GT40FIED
06-19-2004, 03:59 AM
This post could easily be called "Why GM licks balls" or "Why corporate America can suck my sack". But no...Roger & Me works just fine. This, after all, about my viewing of the documentary "Roger & Me" which was Michael Moore's first film. Now I know a lot of people don't like Moore, but that's not the issue. The issue is the movie. So if you're not going to like it by virtue of who made it...keep your mouth shut. I am personally not a fan of his sometimes biased skew on film, but he's still got the balls to do what he does and that's more than most filmmakers can say.
The movie documents the fall of Flint, MI after GM laid off 30,000 of it's employees in the late 80's. Nevermind that they were making profits in the billions...they closed 11 plants in Flint, GM's birthplace, and opened 11 new plants in Mexico paying workers $0.70 per hour USD. Of course, almost every auto manufacturer has plants in other countries, but I can't think of a single mass layoff resulting in so many jobs shipped elsewhere in the industry. Having been to Flint (or maybe the term "through Flint" would fit better), I've seen the effects firsthand. It was essentially a one horse town...then that horse died. My goal in visiting Flint was to see the plant where the "sit down strike" of 1937 took place...where several employees took over a plant for 44 days to force GM to institute the UAW. Alas, there isn't much to be seen these days. The film also chronicles Moore's search for Roger Smith who was, at the time (and may still be) GM's chairman. The man refused every request Moore made for an interview (remember, this was his first real film so he didn't have the reputatrion he has now) and dodged the situation completely. Oh...and did I mention that not long after the plants closed he gave himself a $2 million per year raise? Yeah, that too. I think anyone who cares about the automotive industry should seriously consider seeing this. It's a disturbing and rather depressing view about how shitty the whole industry is.
On a side note, I was suprised by one of the interviews...a quickie with another one of Flint's native sons Bob Eubanks (most noteable for his hosting of the "Newlywed Game"). During an interview break he quips "Do you know why jewish women don't get AIDS? They marry assholes, they don't screw them.". Jesus tits what an asshole. He's second in line to Dick Clark for the "game show host douche bag" spot and he's making jokes like that? Man...what a fuck.
The movie documents the fall of Flint, MI after GM laid off 30,000 of it's employees in the late 80's. Nevermind that they were making profits in the billions...they closed 11 plants in Flint, GM's birthplace, and opened 11 new plants in Mexico paying workers $0.70 per hour USD. Of course, almost every auto manufacturer has plants in other countries, but I can't think of a single mass layoff resulting in so many jobs shipped elsewhere in the industry. Having been to Flint (or maybe the term "through Flint" would fit better), I've seen the effects firsthand. It was essentially a one horse town...then that horse died. My goal in visiting Flint was to see the plant where the "sit down strike" of 1937 took place...where several employees took over a plant for 44 days to force GM to institute the UAW. Alas, there isn't much to be seen these days. The film also chronicles Moore's search for Roger Smith who was, at the time (and may still be) GM's chairman. The man refused every request Moore made for an interview (remember, this was his first real film so he didn't have the reputatrion he has now) and dodged the situation completely. Oh...and did I mention that not long after the plants closed he gave himself a $2 million per year raise? Yeah, that too. I think anyone who cares about the automotive industry should seriously consider seeing this. It's a disturbing and rather depressing view about how shitty the whole industry is.
On a side note, I was suprised by one of the interviews...a quickie with another one of Flint's native sons Bob Eubanks (most noteable for his hosting of the "Newlywed Game"). During an interview break he quips "Do you know why jewish women don't get AIDS? They marry assholes, they don't screw them.". Jesus tits what an asshole. He's second in line to Dick Clark for the "game show host douche bag" spot and he's making jokes like that? Man...what a fuck.