.
Revolution isn't going to work because the 99% (really it is 90%) noses are just about water.
True revolution only happens when your nose is under water and you have nothing. Unfortunately, crime is the "stop" on the way to the barricades because people have to survive while the revolution works its way to resolution.
My final point is this: when I try to discuss this, everyone is oblivious. They are either too busy working and raising kids or they are too busy watching the Bachelor (or equivalent).
I'd like to say that the only democratic solution is to create a third party so big that it ousts every member of Congress and White . . . call it Moyer's Army or the 99% party . . . but I think that even within that huge party there would be so many disagreements as is to what is right, that it simply wouldn't work.
- dave kay
Sorry, I didn't complete one word below, "Whitehouse" i.e. the Executive Office.
Bill in recent years I have changed my view on how to bring about change in our flawed financial and political system and watching your broadcast has only reinforced this idea. In the past I thought change could be carried out by supporting Democratic candidates and speaking out for progressive ideas politically, but for the past three decades I have only seen a decline of power for these ideas in my home state Tennessee. During this time we have become one of the most red states in the US. The problem is the national Democratic party no longer supports the real needs of main street Americans as it once did, and the Republicans cast any local candidate running as a left wing socialist. This spells automatic defeat for anyone opposing the conservative establishment that controls our political landscape.
After viewing your shows on ALEC and the money driven agenda of this conservative movement I have come to believe the only way to bring about change in my region's politics is to start at the local level. And the only way to bring about change is to establish a third party based on a populist driven platform. It must replace what is left of the local opposition that have failed to crack the armor of this conservative scheme that has devastating to the families and workers in my state. The party must disassociate itself from the created stigmas attached to the Democratic party such as abortion, gun control and gay rights and concentrate on the needs of mainstream Americans and their families. Its main goal must be to explain to both the employed and unemployed workers that the financial system intact today is the culprit in most problems confronting us today. We must effectively convey the message that an economic system that once provided the American citizen with a diverse and opportunistic workforce has been destroyed by a greed driven agenda that gratifies the desires of corporate America and Wall Street. This should include an explanation of how outsourcing of our jobs has created an ever increasing underclass which has become dependent on our strained entitlement systems. Next we must clarify how these programs were established to provide a safety net for our sick and elderly, not to compensate for the US workers that have been displaced by a foreign labor force that is relegated to slave conditions when it comes to wages and human rights. Voters must come to realize that if we allow this financial scheme to continue gaining force it will erode the possibility of most American workers ever attaining a sufficient job to adequately support their family and for those fortunate enough to have a better paying job how it will siphon their tax dollars to support the created underclass.
Any help or suggestions for this movement would be greatly appreciated.
- dsqs
The decline can be correlated to eternal accumulation of garbage in the legal system over centuries. These eternal cumulative laws made by politicians add incremental complexity and hinder the progress of ordinary citizens and maintain status quo for rich, powerful and connected.
The solution is to break the cycles of status quo:
1. Put an expiry date on all the laws (automatic garbage clearing)
When the laws expiry, review, simplify and renew based on the need.
2. Put term limits on all top positions both in public and private sector.
- Charles Shaver
Some good points made, dsqs, but may I add that in addition to allowing obsolete laws to garbage-up the system, ignoring the context and law established by the equally integral, inseparable and enforceable Preamble to the U.S. Constitution is another serious problem, as are violations of other provisions thereof, and most oaths of public office.
I propose seven years for every law to expire if not revisited and re-ratified. Not only could that purge the books of a lot of garbage, it might keep the scoundrels too busy to generate new garbage.
Term limits probably won't help much if we keep the same old two-party system. I've been advocating "Don't blame Republicans; Don't blame Democrats; Blame both; vote OTHER" (any 'other') for a few years now but it just hasn't caught on yet. In 2012 of about 222 million eligible voters only about 4 1/2 million voted wisely, for candidates other than known bad (e.g., sold their souls to Wall Street devils) Republicans and Democrats.
I advocate too for a true American (e.g., no British entertainment and, certainly, no media support of an obsolete and wasteful British monarchy) 'Public Broadcasting Network,' on which all political campaigning would be done (e.g., no snail mail ads), along with that on public and private websites.
Much more to be proposed and restated but none of it matters if some 95% of all eligible voters keep getting it wrong, and/or don't vote, on election day. With a majority of wise voters it would only take three congressional election cycles to purge all of the current garbage from Congress and the White House; a pretty quick, low cost solution don't you think?
- dsqs
Charles, Thanks.
Your points are very valid.
We have seen both the parties in power but it has not made much difference. Both the parties play the same game. One of the main reasons is, they are able manipulate small constituencies (similar to divide and rule). When it comes to "at large voting", it will be almost impossible to deploy these manipulative techniques.
Many people do not participate in voting because they think their votes do not make any difference and they do not have any other options.
