All things controversial
While on the boat we see a lot of documentaries which helps keep us informed on the bigger issues going on in the world and the US. We've seen some good PBS programs as well and they are all viewable on-line. So I thought I would post a "collage of controversies" that contain the most thought provoking material. They run the full spectrum of all things you don't talk about at dinner parties: politics, taxes, religion, and now health care.
Wiki Leaks Decrypted Video (April 2010)
In 2007 when a Reuter's photographer's
camera is mistaken for an RPG, the military responded in a cold video
game like fashion killing 11 people (including 2 journalists). If the initial attack wasn't bad enough, a family on their way to school
saw an injured man and tried to help him into the car to take him to
the hospital when the helicopters opened fire on them as well
injuring 2 young girls in the car. This video is hard to watch for
multiple reasons and frustrating because of all the cover-up lies
told by the military prior to this video being leaked to the public
in 2010 that showed how the event really unfolded.
As a side video, Frontline's 2011
episode, Kill/Capture
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kill-capture/
explores America's duality of winning them over vs killing and
capturing. Warning: The cultural barriers in this video are stomach turning.
The Warning (Oct. 20, 2009)
Long before the crisis of 2008, one
woman in the CFTC fought to warn and stop the secret over-the-counter
derivatives practices that broke our economy. Her efforts ruined her
career and the CFTC was legally barred from regulating derivatives by
the millionaires & billionaires pulling the strings. Her story
and the players involved are fascinating (follow up this documentary
with the movie Inside Job).
Sick Around America (March 31, 2009)
The number one cause of bankruptcy in
the US is from medical costs and over 50% of those bankruptcy victims
were insured. This program looks at health care issues around the
US. As people who are disqualified from insurance in the US due to
pre-existing conditions we get it, but many people who have never had
to deal with the cracks in the system this might help you understand:
Sick Around the World (April 15, 2008)
Lean about the health care systems of
England, Germany, Japan and Tawian in comparison to the US Health
Care systems. A must watch for those who don't like the latest
attempts at health care reform.
The Mormons (April 30, 2007)
With Mitt Romney in the spotlight
there's no time like the present to learn about one of the richest
and fastest growing religions in the world. With 14 million takers,
they equal the number of Jews in the world and are establishing them
as the 4th Abrahamic Religion and are referred to in religious scholarly
circles as the “American Religion”.
Private Warriors (2005)
America is moving more and more towards
hired guns. Spending well over $11 billion (2002-2005) on private companies who
don't have to follow the rules of war or lawful oversight. This
growing industry of outsourced killing with little or no
accountability is a disturbing trend. But learn about the situation
and decide for yourself from the people involved:
Is WalMart Good for America? (Nov. 16,
2004)
Job loss or job creation? Small
business destroyer or improving quality of life for poor? An in
depth look at the largest employer in the world might give you some
food for thought.
The Secret History of the Credit Card
(Nov. 13, 2004)
Thought you knew all you needed to know
about the plastic in your pocket? Think again.
posted by Eric @ 6:42 AM
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