What About Larry: Video: Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio: Kevin Spacey’s Impressions: Smart Answers to Stupid Questions

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This post was originally posted at FRS Citizen Journal on Blogger

People have asked me what’s my style of humor, my sense of humor and how I come up with lines and so-forth. I’m not saying I’m a professional comedian or anything (at least I haven’t gotten paid for being funny, yet) . But I have been able to make people laugh hysterically, intentionally and unintentionally in the past. And I’ve told them simply my sense of humor is off the cuff, I say what’s on my mind when I’m thinking it. Rather than “that sounds funny and use it two weeks later”. To me humor has to be fast and relevant. Example of a bad joke. Cracking jokes about Priests at a football game, is probably not a smart play.

First of all you’re likely to offend a lot of people there and not seem funny, but insulting. Which to me are two different things, but you’re going to get strange looks (or end up wearing someone else’s lunch) like making a Catholic joke at a football game when some half-naked moron runs on to the field during the game and people will look at you like “what does a drunk Priest in Church have to do with the guy who ran on the field”. You’re humor needs to be relevant and needs to make sense. And what I do is, I see myself as an analyst of life, we all are and I make judgements and comment on things that I see whatever is that interests me. If you watch the sitcom MASH or Seinfeld, that’s exactly what they do. Here’s the situation, what you think about it and they would look for the funny side of it.

Alan Alda who played Hawkeye Pierce, my favorite sitcom character of all time. If not in TV in general would be performing surgery and cracking jokes as he’s doing it while saving the patients life. One to relax the people he was working with in that stressful environment, but also to relax himself. “This is the situation and this is what’s funny about it was their approach to comedy”. To give you a personal example, I use to work in customer service, have about twelve years experience of that. And we were surrounded by people, customers mostly for whatever reason, they were nervous or whatever. But would go brain-dead when they would approach you and ask the dumbest questions possible.

No joke when I worked at a movie theater, we had to wear these loud maroon colored red polo shirts. With the name of the movie theater on them, with these corny name tags on them. I’m Joe or Sally or whatever, with your name on them obviously, (what was the first clue). We just got a lot of customers that were either, drunk, high or both or perhaps just had brain surgery, but their doctor actually removed their brain by accident.

Smart answers to dumb questions

Customers would constantly walk up to me and ask, do I work here. And seriously this is no joke, I would always reply with a smart ass answer and I never got in trouble for it. And I would say no, I stole this shirt or I’m a member of the theater fan club.

“Do you sell popcorn?” No we are the only movie theater in America that doesn’t sell popcorn. We sell Chinese food instead, but sorry no chopsticks you have to eat with your hands.

Again true story, one day I’m in a ticket booth, selling tickets, naturally. (If you would guessed I was selling sporting equipment, you would be wrong). And someone asked, me where do you buy tickets, I told them three blocks down the street at the gas station, but if you want your oil changed or need gas, you have to buy it here.

Another person asked what size is the small popcorn. I said small we aren’t trying to fool you with false advertising even though that would be very tempting because of the quality of our customers. “Well what does it look like”? It looks small. Again no joke someone asked how much are free refills, I told them five bucks, but we only take travelers checks. Again this is the situation in front of me and that’s what I was thinking right at that moment.

That’s the style of humor that you get from Kevin Spacey the actor/director/writer, but I would throw in comedian as well. The guy could’ve been a full-time professional comedian if he wanted to. Watch the movies Swimming with The Sharks and Hurley Burley, The Big Kahuna and you’ll see what I mean. I would add Chris Walken and Tom Hanks to that list because their humor is so spontaneous, off the top of their heads, they don’t need scripts or writers. They do that for themselves which is what all great comedians do and is a style of humor I’ve patterned mine behind.

Improv Comedian

Improv Comedian

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Classic Canada Sports: NHL Expansion Documentary: Why The World Hockey Association Was Successful

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This post was originally posted at FRS Daily Journal on Blogger

The National Hockey League up until the late 1960s were a six team league, just six franchises in the whole league representing two huge countries physically Canada and America. Spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, until they expanded in the late 1960s in major markets like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, St. Louis, Denver, Los Angeles, Washington in the mid 1970s. The National Hockey League spent its first fifty-years or so trying to prove to North America, especially America that they were even a major sports league, they’ve passed that test since, but they had a hard time expanding anywhere.

