Mr. Dreyfuss Your a genious. How bill maher (the progressive genital wart that he is) allowed to you talk so much about common sense and good moral values surprises me. But in the face of darkness I imagine even a traitor like maher can embrace conservative ideals. Maybe not. I'm not a bigger Dreyfuss fan!!!!!
Democracy went away for 2000 years because religion took over. How can kids be taught to think freely in a country where most people are brainwashed with religion and see to it that their kids get brainwashed too?
Are teachers allowed to teach civics in school? I was taught civics in Junior High and around my families dinner table. We read in my home. We read books, newspapers, essays, poetry, history. History was huge in my family. Howard Zinn was a favorite in my home. Thank you Mother for being so well read and teaching me the importance of the critical thought!
Give Dreyfuss credit. He's flirting with the 'Liberal-elitist Hollywood Blowhard' tag with this; it's a profound thought that he had the balls to share. I'm glad Maher took it seriously, and didn't feel the need to defuse it with a 'how crazy is this guy'-type quip at the end.
Take that, libertarians. There's an 'Unintended Consequence' to calling government the enemy for 40 years. Bet you never thought Hayek's favorite word would be used that way, huh?
What the hell does that mean? Shouldn't you say, "Take that," to all the people that mindlessly worship state power and who continually yell and scream for it take more and more from us?
Richard I like you, however, teaching these morons to basically reason is almost impossible. The education system a joke and needs to be totally revamped. The people who are our representatives who supposely highly educated can't even reason. The masses keep electing the paid off crooks to run the country. It's time to start again, throwout the baby with the dirty bath water. The only thing that is clean is the constitution.
Well then mr Dreyfuss,America better gets take its finger out of its ass,and stop being selfish with its citizens,when it comes to ideas,corporations dont have the right to take advantage of peoples ideas,American citizens dont look after one another as a whole,the standard of living is going up,it is not coming down,people work because they are running from poverty,Constantly,the ideas that should be put in place are prevented by the Rich and the Elites,they prevent education,and better living.
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There were SLAVES in Athenas democracy. Just like there were slaves in the first century of American democracy. Hell, check out some 50 years ago. What we have now is PARTIAL democracy because it's mixed up with the dictatorship of corporations. When we surpass capitalism, that's where real effective democracy will start.
Bill Maher, Greeks DID NOT have democracy. In Greeks only rich noblemen, born of greek decent and powerful wealth citizens had a right to vote. No Women, no slaves, no immigrants. That is NOT a democracy.
@MJFAN666 In Athens, democracy was certainly different (equality among voters, i.e. men who owned property, a small percentage of the population). In fact, the very word comes to us from the Greeks. It functioned quite differently (e.g. at one point, courts had 1,000 judges, so they couldn't be bribed). It was short lived, and often didn't work well, but continued to inspire subsequent civilizations.
@gyniest lol, exactly man, that ain't democracy! Thats just a joke really. If you were only allowed to vote if you were rich and with bribes, if you could change the outcome of election, thats a weak system. Thats why the Greeks don't exist today. loll. (I took ancient civ. course. Trust me. I know what I am saying.)
so sad to see such praise of Mr. Dreyfuss -- since he thinks it's "too soon" to do a proper, thorough investigation of 9/11 ... until this generation has passed, because people's emotions are too strong etc. lol, he thinks waiting until like 2030 or so is required to learn The Truth (!)
Anarchy is the only free state of being...America is not free, that is ridiculous. America is "safe", there is a huge difference between safe and free....
@ichthus1890 wrong, having a national mint is partly united the states, we're a representative democracy because the founding fathers thought it was the right way to avoid faction.
@ThatGuyAtTheBar Dude, every founding father screamed not to become a Democracy, one even said Democracies commit suicide and always lead to Oligarchy. do your research before you make such a brash statement, our country has always been for the rule of law, not the rule of 51%.
A miracle that is going away day by day, the Rockefellers funded women's lib to get more taxes and break up the family structure its working for them. We are not a democracy that's bullshit WE ARE A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC WITH INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES SELF GOVERNANCE WAKE UP PEOPLE THEY ARE WINNING.
I don't usually find myself agreeing with Richard Dreyfuss, but he is absolutely dead-on correct about the cost of freedom and the growing ignorance of our past founders, including their; general history, heroism on all counts, ingenuity, religious beliefs, etc.
We don't teach history anymore...it's a terribly sad and unfortunate reality.
See how zionist maher wants to correct dreyfuss and make people think that life has always been free. That ugly hook nose nazi isnt fooling anyone with his irritating cynicism and cocky pseudo intellectualist attitude. Everyone knows maher is a crypto-zionist. He sure talks about how much he HATES religion....but has he ever come out on judaism? NOPE! But I guess satanism isnt technically a religion.
dreyfuss disapoints as a historian. there were plenty of democracies in the middleages. meaning elected by by people. note necessarily one man one vote but still.
America is neither a "democracy" nor a "republic". It really is a "democratic republic". Democracy in it's base form says "majority rules". Republics say "represtatives are specialized to make decisions for us". When your "candidate loses", all is not lost. The argument wasn't strong enough or clear enough. We do a poor job communicating. This is not a failure of the "country", it is a failure of our own making. As said: "What am I responsible for" is the key here.
