MovieChat Forums > Inequality for All (2015) Discussion > Oh cry me a river!

Oh cry me a river!

posted 11 years ago by creatorof2002
24 replies | jump to latest

That rich guy who was "not happy" about being rich, whining how he does not "need' so much money. Give me a break. If he thinks he has too much money why not invest in his WORKERS. Giving his workers a few dollars an hour more raises, better medical and dental benefits (and pensions) and maybe investing in them in other ways like building a gym that they can all work out in with free membership as a part of working there etc. If he has so much money he does not even know what to do with it why not use some of it to help make the lives of his workers better. He could also give some of his money to our underfunded schools (the creator of facebook gave a hundred million dollars to the underfunded school system in New York).

[–] rogerscorpion 11 years ago

We don't know that the pillow CEO DOESN'T do things like that.

I saw his name in the credits, but forgot, so I came on here, to find it, so I could research him a bit, but he isn't listed here.

I'll have to wait until I see the film again--I guess.

Carpe Noctem!

[–] smoko 10 years ago

@rogerscorpion The CEO's name is Nick Hanauer.

[–] casablnka 10 years ago

This guy is impressive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBx2Y5HhplI

Ric

[–] hathor008 10 years ago

thanks for the link, i like this guy. i've started several companies myself so i like the points made.

---
Reality is subjective.

[–] bruce-129 10 years ago

That's not an accurate description of what the CEO of Pacific Feather said ... as a successful CEO and very rich man I think he probably knows what he is talking about far more than you do.

[–] bigbeataudio 10 years ago

Oh, now I understand, so ONLY rich successful people know what they are talking about?
So money can by me a brain!
lol pathetic...

[–] bruce-129 10 years ago

Well, if your last post is any indication of your thinking process, I am sure that that CEO knows more than you, and most others. To assume that because I said the CEO knows more than you, does not imply that I believe that ONLY rich successful people know what they are talking about. You can hear the CEO talking about his learning curve on this subject if you had watched the movie, or comprehended it. You get all sarcastic, but you fail to ever make any kind of point of show any understanding of the subject matter - that is what makes you sound like you don't know anything.

[–] bigbeataudio 10 years ago

I thought my point was very clear, the sarcasm should have highlighted it!
You basically implied that rich successful people "probably" know what they are talking about.
My sarcasm, was to highlight how inaccurate that statement was.

Never, and I mean NEVER think that because someone is rich and successful, it qualifies them to have a greater understanding of anything. Hitler was *beep* rich and successful (well successful for a while lol), so was Idi Amin, Ho Chi Nihn or Saddam Hussein, just to name a few.
I didn't disagree with you thinking that the ops post wasn't correct, I couldn't give a crap about a CEO who's had an "awakening" to his own greed. My point of concern was with what you said after that, how you ridiculed the op for being less informed by saying that a CEO "should" know more then him/her because they are rich and successful, it was a silly thing to say, and COMPLETELY baseless.

[–] Benji_The_Hunted 10 years ago

Bigbeataudio....if that is your interpretation of what bruce meant, then you are an astoundingly stupid person. I imagine that just about anyone, including the CEO, understands better than you.

[–] bigbeataudio 10 years ago

Dear Benji...
Heres what Bruce said..

as a successful CEO and very rich man I think he probably knows what he is talking about far more than you do

Now you obviously being a person wise beyond their years, and me being "astoundingly stupid", I would be ever so grateful if you could briefly enlighten me on what Bruce was actually trying to convey?

[–] Benji_The_Hunted 10 years ago

How clever of you to take one phrase out of context. Point stands....you're still an idiot.

Dismissed.

[–] bigbeataudio 10 years ago

lol, Did you actually "read" the post?
Im afraid that was not out of context. Heres the full quote.

That's not an accurate description of what the CEO of Pacific Feather said ... as a successful CEO and very rich man I think he probably knows what he is talking about far more than you do.

I never had a problem with what the CEO said, nor did I care if it was accurate, my problem was that Bruce suddenly decided to tell the Op that rich and successful CEOs seem to know more. My point is, dont ever fall under the illusion that rich and successful people, are "probably" intelligent.

I just checked, you really like posting on IMDB, dont get out much?

Oh and thank you for the insult, you have the entire english language at your disposal and the best you can come up with is, "Im an idiot"? Have you ever heard of a thesaurus? I know thats a big word, but see if you can pry yourself away from the message boards long enough to copy and paste it into google, you may be able to expand your vocab to heights only dreamed of.

Have a great day!

[–] Benji_The_Hunted 10 years ago

Sometimes all it takes is a few simple words to get a point across. In your case, there is no need to write War And Peace to get across a simple and obvious point: the fact that you're an idiot.

Oh and thank you for the insult, you have the entire english language at your disposal and the best you can come up with is, "Im an idiot"?

Since you felt the need to pompously offer some unneeded writing tips, I thought I might offer some of my own. There is an apostrophe between the "I" and the "m" in the contraction "I'm." Oh, and let me add, the word English starts with a capital letter.

