Posted on 10/20/2012 4:29:19 AM PDT by billorites
One of my favorite movies of all time is Frank Capra's “It's A Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart. In the film, Stewart's character, a despondent and near suicidal George Bailey, who runs a small savings and loan in the town of Bedford Falls, is given a gift: the chance to see what his town would be like if he'd never been born — if he'd never extended a helping hand to his neighbors when they needed it most, never helped his community understand how much they depended upon one another.
In this alternative vision, the town's plutocratic banker, Mr. Potter — without the decent George Bailey to counter him — rules everything. A bottom-line-is-everything, every-man-for-himself mentality runs unchecked, resulting in Bedford Falls' metamorphosis into “Pottersville,” an amoral, soulless place.
The movie has a happy ending, thank goodness, but its themes endure to this day and echo in the current presidential election, which at its core asks the question: What kind of country are we? Are we Bedford Falls or Pottersville? Are we all in this together — and stronger and better because of it — or are we entirely on our own, with a few “makers” on the top of a heap of “takers?”
I'm supporting President Barack Obama because there is no question about his answer to that question. Having observed Mitt Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts, and then watching him in the Republican primaries as he tacked this way and that whenever it suited him (but mostly to the far right, the Tea Party radicals, even the birthers), I can't be sure of him.
As a student of American history, let me give some perspective. Much like Franklin Delano Roosevelt (one of the subjects of a new documentary series we are working on — if Romney doesn't get his way and PBS isn't eliminated), President Obama took office at a time when lax regulation of the financial industry had brought us to the brink of a complete collapse, creating an industry that needed nearly a trillion dollars in President Bush-authorized bailouts. He also inherited two off-the-books wars that had further ballooned our budget deficit, an auto industry on the verge of bankruptcy, and a loss of prestige in the international community.
Like FDR, Obama has walked us back from the brink. He averted a depression, ended one war and put us on the path ending the other, rescued the auto industry, slowly building the sound footing necessary to have a sustained recovery — better, smarter regulation of those that brought this upon us, tax breaks to save a dwindling middle class, and a request that the very super rich, folks like Gov. Romney who have taken advantage of loopholes and deductions and off-shore accounts to amass their fortunes, pay their fair share. (Like FDR's hero, Theodore Roosevelt — also part of the new series we're making — Obama has deployed the shrewd combination of speaking softly and using a big stick. Ask Bin Laden.)
There's a lot more work to be done, obviously, but history itself suggests that changing the trajectory of things takes time and patience and, as FDR demonstrated, intelligent experimentation. (All Mitt Romney seems to offer is a return to the very policies that got us into this mess in the first place.)
Unfortunately, unlike FDR, who had great cooperation from across the aisle for many of his programs, Obama has had to pretty much go it alone. As the Republican Party ignored his gestures of compromise and bipartisanship, they also moved further and further to the right, the furthest right they have ever been since the party was founded in 1856. Further right than the days of President Ronald Reagan, who in his second inaugural address in 1985 said, “Our two-party system has served us well over the years, but never better than in those times of great challenge when we came together not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans united in a common cause.”
How different, that attitude, from the Republican position of the last three years, which has taken the very process that forged our Constitution and created this great country — compromise — and tried to turn it into a dirty word.
More than a student of American history, I am also the father of four daughters. They mean the world to me, of course, and I've tried to teach them those timeless American values “It's A Wonderful Life” promotes: a small-town hard-work ethic, holding to your inner principles and not changing with the first breeze of opposition, never lying, and loving both the country and its potentiality. And they constantly point me to the future, to the essential question George Bailey faced: What can one person do to make their community a Bedford Falls instead of a Pottersville? Well, there are many things. But one of them, I think, is to vote for Barack Obama.
Ken Burns, a filmmaker from Walpole, is director of “The Civil War,” “Baseball,” “The Dust Bowl” and many other documentaries.
I do not like the movie either. Mostly because of Jimmy Stewarts’ voice, but secondarily because the anaolgies are either too vague or too strained. But I do like “The Final Countdown.” Go figure.
What a fagaloon.
ken burns is one of the 47%.
“Ken Burns: Why I am voting for Barack Obama”
“To ensure my chances of funding for the production of patronizing documentaries which allow me to display my many virtues.”
Because I still haven't figured out how to make movies with pictures that move. I can move the pictures around on the screen but that's it.
And how do you get the people in the pictures to talk? I've never figured that out.
Poor Ken should take a history lesson. He should read up on those Tea Party radicals and what they stood for 200+ years ago.
He might be surprised.
Ken, Ken, Ken.... It only looks like the republicans went to the right because the democrats went to the extreme left, bordering on anarachy. The republicans are more liberal than ever.
“Ken Burns forgets what really saved George was his generous businessman friend, Sam Wainright (”Hee-Haw!”) who advances him the cash he really needs. Oh and it was another independent businessman Mr. Gower the druggist who had the wherewithall to get that solution going. The kind government “we all belong to” was ready to throw Bailey in jail.”
Now you hush. Can’t have the truth creeping in here to spoil Ken’s argument.
Glad Burns won’t have a free forum for his historical trash after Romney gets elected. Close that friggin’ network down.
” This should be tagged with a mega-barf alert”
The words in the title, “I am voting for barack obama”, is sufficient.
Potter was a crony “trickle down government” capitalist. Anyone remember there is a scene where Potter is talking with his rent collector who is giving an analysis of the Bailey Park housing development. The intercomm buzzes and Potter’s secretary says a Congressman is in the office waiting to see him. Potter dismissively says “Tell the Congressman to wait!” back to the secretary.
Mr Burns.... I share your interest in baseball and the American Civil War. That is about all we have in common you blithering lib.
Let's start with a fictional movie, assume the guy in the white hat in the movie is on our side while the guy in the black hat is on the other side, and then try to draw some grand conclusion about government from it.
I’ve watched It’s a Wonderful life about a half dozen times or so.
I somehow missed the part where George Baily ran up massive debt or bailed out a car company for 10 times what it was worth.
I certainly do not remember the eviquivilence of a Chevy Volt or Solyndra in the movie?
Did G.B. promise them shouvel ready jobs?
I defintitely do not remember G.B. being a Statist???
If anything Potter was is closer to 0bama than is Baily.
Cold and impersonal. One size fits all. The bottom line is holding onto your power.
If Jimmy Stewart were still alive, he’d be voting Romney.
That is all. Carry on.
Burns just confirmed he is an idiot. He has absolutely no conception of the problems or the drastic solutions that are necessary tp solve the problems. He looks upon Obama as a Magic Unicorn that has voids Magical Manure to spread around to instantly fix everything.
Sadly way too many people think the same.
Yes I liked “Baseball” but Ken Burns...who cares what _she_ thinks? :)
(...ever heard him speak? High pitched voice...) Wonder if he still has that Beatle haircut.
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