Again, I refer you to history. "The miracle of American government is that nothing like it had ever been created before", sorry, but for anyone who knows any history at all, this statement is laughable! Cases in point, in the Classical period, Greece, Athens and Sparta were democratic republics. Not to mention Rome and Carthaginian republics. In the ancient near east, India had numerous democratic republican states. In the middle ages, Switzerland created the Swiss Confederacy...cont'd
@cutis1000 Dreyfuss is a great student of human "history"?? Umm, not at all. If he was all that, he wouldn't use words like "the miracle in American government". That's just complete ignorant bullshit. America is built on genocide and slavery, PERIOD! And that's a miracle? Well, yeah it's a miracle of stupidity that after the entire world had been enlightened, America was still in the dark ages...did I say "was"? Sorry, I meant IS still in the dark ages.
@cutis1000 Not at all. Just very intolerant of stupidity and stubborn refusal to research facts as opposed to just spewing out someone else's jibberish propoganda. It's that kind of ignorance that put Bush in the whitehouse twice no less.
@nvieira100 You're taking his comments out of context. He's describing the creation of the United States experiment in democratic government, founded upon principles of reason, intellect, dissent, debate, and logic. Read the constitution. It's not a document written by religious zealots. The miracle of American government is that nothing like it had ever been created before. Don't extrapolate further from it. This is not a discussion about slavery and genocide.
@cutis1000 cont'd... and of course the most recent to US history of all, is France, on which the US "democratic" government was based. So, SORRY, no miracle. Just a really good copy cat and a hell of a lot of hyperbole over something that has occurred throughout history. Misinterpreting his statements? Not at all. Just correcting them based on KNOWLEDGE, and not hyperbole. I really do hope you read up your history. It will open your eyes.
@nvieira100 cont'd....The U.S. government might be inspired by French democratic gov't, but it is still OUR democratic government, not France's. So the fact that you belittle American constitution doesn't give you much credibility give you despise it so. Yes, Greece, Athens, sparta, those were earlier attempts at democratic government but they are not U.S.government. We live in a different time and a different place. You denigrate the U.S. constitution, not a perfect document by any means.
@cutis1000 You missed the point of my response. You said "The miracle of American government is that nothing like it had ever been created before". I just pointed out to you that it is no miracle and there sure have been many like it before. I'm not "denigrating" your constitution, just the hyperbole and spin constantly being put out there by your politicians, about how America is a "miracle" like your forefathers invented the idea of democracy, which per history is nonsense.
@nvieira100 I agree with you that American government is based on other attempts at establishing a democracy. And that our forefathers certainly did not invent democracy. I just think you are somewhat undervaluing America's contribution to democracy. It has many problems and is by no means ideal but the U.S. had made its mark on democratic government. It is unique.
@cutis1000 Perhaps at one time, but certainly not in today's age. Democracy means majority rules and yet, a presidential candidate can receive the majority of votes, but still lose! Whatever happened to "every vote counts"?! That is not democracy, and America has lost a lot of respect around the world because of it's actions/decisions/policies, and not only in the last 10 years. Think Central America, Vietnam, Iran / Iraq war just as a start. America was shameful in Central America.
@nvieira100 Believe me, you don't need to preach your knowledge and understanding of world history to me. Having studied American and European history since high school, I know as much, if not more, than you do when it comes to the history of humankind. Yes, America was shameful in its foreign policy towards Central America, Vietnam, and of course, Iraq. I was protesting the many American atrocities while you were still in diapers. American democracy has its shortcomings.
@cutis1000 I have a masters degree in History and unless you're in your late 60's or 70's, I doubt you were protesting when I was in diapers :). America, sad to say, has lost the concept of democracy. When the candidate with the majority of votes loses an election, you have to ask yourself, whatever happened to "every vote counts"? Is this democracy? It's not. America is not a democratic nation. It has become a capitalist society.
@nvieira100 I agree with you that the United States is a capitalist society and more importantly has become a corporatocracy. But democracy does still thrive at the local and state-wide level. Your criticism of America is from a nation standpoint. If you were to visit many cities and states in the United States, you would see democracy alive and well. I know because I happen to live in one!
When 9/11 happened people looked at bush and he, being Incredibly religious, threw civil liberties out. Wire-tapping(privacy) no formal declaration of war(loss of governmental procedure) torture(gitmo-human rights) So, here's the question-- who the he'll would ever vote for Palin/Odonnell/Bachmann when they would use religion in their ruling of gov??
DAMN HE NAILED IT! Dictatorship/kingship vs president elected. One gets his view of ruling from God supposedly, one gets it from the people who elected him. In crisis, the religious look to divine god for the answer. In crisis, democracy looks to science, intelligence and history for answers
We aren't a democracy. We aren't a democracy. We aren't a democracy. We aren't a democracy. Richard Dreyfuss needs a wake up call. We are a Republic. We aren't a democracy.
