The "last movie I saw" thread

[Maximus]

I'll be interested in your findings. As noted, I thought Fahrenheit 9/11 was awful; Where to Invade Next is at least more upbeat and even optimistic about America and its potential. Plus, one of the Icelandic executives, a blonde golfer, is very hot.

Ill have to see this one still, I am just automatically skeptical of him, fair or not.

[Northwestcoug]

I assumed with Bernie Sanders as your avatar you'd love the movie... Anyway, there's no question that he's fat (which is relevant, why?), but he's no idiot. And sure, it's foolish to expect a program that works for a homogeneous country the size of Vermont will necessarily work in a country as diverse and large as the U.S. Still, I wouldn't dismiss an idea solely for that reason. Interestingly, many of those he interviewed say they got their ideas from the U.S. and they couldn't understand why the U.S. moved away from them.

When did you turn into a hippie pink commie? I must have missed that thread...

[old_gregg]

he's no idiot

strongly but respectfully disagree bro

[PaloAltoCougar]

When did you turn into a hippie pink commie? I must have missed that thread...

Somewhere around the time the party I've voted for over the past 44 years put Trump and Cruz as its frontrunners. Throw in Palin as a potential running mate and my conversion is complete. Now if only CA will legalize medical weed my comfortable retirement will be assured.

[Topper]

I assumed with Bernie Sanders as your avatar you'd love the movie... Anyway, there's no question that he's fat (which is relevant, why?), but he's no idiot. And sure, it's foolish to expect a program that works for a homogeneous country the size of Vermont will necessarily work in a country as diverse and large as the U.S. Still, I wouldn't dismiss an idea solely for that reason. Interestingly, many of those he interviewed say they got their ideas from the U.S. and they couldn't understand why the U.S. moved away from them.

So he interviewed people of homogeneous countries who gave their unscientific opinions as to the origins? No, empirical studies on the range of expectations within the homogeneous cultures as opposed a vast, and ethnically diverse set of cultures and expectations? Nah, never a reason for that. It seems as you folks grow older and wealthier you lose your sense of macro-economics, impact of diversity of population on population health, and overall bureaucratic approaches to social programs. The last roll out of the modestly invasive Obamacare came so smoothly and professionally. No problems at all.

[Northwestcoug]

Somewhere around the time the party I've voted for over the past 44 years put Trump and Cruz as its frontrunners. Throw in Palin as a potential running mate and my conversion is complete. Now if only CA will legalize medical weed my comfortable retirement will be assured.

[creekster]

I assumed with Bernie Sanders as your avatar you'd love the movie... Anyway, there's no question that he's fat (which is relevant, why?), but he's no idiot. And sure, it's foolish to expect a program that works for a homogeneous country the size of Vermont will necessarily work in a country as diverse and large as the U.S. Still, I wouldn't dismiss an idea solely for that reason. Interestingly, many of those he interviewed say they got their ideas from the U.S. and they couldn't understand why the U.S. moved away from them.

You may be right about some of this, but none of the programs you specifically described began here.

23 years for a mass murderer? Not something we have "gone away from" but glad it works for Norway.

Requiring a percentage of gender representation in management? Again, not exactly an American cup of tea. But in Iceland I am sure it goes over well.

Forbidding Private schools? At the federal level? Not something we have gone away from. I don't think even Bernie would propose this.

Drug use and crime declines after anti drug laws are repealed? I guess that sort of like post-prohibition. So, yes, that's like us a bit. Kind of.

BTW, since he and so many other nascent social engineers have a thing for Scandinavia, did he explain why they are having such a hard time assimilating refugees there? Why they are warehousing them in ships off the coast? Maybe this is a clue about how important social homogeneity is to their societies.

[PaloAltoCougar]

So he interviewed people of homogeneous countries who gave their unscientific opinions as to the origins? No, empirical studies on the range of expectations within the homogeneous cultures as opposed a vast, and ethnically diverse set of cultures and expectations? Nah, never a reason for that. It seems as you folks grow older and wealthier you lose your sense of macro-economics, impact of diversity of population on population health, and overall bureaucratic approaches to social programs. The last roll out of the modestly invasive Obamacare came so smoothly and professionally. No problems at all.

Love the "you folks" reference; works well with blacks, gays and Ute fans as well. I'm not proposing that ANY, much less all, of the ideas presented in the film be adopted. But unless one is content with the current health, education, and penal systems, we needa discussion of alternatives for improving them. I'd be happy to hear yours.

