Inequality for All (2013) User Reviews

An Economic Inconvenient Truth

[soncoman · 8/10 · 8 May 2013]

I just caught this film at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival, and I'm glad I did, because the film was one of the most informative and, quite frankly, entertaining documentaries I've seen via the Festival, and most of the credit for that goes directly to the film's "star" Robert Reich.

Reich is a charming and personable individual who is obviously passionate about the sorry economic state of the middle class. He presents facts and reviews history (assisted through some terrific graphics) to make his case that a strong middle class is the bulwark upon which a thriving upper class must balance. Most importantly, this middle class is made weaker by the disparity in incomes and by a tax system that seems to reward "job creators" who don't really create a single damn job or, at best, create jobs overseas.

The issues are pretty damn complex, but Reich and Kornbluth do an excellent job of laying out their interpretations in a simple, forthright manner.

At the Q&A following the film, I asked Kornbluth and Reich if they felt any need to "balance" the film with alternate economic takes on the same facts. The film trots out the usual cartoonish Fox News critics, but I wondered if they thought about heading off the sure-to-come criticism that the film is too one-sided and doesn't present any intelligent alternate viewpoints. While Reich just shook his head "no" (one gets the impression he feels he isn't wrong so why bother,) Kornbluth responded that questions like mine ticked him off, as "there always doesn't have to be two sides to a story." He compared it to the issue of evolution and "intelligent design". Just as intelligent design's complete lack of factual basis has no business in a documentary about evolution, he felt the economic facts presented are facts and they were presented accurately in his film.

This film is a terrific pairing of a passionate filmmaker with a passionate advocate for the working class of this nation. Recommended viewing for anyone with a stake in our country's economic survival - regardless of political affiliation. That means everyone. That means you.

www.worstshowontheweb.com

Informative And Somewhat Entertaining

[mickeysrq · 9/10 · 17 October 2013]

Of course Robert Reich is mostly preaching to the choir but he also informs and entertains the viewer. Reich is not isolated theory or ivory tower. He served in the administrations of Ford and Carter and was Labor Secretary under Clinton from 1993 to 1997. For me what gives Reich credence is the economic expansion of the 90's- the sustained growth, stronger middle class, low unemployment, low inflation, lower poverty rate and budget surpluses (to name a few) of which Reich was a key driver in economic policy.

This is not a movie for dogmatic right-wingers who will find the facts, um, inconvenient to say the least. They can skip the movie but still write reviews just by calling Reich a bunch of names. For the rest of us, well most of us can see what's happening to the economy but Reich breaks it down in an easy entertaining manner. His story about the first time he met Bubba on a boat to England is pretty funny as well as his jokes about his height. (4'8")

Director Jacob Kornbluth utilizes a cross section of the economy to make his point. Rich investor, middle class upper and lower, and those living day to day and fighting off poverty. Can be a tad dry because this is all pretty much right in front of our collective noses if we care to look. But he needs to make the examples to make the documentary work.

Robert Reich yes might be diminutive in stature, but the knowledge, the energy, the passion, and the inspiration are all sky high.

A very interesting man who lives and fights for his convictions. For me made the documentary worthwhile.

Great documentary about big money.

[shinysideup182 · 9/10 · 3 June 2013]

Great must see documentary. Get rid of all notions of "republican vs. democrat" before you go because it's really all about the economy stupid and those with money who really run the show.

Robert Reich is thoroughly likable and entertaining. Also a very smart, educated man. You can't help but to like him. He is a person for us all. Since when did the MSM abandon smarts and reason (not to mention Congress)?

Highly recommended movie for all walks of life.

Highly entertaining and interesting. Reich is a true leader. And the opposite of a man with "short man syndrome". You will laugh during this movie. You may cry during this movie. And you may feel anger. Go for it!!

Actually pretty nonpartisan

[Dan_L · 10/10 · 15 October 2013]

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich does an excellent job of cutting through all the b.s. perpetrated by the media about the economy to present factual information about how the economy has changed. While I have no doubt that those on the radical right will simply dismiss his film with the usual right-wing name calling, and those on the far left will say he doesn't go far enough, Reich really does explain how our economic policies have allowed the wealthiest amongst us to destroy the middle class so a small portion of the nation can amass incredible wealth. What is especially revealing is the factual information showing that vast wealth does not result in reinvestment in America -- it goes into savings and stocks since they can't possibly spend all that money. The film clearly shows, factually, how the reduction in the size and wealth of the middle class is killing our economy. It shows how salaries for the middle class have actually declined (in constant dollars) since the 1980s. It logically explains why and explains the three phenomena that have resulted. While the facts are very depressing, Reich maintains a self-deprecating sense of humor throughout. He'd make a great president, but he's just too short, insightful, analytical, and honest to have a chance.

