Gordon Gekko, Er, Michael Douglas at U.N.

[tubub]

What I got from this and other people seem to be missing is that Douglas played his character so well people get mixed up.... People either think he actually is Gordon Gekko, or that he somehow agrees/understands with what Gekko is.

That's how well he played the part. Nothing short of amazing to be honest.

[mkadiri05]

This is why we are in a recession because we have idiots asking actors for advice on the economic crisis

[63muhammad]

GREED IS GOOD, GREED IS RIGHT, GREED WORKS

[sirgordongekko]

Greed is good

[berkamilan]

lol i think Douglas should have gone to some financial lessons 25 years ago and made Gordon Gekko a real :)

[DunkinDonutful]

Hands up who thinks Tim Roth is a dumb, fucking, son, of, a, bitch.

[ManPopa]

there is no other actor that could be Gordon Gekko except for Douglas...

[MetallicBill]

So, I think in seriously funny tones, he could have humored the question with his own take on "Is Greed good?" That would have been that, but at the same time, MD knows these are serious times and things must move forward without fail, and equating the movie just wasn't important for the setting I feel.

[Evo2nr90]

he should have just recited the old "Greed, for lack of a better word...is good" quote. ahahhaa MICHAEL DOUGLAS IS MY IDOL. or should i say gordon gekko?

[MetallicBill]

@Evo2nr90 For me, Greed is bad, but extra money is not a bad thing, to have on hand!

[richard20bris]

Like if you would vote for Douglas/Sheen for President - 2012!!!!

[ml497]

Haha! This is like a scene from South Park xD

[CAinfowarrior]

if he stood up and made a speech defending the system like at teldar paper i would still applaud. It be wrong, but awesome. i think some actors should walk around in character, no other reason then it would be tight. *80's Nostalgia!*

[leonidas512]

Greed is good, stealing is bad, and the latter happened when the fed started to print money like Zimbabwe and stealing the savings of the middleclass to help out the rich and the ploretariat

[MothRoom]

@leonidas512

ploretariats are the lower social class. I think classism isn't wise for anyone apart from those who are stealing for themselves.

[YipManneke]

he sounds like the fucking president

[TheBighairyfart]

Its actually pretty hilirous that a lot of bankers thought when he said greed is good, that this would be an excellent slogan for their evil and vacous selves

[JuanMacready]

I'm glad Michael Douglas is dying of stage 4 throat cancer.

[sironisix]

@JuanMacready why he just played an actor portraying corporate raiders. ever heard don't shoot the messenger? his job was to illustrate and show us the corruption he actually did a service to the public

[auntienoonoo]

@JuanMacready

what sort of horrible person are you?

[Lewa500]

@auntienoonoo What sorts are there?

[wilhelmtm]

@JuanMacready why ur glad? he's just an actor!! and a good one!

[JuanMacready]

@wilhelmtm He shouldn't have smoked 40 cigarettes a day.

[numbcore]

@JuanMacready Are you Kurt Russel?

[timetodepop]

Is this a fucking joke? #1 .why the fuck is Michael Douglas being invited to speak from this platform? The UN is about serious world issues not hollywoods arrogance and stupidity.

`#2 These questions are absolutely ridiculous.

I hope people realize why the world see's us as complete imbeciles here in America. We are way off the reservation.

[magicyte]

@timetodepop The UN is about serious world issues?...NO WAY...I would never of guessed it. Well..maybe they are "about" world issues...just not all that into solving them...that would require actual effort.

[timetodepop]

@magicyte

What you see is definately not what is. What it is is only what they wish you to see. If the general population had any idea about what the UN is really doing or stands for, we could have an insignificant rebellion by the sheep. Futile and messy as it would be.

[nocturnezero]

Why are they asking Michael Douglas about economics? Silly reporters. This is Michael Douglas. He is not an economist. He acts in movies.