This is not just an American problem, It's global. I am European and we have the exact same problem going on over here. Really interesting talk from Mr Dreyfuss given at Silicon Valley, Technology has killed time > fora.tv/2010/07/19/Richard_Dreyfuss_Improving_Civic_Education#fullprogram -
He made really excellent points and articulated them better than I've heard from anyone else. But when he'd done that, he kept talking and kept talking. And kept talking.
I think people sometimes hurt their own arguments by not shutting up after they've said something important. When it comes to talking sense, less it more.
@professor2442 4 mins is good enough. Maybe not for a college student, but 4 mins is not too bad. I've been in a lecture with Ralph Nader - he spoke practically non stop for 90 mins!
I wasn't complaining about the length of time. I was complaining that he made his point clearly, succinctly, and even eloquently by 2:11, but then kept talking. And I think that often continuing to talk after the point is made can hurt the way an argument is received.
I've never seen this particular episode before and I've never seen ANYONE on this show go on so long, without being interupted (except for a short outburst by Maher). Cool.
Some here seem to think he was too long-winded. I guess too many of us have attention spans way too short and want every point that someone tries to convey, neatly packaged into tiny sound bites 20 seconds or less. Kinda sad really.
@jelinto I had not seen it before this post, but your comment is dead on balls accurate. It is sad, as you posted, in that a lot of people have just grown outright lazy. They won't listen to reason beyond the 20 seconds, and won't even read a newspaper.
tinotrivino, a Republic means we are Rule of Law (U.S. Constitution based upon the spirit of the Declaration of Independence), NOT mob rule or majority rule which is a Democracy. Democracies are not truly free societies. If the masses are a bunch of lazy good for nothing immorals, well, that is what the country will reflect. Unfortunately, our country has been incrementally made into a 'democracy' which attempts to negate the Constitution and all three levels of govt. Rule of Law is U.S.
@kokodokodo You're using the terminology of political science without understanding the standard definitions of same. You're living proof of the deficit Dreyfus is describing.
Your description of democracy is right out of the GOP-McCarthyist-John Birch Society playbook; it bears no resemblance to the agreed-upon definition taught to Political Science students all over the world. If I can't trust that you fully understand the words you're using, how can we have a productive discussion?
@GoreyFantod - "...it bears no resemblance to the agreed upon definition taught to Political Science students all over the world". Bingo!!! Your comment alone should answer your confusion. The universities are cesspools for UN socialist indoctrination 'world wide' through corporate 'sponsorship' who act as front orgs for the Fed Reserve. The Constitution speaks for itself. Our country was based upon sound moral principals of Supreme or Divine Laws.
@eyeseeingall Wow. You're like the poster child for what's wrong with the American educational system.
Do you not understand that if you unilaterally redefine words it makes it nearly impossible to have a comprehensible political debate? You diminish your own credibility, because it's clear that you don't understand the terminology you use.
@GoreyFantod - don't blame me for your brainwashing indoctrination. I am just stating the truth of what you were not taught in school. And, by the way, that was deliberate. I suggest you read Locke, Paine, Franklin, Jefferson, Montesquieu. Seriously, I just want to help you.
@eyeseeingall Oh, you poor thing. An reactionary who's opposed to education & schools - what a shock.
An education in history & political science includes all the authors you name, plus many more. Just like most with a Poli. Sci. degree, I've read the Founders along with their influences, both contemporary & historical. Unfortunately, you may have read the words, but your comments make clear you don't comprehend them. P.S. One usually starts with Plato, the Greek Demos & the Trivium.
Well Richard that theory is evident in every society and in every home. Its society that teaches children to hate and love. You will find that in Palestine Iraq Iran Africa everywhere. One is taught to hate the Jew, one the American, one the Muslim, one the Christian etc. It is what makes Humans idiots and the Animal seem somewhat adoreable because animals dont preach hate to each other. Its that simple and it will never change.
He seems very stubborn I wonder if his father taught him that? I think he got fired from the Honda Commericals. He needs to make another movie people will go see ...Maybe Jaws VI - the reunion.
We can help educate ourselves by making it mandatory for the Public School System to teach every high school student a course in the U.S. Constitution.
Many Americans know we have a constitution but many do not understand what it guarantees every American.
This is something that should be say before student start history class and "debate" class (most of the time, it is include in English in USA) at high school. Not at the first day, but at the first real class day.
@PETEYPOPOFF The United States was never meant to be a democracy it was meant to be a constitutional republic. Don't forget democracy killed Socrates.
We're one step above the apes. How are we gonna see the light? Oh yeah, and keep it up if we do?? Dah well. It's nice to see someone like Richard Dreyfuss spreading this kind of message. I don't plan on having kids so I'm not going to worry about my offspring.
a sparkling jewel of a man and moreover, a man, a human being of the finest qualiber, a citizen in the antique greek meaning , a beacon of truth in a world of lies.