The NHL was reluctant to expand which is good reasons for the World Hockey Association. Not sure why they called it that because they were only in two countries, but its good for major league hockey in North America that they came into business in the early 1970s. Because they proved in just seven seasons that major league hockey could work in both Canada and America and went into markets like Hartford, Cleveland, Quebec, Winnipeg, Denver, Edmonton and others. Giving pro hockey players more of a choice in where they could play in what league and for what team.

The WHA proved that major league hockey could work in North America that the NHL was trapping it’s player in having to play for one team even after their contract expired. And that the NHL wasn’t doing a very good job in attracting as many fans as they could. The WHA was able to do as well as they did in that brief seven-year window that they had because they were able to attract talent that should’ve been in the NHL. But that the NHL let slide away from them because again they were trying to keep them with one club not letting see for themselves what else was out there.

But also players that should’ve been in the NHL, but there just wasn’t enough room for them because again up until the late 1960s again the NHL only had six clubs. Which meant great players like forwards Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretsky who I guess the NHL thought was too small. But all Wayne Gretsky did was show the world that he might be the best hockey player who ever played. But you could also make a case for Gordie Howe as far as who’s the greatest all around hockey player of all-time, but that’s a different debate.

And without the WHA maybe the NHL doesn’t have thirty clubs today, because maybe they wouldn’t have taken chances on markets like Nashville, Tampa, Miami, Raleigh, Denver, San Jose etc. And maybe they are still a small league just trying to survive like the Major Indoor Soccer League or something. The WHA was a success because a lot of their clubs were able to become part of the NHL. Like the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and others. And proved that major league hockey can succeed in North America. And without the WHA, the NHL is probably not as successful as it is today.
World Hockey Association

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Scott Rathburn: Video: NHL 1981: 1981 Stanley Cup Playoffs

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This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on Blogger

I wish NHL Network, ESPN Classic and perhaps ESPN in general did more NHL history and showed more not just NHL classic games and not just in the offseason, but in the regular season, than they do now. Because even though I’m clearly not a hockey expert and it is at best my third or fourth sport that I follow and I’m not nearly the sports fan that I was as a kid, hockey is still pretty interesting to me and I would like to learn more about the history of the NHL. And seeing films and documentaries and old games allows for fans to do that.

Again no NHL or hockey expert here, but I do know that 1981 was the second of four straight Stanley Cups for the Long Island, soon to be Brooklyn Islanders as I call them. The Islanders of the early 1980s were very similar to the Edmonton Oilers of the mid and late 1980s. They had a lot of firepower led by Mike Bossy and many others. Great goaltending with Billy Smith and a very good defense in front of Smith with a great head coach in Al Arbor.

The NHL of the early 1980s was in a transitional period. With the Montreal Canadians having dominated the NHL in the 1970s, winning like four Stanley Cups. The power in the NHL was headed South to America with the Islanders and even West in Canada with the Oilers and Calgary Flames. Which was good for NHL fans because you didn’t know who was going to win the cup every year. Because you had at least three very strong Canadian teams and several strong American teams every year.

1981 Stanley Cup Champions

1981 Stanley Cup Champions

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Zhukaiww: Video: The Contender 2000 Trailer: A Movie About the Right of Privacy For Public Officials

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This post was originally posted at FRS FreeState 1975 on Blogger

The Contender movie from 2000 came about almost three years after the Monica Lewinski scandal broke and two years after President Clinton was impeached in the House on a party-line vote. President Clinton was actually mentioned in this movie, and about two years after the Clinton impeachment trial in the Senate I believe The Contender at least to some degree was influenced by the Lewinski scandal and the point that President Clinton was making.

President Clinton’s point being that his private life is just that and that even public officials elected officials president’s even have a Right to Privacy even as it relates to their sex life. And that if adultery is involved which it is in both cases that it’s between the adulterer, their family and the person the affair was with. Not 265-300M Americans as was the case back then and especially an opposition party that’s looking to embarrass the President or Vice President.

Or even bring the top leaders down, which was the case with the Lewinski scandal as well as in this movie. And it has Jeff Bridges who’s personally one of my favorite actors, especially for his great sense of humor. But he can also act, playing a President who’s wrapping up his presidency and looking to build his legacy. His Vice President just died in office and he has to fill that vacancy and basically has a choice between a popular Democratic Governor of Virginia GOV. Jack Hathaway played by a great character actor Bill Peterson. Famous for his role in CBS CSI. And a junior Senator from Ohio played by a very good actress Joan Allen. And these are the top two contenders for the Vice Presidency.