[thenutsisgood]

@nocturnezero greed is the essence of the evolutionary spirit. without greed and personal growth there would be no social and technological advancement. striving to be the best, and competition is what makes the world work, switzerland hasnt had a war in 500 years, and they created the cuckoo clock in that time.please respond, i want to year your thoughts.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood Evolution isn't conscious. Evolution isn't a thing that develops our mental state, at least not to any permanent or significant degree. If greed were evolutionary, then the Indian societies in early America would've greedily hoarded their possessions and maintained strict power structures instead of having thriving egalitarian societies where the people voluntary shared possessions and property.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood Human nature isn't built to be greedy and human nature changes quite often. People would be perfectly willing to advance their society simply for the benefits of the society and the increased efficiency in their workplace if they weren't already oriented to expect massive cash payments for any and all progress. In fact, having high expectations for profit, respect, and status only hinder advancement when you realize that you aren't rewarded for the right things.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood The world doesn't work, not to any respectable degree. the compassionate and selfless are rewarded with economic failure and bankruptcy. The Gordon Gekkos who are willing to undercut other business and entrepreneurs reach the top. You can still strive to be the best and reach your full potential in a society where we cooperate instead of compete, where we are brothers instead of antisocial atomized monsters.

[thenutsisgood]

@nocturnezero youre talking about socialism, which doesnt work. there will always be people who are smarter, more talented and harder working than others, why shouldnt they be rewarded with more money and luxuries that they can afford. the world you dream of is exactly that, a dream. greed will always be an omnipresent part of the psyche of forward thinking and aggressive people in this world.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood By what measure? What socialist society failed so hard in your opinion? The Spanish communes that formed after the Socialists brought down Franco, which George Orwell lived in and described as thriving and succesful? Maybe Yugoslavia or Venezuela, both of which were pulled out of poverty by State Socialist policies? Or perhaps you refer to the USSR, which was anti-Socialist in policy (anti worker's rights, union busting, class hierarchy), and failed because of that.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood If you were born smarter or more talented you don't deserve a thing for it. You didn't work to earn that talent or intelligence. You just got lucky, and things you can't control don't warrant you more reward. You can only control how hard and long you work and the onerousness of your conditions, and those are the things that my philosophy rewards; Capitalism doesn't. Capitalism rewards 1. property ownership, 2. genetic talents and 3. output.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood Greed WASN'T an omnipresent part of the human psyche. I already gave you an example of egalitarian societies that defy your proclamations about human nature, but you neglect to explain how these Indian societies were so successful or how the Spanish Anarchist Communes thrived.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood Socialism doesn't punish hard work - in fact, hard work is the only thing that Socialism (at least the detailed model of Socialism called Parecon fleshed out by Michael Albert that I subscribe to) rewards, along with onerousness of the conditions you work under and the sacrifices you make to do so like training or schooling. You should look into some Socialist literature to get an understanding of what we actually believe.

[thenutsisgood]

@nocturnezero ive read about it. never studied it deeply but i have an understand of socialism, obviously not like you. people will never accept socialism, not in our lifetime and certainly not in civilised countries, used to democracy and freedom. it will never happen so you might as well drop your beliefs.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood I've spent years studying the texts of both Socialist and Capitalist philosophers, along with Fascists, free marketeers, authoritarians, etc. You've read about Socialism. You can't tell me I lack an understanding.

Socialism is economic democracy! That's the most basic definition of Socialism. Even people who abhor Socialism understand this simple fact. Socialism is democracy applied to the economic sphere. That is the core definition of it.

[magicyte]

@nocturnezero This is for both of you guys arguing.Socialism is slavery just like democracy. I live in Canada...so I know...since..."LIGHT BULB L:IGHTS UP"...we're a socialist society. Socialism is just a slight twist on currency based slavery...born into it just like every other government. Besides tribal governments...we're all born into currency based slavery...and if you decide you don't have to pay your land tax...well...see what happens. Same consequence everywhere you live. You lose.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood And you still seem unwilling to explain the success of the various egalitarian societies, communes, Syndicalist groups and Bolivarianist countries in history.