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Mr. Dreyfuss Your a genious. How bill maher (the progressive genital wart that he is) allowed to you talk so much about common sense and good moral values surprises me. But in the face of darkness I imagine even a traitor like maher can embrace conservative ideals. Maybe not. I'm not a bigger Dreyfuss fan!!!!!
go4kyourselfRAT 1 month ago
Comment removed
go4kyourselfRAT 1 month ago
Ron Paul is teaching US the truth
debbiemae71352 1 month ago
we are not a Democracy, Constitutional Republic!
kilrush2000 1 month ago
Democracy went away for 2000 years because religion took over. How can kids be taught to think freely in a country where most people are brainwashed with religion and see to it that their kids get brainwashed too?
anthonypepitoneVideo 1 month ago
@anthonypepitoneVideo
naaaaa i know people with no religion that at as much assholes as some that have religion
Dtrollmancan 1 month ago
Mr. Holland Rocks!
mrsmoose1478 1 month ago
EPIC!
VlocoG 1 month ago
GUNS hello GUNS were Retained by the People to Keep The Government Honest GUNS ... when will the first Shots Be Heard ????
jurisnot 1 month ago
"You're going to need a bigger brain."
StevieCoyleMusic 1 month ago
Are teachers allowed to teach civics in school? I was taught civics in Junior High and around my families dinner table. We read in my home. We read books, newspapers, essays, poetry, history. History was huge in my family. Howard Zinn was a favorite in my home. Thank you Mother for being so well read and teaching me the importance of the critical thought!
camipray4peace 1 month ago
Better than his Oscar Speech.
jtnert 1 month ago
This is our wake up call. We as a nation must take charge of our democracy at all times. We can never given to the power of the few.
mohken 1 month ago
Hey! It's the guy from Close Encounters!
KevinTheNoobie 1 month ago in playlist Strangely interesting videos
Give Dreyfuss credit. He's flirting with the 'Liberal-elitist Hollywood Blowhard' tag with this; it's a profound thought that he had the balls to share. I'm glad Maher took it seriously, and didn't feel the need to defuse it with a 'how crazy is this guy'-type quip at the end.
MrJercules 2 months ago
"Responsible for your own government"
Take that, libertarians. There's an 'Unintended Consequence' to calling government the enemy for 40 years. Bet you never thought Hayek's favorite word would be used that way, huh?
eirefrance 4 months ago
@eirefrance And just bowing down and saying yes ma'am to the free market and the likes is just as irresponsible.
toverkleet 4 months ago
@eirefrance "Take that, libertarians."
What the hell does that mean? Shouldn't you say, "Take that," to all the people that mindlessly worship state power and who continually yell and scream for it take more and more from us?
Get off the pipe, man.
MillionthUsername 3 months ago
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@MillionthUsername "all the people that mindlessly worship state power and who continually yell and scream for it take more and more from us?"
Who are those people?
eirefrance 3 months ago
Richard I like you, however, teaching these morons to basically reason is almost impossible. The education system a joke and needs to be totally revamped. The people who are our representatives who supposely highly educated can't even reason. The masses keep electing the paid off crooks to run the country. It's time to start again, throwout the baby with the dirty bath water. The only thing that is clean is the constitution.
richco7773 5 months ago
Well then mr Dreyfuss,America better gets take its finger out of its ass,and stop being selfish with its citizens,when it comes to ideas,corporations dont have the right to take advantage of peoples ideas,American citizens dont look after one another as a whole,the standard of living is going up,it is not coming down,people work because they are running from poverty,Constantly,the ideas that should be put in place are prevented by the Rich and the Elites,they prevent education,and better living.
Superpureeliteful 5 months ago
Bravo
lundsteve 5 months ago
Dreyfuss is so pompous whatever material of value in his commentary is totally lost.
AndrewMann552 7 months ago in playlist Semantics - Richard Dreyfuss
@AndrewMann552 Only on those with weak vocabularies.
monokhem 6 months ago
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TheServiceWeb 7 months ago
There were SLAVES in Athenas democracy. Just like there were slaves in the first century of American democracy. Hell, check out some 50 years ago. What we have now is PARTIAL democracy because it's mixed up with the dictatorship of corporations. When we surpass capitalism, that's where real effective democracy will start.
ricardofuego 7 months ago
Dreyfuss is a much more thoughtful and skillful speaker than I knew !
Azakhiel 7 months ago
was that david bowie in the middle?
donovan3955 8 months ago
Bill Maher, Greeks DID NOT have democracy. In Greeks only rich noblemen, born of greek decent and powerful wealth citizens had a right to vote. No Women, no slaves, no immigrants. That is NOT a democracy.
MJFAN666 8 months ago
@MJFAN666 In Athens, democracy was certainly different (equality among voters, i.e. men who owned property, a small percentage of the population). In fact, the very word comes to us from the Greeks. It functioned quite differently (e.g. at one point, courts had 1,000 judges, so they couldn't be bribed). It was short lived, and often didn't work well, but continued to inspire subsequent civilizations.
gyniest 7 months ago
@gyniest lol, exactly man, that ain't democracy! Thats just a joke really. If you were only allowed to vote if you were rich and with bribes, if you could change the outcome of election, thats a weak system. Thats why the Greeks don't exist today. loll. (I took ancient civ. course. Trust me. I know what I am saying.)