I know it is very long shot thinking this way, where status quo is the norm. But we have start thinking in this direction.
Term limits are the most simple and important tools to eliminate corruption in both public and private sector. It totally changes the behavior people at high positions. With unlimited terms, people try every thing possible to maintain the position of power. When the same person is in-charge for long time, It is very difficult see the hidden corruption in the system. On the other hand with term limits it is very difficult to hide any corruption in the system.
PB network is dependent on donations/sponsorship for their operations, and that affects type of programs they broadcast. I wish Gov fully funds these valuable public service organizations.
- http://www.dorothywellingtonministries.com/ Rev. Dorothy Wellington
"We Live in a Good World." We live in a world where there are so
many people who will never commit a crime or go to jail. We live in a
world where more people are being helpers to others than ever before.
We live in a world where most people will never bring emotional or
physical harm to a child or endanger the life of animals. We live in a
world where there are more talks of negotiations and peace than war. We
live in a world where most people will never set off a bomb or create
acts of terrorism. We live in a world where most people in love want to
stay married than be divorced. We live in a world where most people
are trying to live healthy lives than being sick. We live in a world
where parents are wanting to spend more time with their children and to
be active in their education. We live in a world where children who are
born today will never discriminate against their neighbors because they
don't have to unlearn the prejudices of centuries before.
We live in a world today where women can walk into any career they choose,
obtain jobs and positions and not be forced to ride in back of a bus.
We live in a world where there are more people working to heal our
earth, sky and oceans than natural disasters that destroy. We live in a
world where the poor can become rich and race can never stop someone
from becoming President of a Nation. We live in a world that if your
position and company do not exist–you can create one. We live in a
world where sickness and disease days are numbered because science and
research are continually at their doors.
We live in a world where there are more people everyday wanting to do good than the numbers viewed and talked about in our media outlets that show horrors
of darkness, crime, sin and wrongdoing. Be encouraged, We live in a
Good World." Written by Dorothy Wellington
- http://Beaufishblues.wordpress.com/ leah #lovemyplanet
Too bad the justice system is not aware of all that. We in the US have more people x capita in prison than the rest of the world. 60 billions x year spent and some to private company for profit. When we compare the world of today with the past barbaric beliefs and behaviors it gives us no reason to think we are doing better. We are just as barbaric now as we were then, with GMO"S, death penalty, no health care or security for a home. Racism still exist, we are exploiting people in other countries to have more profit, we are polluting the earth.
The price we pay for that belief is a stagnant society who is squashing children creativity, keeping us in poverty and taking all our constitutional rights away.
If your husband was spending 36% of his salary on collecting weapons while your children were hungry, your water cut off and electric bill unpaid what would you say?
It is apparent you have a good job and are happy so you can look at the glass half full, not everyone is as fortunate as you are. We must see the entire picture and critically assess what evil is being done to keep people in poverty, without health care and slowly loosing their rights. We have many working hard for good but we are fighting the devil itself and cannot live with illusions.
- http://Beaufishblues.wordpress.com/ leah #lovemyplanet
Can we find one candidate that is honest enough, courageous enough that when he gets the job is not scared to death for his life and collapse in the same modus operandi.
- http://www.dorothywellingtonministries.com/ Rev. Dorothy Wellington
The portions of the glass you mentioned are truth. I have chosen to focus on the other half because of a spiritual Universal Law that implies that our focus is what we receive more of in some way. I don't believe the other half don't exist, my prayer is to God for help and when He gives me something to do about any of it, I will. But daily, I must stay in grace, mercy and thanksgiving for so much goodness that is in our humanity and world. Only one correction, I don't have a good job, I've been living poor with not enough for my needs for a long time, but things are changing and I'm looking forward to more of God's goodness in 2014. Be encouraged, "Be the change you want to see in the world."
- Charles Shaver
I imagine so but first, I believe, Congress needs to be purged of the majority, if not all, of old-time and new-age Republicans and Democrats already proved to be corrupt, dysfunctional and/or obstructive, by their constituents, and refreshed with third, fourth and fifth party candidates. The next chance to begin to do that with better informed voters is in November of 2014.
- Anonymous
Please, please, please DO NOT vote for "the lesser of two evils." When you do, evil maintains its deathgrip on our necks.
Find people who are honorable and interested in actually SERVING in their work, and vote for them. Jill Stein's a great choice. Write in "Elizabeth Warren" or "Bernie Sanders" if you have to, but please, do not perpetuate the myth that your vote MUST be "democrat" or "republican."
- Harry Chrissakis
Hello Mr Moyers
I am part of an original song writing and performing duo. We wrote these 2 songs" SAY" and FREEDOMLAND because we are inspired by your work. We dedicate them to you at our performances. Please keep going. You are a shinning light in the midst of a very dark period. Here is the link to our material http://www.reverbnation.com/rpk/songs/3766079
Thank you
Harry Chrissakis
Blair Liggit
SoundSpeak L.C.