A film that should be mandatory viewing for all citizens

[MomentaryParticle · 10/10 · 4 October 2013]

Robert Reich's Inequality for All is an accessible primer on the motion of our nation's socioeconomic barometer over the past century. Together with a range of anecdotal human interest stories, he effectively uses statistical data to show how the country's economic health has waxed and waned over the years, who has benefited and who has not, and just how extreme the concentration of wealth has become over the past 30 years.

At the top of the economic mountain, the 400 richest people in the country have recently accrued the same measure of wealth as the poorest 150 million (i.e., nearly half the country). This extreme concentration of wealth endangers our society by making too much money available for risky speculation (e.g., the stock market crash of 1929 and the mortgage-backed derivatives crash of 2008), producing less tax revenue for government operations (because most of the rich's income is taxed at the much lower "capital gains" rate) as well as making government vulnerable to the exclusive interests of the richest people. For an example of the latter, half a century ago there were 26 income tax brackets, reaching up at least into the middle ranks of the upper class, but now there are only 7. Ronald Reagan presided over the elimination of the higher brackets, thereby generating a huge windfall for the richest that has failed to "trickle down" to the rest of us.

Through a series of graphs, Reich shows the correlation between the current, growing concentration of wealth and the rise of global capitalism, the decline of labor unions, tax law manipulation, the off-shoring of capital and jobs, political polarization, and plain old greed. The average CEO in Reagan's day made about 40X the average worker's salary; that factor has now grown to about 400X. Unlike corporate executives, most of us don't get to determine our own level of compensation.

Reich briefly mentions the favorite red herring of conservative media, which is to incessantly attack government as the root of all evil, while never talking about how the actions of members of the private sector upper class are impoverishing the country, nor how impotent government has become in the face of multinational corporatism. I wish he had said more about this, because it is a major point of misunderstanding for many people.

He also never specifically mentions the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act during the late '90's - an event that paved the way for the crash of 2008. The repeal was driven by the Republican-controlled Congress during Bill Clinton's second term (Clinton had no choice but to sign the bill or else face a Congressional veto override).

But aside from those minor criticisms, overall, this film is a well-organized, fact-based survey of the topic, one that will make many people's jaws drop when they realize how extreme the economic continuum has become, from hyper-rich citizens like hedge fund managers making $4 Billion a year, to working-class parents with children, fighting like hell to keep their heads above water without health insurance nor any prospect for owning a home or saving for retirement.

Another manifestation of inequity is the slow erosion of our public infrastructure - utilities, roads, bridges, schools, transit systems, etc., while U.S. corporations and entrepreneurs hold trillions of dollars of revenue offshore in untaxed accounts. In prior generations, a significant portion of that sequestered capital would have been invested to sustain the "commonwealth." The present extreme inequity is breathtaking, and as Robert Reich infers in his curiously upbeat manner, if we don't change the vector we're on, the prognosis for our society is disturbing.

Must see!

[shawnna-connolly-592-948580 · 10/10 · 29 September 2013]

I consider myself well informed about what's happening in our economy here in the United States, so I didn't expect to learn much.

Wow! Was I surprised! This move is a "must see" and should be required viewing for all, especially high school and college students.

Anyone who cares about this country, and who wants to change things must see this movie to truly understand what is needed.

Robert Reich has a rich way presenting information so that even those of us who find economics difficult can follow what's happened in the United States.

With easy to read graphs and entertaining narration, Robert shows us exactly what went wrong, and exactly what is needed to fix it.

An inconvenient wakeup call for some

[StevePulaski · 8/10 · 7 January 2014]

Inequality for All attempts to do for income inequality what An Inconvenient Truth did for the global warming/climate change debate. Immediately, if you agree with Reich's talking points about economics and who is exactly at fault for the economic downturn of recent years, you'll likely love Inequality for All and perhaps quote its statistical data in future debates. If you don't agree with Reich's points, you'll likely wind up hating the picture, dismissing it as biased, lefty-fodder and never think about it again. In other words, it's another typical political documentary in the regard that those who really need to see it and take things away from it probably won't.

