Let me start out by saying that I was crying by the end of the documentary over the failures of our country that Michael Moore pointed out so masterfully. The most poignant portion of the movie to me was over FDR's Second Bill of Rights. To think that we could have had in 1945 what we are fighting tooth and nail for in 2009 is what made the greatest impact on me.
"It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.
This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.
As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.
We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.
In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.
Among these are:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.
All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.
America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens". - F.D.R. 01/11/1944
There were so many amazing scenes about how much the government has been sold to corporate interest. The horror story about "Dead Peasant" insurance policies taken out by Wal-Mart against their young employees in hopes of profiting off their death was one of the most chilling. There is no doubt that Michael Moore has one uped himself again with the jarring personal stories that have made his documentaries so moving.
Still, it was FDR's Second Bill of Rights combined with the Flint, MI 30's sit-in at the end of the documentary that allowed audience members to turn the anger accumaleted over two hours of watching corporate abuse in to a positive hope. I'm still shocked by all of the abuses and haven't been able to mentally process their entirity, but I have to say thank you to Michael for making such a powerful work. It is worth the price of the movie ticket to see and was honored that I could see it at the Kansas Film Festival before its official release.
UPDATE: I thought I would also include the trailer on my diary along with a more detailed FDR quote.