- ShaunMarie
I'm sorry – but I have read the 2nd amendment. It does NOT guarantee the right to bear arms to "all citizens". It guarantees the right to bear arms to all citizens as part of a "Well-Regulated Militia".
And – but the way, the second amendment was put into our constitution not – as many purport – so that we may overthrow tyrannical regimes. It was a sop to slave holding states that they could maintain the militia's charged with rounding up southern dark-skinned "property". You see, the southern states weren't quite comfortable with all that radical talk about all men being created equal, and feared deeply – even then – that the new confederacy would deprive them of their rights to hold people in bondage.
It is more than a little ironic how the rights of white men to kill black men, with 'stand your ground' laws is still supported in the south today.
- dhb4angels
- Anonymous
The Govt is owned and operated by the Corporations! So is PBS.
- Charles Clements
The reparations program is a bit of a catch 22. I grew up in mining camp with a wide variety of people, but none were black. My parents were Virginians, both from a pretty impoverished childhood. Some of my friends were Utes and Hispanic. All came from a very oppressed ancestry. So I don't think oppression is racially connected. People of all races are oppressed by people of all races. I think it was Jim Hightower that said it's not black vs white; liberal vs conservative; it's the top 1% against the rest of us. So that's where any reparations must come from to be just.
- kona ohana
Why haven't you addressed the drug Cartel of BigPharma buying of FDA thus controlling their marketing of mind altering drugs that cause suicide & murder in over 50% of those who take these antidepressants. This is an epidemic you and media have ignored while hundreds of thousands every year.
- kona ohana
These hundreds of thousands die each year by either suicide or murder as big PHARMA make billions$ each year on each of these poisonous antidepressants their own emails leaked to media in the 1980's proved. They bought FDA thru cash and jobs via the revolvingdoors between FDA and the drug manufacturers. This corrupt reality is ignored as our families are destroyed.
- dhb4angels
I hear what you're saying, AND I think it's way more than a 1% issue. We have a huge problem with racism all along the watchtower. I object to the hatred and oppression.
- dhb4angels
Rick, thorium salt reactors fascinate me, too. Must make such good sense, the rich and powerful squelch it. I get excited about the potential of many great ideas to ditch dirty energy. We need to move forward! Glad to see the EPA taking some steps in the right direction.
- dhb4angels
Thank you – great comment! I agree with your sentiments.
- dhb4angels
Good words!
- dhb4angels
- dhb4angels
Great ideas!
- Anonymous
How can we raise taxes on the 1% when they and their puppet politicians make the tax laws? Nader said that corporations have to make as much money for their shareholders by law. Do you think they will give to the "little people" out of the kindness of their hearts? How can giving tax revenues to politicians help when they direct the money to the wealthy and powerful that finance their campaigns? Why is there no mention of the direct grassroots democracy that keeps Swiss politicians in line with public consensus?
- Chance for hope
Activism comes in many forms. Its time to take it to a new level. We need to take democracy back———-Occupy Wall Street was on the right track How to make to push beyond the idea is compelling!
- Tom Fitzgerald
We don't have a democracy. We have a republic that has become an oligarchy.
- Anonymous
I think what we need is a means to directly establish better structure, rules, and protections of rights in the Constitution, so I will propose to you a means to open the door to direct democracy. A Draft of what one might call the ROM Boot for Citizen Democracy:
Article (i) Section 1.
The fifth article of the Constitution of the United States is hereby amended to include a process for Citizen Amendment of the Constitution.
Section 2.
The Citizenry, whenever in the course of time deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, and if by manner of circulating a petition of a proposed amendment garner 1/50th or more of the general population in the number of petition signators, then the proposed amendment shall be put forth before the Citizens and voted on as a ballot proposal, 2/3 approval by the voters required for passage and enactment.
- Charles Shaver
Chuck, is that 2/3 of the eligible vote or only 2/3 of those voting? Generally, in recent years, with only about 53% of us voting, approximately 28% of us elect our presidents. If it were up to me I'd require 2/3 of the eligible vote with your amendment and at least 51% of the eligible vote for all other elections. Perhaps a penalty for not voting is in order, too. However, that still leaves us with the problem of the majority of us still voting traditionally for one or the other of those two who have already proved themselves to be undeserving of our votes, like by removing Glass-Steagall banking protections in 1999, ex post facto to at least two big bank mergers in 1998.
- Anonymous
I had envisioned 2/3 of the eligible voters for simplicity sake, though 2/3 of those voting might be better, given the poor turnout in any given election. I thought about what the founders said about amendments, "not for light or transient reasons", and to try and include all citizens in the decision process, seemed sensible, though now I wonder as well; maybe it ought to be a law to vote! I think a level of cynicism and apathy affects many, some are just outright lazy, some too busy working – if we all had better choices, if our vote was it and no checks were written behind the curtains, no legislation vetted behind closed doors we all might put faith in the process and participate.