That doesn't mean Reich's commentary on this particular issue should be casually dismissed and regarded as biased senselessness. Reich makes several great points in this documentary, and the film is worth seeing on the merits that he is a charismatic and very likable screen presence. The fact that Reich assumes a tone that is witty and informative without being too didactic and pompous already makes the film much more accomplished than An Inconvenient Truth. For starters, Reich's background is in economics. He has studied the field for many years and has worked under the Ford, Carter, and Clinton administrations, working as the Secretary of Labor under Clinton. To dismiss Reich's claims immediately as lefty-fodder or something along those lines is criminal just because he is at least more experienced than many people reviewing this film. I can't dismiss Reich's claims, nor can I back them up. I can simply try and view eye-to-eye with him before moving on.

Reich's film instantly feels like a PowerPoint presentation, with numerous infographs, charts, video clips, montages, etc appearing with Reich narrating and stating each piece of information's significance. This style makes for a basic, but very accessible film, which is what we need in the line of documentaries concerning politics and economics. They are topics that can get alienating and complex very easily, and Reich seems to be totally aware of that. What the man winds up doing, to combat the intimidating subjects, is offer a cleanly edited film, mixing in the aforementioned ingredients with bits of his lectures at Berkeley in order to create a very interesting and thoroughly entertaining film.

Probably his strongest takeaway point, even if, I feel, many of us already know this, is that a strong middle class is the key to a strong economy. One of his wealthy subjects is Nick Hanauer, a venture capitalist who makes the bold assertion that the rich do not create jobs or benefit the economy in a way that is as significant as what the middle class does. He sums this up nicely, commenting that while some people make in excess of $10 to $30 million dollars a year, paradoxically, they spend very little of it. Most of their money goes into investments or into a vault for their savings. The middle class, on the other hand, can only donate so much of their money to savings because many of them have outstanding bills that need be paid by a certain day. Hanauer also comments that America needs to forgo the failed concept of "trickle-down economics" in favor of "middle-out economics," which is the pro-business ideology to create a strong, viable middle class akin to that of the 1940's, 50's, and 60's. The question is how do we get there? Reich's other strong takeaway point is that the American "free market" isn't completely free in a large sense. For better or for worse, depending on what you believe, the government has regulated the market with countless organizations that either limit production, tell us how to produce something, and work in efforts to regulate business in a way that makes it meet certain requirements. For some, this will be old news but for others, like me, it provides a moment to truly think about. There truly is not such thing as a free-market; the only one that would exist would be under complete anarchy with no regulations whatsoever.

Director Jacob Kornbluth constantly makes an effort to show how baffling and simultaneously captivating Reich can be. At one point during Reich's presentation, he asks for an audience member's iPhone and questions to the masses where most of the proceeds from each purchase of an iPhone goes to. Many guess China and the United States, two countries directly involved in the solicitation and the manufacturing of said phone. It turns out 23% goes to Japan, 6% goes to the United States, roughly 3% goes back to China, something like 17% goes to Germany, and the remaining percent is scattered across the globe. The idea is that while iPhones are manufactured in one particular place (China), the parts for manufacturing just one phone come from all over the world, leaving many countries to share the profits unevenly.

While Inequality for All is a good lesson in economics, the real treat is getting to know Reich, who stands tall at just four feet, eleven inches, loves his MINI Cooper car because it feels in proportion to himself, and always brings a small wooden box to stand on wherever he goes to speak. The guy is just nine miles past adorable, and, agree or disagree with his points in the film, he has enough charisma to brighten a room and enough intelligence that everyone can take away something he says by the end of the documentary.

Starring: Robert Reich. Directed by: Jacob Kornbluth.

Shows the problem, but not the cause

[worleythom · 7/10 · 25 January 2014]

Inequality for All. Robert Reich.

Reich understands that inequality is a problem, and has gotten worse. He makes this case clearly.

What he doesn't understand is the extent to which inequality is the result of political decisions, made by people, purposefully to amplify that inequality.

Reich doesn't seem to see that his old boss Bill Clinton made inequality far worse, for Americans and others in the hemisphere and around the world, with his NAFTA and other trade treaties. (Obama is busy trying to do far worse yet, with his Trans-Pacific Partnership.) Reich pins the blame for inequality on "globalization" and "technology," making it sound as if it were the result of impersonal forces. To the contrary, it was political decisions to permit unbridled movement of money and goods, to reward corporations for racing to the bottom in wages, working conditions, worker rights, and environmental protections.

Reich does a clear presentation of the fact that only during a few decades after World War II was inequality under control. He does say that one of the political changes since then has been regressive taxation. He does mention that union membership has declined since the heyday of the middle class—but doesn't go into the ways in which labor law has been eroded by courts, legislatures, the executive branch—and how it's been flouted by companies, with impunity. Reich says little about deregulation, and nothing about antitrust.