MJFAN666 7 months ago
and suddenly richard dyefuss is my hero
TheKosuko213 8 months ago 5
boring
paginipro 9 months ago
god is logic
paginipro 9 months ago
@paginipro the concept of god is itself illogical
SourcesAreEverything 9 months ago 2
@SourcesAreEverything check my discovery here's my site theoreticalphysics.webs.com
paginipro 9 months ago
so sad to see such praise of Mr. Dreyfuss -- since he thinks it's "too soon" to do a proper, thorough investigation of 9/11 ... until this generation has passed, because people's emotions are too strong etc. lol, he thinks waiting until like 2030 or so is required to learn The Truth (!)
simonjeste 9 months ago
i've never seen someone talk that long on real time lol
cdphatty 9 months ago
Anarchy is the only free state of being...America is not free, that is ridiculous. America is "safe", there is a huge difference between safe and free....
MrLycanthropy 9 months ago
totally right u go
XxSavvyXFrezaxX 10 months ago
Quit playing with yourself Mr. HOOPER!!!
cliffiez 11 months ago
I agree with everything that he said.
YoungnRomantic 1 year ago
3:05 .. and freedom to access cheap oil
yutuboslaven 1 year ago
Seniors in high school should be taught how to fill out IRS forms and pay their taxes. In the long run, that will eventually shut down the IRS
rickbeckwitt 1 year ago
fucking. horns. \m/... amazing....
enotdetcelfer 1 year ago
America is not, and never has been a democracy, and hasn't been a Republic since the Government gave up the right to print money.
ichthus1890 1 year ago 18
@ichthus1890
worst democracy since Canada
WonderBread006 5 months ago
@ichthus1890 wrong, having a national mint is partly united the states, we're a representative democracy because the founding fathers thought it was the right way to avoid faction.
ThatGuyAtTheBar 4 months ago
@ThatGuyAtTheBar Dude, every founding father screamed not to become a Democracy, one even said Democracies commit suicide and always lead to Oligarchy. do your research before you make such a brash statement, our country has always been for the rule of law, not the rule of 51%.
kilrush2000 1 month ago
I've never heard the audience and panel so quiet before
disciple419 1 year ago
Mr. Holland just schooled your ass.
disciple419 1 year ago
I don't like the panties hanging on the line! What a Butt
kingediii 1 year ago
A miracle that is going away day by day, the Rockefellers funded women's lib to get more taxes and break up the family structure its working for them. We are not a democracy that's bullshit WE ARE A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC WITH INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES SELF GOVERNANCE WAKE UP PEOPLE THEY ARE WINNING.
JHK1976 1 year ago
I don't usually find myself agreeing with Richard Dreyfuss, but he is absolutely dead-on correct about the cost of freedom and the growing ignorance of our past founders, including their; general history, heroism on all counts, ingenuity, religious beliefs, etc.
We don't teach history anymore...it's a terribly sad and unfortunate reality.
ThisIDig 1 year ago
See how zionist maher wants to correct dreyfuss and make people think that life has always been free. That ugly hook nose nazi isnt fooling anyone with his irritating cynicism and cocky pseudo intellectualist attitude. Everyone knows maher is a crypto-zionist. He sure talks about how much he HATES religion....but has he ever come out on judaism? NOPE! But I guess satanism isnt technically a religion.
jcostello117 1 year ago
It seems the celebrity spotlight-getter works every time it's tried these days.
Since it's been a while since Dreyfuss has landed a role in a major motion picture it's sort of understandable that he would seek publicity.
CALA60554 1 year ago
dreyfuss disapoints as a historian. there were plenty of democracies in the middleages. meaning elected by by people. note necessarily one man one vote but still.
MaLoDe1975 1 year ago
@MaLoDe1975 yea, im sure youre right and HE is wrong... (rolling my eyes)
OralAgreement69 1 year ago
Is that Tom Morello?
BrianDgreat123 1 year ago
America is neither a "democracy" nor a "republic". It really is a "democratic republic". Democracy in it's base form says "majority rules". Republics say "represtatives are specialized to make decisions for us". When your "candidate loses", all is not lost. The argument wasn't strong enough or clear enough. We do a poor job communicating. This is not a failure of the "country", it is a failure of our own making. As said: "What am I responsible for" is the key here.
rodeojim1 1 year ago
He has a way of saying a lot without really saying anything.
danzigjr 1 year ago
Again, I refer you to history. "The miracle of American government is that nothing like it had ever been created before", sorry, but for anyone who knows any history at all, this statement is laughable! Cases in point, in the Classical period, Greece, Athens and Sparta were democratic republics. Not to mention Rome and Carthaginian republics. In the ancient near east, India had numerous democratic republican states. In the middle ages, Switzerland created the Swiss Confederacy...cont'd
nvieira100 1 year ago
Excellent comment from Dreyfuss.