Bascially I put myself to the task of a thought experiment – if we were to really fix the problem of bad government, what changes at the constitutional level must be made? Independently of others I wrote a second bill of rights, trying to check and balance matters carefully, establish better economic parameters and delineate many basic rights missing or muddled in the existing documents. It is a work in progress and by no means perfect. If you are interested I will happily send you the document, please feel free to criticize and suggest improvments; I think if at least if we have a gelled set of ideas that dovetail well together, perhaps the matter of inclusion of the missing puzzle pieces will, in time, be put into place.
- Charles Shaver
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I personally don't think we should need any more changes made to the Constitution but, unfortunately, there are those among us who don't understand the rule of law or even that the Preamble (establishes context and law) is as much an integral, inseparable and enforceable part of the Constitution as any other, or disagree with the stated intention, principle and purpose of the Founders. Still, I too have written a list of proposed amendments and even had it posted on my own website (now retired) for quite a while, with very few hits. Prior to that, I wrote snail mail (twice) to the U.S. DOJ about what was wrong and to every domestic office of attorney general and ACLU, in late 2005 and early 2006, respectively; not just with voter competence and turnout, we have a problem.
I think it would be interesting to compare my 'Constitutional Guarantee Salvation Act' with your 'Bill of Rights' but there remains the problem of voter apathy and tradition. I haven't voted for a Republican or Democrat for President since Reagan and since learning of Gramm-Leach-Bliley in 2012 I no longer vote for either for Congress (state, maybe). Regrettably, as you already know, we also need a new Congress or a new batch of state governors and attorney generals to get any new amendment passed. It appears the good ship 'America' is going to have to hit bottom before the big guns wise up to the fact they shot themselves in the hull and salvage efforts are now required. As one who still honors a schoolboy Pledge of Allegiance, and a military enlistment oath to defend the Constitution (as opposed to any political party or their less comprehensive political agenda), and plans to fight the good fight to victory, I'd be willing to share/swap proposals but how, without inviting a lot of spam or ???
- Anonymous
I am very appreciative of your thoughts, and I feel much the same way, except I do believe some essential components were left out of the constitution, though the preamble does set down those basic rights, however it is this court and congress which refuses to acknowledge and honor the basis for the constitution, and will not take seriously any rights not clearly enumerated, nor correct any major matters leading to corruption. I am very much interested in your set of additional rights, because I miss a great deal of important concepts, I would very much enjoy the possibility to improve, revise, or even replace what I have come up with; I am seeking solutions for the conundrums we are in.
I share your frustration over writing the DOJ on major issues having only succeeded in having one letter read by the supreme court, but you went the extra mile to contact the ACLU and every office of attorney general with even more dissapointing results, which by omission tells the truth about where their opinions reside.
And yes, the choices in the major parties are on average mediocre to bad, so voting ammounts to either a protest to create opposition or a vote for the lesser of two bought turkeys.
It is this problem of corruption which sets up a biased court and false interpretations of the constitution which I aim to correct, as well as some of the clearly missing rights. Even though they exist, it is because they are not written specifically that justices with an agenda can claim they are of lesser value or may not exist at all.
To communicate simply send me an Email and I will happily reply, no strings or spam attached. email@example.com
Your constitutional salvation guarantee act has my interest piqued, I am all for anything that offers a chance to fix the mess we're in!
- Charles Shaver
Thanks for your continuing concern and interest and your willingness to communicate more directly. Regrettably, unlike the actual Constitution, I no longer have my 'act' stored on this computer. As is, I hope to locate a copy of it later today and send it to the email address you have provided. For now, where we mostly seem to differ (as with where I differ with so many others in and out of government) is just how inclusive and specific the basic Constitution is, in the context and law established by the Preamble, based on only a strict, literal interpretation of the clear plain English (the only constitutional language in the U.S.) thereof. First, for now, some of my seven decades of working-class education and experience based reasoning.
The Founders prescribed an improving, happy, healthy, peaceful, prosperous, moderate, secular, socialist union for the majority, minorities, individuals and their heirs, not the failed and failing, increasingly diverse and mentally and physically ill, capitalist Christian money, power and war mongering global threat, in favor of and run by a tiny minority of elitist extremists in power today. There are no specific provisions in the U.S. Constitution for capitalism, a two-party political system, an offensive military, globalism or obscene wealth coexisting with abject poverty, and "We the People of the United States…" (as opposed to the more ambiguous and deceptive 'We the People…' of Ronald Reagan) are not just millionaires, billionaires, celebrities and heads of Church and State. The only reason to spell some things out in detail (e.g., the IRS code and Citizens United) being to unduly favor special interests.