Two Rainy Day Films

As an agregator site, I pull together items I find interesting to share with my friends. Very little of what I write these days finds its way onto posts. For the most part, any analysis I can offer is less than that provided somewhere else.

Two documentaries have made an impact on me recently. The first is "The Century of Self." This series, produced by the BBC, traces how industry and government use psychology to shape our purchase and voting habits. Eddie Bernays, the nephew of Sigmund Freude, began by working for the tobacco industry. He proved to Madison Avenue that psychology could overcome societal barriers in doubling the number of smokers in America by inducing women to take up the habit. A facinating application of the same techniques were adopted by political parties to get their leaders elected. YouTube also has a series of videos based on Noam Chomsky's great work; "Manufacturing Consent."

And when you are finished watching those and have had a good vomit, I suggest you continue the filmfest and watch the best documentary made about the financial crisis; "Inside Job", produced by Charles Ferguson. He won an Academy Award for it. It is an outstanding piece of film that traces the steps to the collapse from Reagan to Obama. Posted on the site Zero HedgeThis is the first time I have found it on-line for free.

Watch these films and perhaps show them to your friends and family. With an election coming up next year, ask yourself if you can believe anything you hear coming out of the mouths of politicians and the media. Think about the billions flowing from Wall Street to the campaign coffers of both Republicans and Democrats.