CyeOutsider 1 year ago
Stay off the road when Richard's driving!
democrapper 1 year ago
MY MOMMA SAYS OBAMA!
thunderbirdscarlett 1 year ago
brilliant.
dwquinn53 1 year ago
bullshit america is built on violence and racism !
bjornbjorn2 1 year ago
He has a point, but he's really overreaching.
chavruta2000 1 year ago
Thank you very much for sharing this. I've FB'd it and more people should watch and hear it. Dreyfuss is a great student of human history.
cutis1000 1 year ago
@cutis1000 Dreyfuss is a great student of human "history"?? Umm, not at all. If he was all that, he wouldn't use words like "the miracle in American government". That's just complete ignorant bullshit. America is built on genocide and slavery, PERIOD! And that's a miracle? Well, yeah it's a miracle of stupidity that after the entire world had been enlightened, America was still in the dark ages...did I say "was"? Sorry, I meant IS still in the dark ages.
nvieira100 1 year ago
@nvieira100 you sound like you have anger issues.
cutis1000 1 year ago
@cutis1000 Not at all. Just very intolerant of stupidity and stubborn refusal to research facts as opposed to just spewing out someone else's jibberish propoganda. It's that kind of ignorance that put Bush in the whitehouse twice no less.
nvieira100 1 year ago
@nvieira100 You're taking his comments out of context. He's describing the creation of the United States experiment in democratic government, founded upon principles of reason, intellect, dissent, debate, and logic. Read the constitution. It's not a document written by religious zealots. The miracle of American government is that nothing like it had ever been created before. Don't extrapolate further from it. This is not a discussion about slavery and genocide.
cutis1000 1 year ago
@cutis1000 cont'd... and of course the most recent to US history of all, is France, on which the US "democratic" government was based. So, SORRY, no miracle. Just a really good copy cat and a hell of a lot of hyperbole over something that has occurred throughout history. Misinterpreting his statements? Not at all. Just correcting them based on KNOWLEDGE, and not hyperbole. I really do hope you read up your history. It will open your eyes.
nvieira100 1 year ago
@nvieira100 cont'd....The U.S. government might be inspired by French democratic gov't, but it is still OUR democratic government, not France's. So the fact that you belittle American constitution doesn't give you much credibility give you despise it so. Yes, Greece, Athens, sparta, those were earlier attempts at democratic government but they are not U.S.government. We live in a different time and a different place. You denigrate the U.S. constitution, not a perfect document by any means.
cutis1000 1 year ago
@cutis1000 You missed the point of my response. You said "The miracle of American government is that nothing like it had ever been created before". I just pointed out to you that it is no miracle and there sure have been many like it before. I'm not "denigrating" your constitution, just the hyperbole and spin constantly being put out there by your politicians, about how America is a "miracle" like your forefathers invented the idea of democracy, which per history is nonsense.
nvieira100 1 year ago
@nvieira100 I agree with you that American government is based on other attempts at establishing a democracy. And that our forefathers certainly did not invent democracy. I just think you are somewhat undervaluing America's contribution to democracy. It has many problems and is by no means ideal but the U.S. had made its mark on democratic government. It is unique.
cutis1000 1 year ago
@cutis1000 Perhaps at one time, but certainly not in today's age. Democracy means majority rules and yet, a presidential candidate can receive the majority of votes, but still lose! Whatever happened to "every vote counts"?! That is not democracy, and America has lost a lot of respect around the world because of it's actions/decisions/policies, and not only in the last 10 years. Think Central America, Vietnam, Iran / Iraq war just as a start. America was shameful in Central America.
nvieira100 1 year ago
@nvieira100 Believe me, you don't need to preach your knowledge and understanding of world history to me. Having studied American and European history since high school, I know as much, if not more, than you do when it comes to the history of humankind. Yes, America was shameful in its foreign policy towards Central America, Vietnam, and of course, Iraq. I was protesting the many American atrocities while you were still in diapers. American democracy has its shortcomings.
cutis1000 1 year ago
@cutis1000 I have a masters degree in History and unless you're in your late 60's or 70's, I doubt you were protesting when I was in diapers :). America, sad to say, has lost the concept of democracy. When the candidate with the majority of votes loses an election, you have to ask yourself, whatever happened to "every vote counts"? Is this democracy? It's not. America is not a democratic nation. It has become a capitalist society.
nvieira100 1 year ago
@nvieira100 I agree with you that the United States is a capitalist society and more importantly has become a corporatocracy. But democracy does still thrive at the local and state-wide level. Your criticism of America is from a nation standpoint. If you were to visit many cities and states in the United States, you would see democracy alive and well. I know because I happen to live in one!
cutis1000 1 year ago
Is he already a teacher?
brainsmoothy 1 year ago
Thoughtful and to the point.
AutoBahnForever 1 year ago
all it takes is an IQ higher than room temperature to understand what he is saying!
he's a great actor because he has passion & intelligence. let's put him on the ballot!
me10u90 1 year ago
When 9/11 happened people looked at bush and he, being Incredibly religious, threw civil liberties out. Wire-tapping(privacy) no formal declaration of war(loss of governmental procedure) torture(gitmo-human rights) So, here's the question-- who the he'll would ever vote for Palin/Odonnell/Bachmann when they would use religion in their ruling of gov??
kcozgrove 1 year ago 5
DAMN HE NAILED IT! Dictatorship/kingship vs president elected. One gets his view of ruling from God supposedly, one gets it from the people who elected him. In crisis, the religious look to divine god for the answer. In crisis, democracy looks to science, intelligence and history for answers
kcozgrove 1 year ago
We aren't a democracy. We aren't a democracy. We aren't a democracy. We aren't a democracy. Richard Dreyfuss needs a wake up call. We are a Republic. We aren't a democracy.
zappa2001 1 year ago
@zappa2001 we are a democratic republic. Or a representative democracy. Take your pick.