Are you implying that the US is either democratic or free? Freer than other countries, maybe, but certainly not free to any objective scale, and a corporate - ruled republic is far from a democracy.

[elzepeda]

the only thing worse than politicians is journalist. what's wrong w/ these morons.

[DryHanson]

Oh my God LOL, is this real? Ask Sylvester Stallone some questions about the Middle East problem, he can fix it in Rambo.

[MartialArtistWannabe]

@DryHanson

ROFL! Thumbs up hahahaha.

[FuckImperialism]

It's like asking Pierce Brosnam "Why do you invaded Irak with Mr.Bush without UN consent?" because of The Ghost Writer.

[mrjamesb56]

...Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful. ...

[cherylwens]

Stupid americans and their obsession with hollywood. First of all, why does this guy's opinion matter? Second, why keep posing questions to his character in a film when he's clearly a REAL person?

[OpinionatedJerk]

ROFL!!! WTF!! This is like something the Onion would put out!! Can't believe this is real!! LMAO!!!!

[LCCRJB21]

too bad he isn't as well dressed as he was while paying Gordon Gekko lol

[bluehorse888]

it's an interesting commentary on the psychology of the media that they are asking what "gekko" would do as if he was a real charecter. Am I the only one that thinks that's just a little bit nuts?

[miko1975guitar]

No you are not the only one. these interviewers are obviously on drugs. Michael douglas is not gordon gekko, he is an actor and producer. besides which, the character gekko was a reflection of the times, and was not the architect of corporate or financial greed, this of course already existed. Greed has existed for as long as man has existed, and will continue to exist.

[matrat57]

@bluehorse888 I also think it shows how fucking desperate the world is regarding the crisis... I think we should send Silvester Stallone to the middle east too, in fact they should have did it a long time ago: Rambo would have find Bin Laden on 9/12 01 in the morning.

[MrUncomfortableTruth]

view 22,000 with 22 comments.....

[ednoisin]

michael douglas is a criminal puppett who made it as lead actor because of his dad kirk. In the book by Ayn Rand, Anthemn, the protagonist ends the novella by promising to recruit his friend, the actor, to help creating his vision of a new world order. Sadly, this is a case of wall street recruiting its marionette gordon gekko to play self-centered & spineless platyhelminthes michael douglas. Globalization of the planet has been achieved by the g8-nations. Be Blessed, Peace and Shalom,

[LeCreuset05]

If there ever was a new world order run by the Bilderbergs and the Rockefellers, I can assure you that Kirk Douglas would not be part of it.

[zooooodles]

I love Michael Douglas. He is great as an actor. his strength is clearly not financial markets.

[matthewelync]

This is pretty retarded for the press to be asking Douglas about the state of greed and the financial crisis when he is an ACTOR....ppfffffttt.

I do think his line 'Greed is Good' inspired a generation of raging assholes but to ask him about Wall Streets bank defaults as if he were an expert or even knowledgeable is stupid.

[thenutsisgood]

@matthewelync agreed man. he seems intelligent though and his experience allowed him to answer the questions pretty well i think. but there is nothing wrong with greed.

[nocturnezero]

@thenutsisgood The entire point of Stone's Wall Street and Douglas' performance is that holy fucking shit, yes, there is so infinitely much wrong with greed.

[tubub]

@matthewelync

inspired me and I'm not an asshole.

[magicyte]

@matthewelync That's sort of where ignorance begins...since it can be said that the so called "professionals" don't know shit and keep running the world further into debt and slavery. You don't need a degree to be an expert in human motivation...you just need the wisdom that certain life experiences can bring. Could be you...could be me...could be a kid...could be anyone. Answers always seem to come from the most unlikely places...