Reich was the author in 1991 of a blithering book, The Work of Nations, where he opines that society's winners are those who "manipulate symbols." No, Bob. Society's winners are those who have obscene piles of wealth, usually inherited from the most ruthless operator in some market segment.

If you want to know economics, read Joseph Stiglitz. He's the one who gets it. Watch his "Where Is the World Going, Mr. Stiglitz?" video for the answers that elude Reich: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1381134/ (and others: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1688889/)

Stiglitz also features in the excellent documentary, "The Flaw," http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1787810/ about the collapse of the housing bubble in 2008, and the failure of "siphon wealth toward the already rich" policies that lead up to it.

Another excellent presentation of some of the causes of poverty and inequality is "Speaking Freely Volume 2: Susan George," 52 minutes, 2007 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245362/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl from Cinema Libre Studios http://cinemalibrestudio.com/all_dvd_titles.php). George explains how northern banks, aided by the International Monetary fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization, extract wealth from the poor in the global south.

This Reich movie presents an important issue. No, it presents *the* important issue. (The 85 richest people in the world have as much wealth as the bottom 3.5 billion.) Reich knows that much. He's hazy on how it happened, and what has to be done to fix it.

Questions about our Middle Class - see this documentary

[ayjake · 10/10 · 11 October 2013]

For years I have been searching for good answers to Free Enterprise, Capitalism and where we are going as workers to find our financial success.

This movie is the most informative, easy to watch - and easy to understand. It is entertaining and informative.

My Dad worked and Mom watched the kids, Dad and Mom retired happily.

But now many couples struggle just to try and make ends meet - what has happened?

Robert Reich is 67 years of age, served as Secretary of Labor, and is a professor at Berkeley. He draws an easy to follow timeline of some factual changes over the generations.

If you have some spare time - go search it out.

Demons of Capitalism... are the capitalists emself

[arnavgoswami · 7/10 · 4 February 2014]

watched INEQUALITY FOR ALL ...last year I saw an interview on RT featuring Robert Reich..& honestly I had no idea who he is/was..BUT what made me hooked to this guy was his revolutionary views about the economy & the people who controls it...THIS documentary is about the same thing

It tells us about the economy..n how filthy rich "capitalists" controls it by sucking the money out of the common worker/people & how the government helps em to rob the very people who elected it....BUT don't think of it as a communist propaganda..the makers only worry about the America & the American people..they say it again n again(Its the only lag that stops people around the world to relate from the situation..cause methods can be diff but this is what is happening to all of em)

AND it tells us all this stuff in the simplest form possible..you never get bored for a second..it portrays every aspect of the situation..so you can't call it biased at all..except that he went a little generous on the Bill Clinton & his own office years(what I think)..even than the film reveals a lot of things..things you must know

As an outsider I enjoyed this knowledge/stuff & think its a

_MUST WATCH_ for locals(US citizens)& _WORTH A WATCH_ for everyone else

Uplifitng and informative, should be required viewing for Americans.

[yeg-807-639463 · 9/10 · 2 October 2013]

I think Reich and Co. did a nice job of not being heavy handed while presenting some of the bleakest trends we're living through in 2013. Unlike a lot of doom and gloom docs, this vital information was presented with a human touch and actually offered some solutions towards a positive outcome.

There's some whimsy and self-deprecating humor throughout this film as well as Reich makes light of his own stature, but it's also very serious in how it pertains to his seemingly life-long struggle against bullies. And that, folks, is what the vast majority of Americans are up against: ideological bullies and wormtongues at Fox News; and a corporate-owned political system run by lobbyists. Reich presents some specific examples of wealth disparity and even gets a multi-millionaire to agree with his overall sentiment.

Super well done.

Justice for all?

[sol- · 6/10 · 19 June 2016]

Political commentator and former Clinton associate Robert Reich provides an overview of the widening economic gap in America in this humorously titled documentary. All too happy to make fun of his own short stature and often joking in his lecturers, Reich comes off as a likable personality, which in turn renders the film watchable throughout. Not everything that Reich has to say is particularly insightful (especially his notion that higher taxes for the rich would help), but he throws a few genuinely interesting ideas in the mix, such as that "the rich aren't generating enough economic activity" since their basic needs are the same as the average person and therefore they do not generally spend the majority of what they earn (everyone needs just one pillow is the example given). Reich includes some fascinating computer generated images too, though the film tends to rely heavily on these graphics. Likewise, the film spends too much time on Reich lecturing students at his university. All the reaction shots of his students' doting faces add nothing to his arguments, whereas more archive footage may have helped. In short, the film feels like a one-sided lecture rather than a persuasive documentary too often. The choice to end on an uplifting note comes across as odd too. As mentioned though, Reich is a charismatic enough character that the film still essentially works. The dire economic situation in America is certainly rather fascinating and even as a non-US citizen, it is interesting to see just how problematically this gigantic economic superpower actually works.

