Job loss and loss of mental health continued

But now it is in the New York Times. In response to my post yesterday about the new George Clooney film, several of you wrote back with very deeply felt thoughts. I hope you will start commenting on our blog at http://heist-themovie-blog.blogspot.com/. Here are some additional news items from the NY Times about losing one's job as well as the film. Frank Rich writing in yesterday's NY Times with similar thoughts about the film, http://bit.ly/8GhtqN. Gee, maybe it's time to get a job with them as an op-ed columnist. As I was writing this, my co-producer Frances saw yet another piece in today's NY Times, http://bit.ly/4zQ4st, about the psycho-social impacts of job loss. Yeah, that's what it is called in the research literature. I call it being screwed by the bosses.

Is America "Up in the Air?"

I went to the movies last night to see "Up in the Air," starring George Clooney, whose job it is to fire people from other companies. He brings them the bad news, and then is back 'up in the air.' The trailer for this film suggests it is a romantic comedy, but it is actually a tragi-comedy, not only about the laid off employees( played in the film by people that were actually downsized), but about the character played by Clooney, who is clearly a person who has serious problems with intimacy and just plain feeling anything.

Having worked as a community psychiatrist, I am keenly aware of the impact of losing one's job. It is not just your job you lose, but your sense of self-worth and self-esteem, your identity, your network of co-workers, your income, and ultimately your mental stability. The mental health literature documents that most people who lose their jobs and do not quickly find a comparable paying one, often become depressed, anxious, suicidal, start abusing alcohol/drugs, and become abusive to those close to them, which often results in family breakdowns. So take a breath and imagine what is happening to those who have lost their jobs this last year, and the 30 million who lost them to outsourcing during the previous 30 years, and then ask yourself what will happen to this country when 20-30 million white collar jobs are outsourced via the internet.

Professor Alan Blinder of Princeton University wrote about this prospect several years ago,http://www.princeton.edu/~blinder/papers/06wpPreparingAmericasWorkforce.pdf and the rest of the intellectual establishment dismissed it as mere speculation. We interviewed Dr. Blinder because we knew he was dead right. When we post his interview in the coming weeks in January, I expect you will be stunned, and appropriately angry and scared. It's time to resist, my fellow citizens, and stop the destruction of this country's middle class.

Donald Goldmacher, MD

Is it too late to save Mother Earth?

Lester Brown, a renowned environmentalist writes on treehugger.com.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/11/climate-clock-copenhagen.php?smid=FBTRH-FBS-ART

The Climate Clock and Copenhagen

We better follow his prescription for a global Marshall Plan for renewable energy, or this planet and we humans are truly toast.

Winners and losers.

As more people become unemployed, and states head toward bankruptcy, not to worry. The banks and Wall St. investment houses are making out like bandits, by borrowing our money at 0% and then lending it back to our gov't. at 3%. How's that for a perfectly legal heist?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/05/us-economy-recession-unemployment

Is it safe to go into the market now?

After the stock market crash of 1929, there were 8 rallies over the next 3 years, but by 1932, the stock market was down 90%, and did not recover to its 1929 highs until 1954. Currently, investors who have been in the market prior to 2000, have not actually made any money. We are where we were in 2000. You would have been better off in bonds or CDs. The link below to an article in the LA Times, makes some of the same points that are going to be examined in "Heist."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-queenan4-2009oct04,0,7087143.story

Progressives Roll Out Plans For Major Banking Protest In October

The following article was written at the link you will find below. We have not yet seen massive protests against the thieves who have stolen our money and our economy, so hopefully this will be the beginning.

http://progressillinois.com/2009/9/8/progressives-major-banking-protest

In October, the American Bankers Association (ABA) will hold its annual convention in Chicago, which will feature appearances by conservative commentators such George Will and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. When the financiers arrive, however, a coalition of community groups and labor organizations will be there to greet them. The Chicago-based National People’s Action, the SEIU Illinois Council (which sponsors this website), and over 30 other affiliated organizations are planning a three-day demonstration outside of the gathering at which they will "demand an end to unfair predatory banking practices that enrich banks while continuing to hamper an economic recovery." From a press release:

“The nation’s top bankers need to see that working families are furious and outraged,” said Tom Balanoff, president of the SEIU Illinois Council. “The mess these bankers created continues to force working families into the unemployment line and into home foreclosures. Meanwhile, the banking industry lobby in Washington stifles efforts to stem these foreclosures. What have these bankers done to deserve the billions in bonuses so many of them received? We will not allow this convention to become a big party for the nation’s banks. They have done nothing to celebrate."

The organizers' hope is to not only mobilize Illinois and Chicago residents fed up with the banks, but also to attract outraged citizens from elsewhere in the country. The first day of the protest -- October 25 -- is still a ways off, but be sure to mark your calendar.

Big Business's Hidden Hand in the Smear Job on Van Jones

We shouldn't be surprised that Van Jones was targeted by the carbon generators. See the article below for proof.
http://www.alternet.org/story/142481/

Van Jones Forced to Resign

The forced resignation of Van Jones, who will soon be appearing in our film "Heist" is a national disgrace. Van Jones is an incredible leader, a visionary, and one who truly understands the twin disasters that have befallen us, in the form of an economic meltdown and an ecological meltdown, and how we can dig our way out of both. The vicious attacks by the Right Wing on Van are part of a deliberate strategy to make Obama's presidency ungovernable. David Brock the head of Media Matters predicted this type of scenario in his book, "The Republican Talk Machine," 5 years ago.

We have an hour long interview with Van, in which he speaks so eloquently about the demise of free market fundamentalism, and so much more. We must rally behind him, and as Alternet put it so well, recognize him as the national leader he already is.

I say let's have a big welcome home party for him here in Oakland.

The psychological costs of capitalism's destructiveness

I was trained over 40 years ago in the discipline of community psychiatry. One of the key things that I learned was the devastating effects of poverty on one's mental health. Several years later, a seminal work entitled"Mental Illness and the Economy," written by an economist, Harvey Brenner exposed the reality of mass mental illness caused by economic disasters such as the one we are going through now. Subsequently, an entire body of research emerged under the category of the Psychosocial Impacts of Job Loss confirming the findings of Brenner.

For the handful of mental health professionals who kept pointing out that economic recessions and depressions lead to depression, suicide, homicide, alcohol and substance abuse, family breakdown(don't forget the Right Wing "Family Values" propaganda-where are they now), domestic violence, etc., it has been a long and lonely battle.

Another psychological aspect of the transformation of the American economy to a banana republic, is the political acquiescence of the populace. How long this will continue is hard to predict, but we should read our history books to learn that it does take time to form social movements that can overthrow the tyranny of financial oligarchies.

Listen to http://wbai.org/ on May 27

If you live in NYC, you can hear me on the Morning Show at 8:30 AM, 99.5 FM, in New York City talking about the continued looting of our country and our money. For those waking up later, listen online, and tell your friends.

The Confidence Game

I strongly recommend this article as it confirms my own worst read on what is happening with the "slowly returning confidence" and the recent stock market rally. We should continue to closely follow two brave women; Elizabeth Warren and Sheila Bair, who are both speaking the truth and offering real solutions to the chicanery currently happening in Washington.

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/137967/the_bailout_is_a_fraud_that_could_bring_down_obama/

National Teach-Ins on the Economy begin

The first teach-in will take place in San Francisco on May 9 at the Plumber's Union Hall, 1621 Market Street at 1:00 PM. This event is sponsored by organized labor, and our 15 minute short will be shown there.

On June 10, across the country, A New Way Forward , the organization that held demonstrations in 62 cities on April 11, is calling for citizens to

Hold a Financial Crisis Forum in your town!

