Introduction
Nowadays, people are interested in freedom, equality, and democracy to ensure their rights are properly defined and respected by the government and other controlling bodies. According to Amico (2020), capitalism and democracy may coexist in many forms to reshape living conditions and business relationships equally. However, even if capitalism is considered the right way for economic organization, it is not the best option to organize a society (Amico, 2020). A former labor secretary, Robert Reich, believes that it is necessary to save capitalism in the United States, addressing income inequality issues and wealth disparity. Underlying the role of corporations, creating new political parties, and using bankruptcy to solve problems are the main arguments in Reich’s discussion, which may be supported and disputed in relation to the topics covered in class.
Summary
The main idea of the documentary Saving Capitalism is how Reich sees the current American economic system and why he wants to save capitalism in the country. He remembers his experience during the Clinton administration, shares his views about the work of other US Presidents and politicians, and talks to ordinary citizens who work hard to earn a living (Kornbluth & Gilman, 2017). The documentary is based on everyday observations to prove that economic and political powers are interconnected and how money can be used to influence the government. Many Americans have already stopped trusting their leaders and chosen cheating or avoidance as the best way to organize their lives. Therefore, Reich wants to change the system and call everyone to do something, but most of his ideas remain unrealistic.
Arguments
Among a variety of arguments developed in Saving Capitalism, there are several provocative ideas I would like to agree and disagree with at the moment. His intention to prove the necessity of creating new parties has the right to exist. Instead of thinking that the main struggle emerges between Republicans and Democrats, it is high time to recognize the existence of more solid powers like the establishment and other people (Kornbluth & Gilman, 2017). According to Reich (as cited in Kornbluth & Gilman, 2017), the more political powers grow, the more abilities they gain to influence the game’s rules.
At the same time, I understand that the world needs to change the system of corporate tax, where rich people earn money while poor people do not get anything. However, I cannot agree that the current financial interests may be improved because no one would agree to pay more when there is a chance to pay less. Finally, using bankruptcy to solve problems is not the best option for all individuals and organizations: while large corporations can gain benefits, ordinary people and small owners are not able to do the same.
Documentary and Class Themes
During the course, many interesting and provocative topics were discussed to gain a better understanding of the chosen documentary. For example, it was suggested to apply William Chambliss’s “structural-contradictions theory of crime and class control” to learn the differences between “profits, wages, and consumption” of “the ruling classes” and “other classes” (Barak et al., 2018, p 66). Reich developed similar ideas because similar class contradictions are inherent to capitalism. In addition, class discussions proved that immigrant groups are used for cheap labor,” which “built America’s capitalist economy” (Barak et al., 2018, p. 23). Therefore, capitalism is inevitable in the United States, but more time and effort are needed to strengthen this movement and cover the needs of all layers of the population.
Conclusion
Considering the arguments from Saving Capitalism and class discourses, it is possible to admit that the quality of American life and the development of business relationships and human freedoms directly depend on political decisions. While Reich underlines the worth of creating new parties, diminishing the role of corporations, and promoting bankruptcy, it is impossible to agree with all his ideas because of the reality impact. People should understand their roles in the country’s development, but they can hardly ignore the government that continues establishing the rules of the game.
References
Amico, L. (2020). Do democracy and capitalism really need each other?Harvard Business Review. Web.
Barak, G., Leighton, P., & Cotton, A. (2018). Class, race, gender, and crime: The social realities of justice in America. Rowman & Littlefield.
Kornbluth, J., & Gilman, S. (2017). Saving capitalism [Film]. Netflix.