The President has to nominate a new Vice President and appoint them to both chambers of Congress because the House has an Advise and Consent role in nominating a new Vice President. And then you throw in the cast in the movie Jeff Bridges as the President, Sam Elliot as WH Chief of Staff, Saul Rubinek as WH Press Secretary, Joan Allen as Sen. Lane Evans nominee for Vice President. Gary Oldman as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Bill Peterson as GOV. Jack Hathaway who wants to run for president and become vice president to help him with that.

Christian Slater who plays a freshmen Representative from Delaware who doesn’t like Sen. Evans because she used to be a Republican. And wants GOV. Hathaway to be Vice President. And actually works with the Chairman who presides over the Vice Presidential confirmation hearings for the House. To make sure that Sen. Evans does not get confirmed because the House Republicans of course see Sen. Evans as too liberal. So you have all these little side stories and motivations and everyone involved has stake in the game so to speak.

Joan Allen plays the first female nominee for Vice President in American history who has a wild history from college. And seen as someone who slept around and even had an affair with one of her friend’s husband played by Robin Thomas. Who she later marries and starts a family with. Sen. Evans is also the daughter of the former Governor of Ohio who’s a Republican, but supports his daughter’s nomination for Vice President. And the House Republicans and their special interest allies try to make the most of Sen. Evans private life to bring her down. So she doesn’t become Vice President of the United States one step away from the Presidency, great movie.

U.S. Senator Lane Evans

U.S. Senator Lane Evans

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Derryck Green: ‘Who Are the Racists: Conservatives or Liberals?’

Source:The New Democrat

“In my Prager University lecture, I argue against the slander of racism that the left directs at conservatives. It’s a reflexive mantra to retain power,” said Project 21’s Green. “Despite the fact that conservatives come in all colors and have ample compassion for blacks and others, the racism charge still hurts. I would further suggest that liberals and leftists are actually more racist. They are preoccupied by race, and they constantly inject it where it shouldn’t be.”

In his first Prager University video lecture, which was viewed on YouTube almost 70,000 times in the first 48 hours after it was posted, Green said:

To say that racism is foolish and stupid — not to mention evil — is to understate the case. But, according to many of their critics, conservatives are that stupid and that evil. But, with few exceptions, conservatives are neither. So why is the charge even made? The answer is primarily political: to maintain black support for liberals and liberal policies.

Using racial preferences as an example, Green added:

Conservatives believe that blacks and other minorities are every bit as capable as whites of succeeding as policemen, firemen, businessmen, lawyers, doctors, politicians and college students. Yet, for this belief, conservatives are called racist. The irony, of course, is that those who accuse conservatives of being racist believe that blacks and other minorities are not as capable as whites of succeeding and therefore still need affirmative action almost half a century after it was first implemented.

Green also debunked liberal allegations about conservative-led attempts to protect American voters through commonsense polling place protections such as voter ID and school choice.

Prager University, founded by author and talk radio host Dennis Prager, is a web-based learning resource founded to “promot[e] knowledge and clarity” on difficult and sometimes controversial topics related to fields such as political science, economics and history. Besides Green, other members of the Prager University faculty are columnist and Fox News Channel commentator George Will, American Enterprise Institute president Arthur Brooks, economist and author Walter Williams and investor George Gilder. In addition to working with high schools and universities across America, Prager University also works with families who homeschool their children.

Green’s relationship with Prager University began last August after he was a guest on Prager’s talk radio program to discuss his recent New Visions Commentary for Project 21 on the issue of “race fatigue.” In the wake of the George Zimmerman trial in Florida, Green wrote about his frustration with the “racial grievance industry”: “All this talk about race seems intentionally shortsighted and disingenuous. It simply implicates whites and infantilizes the black man.”

Commenting on his addition to the Prager University faculty, Green said: “I would like to thank Dennis Prager and Prager University for giving me an opportunity to not only bring attention to Project 21, but to do so in a way that defends conservatives and conservatism.”

Every month, among his other work with Project 21 on a wide variety of topics, Green writes an analysis of the Obama economy and its effect on the American public. This analysis is posted the first Friday of each month in conjunction with the release of unemployment data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. They can be found on “Amy Ridenour’s National Center Blog” at http://www.conservativeblog.org.