It Is Time to Fight Back

On May 9, in San Francisco, the first in what should become thousands of Teach-Ins on our economic crisis will take place at 1 PM at Plumbers Hall, 1621 Market St. @ Franklin St. "We must begin to build a massive movement that will have the power to impact government policy and give people genuine hope for a better future." I am thrilled to see that this is being organized by unions along with many community organizations. If you want to learn more about it, go to Workers Emergency Recovery Campaign, http://wercampaign.org/

Cat Pirate Radio Rocks!

On April 3, I talked with Andy Blue of the League of Pissed off Voters. Great energy! Andy is clearly knowledgeable about the economy. Beginning in the second hour we talk for about an hour. Podcast is here:

www.nerdnetworks.org/pcr/KingsOfSF-20090403.mp3

We All Need To Be In A Union

History has shown over and over again that a strong labor movement is the only force capable of fighting corporate oligarchies. Over the past 30 years, unions in the private sector have been decimated as a result of Ronald Reagan and subsequent deregulation. If we are to take back our country, it is imperative that we all join unions at our workplaces, wherever possible. Part of our film will focus on this very issue, and how we can restore organized labor's rightful place in a functioning democracy. Please demand that your senators and Congress person are going to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act.
http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/campaign/efcagreedvid?qp_source=200904_pa_g_efca_nat&gclid=CL2rhNX9_ZkCFRwpawodQD1mFQ

On 4/11 will you be marching?

The advanced capitalist model of free, deregulated markets, which is actually the old model from the early 20th century, has now been fully exposed. We must now hunker down and rebuild true community across this country, while we resist the continuing of the American Empire and its corporate beneficiaries. Let us boycott the Walmarts of the world, and create worker owned cooperatives; let us barter for goods and services; and above all let's get out in the streets to say enough to greed and corporate fascism.

On 4/11 there will be demonstrations held by A NewWayForward.org in over 60 cities. This is how to jump start the populist movement of the 21st century.

The Populist Revolt Begins

On April 11, all across the USA, there will be demonstrations by ordinary citizens demanding that our financial system be reined in, and nationalized, where necessary. We support this effort, and urge you to join the one in your city or organize one. It is way past time for the monsters of Wall St. to be locked up, instead of being appointed to positions in the Obama Treasury Department. For more information, visit: http://anewwayforward.org/the_idea/

Heist production crew in DC

We had the privilege of interviewing the President of the United Steelworkers, Leo Gerard, one of the most progressive labor leaders in the US, who really explains the class war unleashed by the Right Wing when Ronald Reagan took power in 1981. Pres. Gerard told us how they attacked labor unions, and sytematically dismantled key parts of the New Deal which is key to understanding why the financial sector has collapsed and why so much wealth has been stolen from the working and middle classes. Pres. Gerard told us about his union's efforts to create a blue-green alliance as part of the emerging new economy, and his support of President Obama's game plan. Stay tuned for more interviews with psychologist Drew Westen, Senator Bernie Sanders, political economist Robert Kuttner and economist Jeff Faux.

Wall Street in Control

Following the events of September 2008, it is evident that Wall St. is still in control of our government. The Obama appointments are to say the least disappointing. We do not expect this economy to revive any time soon. Best to hunker down, buy lots of beans and grains, and work like hell for progressive political change.

Many people have just lost a good deal of their retirement $$, as well as part of the value in their homes, which were over-inflated due to the housing bubble created by Wall St. Now they are wondering what can they do with their remaining money.

As in the 1920s, for the past 25 years the stock market was allowed to become a casino, made inevitable by the deregulation ideology of the free market fundamentalists, beginning with Ronald Reagan’s regime, and continuing to the present. Ask your financial planner if s/he knew this meltdown was coming, and if not, why not, because I knew in 2005, as did Robert Shiller, a Yale economist, who predicted the crashes of 2000 and 2008. His web site is www.irrationalexuberance.com