[–] public-online 10 years ago

You're missing the point: his testimony is crucial to the argument of the documentary!

Esp when he admits he used to think like the "average billionaire"
but has changed his views.

Maybe he's a philanthropist with his own money, maybe not, but he certainly can't "re-create" an entire US middle class all by himself. Maybe - given his views - he's a decent employer (i.e more like Starbucks than McDonald's)?
But what you're referring to is a "paternalistic" approach where the very rich are supposed to know better how to help the poor (a common view before 1929 and until the "New Deal").
But the working class and the middle class are - by definition - supposed to be represented by those they elect (not happening esp since Citizens united), as well as by trade-unions also not happening). So each of us has to try to do something, rather than pointing the finger at the Billionaire next door.

Moreover, he's limited in what he's allowed to do for his employees by existing regulations, which emphasize his obligation to maximize profit for the shareholders...
If the regulations were different (living minimum wage, benefits etc) then he could and would act differently. But more importantly ALL those in his position - even if they disagree - would have to do the same.

Meanwhile, what are *you* doing to improve things? Not meant to be a wicked question, but for instance I've tended to use automated check-out lines (convenient, but also to lessen the load on human cashiers in other lines), whereas now I'll do the opposite.
I also try to buy stuff in physical shops when I can, rather than online. Whereas buying US brands rather than foreign ones seems pointless despite the many cyclical protectionist campaigns (from both political parties) over the yrs.

It's tiny, but hopefully these things add up.

[–] bruce-129 10 years ago

The point was that we have gone past the point, way past, where billionaires accruing more and more money can help anything - even their own bottom lines. The American business mentality is causing the recession, as it caused the Depression. However, most of those who call themselves Conservatives ... like they actually think about something critically ... don't listen to arguments, weight the facts, they are like religious fanatics, they don't care about anything but saying the same thing as those they consider in their gang.

[–] public-online 10 years ago

You're right, so you'll get no argument from me about that!

[–] sypherdivine 10 years ago

"Meanwhile, what are *you* doing to improve things? Not meant to be a wicked question, but for instance I've tended to use automated check-out lines (convenient, but also to lessen the load on human cashiers in other lines), whereas now I'll do the opposite.
I also try to buy stuff in physical shops when I can, rather than online. Whereas buying US brands rather than foreign ones seems pointless despite the many cyclical protectionist campaigns (from both political parties) over the yrs.

It's tiny, but hopefully these things add up."

Excellent point Public-Online. If most people did these tiny things it can start to have a major impact for the better. The one thing I've been big on for the past few years is choosing small businesses over major corporations. Even if it costs more I feel better knowing that my money is likely going to a better place than a millionaire ceo getting another raise. Buy my beer from the local breweries rather than anheuser busch, food from local restaurants rather than Apple Bees and Friday's, food from small chain grocery stores rather than Target and Walmart, etc.

[–] public-online 10 years ago

The one thing I've been big on for the past few years is choosing small businesses over major corporations

Agreed! Also, it retains a sense of community which these large corps tend to destroy. Entire towns and city-centers (i.e. "downtown" have vanished since the 1950's...

[–] sypherdivine 10 years ago

"Agreed! Also, it retains a sense of community which these large corps tend to destroy. Entire towns and city-centers (i.e. "downtown" have vanished since the 1950's..."

My hometown is a prime example. The downtown was a place that flourished for many years. Then enter Wal-Mart on the other side of town and a vast number or corporate chains to follow and that quickly ended. Perhaps most sad was that many of the workers of those small businesses went to work at those corporate chains only to find themselves being paid minimum wage with no benefits. To think that this is only one example of thousands.

[–] TonyC4444 10 years ago

This is exactly what I was thinking. He's making 10 million a year, and they show his workers who you know just know are probably making barely over minimum wage. If he's so concerned, why isn't he paying his workers more? Or why doesn't he voluntarily contribute more in taxes?

This is part of what's missing these days, rich folks used to give back to the community voluntarily. Rarely happens these days.

[–] Benji_The_Hunted 10 years ago

Sounds to me you are making a lot of unfounded assumptions that you cannot back up. At least give him credit for acknowledging the problem, speaking up about it and being on the side of the good guys....instead of being like those scummy Koch brothers who bribe legislators with their PAC money to put the screws to the middle class and the poor.

[–] TonyC4444 10 years ago

Right, cause nobody on the left uses there money to bribe legislators.

[–] dangus 8 years ago

Well, he does still manufacture his pillows in the USA, providing jobs, purchasing raw materials and services from other US companies. And we aren't told what else he contributes to the community.

[–] Navaros 8 years ago

That rich guy who was "not happy" about being rich, whining how he does not "need' so much money.

That's a false premise. He wasn't complaining or expressing any sort of unhappiness with himself for being rich. Rather, he was saying:

Look, CEOs like myself are screwing you [the normal people] over by hoarding all of our wealth and keeping it out of the economy.

However, you do have a point that he is hypocritical to admit the immorality of what he is doing, yet he still continues to do it anyway. But his hypocrisy does nothing to negate the validity of his point.