[jrock2310]

@matthewelync you're exactly right. hell, even the experts dont seem to know.

[sunnysang]

dammmm hes gotten old....

[PeterFirthFan]

I'm amazed the Jewish commie didn't die of lung cancer.

[MondoBeno]

Why does anyone want Douglas' opinion on nuclear weapons? He's an actor. He has no qualifications in nuclear technology, foreign policy, political science, or economics.

[MrGordongecko2007]

Gekko rules the world....go read a book loser!

[Bobhoche]

Only in America

[TwiztedAnimator]

Isn't it odd that people want to listen to an ACTOR or MUSICIAN talk about politics? LoL, it's hilarious. Remember when they asked Brittany Spears about the president? LMAO! Who cares what you think! Go make a movie or song and STFU.

[peaceandmetal88]

Haha, they wouldn't leave him alone about Gordon Gekko.  Did that guy actually just call him Gordon? lol

[worm082]

Theyre talking to him as he is the guy in the movie what the hell haha. Surprised he kept his cool Id have gotten a little ticked.

[agwoodliffe]

Of course he kept his cool. It is very wise to not lose your cool in situations like this. Read ' The Art of War ' by Sun Tzu.

[Baseliner]

Gordon Gekko is cooler than Michael Douglas.

[tqsuited]

he still has the slicked back hair like gekko.. and hasnt aged too badly since

[krlyle1980]

I really feel bad for Michael Douglas here but it's really funny at the same time-- I don't think I've ever seen him give a bad performance in any of his movies but Gekko is iconic. I hope the reporters weren't just trying to give him a hard time??!! Anyway he handles the situation with total class.

[eatcrack]

I hate it when people get to speak to an actor and make references from a character they played as if it the actor is still the character!!!! It is very annoying!

[mikelowry5]

Douglas should have let him have it.

[CoxXximus]

He is so INTENSE !!!!

[fabricioface]

Arnold Schwarzenegger for president!

[northmetalguy]

and Sylvester Stallone for vice president

[jonathanpqsi]

youre out of line GECKO!!!!!

[johntkucz]

MD is such a shark! awesome haha.

[mgallachermgallacher]

I Love Michael Douglas!

[sk8bow]

it's sad how many lives can be affected by some greedy sons o bitches!!!!! people in their sixties who can't retire because of filthy rich bastard who robbed these legally. what are they going to do? that's sooooo fucked!!!

[hemmingway28]

buyer beware, they could of have had there money in a savings account FDIC insured. I love how when people are making money or high returns or interest on a concept called "risk" no one says shit and everybody loves the system, but when they lose, it is "why aren't they protected", so i guess you rather just have communism then, so they are "protected" or maybe just the current socialist government we have

[sk8bow]

socialist governments don't have these problems. highly capitalistic governments with no regulations do. this isn't a socialist country so why do you keep trying to sneak that through. we're not blind and we see many people say this country is socialist. you're trying to confuse people. if you say something so many times, it becomes truth, but truth is, we aren't socialist. keep saying it and it will come true.

[hemmingway28]

what planet do you live on? we are not a free market economy in the slightest. are we a more free economy than most yeah, but we are not a complete free market economy. let me ask you, is welfare a socialist or capitalist program? is social security a socialist or capitalist program? is unemployment a socialist or capitalist program? is Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae a socialist or capitalist program? the list goes on. I am trying to confuse people?maybe people saying we are a free capitalist economy

[hemmingway28]

(continued) when we are clearly not is confusing people, ever think of that? giving money to companies when they fail is socialist?

let me also point out that these socialist countries who supposedly don't have problems, have endured much higher unemployment rates then ours during even good economic times, i.e. France, do some homework before you throw that crap at me. so sorry, not trying to "sneak" anything through as you say, and also, just because someone

[hemmingway28]

(continued) says something many times doesn't mean it makes it true, by your rationale if I say you are an idiot repeatedly does it eventually become true? you tell me.

