The Chicago Sessions (Marije Meerman, VPRO 2009)

Widely known philosopher and University of Chicago Law School professor Martha Nussbaum explores the ethical implications of the financial crisis during three sessions with a group of ten talented law and philosophy students. The grounds of the University of Chicago provide a compelling arena, since it is here that both economist Milton Friedman, staunch promoter of free market capitalism, and president Barack Obama, lectured. Together with some of America's brightest young minds, Backlight explores the ethical principles that might guide our post-crisis society. Examples of crisis related issues discussed during the sessions are: mortgage lending practices, foreclosures, bail outs and CEO pay. The students will test their ideas both on eminent professors from the University of Chicago and on field experts. The discussion is fueled and illustrated by case stories that the students themselves provided. Examples of crisis related issues discussed during the sessions are: mortgage lending practices, foreclosures, bail outs and CEO pay. The students will test their ideas both on eminent professors from the University of Chicago and on field experts. The discussion is fueled and illustrated by case stories that the students themselves provided. Most of what happened on the financial markets in the ascent to the credit crisis was perfectly legal, but is it, given the outcome, also just? Looking at the USA today, we see the destructive consequences the credit crisis has had and still has on fundamental human needs, such as shelter, income and education. Citizens see their livelihoods being threatened, while the financial industry got their bailout. What is going on? Did we put too much faith in free markets when it comes to delivering just outcomes? Does the crisis reveal a need to rethink some of the foundational principles that define our society? These cases show how the financial crisis really affects the people of Chicago and in one example shows the consequences of the foreclosures in a neighborhood not far from the university and president Obama's home.

Director: Marije Meerman
Research: Marijntje Denters/ Gerko Wessel
Producer: Janneke van de Kerkhof
Commissioning Editors: Jos de Putter / Henneke Hagen

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Naomi Klein
• Martha Nussbaum
• Milton Friedman
• economy
• foreclosures
• law school
• students
• Republic windows
• financial crisis
• credit
• bail out
• banks
• Welter
• Obama
• free market
• capitalism
• bonus
• mortgage
• lending
• justice

[morskisrle]

VPRO has really good docus...really in depth...nice job

[melnick1985]

6:36 ITS ABOUT RACE thats what liberals do make everyone a victim, and direct the responsibility away from the individual who refinanced their home 2 or 3 times. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY REGARDLESS OF RACE

[PlayClaner]

Fucking feminist bitch at 33:10

[potpie921]

wow?!

[badattitude77769]

Most people do not want to hear my definition of trickle down theory; not politically correct.

[smujismuj]

Cut-throat Capitalism has destroyed common decency.

[smujismuj]

The sad truth is that these predatory practices have been legalized by Congress through laws written by the lobbyists who tell Congress what to do.

America is dead.

[PNACATTACKdotCOM]

@TheJmangeri MILTON FRIEDMAN was 100% fascist and his today USED Neo-Liberal Neo-fascist ECONOMIC MODELS are today used - world widely. AND Dictator Pinochet was US first creation and test ground for this new model -later forced to adapt that - by west/USA -Russia followed 1991- then EU...

[chivamisfit]

The matter of the fact...Capitalism fuels greed and blinds its victims that will back stab and even commit acts of "cannibalism" to make a profit...

[TheJmangeri]

Wow.. Milton Friedman caused this? What kind of stupid shit would say something like that. THE SLEAZY BANKERS CAUSED THIS. CENTRALIZATION MADE IT WORSE. Its ok you fucking retards that believe this, QE-∞ is going to start Friday when Bernanke gives his speech, then deflationary AND inflationary procedures will continue until the inevitable collapse of the fiat grid.

[impalher1982]

Capitalism is the bubble, every time a bubble pops, nobody saw it coming, even though all bubbles pop. Not much longer till it all collapses and blaming people coerced into loans by predatory lenders who knew they were not going to be paid. More ridiculous finger pointing

[anglofiles87]

completely misleading