"I.O.U.S.A."

So we've seen several moives recently and the documentary I.O.U.S.A., detailed below, was advertised. I'm very interested in seeing it but I am wondering if anyone has more info on the behind-the-scenes influences bringing this perspective to the public in this form - It's unusual to say the least.

Warren Buffett and several others will participate in a "Town Hall" type Q & A video session after the showing. There is a link on the site to submit questions.

Does anyone else plan to see it?


www.iousathemovie.com...

The critically-acclaimed "I.O.U.S.A." documentary, directed by Patrick Creadon ("Wordplay"), follows the "Fiscal Wake-Up Tour" and tells the story of America's four key deficits - budget, savings, balance of payments and leadership - and their implications for the nation and U.S. citizens. Americans are faced with an ever-expanding government and military, increased foreign competition, and financial obligations that will become ever more difficult to honor absent meaningful reforms. As 78 million baby boomers begin to retire and collect benefits from over-extended entitlement programs, an economic crisis of epic proportions awaits. Using candid interviews, archival footage and economic data, "I.O.U.S.A." presents a vivid, alarming profile of America's current financial status. The conclusion offers suggestions for how best to recreate a fiscally sound nation for future generations. The "I.O.U.S.A." documentary will open in theatres in 10 cities on Aug. 21.

www.iousathemovie.com...#


[edit on 18/8/2008 by kosmicjack]

reply to post by kosmicjack


You wouldn't happen to er... ya know .. have a free copy? Maybe a *cough* torrent?

Or is this in theaters?

reply to post by Rockpuck


As far as I know, it's in theatres only. Unless someone has other information...

And according to the OP's report only being released in limited cities.

It might be some time before this even come out on DVD - Bleh!

I wasn't sure of the names of the other post-showing Q & A guests but as it turns out one of them is former U.S. Comptroller General Dave Walker, who resigned in disgust. I'm sure he has quite alot to say. To set the tone of the film, here is a great article with a take on the general topics to be covered:

market-ticker.denninger.net...

Folks, we have choices in this country. One of them is to sit on our butt and whine and complain or stick our fingers in our ears. Another is to demand that someone - anyone - bail us out.

The third, and the most appropriate choice, is for us to take responsibility for ourselves and for our nation. We simply must recognize that:

• We cannot spend more than we make.

• We cannot send trillions of dollars overseas to buy cheap imported goods while denying our citizens good jobs at the same time, then expect to have a high standard of living. If we do that our standard of living goes down and theirs (China's) goes up. The poor farmer going from living in a stick hut to a bunkhouse in a factory gets quite a (relative) boost in his standard of living. How far down does your standard of living have to go to meet parity with him?

• We cannot demand that the government provide "things", whether that be retirement, medical care, or anything else, that cannot be fully funded from today's tax revenues. This, unfortunately, means that in their present form Social Security and Medicare cannot be allowed to continue to exist. This is a fact whether you wish to admit it or not. Playing partisan politics and calling names will not fix this. The original design of these programs was defective - intentionally so. Use your heads and face the math.

• We cannot own a house if we are unable to put 20% down, finance it for 30 years on a fixed mortgage, and pay no more than 36% of our pretax income for all debt, including our mortgage payment. This is a mathematical fact; those who are levered beyond this are at high risk of default and should default so prices can correct to sustainable levels. Do you want to be able to afford a home, or claim to own one that you'll never actually have clear title to? We must stop lying to both ourselves and our neighbors.

• A home is a place to live. The laws of common business balance prohibit it from rising in value faster than prevailing wages over extended periods of time. Unfortunately, prices in the general economy tend to rise at the same rate as wages, and houses come with costs (maintenance, property taxes and utilities) which means that on average, they make poor investments - but are great places to live. If you want to invest in housing and not go broke, you must buy it when cheap and sell it when expensive, just like a stock - whether you like living in the place or not.

• We cannot buy a car if we do not have a 20% down payment or need to finance it for more than the duration of the warranty if new, two years if used. If that makes the car too expensive, we need to buy a cheaper (or used) one.

• We cannot use credit on an ever-expanding basis, nor can we tap phantom "equity" to pay it off. Revolving credit used for true emergency purposes is reasonable. Carrying ever-expanding balances and then taking out a HELOC to pay it off is not. Down this road you will lose your house - eventually. Just ask those people who have or are. And oh by the way, its not credit - its DEBT. Don't forget that.

• $30,000 a year to attend a university is unconscionable. A person graduating with a Bachelors carrying $100,000 or more in debt is outrageous and that we allow the university system to exploit our children like this is even more so. Never mind the debt merchants at the student registration table handing out credit card applications to young people with no income, no job, and no assets! Bankrupting our children starting at 18 must end now, and it will only happen when we as adults say no f*ing way is my kid going to spend that kind of money he or she doesn't have to go to your school. Cut that crap out or go out of business. Why are you permitting your children to be violated by these clowns?

• Our retirement security is our problem. It is not our children's bill nor is the government's issue to solve. If you are not saving and investing 10% of your gross income you are going to be in trouble when you retire...

[edit on 20/8/2008 by kosmicjack]

reply to post by kosmicjack


Did you just cut and paste the conservative manifesto? J/k...It looks like a great movie and I can't wait to see it. I have a feeling it's preaching to the choir though, as everyone who it is talking about will be in the newest Hollywood piece of crap in the theatre next door.

reply to post by sc2099


Denninger, along with Mr. Mortgage at ML-Implode(who for those that remember the odd SPY calls last year was the original source), Mish at Globaleconomic analysis, Meredith Whitney at Oppenhiemer, and a few others have been about as right as you can get in economic analysis since this whole mess started. If you can handle the occasional foul language his opinions over the past year are worth looking at, compare them with what the main stream financial media has said and see who has been more right.

I'm very interested in seeing the movie myself, but I think you are probably right about where the masses are going to be. There is some interesting money behind that movie as well that should raise the eyebrows of many here at ATS. Pete Peterson founder of Blackstone, and a member of the CFR is bankrolling it, or so I've heard.