I don't know maybe you are right about that.

[sk8bow]

what planet do you live on hemmingway?! it's not hard to see that a free capitalist economy doesn't work. stop labeling all these "isms" as right and wrong. read between the lines. i bet you don't believe in overpopulation as a problem either. news for you-capitalism needs a constantly growing population in order to keep profits up. it's like a pyramid scheme. we need balance! hey, but all you can do is blame the others. you can't look in the mirror. we are all contributors to our problems.

[bukakkesake]

capitalism has worked extremely well for hundreds of years. Socialist japan had a similar crash in the 90s. What you have to ask is what changed? Look up the federal reserve. This crisis was engineered with monetary policy.

[sk8bow]

i'm not saying it doesn't work. but without direction, it can destroy us. in the beginning of capitalism, you see growth and prosperity, but without direction, in the end you see our basic necessities like trees that create oxygen disappear and the fish we eat destroyed.

so what's more important to you, making money on depleting recourses or making money on protecting our earth?

there is no way for you to find out until it's too late.

[agwoodliffe]

Unfortunately these issues have not become serious pretty much until now. Our generation is the one that's going to pay the price.

[killwhitey88d]

@bukakkesake for who, read a history book that was not written by greedy capitalists.

[novoare]

What is so fucked is how those "in their sixties who can't retire" thought that they could invest all their life savings in real estate to double their money in a year or two. NOT TOO SMART. They like the returns but the risks, come on!.

[gustavbjurhager]

what's to say an actor can't get into politics?

[UBER069]

what the fuck qualifies Michael Douglas to comment on anything at the U.N? HE'S AN ACTOR PEOPLE. He doesn't know shit except what comes off the script page and what his handlers tell him to say. I'm sure he knows what it takes to rake in the dough though, so maybe he is the right person to ask about greed, although he is clearly better at evading the question. Make him President then.

[jpbalkenende]

He may be an actor but at least he doesn't work on wall street so that's a plus.

[Brainman94]

idiots rate you thumbs down but if i could id rate you 10 thumbs up - you are spot on man - this is ridiculous - a UN media assembly asking questions of a serious intellectual nature to a fucking actor!! - Has the world gone completely and utterly fucking bananas?

[UBER069]

just LMAO - "...it's too early to decide who is to blame" - hilarious - I know whom to blame, the greedy analysts and brokers and the million-dollar-parachute CEOs and the rest of their cronies. Maybe they should ask me questions at the UN - I will take the $20,000 appearance fee, no prob AND I will tell it like it is-fucking media morons need to be lined up and shot too, then the lawyers, 90% of government workers, bankers FOR FUCKING SURE, shall I go on?

[brokeinvestor]

god dam he must be sick of hearing gecko BS

[TLAGT]

Affluenza driven guilt.

[Ilyak1986]

GAH! Out with Douglas, in with Gekko!

[procommenter]

Michael Douglas was really tough

before his 57th face-lift.

[jpbalkenende]

Yeah he looks like a ghost in this clip.

[procommenter]

His eyelid surgery makes him appear very alert.

[josejloayza]

CRISIS FINANCIERA por CDS (Credit Default Swaps)

Solo las Aseguradoras pueden otorgar seguros a bienes tangibles y responderá con sus activos en caso de que el bien se siniestre o pierda, y no pueden actuar como Banco.

Toda aseguradora tiene restricciones y protecciones que el cliente debe cumplir o no recibe el seguro, para los CDS no es posible hacer cumplir estas restricciones porque son variables indeterminadas e incontrolables en el tiempo, y ponen en peligro capitales millonarios

[josejloayza]

Ninguna Aseguradora tiene el derecho de ARRIESGAR sus capitales que son garantías exclusivas de sus SEGUROS TRADICIONALES que pueden perderse solo por proteger capitales millonarios prestados sin control estricto, sin poder responder luego por los siniestros reales.

