Video

The economic debate in the U.S. tends to center around issues such as tax rates, regulation and government spending. The discussion is always conducted within the framework of capitalism, as if we’ve all accepted that capitalism is obviously the best economic system known to man, and the only solutions to our problems lie within a free-market system.

While this consensus is shared by the mainstream political and media classes, I wonder how many Americans suffering at the hands of the dismal economy would be so sold on capitalism if they understood that there are real alternatives that might be better for the nation, and the world. And by the way, considering such other economic options doesn’t make you evil. Being blind to the deficiencies and inequalities of capitalism, especially as it’s practiced in much of the world, is helpful to those who would much rather keep you from asking the obvious question: if capitalism is so great for everybody, why does such a small minority enjoy the majority of the world’s luxury, wealth and power?

I have occasionally come across the idea of Participatory Economics, also known as Parecon for short. I’m still getting acquainted with the idea, but find it quite interesting. This is a video of a speech by Michael Albert, one of the leading proponents of Participatory Economics. It’s more than an hour long, but worth the time for anyone interested in a new alternative to both capitalism and socialism.

Alternative Economy Cultures part 1 from pixelACHE festival on Vimeo.

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How do Christian parents handle the discovery that their child is gay? This documentary highlights several examples. Overall, the film is positive and heartwarming.

The U.S. still has some very powerful people who believe that homosexuality can, and should, be “cured”. However, the country’s attitude toward homosexuality is turning rapidly, mostly because people have learned that they know gay people, and there’s nothing to be afraid of. Religion is probably the biggest obstacle toward an even wider acceptance of gay people, and that obstacle is studied in this excellent documentary, which is both educational and illuminating.

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Many people are in an uproar over the recent Casey Anthony trial verdict, and understandably so. But I often fear that to many people, whose attitude seems to be exemplified by Nancy Grace, justice=conviction. This documentary, narrated by Sean Penn, demonstrates just how dangerous such an attitude can be.

Prepare to be outraged.

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This excellent documentary is essential viewing for anybody interested in Wikileaks and government secrecy, or the Vietnam War.

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This movie asks a critical question. How might one expect John F. Kennedy to have handled Vietnam had he not been assassinated, based on how he handled previous situations in his short presidency? Many of us wonder if the answer to that question may also be relevant to why Kennedy was killed. Regardless of your opinions on JFK’s murder, questioning what he would have done regarding Vietnam can help shed light on how important a single man can be in shaping history.

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I’m a couple days late posting this, but I didn’t want Dr. Kevorkian’s  death to go without mention here because I see him as a courageous hero stood for the right to die with dignity, even if taking this stand cost him his freedom. His personality turned off many people, but I found him to be a fascinating, unique individual.

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The title is a bit misleading because this documentary is more about Christianity in America than it is about God, or theism in general. Still, it’s an interesting film that, among other things, points out how the story of Jesus was similar to that of many other mythical characters that came before him.

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From Russia Today:

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The documentary film War Made Easy, narrated by Sean Penn, offers a simple yet powerful look at how the American public has been continually propagandized into supporting war.

From the movie’s web site:

War Made Easy gives special attention to parallels between the Vietnam war and the war in Iraq. Guided by media critic Norman Solomon’s meticulous research and tough-minded analysis, the film presents disturbing examples of propaganda and media complicity from the present alongside rare footage of political leaders and leading journalists from the past, including Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, dissident Senator Wayne Morse, and news correspondents Walter Cronkite and Morley Safer.

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