Campaign Contribution

Downsize This! by Michael Moore
Reviewed by John Caplan

Are you looking for a political book that is not written by a politician, political commentator or company leader about what is good for the common people? A book for the masses by member of the masses? A book that does not solely support a certain one of our two major political parties? A book in which the author actually goes out into the world and proves his points? A book where the author tells his enemy what to do instead of just calling them names? A book that tells the reader what they can do to stop corporate crime? Then why haven't you read Downsize This by Michael Moore from the TV show "TV Nation" and the movies "Roger & Me" and "Canadian Bacon".

In the book he expresses many of the major grievances many middle-class Americans from Michigan have with the leaders of General Motors for closing down auto plants there, he states his opinion on many hot topics and reveals many new topics. He describes his own ideas for laws like those for an immigration policy in which bigots like Pat Buchanan should have to leave the country, everyone else can stay, the first 100,000 people to come on New Years Day can stay, and "the first 50 of those get free Tipper Gore T-shirst" (p. 37).

In most of Michael Moore's publications he describes actual things he has done in the world. In Downsize This! Michael Moore call up a mental health hot line and describes Bob Dornan. He then tries to commit Dornan to a local mental home. He sends $75 and $100 campaign contributions to Dole, Perot and Pat Buchanan. "During the early stages of the 1996 presidential contest, I formed several legal organizations. I sent a number of checks to the leading candidates, as well as Ross Perot, just to see how greedy they could be. I appointed my assistant, Gillian, the head of each organization and signatory of each check. Legitimate $75 and $100 checks went to all of the candidates from the following organization: Pedophiles for Free Trade, The John Wayne Gacey Fan Club, Hemp Growers of America, Satan Worshipers for Dole and Abortionists for Buchanan" (p. 19-20). (Buchanan accepted all of these checks including the Satan Worshipers for Dole one!)

Michael Moore tries to publicize corporate crime by making Corporate Crime Trading Cards that tell how many workers corporate leaders like Phil Knight, CEO of Nike, have fired, their political affiliations, and major accomplishments (like Phil Knight's ninety speeding tickets).

If you hate the the idea of downsizing, campaign contributions, corporate crime, Proposition 187, corporate wealth fare; dislike many republicans but also dislike many democrats (to a much lesser degree); if you think that having both presidential candidates take the SAT is a better system for electing a president than the voting system we currently use, then you'll love Downsize This!

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