Call for A National Strike for all Minimum Wage Workers

[vlelkins-956-960392 · 24 March 2014]

Do you think it would catch their attention if we were to organize a national strike in which every individual making only minimum wage were to walk off their jobs on the same day across the nation? The fast food industries capture some headlines when they walked out and asked for $15.00 an hour. We need to hit them where it hurts if we are to get their attention, and since places like the Walmart's McDonals, and such can not function if there was a walk out since that is just about all they employ they would have to shut their door, and that would cost them.

I watched your movie and found it to be very interesting. Unions need to be organized in these places, possibly of have representatives come to the places where these walk outs would take place. They have used the threat of firing people seeking to start or join a union, but if you make it into a massive event, they can't fire everyone. That would mean closing their doors indefinitely. There's power in numbers. I forgot to mention the the person they hired to replace me was half my age.

We also need to also revisit the At Will employment act the allows employers to circumvent the anti discrimination laws by giving them the power to fire someone for any or no reason at all. A lot of companies are using a severance pay in which they require the employee to sign off any rights to come back at them for any reason, less they relinquish the right or pay back any severance pay paid them. Most decriminalization cases are all but impossible to prove when the reason for letting them go is listed as at will. And the individual is told this up front and that the employer will be notified of your claim, even before they determine if you have a claim.

I'm over 40, and worked for the same company for more than 12 years. I had noticed that several people that like me were over 40 and had been with the company for some time being laid off periodically. And then they came to me and told me that I was being let go because they didn't have enough work for me. I was the oldest and most senior person in my department. My papers listed me as being released at will. They hired someone to replace me less than a month after letting me go claiming that they did not have enough work to accommodate that position. When I wrote them as my right, to ask for the reason for my termination, their reply was simply, I was at will and they were not saying anything beyond that. I've been out of work now for almost 2 years.

Don't worry about solving problems, just produce what sells.

[ericnottelling · 5/10 · 8 January 2014]

I sat down and watched this doc hoping to hear something more than typical liberal talking points. However that hope was soon dashed. If you want a feel good liberal spin of the poor and inequality than this movie is for you. If you want an honest look about the truth of inequality in this country you will leave this doc empty handed. Robert Reich tries to tie in a slew of liberal talking points together all to blame inequality on republicans with an attempted smokescreen of blaming both parties. Toward the end he stems into the occupy and tea party stances of taking the money out of politics but fails to really point blame at the democrats themselves for being there to actually accept it instead of turning it down. Instead he just blames the rich. This is a straight forward bias approach to economics as one can see. The claim that the bill clinton era economy was a strong US economy is laughable as clinton's policies (the community reinvestment act expansion) were the very roots of the cause of the economic collapse. In general the movie is a classic piece of capitalism. Don't worry about solving problems and looking at the truth, just produce what sells. The truth is there is enough blame to go around. There are some ominous points made in the doc. One involving globalism. It is not hard to understand why globalism has brought down wages. More people willing to do a job, means you can find someone to do it for less. Yet he fails to see how women entering the work force had the same effect of keeping wages down by producing more human labor. Instead linking it to a need for women to go to work to increase income. One thing is certain, wages are stagnant and ceo and the rich are getting richer. But his solution is geared more toward a political class maintaining power than it is about actually solving these issues. Left off this video is important conversations about the FED, effects of taxation on the middle and how it prevents the middle class form raising up and growing. Also left off is any real conversation about why college tuition has skyrocketed inline with the amount of money the government is willing to loan students. Also left out is how corruption in higher education and government policies for things like licenses and certification are closing out large parts of the population to employment in every protectionism schemes. There is room for a real conversation on this subject, however this doc isn't it.

Who would have thought?

[safenoe · 10/10 · 4 November 2016]

When I saw this in the in flight magazine, I wondered whether I could enjoy this movie, which came across as rather academic and dry.

I was wrong big time. What a compelling movie. I only wish it could have gone on longer or even form part of a series of movies, a sequel or two would benefit in getting the message across to the masses that we need to understand the consequences of the 1% becoming more and more unequal.

Robert Reich, who was Labor Secretary in the Bill Clinton Cabinet, is a top notch communicator and he's also entertaining in getting his message across in a clear-cut way.

A Must Watch for Middle Class Americans

[scuffmark · 9/10 · 25 January 2017]

The economics seem sound and provides explanation why the middle class financial health is the key to a successful economy and solid democracy.