In 2014, Project 21 members have been interviewed or cited by the media on current events over 1,500 times, including by the Fox News Special Report with Bret Baier, the O’Reilly Factor, Fox and Friends, CNN’s Situation Room, Salem Radio Network, Sean Hannity, Jim Bohannon, Conservative Commandos Radio, Bill Martinez, Radio America, American Urban Radio Network, Bill Cunningham, Roger Hedgecock, Mike Siegel, Dana Loesch, Thom Hartmann, Progressive Radio Network, The Blaze, EurWeb, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, SiriusXM satellite radio, TVOne, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Orlando Sentinel and 50,000-watt talk radio stations including WBZ-Boston, WJR-Detroit, KDKA-Pittsburgh and WLW-Cincinnati.

Project 21 has also participated in several cases before the U.S. Supreme Court over the years regarding race preferences and voting rights and also defended voter ID laws at the United Nations. Its volunteer members come from all walks of life and are not salaried political professionals.

Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives for over two decades, is sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research ((http://www.nationalcenter.org).

Contributions to the National Center are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.”

From Project 21

“In his inaugural lecture for Prager University, Project 21’s Derryck Green dispelled the myth that conservatives are racist:

“To say that racism is foolish and stupid — not to mention evil — is to understate the case. But according to many of their critics, conservatives are that stupid and that evil. But, with few exceptions, conservatives are neither. So why is the charge even made? The answer is primarily political: to maintain black support for liberals and liberal policies.”

This small excerpt from Prager University, posted on 10/15/14 and featuring Project 21’s Derryck Green, has been posted under fair use guidelines for the purpose of non-profit, educational public debate by the National Center for Public Policy Research, a 501(c)(3) educational foundation under the Internal Revenue Code.”

Project 21's Derryck Green Debunks Myth of Conservative Racism

Source:National Center For Public Policy Research– Derryck Greene.

From National Center For Public Policy Research

Derryck Greene goes into a long litany of things arguing why I guess the so-called Liberals are the real racists and why the so-called Conservatives are not racists. But the fact is just asking the question: “Who are the real racists: the Liberals or the Conservatives? Is like asking who won the 1961 World Series: the Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics? It’s a ridiculous question.

The reason why you get ridiculous questions like this, is because you have hyper-partisan people, who call themselves Liberals or Conservatives,  on both the left-wing (to be kind) and the right-wing (to be kind) fringes in America, accusing the other side of being racists or some other type of bigot, simply for not supporting their partisan policies and political agendas. But the fact is, both liberalism and conservatism, are both very pluralistic political political philosophies. (At least in the classic sense, meaning the real sense)

The real bigots in America, represent the fringes of the the left-wing and right-wings of America. Black Nationalists and other Socialists of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, who believe that the only time that any European-American does well in America, at least European-American men, it’s because they come from over-privilege backgrounds, or were given opportunities simply because of their race. As well as ultra-Nationalists on the Far-Right, who still live in 1955 politically, culturally, and everything else, who still haven’t gotten over the fact that women can even vote, let alone run for office, or get elected to anything, let along run and own large private companies on their own, as well as minorities and gays who have the same political and cultural power as Anglo-Saxon-Protestant men.

I could respond to everything that Derryck Greene said about affirmative action and voter ID. But his original question is ridiculous, and needs to be cleared up and corrected. Liberals and Conservatives aren’t racist, for the simple fact that neither political faction judges individuals based on race.

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The New Republic: Nathan Lean: Bill Maher-Ben Affleck Islam Debate: ‘There is No Muslim World’

Source:The New Democrat 

Where I believe Nathan Lean and I agree is that there’s a difference between jihadism and Islam. Islam is a religion and most Muslims tend to be peaceful. I think that is obvious because if Muslim was a religion of violence, the jihadist movement would be a hell of a lot bigger today than it is. It is jihadism where the terrorism is coming from when we are talking about North Africa and the Middle East. Jihadism similar to the Religious-Right in America, is a warped interpretation of what Islam is and supposed to be about. And that their beliefs are so strong, that they’ll use violence to promote them.

I compare jihadism with the Religious-Right and when I’m talking about the Religious-Right, the militant Religious-Right. People who I don’t even really consider to be real Christians in the sense because of how violent they are. And willing to blow up abortion clinics even if innocent people are murdered to prevent abortions from happening. And what they would call to save the lives of innocent babies. Well Jihadist’s even though technically they are Muslims, are not acting in their faith when they blow up airports and shoot innocent people in crowded public spaces.

