Status Anxiety Pt. 1 (4 of 5)

[wowowonderland]

Steal money from people who earned it, and give it to someone who didn't? Seriously? I'm from Denmark and we have some of the highest rates of taxes in the world, we pay taxes for just about everything. Sometimes it sucks that I'm not able to buy myself a cashmere sweater every month, but the fact that if I lose my job or get sick, I will always get help. Free health care and if I'm unemployed I'd get 1000$ every month. God, when I see people like this, I get so happy of what I've got.

[begood20000]

@wowowonderland You're correct but he also has a point. It's good to have a welfare system if you are made unemployed and you are finding a new job etc. But are there not people in Denmark who abuse the welfare system i.e. they refuse to work etc.

[garn3006]

Poor Damon! He got scolded.

[VietMan04]

This started out OK, but now this is just some hippy bullshit. I am in no way a neo-conservative type, but another reality is that yes, most people really are fucking lazy. Simply doing "what makes you happy" is incredibly selfish and juvenile because what makes you happy constantly changes. What does not change however is technology that enables humans to do ever more awesome things like go to space, which leads me to my final point. Get your ass to Mars.

[Terry1969ism]

Fvckin Rightwing pro-gun scumbags need executing!

[SuperXwriter]

As Rousseau rightly said: "Man is born free but everywhere is in chains." ...civilization had corrupted human beings. The American dream is actually the American nightmare!

[RenderTheGalaxy]

@SuperXwriter As George Carlin once said .. "Its called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it."

[20LookInside12]

Ever wonder why so many married rich men or women- hit on free spirited artist types that live 'below' them? Because these wealthy people are totally unsatisfied, miserable and (almost) learning that money doesn't buy soul, happiness or joy. The people they covet are working less, but living with more true freedoms, are often happier and have better communities of "real" friends, not just work acquaintances. Wealth is not a measure of material gain but a measure of happiness and peace. :)

[whatthefunk5]

DEMON! DAMON? DAMIAN! Sorry, there are loud voices coming through the walls... Fuckin nut job!

[TheBestInterest]

"Its called the American dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it."

- George Carlin

[CMink7777]

I can see some of both sides of the coin. You can't say that all poor people became that way by making poor choices. Similarly, you can't dismiss the reality that some poor people have become the way they are because of choices. The Book "The Seven Characteristics of highly effective people" characterizes events that happen in life as either inside your realm of control or outside your realm of control.

[iamthe3rd]

Putting Norquist's interview after Jenny's story is cool because it posits his sentiments as a response to her situation. And it is. He already sounds like a glib, morally indignant prick, but imagine him telling Jenny (who managed to stay happily married for 26 years, lost her husband, became extremely depressed and lost her job) to buck up and dig her way out. Pity Norquist, not Jenny. He doesn't pack the sack to beg on the streets if he loses everything.

[brosephjames]

Just a friendly reminder that a year ago I posted a comment about how this video represents everything wrong with the "left" in Britain and why labour was going to fall apart and get owned by the torries. and my comment got voted down.

Say hello to david cameron for me Lol.

[whyeatedpies]

Damon!!!!!!!

[670Kiester]

Wow, Grover Norquist is so full of hatred, what an asshole.

[spartak95]

i spent months travelling across america and not once did I see a white woman begging. I saw hundreds of black men begging but not one white woman

[ticklemesenseless]

what is your point? can't white people be poor?

[spartak95]

The vast, vast majority of poor people begging on streets in the US are black men,not white women. Of course white people can be poor. However, a white woman is not a typical representation of a begger in america.

[ubertoker05]

There are times when I can revel in misery, particularly that of my own. But then there are times when you watch the miseries of others and begin to hate the structure of our gigantic show.

[leethal59]

i second that.

[blaziermissy]

You can look at us all as a bucket of crabs.

[blaziermissy]

The guy being interview is an indoctrinated fool.

He has no idea the elitist are the biggest thieves. What a moron.

[blaziermissy]

This video is very indicative of my interest.

[mrmontyy]

at one time your success largly depended on your fathers trade father was god up until the industrial revolution that is and state education now the state is father

[LordOfTheWhores]

This is nothing to do with Social Anxiety, its about being rich and poor. There's much more to it than that.

[StephenBanham]

I really like it but the "Damon!" voice over is a little silly...

[brosephjames]

Actually this documentary blaming economic liberalism solely on Americans is the dumbest thing I've seen in ages. And just look at the comments below and see for yourself that people buy it hook line and sinker, distracting them from any real enlightenment. I may live in a western 1st world country that benefits from imperialism but that's ok because I'm not american! Give my regards to future PM David Cameron.

[brosephjames]

this documentary is everything wrong with modern british politics. Wow, look at how terrible america is, america is just awful! What a crap country! Good thing we're nothing like that and have no homeless people or poors living in slums working dead end miserable jobs! This is why labour is going down horribly next election, because it's too much of a self satisfying wank fest to wake up and deal with real problems and not just feel good legislation. Remember that when conservatives win.

[tomives1985]

moron. your comment is the stupidest thing I've read or seen in ages.

[RyunSharp]

Fuck you America for being so Cruel to those who fail and even try their best.

[bluetigerlily]

Have you ever been to the States?

You are young. Learn about things fully first before you start spewing hate.

This documentary is totally biased with propagandistic Anti-American clichés. I like how they interview a half-wit extremist Neo-Conservative to learn the American perspective. It is like asking a Neo-Nazi to represent American views on race.

[lordaardvark2]

Well bluetigerlily, I don't mean to argue, but in a previous installment of the documentary, the narrator interviewed an American motivational speaker who was arguably less extreme or biased than the "half-wit extremist". I just wanted to point out that the Conservative guy was certainly not the only American perspective offered by the film.

[bluetigerlily]

If you learn anything from this video it should be critical thinking.

I am not pro-American but you need to question what you are being fed and talk from experience.

[RyunSharp]

If I see evidence of social pressure and expectations like what I have just seen in this documentary, expect me to be annoyed.

my young age does not make my point invalid.

I don't like this elitist American Dream. It's like being back at school with adult-children.

[blaziermissy]

That was well said; realisitic.

[kieronj]

america is a society of some illusions

[malmn]

@kieronj so is every other country on earth.

[crazyjack84]

also, why blame blind luck? There is no shame in being poor if you are working hard to do your honest best. Is it such a terrible thing to take personal responsibility?

[crazyjack84]

I can see just by the editing style that this was a biased interview. What is being left out is any mention of charity done by social and religious groups. Why is it specifically the government's responsibility to provide for the needy?

[vwilsonuk]

Grover missed one of the key responsibilities in the state, to facilitate the system he's describing; the maintenance of social mobility. You can't just sit back and say "its the American Dream, its down to you". You need to ensure the dream is achievable.

[smpoinde]

great video!!!!

However, I just got a big wiff of Michael Moore is this segment. That Grover dude was a nut and dosen't fairly represent the other side....

[mountainman183]

great work Alan!!