Former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, explains this argument in understandable terms. Using testimony from the really rich Americans, including Warren Buffet, to everyday middle class Americans struggling to maintain their quality of life.

The loss of one star is due to the web site promoting a clearly liberal agenda.

The documentary itself has no political message which motivated me to go to the web site to take action. But, alas, when the web site had nothing but political elements, it turned me off.

A Good Effort, Perhaps Too Late

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 22 March 2014]

I have become so cynical politically. I watched this and began to think, "OK. Another dose of reality for the powerless to absorb. I agree with Robert Reich but wonder where it will all end. The Koch brothers are down there buying political candidates (as are some of the liberal moneybags) and the middle class is being sold down the river. Instead of engaging the government, the Tea Party wants to end big government (ain't gonna happen) and there is more fragmentation all the time. We see those who oppose us (whatever side we're on) as our enemies. Do people realize that we are kind of set up for the new French Revolution? It probably doesn't matter because in about a hundred years we will deplete our resources and half the populated parts of our country will be flooded. Most interesting in this film was the shift of the 70's where women began to "have" to work, the extension of the workday (as well as second jobs) and the borrowing (second mortgages, etc.) have led us down this road. I see there are some single star reviews. This is the ridiculous effort to somehow diminish the rating of a film like this. The film makes many valid points and whether your in the pocket of the plutocrats or not, there is a lot to learn before it is too late.

Amazing, highly recommended!

[gigione80 · 9/10 · 18 March 2014]

This documentary is very well conceived and shot. It explains very simply how the middle class just impoverished all of a sudden and how dangerous this is for an economy. The author also explains the impact of Reaganism, Thatcherism and, generally, the Chicago boys' theories on contemporary societies. This movie is also for all of those who think that we are just experiencing a temporary crisis. This is not a crisis and we have already understood that:the economy has been gradually shifting from a manufacturing one to a service economy with lower hourly wages, less benefits, part-time hours and more importantly even less chance to organize unions than before. Please watch it, you will not regret it at all!

Good graphs aren't enough

[texshelters · 6/10 · 12 August 2015]

"Inequality for All" Leaves the Audience with a Deficit

Robert Reich's movie about inequality in America certainly has good graphs. And while I like good graphs, and have enjoyed graphs in movies in the past, graphs aren't enough.

Once you learn the basic problem with wealth inequality in America and why income is almost completely rising to the top 1%, there's not much in the film to enlighten us. You could learn what is in the film in two graphs and a 1000 word article. While I admire Reich's work in economics and his self deprecating humor, the film is too narrow in its scope. Let me count the ways.

1. It doesn't address NAFTA (a law that was passed during his time working with Bill Clinton) and how it helped increase inequality.

2. It didn't address Welfare to work, another bill pushed through by his buddy, President Clinton, and its affects on the working poor.

3. The film mostly ignores military spending.

4. Though the New Deal is seen as the beginning of good times for workers, Reich doesn't discuss the job's programs and infrastructure programs of the New Deal to show what the government can do to share the wealth.

5. And much much more!

His vague call to "educate America", and help unions, lacks specifics that I would think a world class economist might be able to share with us. His prescriptions are as disappointing as the film itself. Rating: Rent it. There is no reason to see this on the big screen, even to promote documentaries about economics making it to the theaters. However, there are a couple of interesting interviews in the movie and enough information to glean that it's not a complete waste of time.

Peace, Tex Shelters

Good film, but didn't go far enough

[bobbobwhite · 8/10 · 15 October 2013]

Liked that Reich documented the many problems faced by the 99% in trying make a living in a country dominated by the compromising effects of big money and very rich people. Charts and graphs galore showed vividly the striking connections between lowered taxes and rich power..........the deception of jobs creator and trickle down phony baloney, neo-con babble..........big business offshore jobs and robots here eliminating American jobs.......the effects of the decline in unions, and much, much more serious proof of gross and purposeful social inequality encouraged by many in our gov't and businesses.

As background and qualifications, Reich detailed his genetic condition that led to his short stature, told us about his upbringing and education, and told more about his college and gov't jobs through the years. He is an engaging, friendly and yet very serious man without being pushy, and is stone serious about his mission for better equality. But, IMO, that will be a very difficult thing to achieve under current social conditions in America, and he will have to have better and more effective suggestions to his students and to viewers than to "go out and make a difference". How about every student in his class pledging to encourage, develop and uplift American workers when these students in writing to become influential managers and bosses in the quest for more equality? To bring more jobs back home? To not be a part of the inequality problem in all of society but a big part of its solution? Run for political office and do something better for America than just get rich taking PAC bribes? And, never, ever forget these hard days in America for the 99% that were caused by the 1%.