BANCOS HIPOTECARIOS rogaban a personas tomar un crédito hipotecario, asegurando luego dichos créditos sin importar si el beneficiario pague o no.

[josejloayza]

El asegurar un préstamo, incentiva a minimizar todas las protecciones que Bancos e Instituciones deben tener para proteger el dinero de sus cuenta ahorrista, y es un instrumento ideal para una ESTAFA LEGAL. Donde el Banco o Institución prestan una enorme suma de dinero a sabiendas de que no le van a pagar, se asegura con el CDS, no le pagan, cobra el seguro y se reparten las utilidades con el prestamista.

[josejloayza]

CDS o Credit Default Swaps deben ser declarados ILEGALES y tener una pena de 10 años de prisión a responsables de usar este servicio o darlo, e incautar beneficios físicos y económicos obtenidos con este sistema.

Tampoco son indicadores de la situación financiera del Banco prestamista ni del prestador. Ya que el que prestó nunca obtuvo toda la información pertinente que asegure que su préstamo iba a parar a buenas manos, porque no le importaba, total el seguro le paga.

[josejloayza]

El 18, 19 y 20 de Octubre del 2008, al Señor Jorge Suarez de New York en el programa EN EFECTIVO del canal CNN EN ESPAÑOL la señorita Gabriela Frios le preguntó no sería conveniente eliminar este tipo de servicio, y este señor dijo GRACIAS a este tipo de servicio, los créditos no se encarecen. Esto es absurdo, cuando el prestamista se asegura pierde de sus utilidades o se lo transmite al usuario final, es decir el crédito con este tipo de servicio SE ENCARECE.

[josejloayza]

Si lo que quiso decir es que los Bancos que prestan no cobrarían un interés MAYOR de acuerdo a los riesgos que tomarían porque ya no les importa que les roben la plata, es también absurdo, ya que todo Banco tiene la obligación de proteger el dinero de sus cuenta ahorristas. Ningún ahorrista colocaría su dinero en un Banco que arriesga todo su dinero porque confía en el CDS, pudiendo perderlo todo y perjudicar a los ahorristas.

[livetoridetolive69]

REPORTERS ARE IDIOTS!

They think he is really Gordon Gecko...um, nope-just an actor...really-Gordon Gecko was pretend.

C'mon, dumbass!!

[samdonuge]

i think they jst want to him act, do a few lines. haha that was what i was lookin for too

[8data]

his name is money

he has it and you dont

[8data]

he doesnt wanted to be tested

gordon says hell eat them for lunch

[gosciu555]

my corrupt college economics professor Klepper at Carnegie Mellon had the balls to tell us greed is good and that the carniegie and ford foundations are wonderful institutions of philantropy(right, of course what they do is social engineering etc.)

[8data]

he was right

now, go get me my 700 billion dollar bailout before I lose my temper so that michael can have his sequel on time

[hypnofan35]

Yay nukes. They've been threatening to do that for a long time. Hide under your desks children, the nukes are comin'.....

[TECHKLEC]

Who really cares about what any actors have to say?

[dj4infoe]

who really cares about what you have to say about what actors have to say?

[TECHKLEC]

I am very sorry to have insulted your vast intellect, sir. You must be one of these morons who watch 'Hollywood Insider' and 'Entertainment Tonight' every night.

[I2like2eatpies]

Hahahaha dude,you owned his ass!

[TECHKLEC]

Thanks, man...he just got me the wrong way!

[giterdun77]

Ask that of the idiot press who fellated Douglas at the UN for something completely unrelated to why he was there. No wonder the public is so distracted and uninformed. Think what you want of actors, but that douche from CNN got put in his place for calling the guy "Gordon". Idiocracy in motion....

[8data]

yeah, he should have called him GG

hes fired

[TerenYoung]

I love Gekko but I definitely agree with you- what are his credentials? Wtf does he know about finance???