Sp00nie86 1 year ago
HOOPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thegreatlordbunny 1 year ago
This is not just an American problem, It's global. I am European and we have the exact same problem going on over here. Really interesting talk from Mr Dreyfuss given at Silicon Valley, Technology has killed time > fora.tv/2010/07/19/Richard_Dreyfuss_Improving_Civic_Education#fullprogram -
DaFreak4ever 1 year ago
He made really excellent points and articulated them better than I've heard from anyone else. But when he'd done that, he kept talking and kept talking. And kept talking.
I think people sometimes hurt their own arguments by not shutting up after they've said something important. When it comes to talking sense, less it more.
professor2442 1 year ago
@professor2442 no.
illusionstateofmind 1 year ago
@professor2442 4 mins is good enough. Maybe not for a college student, but 4 mins is not too bad. I've been in a lecture with Ralph Nader - he spoke practically non stop for 90 mins!
cruzerrepublic 1 year ago
@cruzerrepublic
I wasn't complaining about the length of time. I was complaining that he made his point clearly, succinctly, and even eloquently by 2:11, but then kept talking. And I think that often continuing to talk after the point is made can hurt the way an argument is received.
professor2442 1 year ago
4:20 is a good length for a video to be. Lol
RyJ 1 year ago
@RyJ i noticed that too. lol. :)
LovelyLeo3 1 year ago
This was no boating accident! j/k He's spot on!!!!
ChuckyJesus666 1 year ago
He sat in a boat with Quint.
He was around when you where asked to call home.
Coffee or Tea?
I wouldn't imagine either side could disagree with what he is saying right here.
bhistironin 1 year ago
His awesomeness ~ did it come from the Close Encounter :-)
2emc 1 year ago
Dreyfuss is one smart SOB...plus, he can be funny as hell...;)
cecinid 1 year ago
This went on for a bit too long.
themasterbakerrr 1 year ago
@themasterbakerrr no.
illusionstateofmind 1 year ago
I've never seen this particular episode before and I've never seen ANYONE on this show go on so long, without being interupted (except for a short outburst by Maher). Cool.
Some here seem to think he was too long-winded. I guess too many of us have attention spans way too short and want every point that someone tries to convey, neatly packaged into tiny sound bites 20 seconds or less. Kinda sad really.
jelinto 1 year ago
@jelinto I had not seen it before this post, but your comment is dead on balls accurate. It is sad, as you posted, in that a lot of people have just grown outright lazy. They won't listen to reason beyond the 20 seconds, and won't even read a newspaper.
MrEatonbeaver 1 year ago
@MrEatonbeaver
Since then I came across this video...
watch?v=g08ogb_8VVw
...and now don't know what to think.
Seems Dreyfuss is aware of a certain truth, but has unique ideas about how to handle it.
jelinto 1 year ago
@MrEatonbeaver yes!
illusionstateofmind 1 year ago
Wake me up when he finishes
cepdv1 1 year ago
Richard Dreyfuss AND Tom Morello?! How did I miss this episode?!
ClydeNut 1 year ago
Dreyfuss really loves the sound of his own voice, right or wrong.
sk8gr812345 2 years ago
@sk8gr812345 Dreyfuss loves the sound of his own voice... Boy, you can say that again!
SuperBrianm 1 year ago
so true,what happened
TheJerseybull 2 years ago
Richard Dreyfuss is absolutely right and on target!
dra101ma 2 years ago
i think about the first minute of what he said has some substance, then it becomes theater.
fadsyt 2 years ago
clearly he's on meds
penguinx9 2 years ago
Whoa. I am amazed at the incredible substance he contributed here. He is so right. Civics must be learned.
He is sooooo wrong about our country being a 'democracy'. He is wrong wrong wrong. We are a REPUBLIC!!! Get that straight Richard!!!
kokodokodo 2 years ago
iots true you are a republic system, but still its democratic cause you have a vote system, even if you dont vote the president directly :)
tinotrivino 2 years ago
tinotrivino, a Republic means we are Rule of Law (U.S. Constitution based upon the spirit of the Declaration of Independence), NOT mob rule or majority rule which is a Democracy. Democracies are not truly free societies. If the masses are a bunch of lazy good for nothing immorals, well, that is what the country will reflect. Unfortunately, our country has been incrementally made into a 'democracy' which attempts to negate the Constitution and all three levels of govt. Rule of Law is U.S.
kokodokodo 2 years ago
@kokodokodo You're using the terminology of political science without understanding the standard definitions of same. You're living proof of the deficit Dreyfus is describing.
Your description of democracy is right out of the GOP-McCarthyist-John Birch Society playbook; it bears no resemblance to the agreed-upon definition taught to Political Science students all over the world. If I can't trust that you fully understand the words you're using, how can we have a productive discussion?