[Northwestcoug]

I'll come to PAC's defense in a sort of general way. There is a reason why much of the industrialized world runs left of the US in both political and economic matters; because it works. I'm not saying it works better than other systems, or that it will work in the long run. But it does work for them. We gun-toting Americans love our freedom, and center-right policies work for us. But a lot of the other countries love social cohesion and a sense of protection as much as we love our freedom. And their socialistic policies work as well for them as our policies work for us.

I compare and contrast politics a lot with Canada. To my knowledge, there are no 'private' universities. And until recently, private health care was illegal. And you might as well call provincial politics in Quebec socialism. But Canucks, above all else, want a system that takes care of its citizens (also, they want to make sure they are different than Americans). So they like left of center politics. It gives them what they want. And I would argue that most of the industrialized world sides closer to Canada than the US.

[PaloAltoCougar]

You may be right about some of this, but none of the programs you specifically described began here.

23 years for a mass murderer? Not something we have "gone away from" but glad it works for Norway.

Requiring a percentage of gender representation in management? Again, not exactly an American cup of tea. But in Iceland I am sure it goes over well.

Forbidding Private schools? At the federal level? Not something we have gone away from. I don't think even Bernie would propose this.

Drug use and crime declines after anti drug laws are repealed? I guess that sort of like post-prohibition. So, yes, that's like us a bit. Kind of.

BTW, since he and so many other nascent social engineers have a thing for Scandinavia, did he explain why they are having such a hard time assimilating refugees there? Why they are warehousing them in ships off the coast? Maybe this is a clue about how important social homogeneity is to their societies.

I did a poor job of summarizing the programs. As for the penal system, the Norwegians said they're following our Eighth Amendment, and think that the death penalty qualifies as cruel and unusual (yes, I'm aware the Supreme Court has disagreed). The clips showing life in a Norwegian prison are pretty amazing, with one guy mountain biking and others having a great time, while bemoaning their loss of freedom and contact with friends and relatives. Moore says the U.S. recidivism rate is around 80%; in Norway it's now 20%.

And outlawing private schools wasn't the point of the Finnish school system segment, although it was mentioned and I thought it interesting. The primary point was that they don't use standardized tests and homework is very minimal. Yet once they adopted a freer, more creative approach, student performance soared.

And yeah, I remain skeptical about the ability of a heterogeneous society to incorporate some of the ideas presented but, again, I enjoyed being pleasantly prodded into thinking about them.

One final comment, and then I hope we'll push this discussion over into the Water Cooler and let this thread focus on movies... Were it possible, I'd sponsor a CS fireside consisting of a fine meal prepared by our resident smokers, followed by a view of the the movie in question and a discussion. It'd be a very fun and interesting evening.

[old_gregg]

And I would argue that most of the industrialized world sides closer to Canada than the US.

so?

[Commando]

I saw The Witch last night. It was a doozy. I really liked it, although it probably could have been better. Technically a horror movie, it's a very high tension, high suspense period piece where the line between paranoia, reality, fantasy, superstition, and the supernatural seem to blur. A lot of fun either way and probably ideal for people who want something different who don't necessarily care for the horror genre under most circumstances.

[Northwestcoug]

so?

So let's vote Sanders into office!!!!

Were you waiting for a better end to my argument? I guess I don't have one, just summarizing what I said in the first paragraph.

[Commando]

I saw Bone Tomahawk. Yikes. I know I just said that The Witch was a doozy. No. Bone Tomahawk is a doozy. An old west deal with Kurt Russell as a sheriff whose town is menaced by an ancient indigenous race of cannibal troglodytes. Such a weird movie. Really a horror flick encased in a thick Western shell. It never feels like a horror flick until it does, though-- rather an archetypal cowboys and indian thing. That may just be its genius, too. If you think you're squeamish then steer clear. It's got some pretty good gore.

[frank ryan]

I saw Bone Tomahawk. Yikes. I know I just said that The Witch was a doozy. No. Bone Tomahawk is a doozy. An old west deal with Kurt Russell as a sheriff whose town is menaced by an ancient indigenous race of cannibal troglodytes. Such a weird movie. Really a horror flick encased in a thick Western shell. It never feels like a horror flick until it does, though-- rather an archetypal cowboys and indian thing. That may just be its genius, too. If you think you're squeamish then steer clear. It's got some pretty good gore.

It's on Prime. It was hilarious. I loved The Witch.