I consider this film to be Part I. There has to be more on specific solutions after the complaining and pointing fingers are worn out. Influentials have to actually do something specific and accountable to change and help this crisis beyond lip service. This film was a preamble of what must be done later.

Pretty much more of the same populist rhetoric.

[ronald-litvak · 16 September 2013]

America today is largely divided into two ideological sides, each with its own rhetoric and talking points. Take your pick. This is more of the same. Yes income inequality exists. It always had and always will. "Progressive" policies such as wealth redistribution, which is pretty much what the director advocates, will not solve this. It will at the very most be a short term solution. "Inequality for all" makes it seem like inequality is something new only to this generation. The fact of the matter is these ideas existed in some form for centuries. Judging by the skill set of the average American today there should be little surprise for an increasing wealth gap.

This is all not to say the director isn't right on some points. It's just that the solutions he is suggesting are too simple, too common, and aren't really solutions at all. Rich vs poor debate has existed since serfdom, the French Revolution, Karl Marx, Berlin Wall, etc. Its interesting to see people suggesting that all you need to do is throw (other people's) money at the problem. I mean you can but you'll probably end up at the same place. Apparently income inequality was even better years ago before or just after social security and Medicare and broad social "safety nets" came around (according to the film). Expand the net again and we'll go full circle. It's the way nature works.

The film is just too one-sided in the end. I suppose it'd be useful if you weren't aware there was a wide wealth gap between rich and poor in the first place but the reasons and solutions for it as presented are all deceptively simple. You'll probably only like the film if you're already on the bandwagon, and vice versa. It's less of a documentary than an opinion piece. Just add this to the pile in the eternal left vs right debate.

An important documentary, meant for a specific audience

[peefyn · 7/10 · 27 January 2016]

This is a documentary similar to "An Inconvinient Truth", where a (former) politician has a message he feels it is important to convey, and he conveys it in a personal but professional way. I am not from the US, and I was not familiar with Robert Reich - but what a delight he is! The best parts of the movie is where he breaks down the economic crisis in a way that is easily understandable, and manages to do it non-condescending way. Some of the clips from his media appearances were also quite fun.

The way they bring in personal stories from other Americans is nice and touching. It helped underline the points made by Reich. At the same time, when a movie has such a strong agenda as this, it's hard not to watch it without your shield up (and you shouldn't, really). I am all for people using the medium to convey something personal, but when it's politics, it sometimes makes me feel a bit uneasy, as I know I am being "worked on". But still, from what I've read about Reich after seeing this movie, it seems to ultimately be a rather trustworthy account of what happened, and what can be done to stop it.

That said, as a non-American, I often felt that this movie was not meant for me. I was not one of the people the documentary tries to convince. Obviously most of what is said is true and relevant globally - so it was not a waste for me to see it. But it still did not hit the mark, as I did feel "alienated" (too strong a word, maybe) at times.

The Voldermort Effect

[TroliusMaximus · 9/10 · 28 July 2017]

If I recall correctly, I espied the word *****{¹} only one(1), solitary time for the duration of this entire film (NB: It was festooned across a―I believe―"Occupy Wall Street" protester's placard). Besides this one, fleeting instance, I do not believe I saw (much less, heard) the ineffable term in question, uttered or alluded to―from the opening titles to the closing credits of this documentary.

The thing is; if we, as a society, cannot acknowledge and confront the problem, we have little hope of ever curing the source of the disease that ails us. If we are unwilling to localise the cause, we will forever only futilely treat the perpetually reöccurring, ingravescent symptoms... Until we inevitably succumb to our affliction ― once and for all.

Reich's vivisection of the catatonic capitalist crevasse that the West has fallen into, is both a pointed and a mostly veridical assessment of the potentially civilisation-ending cycle of zealous Mammon-worship, and contiguous prosperity, that global inequality has bestowed upon the Occident. Reich unabashëdly fingers those who ― in spite of his own admirable, larger-than-stature efforts; as the U.S.'s Secretary of Labor (et al.) ― have plundered the post-WW2 U.S. economic hegemony, and whose continuing insatiable esurience for 'one shekel more', is ironically condemning (condemnED?) the nation (and beyond) which has fed them their ambrosia―to the fate of those (developing and Third World) who have served as their footstools for $u¢¢e$$.