One thing that Islam and Christianity have in common, is that they have some serious radicals that give their religion a really bad name. And do horrible things and kill innocent people in the name of their religion, even though what they are doing goes against what their religion is about and what it preaches. I think that is where Bill Maher and Sam Harris and I would disagree. Bill Maher at least, perhaps not Sam Harris. Even though I’ve been with both of them when criticizing the lets say political correct Left about them unwilling to criticize Jihadist’s. But more than happy to attack the Religious-Right.
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Lain Lucey: Same Time, Next Year (1978) Starring Alan Alda & Ellen Burstyn

Lain Lucey_ Same Time, Next Year (1978) Starring Alan Alda & Ellen BurstynSource:Lain Lucey– from the opening scene in Same Time Next Year.

Source:The New Democrat

“SAME TIME NEXT YEAR ( MOVIE ) (1978) MARVIN HAMLISCH MUSICAL INTERLUDES,.. ALAN ALDA ELLEN BURSTYN”

From Lain Lucey

Same Time Next Year might be the best romantic comedy of all-time. And if it isn’t, it might be the smartest romantic comedy of all-time and definitely in the top one percent of both categories. Because I don’t believe it was trying to be funny, but the movie was just so natural with the two main characters George and Dorris (played by Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn) who were just so real with both having noticeable flaws that came out often especially George. And the two both looking for something different in their relationships.

The only part of the movie I do not get is the opening scene: why would two happily married people be out in the country by themselves having dinner by themselves? What were they doing there all alone when they are both happily married with kids? But that is how the movie and this love affair that is only one weekend a year, but for the next twenty-six years starts. And this would actually be a movie that should’ve had a second chapter to see how this couple made out because both of their spouses die in the movie.

What I also love about this movie is when George and Helen weren’t making love in the movie, the rest of the movie was conversational between this couple. And you get to learn so much about them. About how vulnerable and lacking in self-confidence George was. And how unsure he was and easy to blame himself about things and how bad of a liar he was. To Helen wanting a stronger man in his life stronger than the man her husband was. These are two very good caring people, but two real people looking for something different in their lives.

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The Wolf: Goodfellas (1990) Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta: ‘You Think I’m Funny?’

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Source: The Wolf– Joe Pesci & Ray Liotta – Tommy & Henry.

“Amazing scene from the movie Goodfellas between Joe Pesci “Tommy DeVito” and Ray Liotta “Henry Hill.”

From The Wolf

Yes Joe, we think you are funny and you’ve been one of the funniest people in Hollywood for a very long time because you are a natural comedian who doesn’t need funny lines to be funny. Because of what you bring to them and how you deliver them. My favorite types of movies are movies that aren’t supposed to be full-time comedies that do not set out to be hysterical, but just are because of the people in them and the characters they play. Breaking Bad on AMC is a perfect example of that and so is Goodfellas.

Joe Pesci’s character in this movie is a serious bad ass. Whose murdered probably hundreds of people, sort of like Sammy Gravanao from the Gambino Crime Family in New York. But he’s a very funny man who knows how to have a good time and a great story-teller. As you see in this scene, but Goodfellas is not supposed to be a comedy. But a real life story about people who are really bad, but who are also very funny characters.

Joe Pesci’s character Tommy in this movie is a big shot Italian mobster in New York City. Not a capo meaning captain in Italian, but a made guy with his own crew and people under him. Whose very successful with his cover business’s. Business’s that are legitimate technically, but are really there to cover illegal activity like a restaurant. Or a store and he’s a very good story-teller and Henry played by Ray Liotta in this movie mentions that to him. And Tommy jokingly takes that as Henry is insulting him and scares the hell out of Henry.

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The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson: Jimmy Stewart- ‘Delightfully Funny in 1989’

Jimmy Stewart is Delightfully Funny, FULL Interview on Johnny Carson's T_

Source:The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson– Actor/comedian Jimmy Stewart, on Johnny Carson in 1989.

“Watch Carson episodes every night on Antenna TV at 10:00PM ET / 7:00PM PT and 4:00PM ET / 1:00AM PT!

Jimmy Stewart is delightfully funny in this 1989 full interview with Johnny Carson, discussing his funny New Year’s resolutions, learning to fly airplanes, playing the accordion, appearing on Broadway, and his daughter’s work with mountain gorillas with Dian Fossey.”