GoreyFantod 1 year ago
@GoreyFantod - "...it bears no resemblance to the agreed upon definition taught to Political Science students all over the world". Bingo!!! Your comment alone should answer your confusion. The universities are cesspools for UN socialist indoctrination 'world wide' through corporate 'sponsorship' who act as front orgs for the Fed Reserve. The Constitution speaks for itself. Our country was based upon sound moral principals of Supreme or Divine Laws.
eyeseeingall 1 year ago
@eyeseeingall Wow. You're like the poster child for what's wrong with the American educational system.
Do you not understand that if you unilaterally redefine words it makes it nearly impossible to have a comprehensible political debate? You diminish your own credibility, because it's clear that you don't understand the terminology you use.
GoreyFantod 1 year ago
@GoreyFantod - don't blame me for your brainwashing indoctrination. I am just stating the truth of what you were not taught in school. And, by the way, that was deliberate. I suggest you read Locke, Paine, Franklin, Jefferson, Montesquieu. Seriously, I just want to help you.
eyeseeingall 1 year ago
@eyeseeingall Oh, you poor thing. An reactionary who's opposed to education & schools - what a shock.
An education in history & political science includes all the authors you name, plus many more. Just like most with a Poli. Sci. degree, I've read the Founders along with their influences, both contemporary & historical. Unfortunately, you may have read the words, but your comments make clear you don't comprehend them. P.S. One usually starts with Plato, the Greek Demos & the Trivium.
GoreyFantod 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Richard Dreyfuss talks a lot and never says anything.
harryflocyberman 2 years ago
Are you that profoundly dense? Were there too many foreign terms that zoomed over your head, or bounced off it?
ehcmier 2 years ago 3
agreed - what a putz
harryorgans 2 years ago
Well Richard that theory is evident in every society and in every home. Its society that teaches children to hate and love. You will find that in Palestine Iraq Iran Africa everywhere. One is taught to hate the Jew, one the American, one the Muslim, one the Christian etc. It is what makes Humans idiots and the Animal seem somewhat adoreable because animals dont preach hate to each other. Its that simple and it will never change.
STHFGDBY 2 years ago
He seems very stubborn I wonder if his father taught him that? I think he got fired from the Honda Commericals. He needs to make another movie people will go see ...Maybe Jaws VI - the reunion.
Vibes4me 2 years ago
Good points are made by Dreyfuss.
We can help educate ourselves by making it mandatory for the Public School System to teach every high school student a course in the U.S. Constitution.
Many Americans know we have a constitution but many do not understand what it guarantees every American.
tranquility4all 2 years ago 6
This is something that should be say before student start history class and "debate" class (most of the time, it is include in English in USA) at high school. Not at the first day, but at the first real class day.
therrydicule 2 years ago
I would have skipped Mr. Holland's class.
dhwgsg99 3 years ago
DUAL WIELD NEEDLERS
mutha fucka im OP.
also. this vid is awesome
richard and tom are both awesome
:D
Zerophoenix1 3 years ago
Good video! Richard Dreyfuss is awesome!
violinboy345 3 years ago 2
Here hear! This is the good stuff!
rmirabelle 3 years ago
Can't wait to see him as Dick Cheney in Oliver Stone's "W"!
AndrewMann552 3 years ago 9
In this clip you pretty much see all Tom Morello contributed to that episode LOL
AndrewMann552 3 years ago
Richard Dreyfuss rules!!!
Hrundi68 3 years ago 28
authoritarianism isn't horrible if a democracy is still present overall but totalitarianism is bad and corrupts not only the leader but the people.
ArtGaul 4 years ago
They are dumbing the West down on purpose.
fulltimekiller88 4 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
dumb
joecool759 4 years ago
Well said.
Hickey66 4 years ago 22
@Hickey66 Way beyond well said. Brilliant is more like it!
IntelVeritasOSX 1 year ago
MR Holland's Opus!!!
shorty2hops 4 years ago 4
America is not the only democracy on the planet.
PETEYPOPOFF 4 years ago 5
@PETEYPOPOFF The United States was never meant to be a democracy it was meant to be a constitutional republic. Don't forget democracy killed Socrates.
attemptingtobehumble 11 months ago
holy cow Tom Morello is bald? I thought he had hair but still wore a hat.
racl101 4 years ago
Great video. Yes, lets all listen, and use our minds!
TallSky 4 years ago 3
We're one step above the apes. How are we gonna see the light? Oh yeah, and keep it up if we do?? Dah well. It's nice to see someone like Richard Dreyfuss spreading this kind of message. I don't plan on having kids so I'm not going to worry about my offspring.
iamguy991 4 years ago
a sparkling jewel of a man and moreover, a man, a human being of the finest qualiber, a citizen in the antique greek meaning , a beacon of truth in a world of lies.
kINGPEPE001 4 years ago 2
he said this several years ago.
i wonder what he would say today.
hippylong 4 years ago
uh, this was just six months ago
DrOctopu5 4 years ago
Brilliant analysis. Absolutely brilliant. Please listen!!!!! Somebody listen to this truth.
uuunderground 4 years ago 3