His plaintive pleas, however, are not without elision and / or redaction: No mention is made of the U.S. Northern War of Aggression (a.k.a. "Civil War") ― the epoch marking the nation's Plutocratic anointment and the arguable roots of its ravenous rapaciousness ― the literal trillion$ continuously "lost" in "known unknown" military "black budgets"; the correlation of the usury banking system to the creation of non-existent money from nothing―coming at the direct expense of proletariat livelihood; the inherently cyclical, prosperity-to-poverty, roller coaster nature the unbridled model of capitalism said system's proponents protect with the fervour of martyrs; AIPAC(!)... etc..

For mine, if there is one trenchant take-away from this film (and there IS more than one), it's the rather perfunctory reality of the purchasing power of "the rich" ― exampled with respect to pillows(!): Even the billionaire buys only one pillow ― and if their socio-economic station comes at the immolation of "middle class" ― their 'pillow-purchasing- power', alone, will not fill the void created in market-demand for pillows. What ensues from here, requires no pay-to-learn, economic Ph.D paper planes for one extrapolate...

'Inequality for All' is essential viewing for anyone who is interested in understanding why society is the way it is, the direction it is careening in as a result, and the fiscal predicament (or preëminence) they may find themselves in. A excellent addendum to one's economic edification.

{¹GREED}

Delusional Academic Nonsense!

[beatsynthesis · 1/10 · 6 October 2013]

Horrible movie, unless you want to watch the one-sided, delusional rantings of an arrogant academic. Reich is an example of what happens when an intelligent man becomes immersed in neo-liberal ideology and cut off from the real world of economics and human nature. Contrary to Reich's unsupported premise, income and wealth inequality are not harmful; rather, they are evidence a healthy, moral society. People are rewarded with income based on their relative value to society. Those who create or otherwise provide value are rewarded with commensurate income. These whose contributions are minimal, are compensated with less. Executives who create innovation, efficiency and profit are appropriately paid more than low-level workers with easily replaceable skills. And, of course, as to investing and wealth management, as the old quote goes, "A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted." All of this makes not only good economic sense, it is morally fair and just. Conversely, taking wealth from some and giving it to others is theft.

Being an aloof academic, Reich does not realize how silly his ideas are to practical people. He blames the wealthy and income inequality for causing recent financial collapses. On the contrary, it is government meddling and over-regulation that cause collapses. When economic and financial prudence are replaced with neo-liberal ideology, and when risk is guaranteed by the government, even a fool (but not a neo-liberal), can predict that economic and financial harm will result. When lenders are forced by government to make loans to unqualified borrowers, common sense dictates that defaults will occur. When those defaults occur, the government (taxpayers) will be forced to make good on bad "guaranteed" loans. Without government meddling, lenders would only loan money to those with demonstrated ability to repay the loans. Similarly, societal income and wealth disparities eventually force the wealthy and business owners to make price and wage concessions to the less fortunate, so they can buy products and participate in the economy. History demonstrates that, without government meddling, the marketplace adjusts wages, price, income and wealth. All of the harmful effects of which Reich speaks are CAUSED by governmental efforts to redistribute wealth, provide more resources for the "less fortunate," and remove risk from the economy. These governmental efforts must, necessarily, result in financial ruin, because they have no basis in real-world economics and human nature. None of these facts matter in the fantasy, ideological world Reich and neo-liberal academics/politicians have created for themselves. Were Reich and the neo-liberals relegated to the halls of academia, there might be little harm from their nonsense. The problem for society is that these dangerous people have now taken control of the government and media. Despite powerful evidence of their ongoing failures, neo-liberals like Reich remain hell-bent on implementing their pernicious ideologies.

A Great Look at the Facts in Easy-to-Understand Segments

[gavin6942 · 8/10 · 10 March 2014]

A documentary that follows former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich as he looks to raise awareness of the country's widening economic gap.

There is a bit of an autobiographical look at Reich, his work with Robert Kennedy and Jimmy Carter, as well as his friendship with Bill Clinton that blossomed as Oxford students. This really has no bearing on the rest of the film, but for those who do not know Reich, it makes the film more personal.

We get plenty of facts and statistics: how wages were tied to productivity until the late 1970s, when wages went flat. We also had flattening graduation rates, and women going into the work force out of necessity just to keep their families from going broke.

While many believe that union membership decline is connected to Reagan's firing of the air traffic controllers, Reich makes the case for "globalization" as the culprit. This is an interesting twist, because he does not want to let Reagan off the hook or blame a force beyond anyone's control -- he just wants to present the facts.

No real solutions are presented, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Reich is more concerned with showing the problem, and how people have a tendency to blame the wrong people. Before a solution is politically viable, we must understand the problem.