From The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson

I can’t do a Jimmy Stewart impression. I wish I could, because he’s one of my favorite funny actors of all-time. Similar to Cary Grant or Robert De Niro of today. The best I can do with Stewart, is use what are today and have been for a while all of these cheesy expressions and words that he used all the time in his movies. Sounding like a small town country boy going to a big city for the first time in his life and saying things like gee wiz, dog-gonnit, cheesy stuff like that. But sounds hysterical when it is in a movie that has a lot of cussing in it, but the movie is edited and replaced with words like this.

But Johnny Carson was right when he said that he could play straight man to Jimmy’s comedian and wiseass who is never serious. Johnny could feed him all the material that Jimmy would need to comment on and Jimmy without a script could do standup off the top of his head without preparation and sound hysterical. As we saw in this video with Johnny asking Jimmy basic questions about what is going on in his life and Jimmy playing comedian in response. Like saying his New Years resolution was to talk faster. One reason he is famous is for talking slow.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of my favorite movies of all-time. And even though I don’t think it was supposed to be, it is also one of the funniest movies of all-time, the humor you see from Jeff Smith in the movie ( played by Jimmy Stewart ) is very similar to the real-life Stewart: observational, off the cuff, what are you thinking, no time to prepare, instant humorous analysis of what you are seeing. Which is Jimmy Stewart and what you see in this video on Carson.

You can also see this post at FreeState Now, on WordPress.

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Gordon Gekko: Wall Street (1987) ‘Greed is Good’

Gordon Gekko _Greed is Good_ Full Speech _read the description_ - Google Search (1)

Source:American Rhetoric– Gordon Gekko’s (played by Michael Douglas) speech, in Oliver Stone’s Wall Street (1987)

Source:The New Democrat

“Gekko: Well, I appreciate the opportunity you’re giving me, Mr. Cromwell, as the single largest shareholder in Teldar Paper, to speak.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we’re not here to indulge in fantasy, but in political and economic reality. America, America has become a second-rate power. Its trade deficit and its fiscal deficit are at nightmare proportions. Now, in the days of the free market, when our country was a top industrial power, there was accountability to the stockholder. The Carnegies, the Mellons, the men that built this great industrial empire, made sure of it because it was their money at stake. Today, management has no stake in the company!

All together, these men sitting up here [Teldar management] own less than 3 percent of the company. And where does Mr. Cromwell put his million-dollar salary? Not in Teldar stock; he owns less than 1 percent.”

From American Rhetoric

“Gordon Gekko *unknowningly* describes the problems facing today’s private sector, while blasting the bureaucracy responsible for said problems in the first place. A classic speech, both in film and, also, within economic thought.”

Gordon Gekko _Greed is Good_ Full Speech _read the description_ - Google Search

Source:Ken Pruitt– Gordon Gekko’s (played by Michael Douglas) speech, in Oliver Stone’s Wall Street (1987)

From Ken Pruitt 

“On the Phil Donahue Show in 1979, Nobel Laureate helps liberal host understand what drives real economic growth and prosperity.”

Phil Donahue Show_ Milton Friedman- On Greed (1979) _ The Free State

Source:David Lockie– Economics Professor Milton Friedman, on the Phil Donahue Show, in 1979.

From David Lockie

Greed is Good

Source:The New Democrat– greed is good. But like with anything, there really is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Best part of the first Wall Street movie at least and one of my favorite movies of all-time. And whatever you think of the Gordon Gekko character, or even what you think of Michael Douglas who played him, Douglas did a great job. And what made this speech so great was how accurate and real it was. Here are these people trying to make Gordon Gekko look like this greedy bastard when if anything they are just like Gekko.

The difference between Gekko and his competitors, is that Gordon is simply better better and knows what companies are worth buying and how much he should spend on them and how to reform them. So he can make a profit off of them and of course there was some insider-trading involved here. But the facts and points of the Gekko speech are still the same that greed is good and he explains why. That without greed people wouldn’t want things for themselves.

Without greed people wouldn’t work as hard so they could have things for themselves. So they could be as successful as possible and enjoy the fruits of their labor. And enjoy being successful, that we are all greedy, it’s just that some people are better at it than others. And people are all greedy at least to a certain extent, that it’s just a matter of degree. It’s not that we aren’t greedy, but what level of greed is tolerable in a free society that is really the question.

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