2024 the best money democracy can buy review
Price: $16.84
(as of Dec 14, 2024 04:27:08 UTC - Details)
The Best Government Money Can Buy? is the first behind-the-scenes, comprehensive, non-partisan examination of the system of lobbying in Washington, DC. The cost of election campaigns has spiraled out of control, to the extent that, on average, our representatives spend more than 25% of their time fund-raising. Even our Presidents regularly interrupt the nation's work in order to spend time fund-raising! Veteran documentary film-maker, British-born Francis Megahy, makes a journey of discovery as he tries to answer some questions which puzzle him: who provides the money? What effect does it have? How is it connected to the financing of political campaigns? And most crucial, is it in the public interest? the Best Government Money Can Buy? explores the issue through interviews with real Washington beltway insiders, key participants in the process - who often speak with surprising candor.
MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces
Director : Francis Megahy
Media Format : Multiple Formats, NTSC, Color
Run time : 1 hour and 16 minutes
Release date : October 26, 2010
Actors : Francis Megahy, Jeffrey Birnbaum, Arthur H. Bryant, Meredith McGehee, David Certner
Studio : Cinema Libre
ASIN : B003ZI02UM
Number of discs : 1
Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Exposing the Ugly Facts
Review: This documentary was an excellent analysis of how lobbying works, but most important, why it works so well for members of Congress. It was interesting to note that not one member was willing to come forward to explain why they listen to lobbyists and why they let lobbyists write legislation for them. Special interests are taken care of because they have an organization, they have money. If I went to Congress, tried to talk to my Senator or Representative, I wouldn't get past the receptionist if I wasn't a BIG donor, even if my issue was worthy and legitimate. In our country, the people are allowed to petition the government, but right now, only those with big check books get heard. We need publicly funded elections!
Reviewer: AnyGirlFromAustin
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: We Need Campaign Finance Reform!
Review: The Best Government Money Can Buy is an interesting look at the K Street Lobbyists, and how they influence decisions being made in Washington DC. I understand a lot more about the issue now, and am more supportive than ever of campaign finance reform! I had an idea of what went on with our politicians, but didn't realize the extent to which they have to raise money and grease palms. It never stops! This is clearly what keeps the best people out of DC and why we are in the mess we are in today.You have to consider the feedback of the interviewees, because they are after all lobbyists themselves. Some will give lip service to reform, but who knows how they really feel. After all, they are paid to have a specific opinion and they'll have the opinion that's paid for. It was a little partisan for a while there when the lobbyists were all advertising for health care reform. It seems they never stop with their purchased opinion. The movie was an interesting glimpse of what really goes on in DC, and it highlights major problems that are going to need to be addressed if we're ever going to restore the republic that our founders created. It's worth watching for sure, and it's something we all need to be aware of.
Reviewer: Zarathustra
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title: How did this DVD get listed in the Cinema Libre listing?
Review: They don't belong here. They are just a bunch of overpaid lobbyists trying to convince the public that they play an important role in our government. I paid $11.94 for this? They should be paying me to watch their propaganda.
Reviewer: Robert Fox
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Lot of Worthwhile Information
Review: Fascinating and disturbing at the same time.
Reviewer: J. S. Sevakis
Rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Mediocre and superficial
Review: I can imagine this is a very enlightening documentary if you're completely clueless about how Washington DC works, and therefore have a completely Pollyanna opinion of government.I don't know too many people like that these days. In fact, most people are deeply cynical. The only ones that aren't are the ones who find it confusing and just don't care.As an unchallenging view of how lobbyists work in Washington that pretty much anyone could understand, this isn't a bad doc. It's not very probing, doesn't reveal anything not considered common knowledge by anyone who follows the news, and is unlikely to cause any strong reaction. It's adequately produced, along the lines of a local PBS special. It's also fairly non-partisan (it barely acknowledges the existence of parties). Perhaps it might be of interest of Europeans who occasionally look into American politics with a sense of schadenfreude (the producer/director is British), but I can't imagine anyone who's not turned off by the subject matter being all that enlightened by it in this country.
Reviewer: Anthony J. O'krongly
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Maybe it's for younger people
Review: This seems like an detailed explanation of a commonly known problem. I don't see any new information here, personally. It's interesting enough. The funny thing is that they say lobbyists are bad but the entire film is lobbyist. So, who is a "bad" lobbyist? Is the the corporation that wants to drill in the Gulf of Mexico and will provide thousands of high paying jobs but possibly create more pollution in an already polluted body of water? Or is the nurses and doctors who can't treat patients properly because of Medicare cuts and restrictions that supposedly save tax payers money?If you're a Senator or Congressman are you influenced by lobbyists possibly providing benefits, or are you possibly getting benefits for doing what you were going to do anyway? This, in my opinion, is a simplified discussion of an incredibly complex process. So I give it a "Meh"
Reviewer: unenclosed
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A good film for the classroom
Review: A good film for the classroom, and although the nature of lobbying hasn't changed at all, it is beginning to get a bit dated. Also, most of the lobbyists interviewed work for public interest groups, which may provide a somewhat skewed picture of the nature of lobbying. But still, it does a good job of laying out the issues and concerns.
Reviewer: Matt C
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great documentary
Review: Great overview with people with key insights.