The Yes Men

The Yes Men Fix the World

à la Michael Moore, this muckraking indie film does three things for the audience: expose the problem of corporate greed and the flaws of capitalism that feed greed, provide a solution to problems via corporate responsibility, and lastly, challenge the audience to react.

Exposing the natural tendencies of corporate culture (the "gilded skeleton - may all your skeletons be gold") to react favorable to high profits at the expense of human life and decency. It was a bit frightening to know that there are people who invest and approve of Dow Chemical's acceptable risk management scheme (profiting is good if only a few people are hurt). The hoax highlights an interesting trend among "responsible" businesses, that they are hurt by their own responsibility to society. I think though, that there is a misleading anti-capitalist theme running through the film. While the mantra seems to be down-with-capitalism, the solution seems to be simply that corporations and government need to be responsible to the public and that the public will like them for that.

There's something missing from the film worth noting however, is that while government regulation is certainly helpful in protecting the consumer, corporate and government immunity from lawsuits is strange issue. Having the ability to sue a business or government for wronging someone should be allowed when there are injustices, but in today's society people sue each other for ridiculous thing (Coffee is apparently too hot to put between your legs while driving, and the public needs to be aware). With lawsuits assaulting the government and business left and right, no wonder they have to draw the line. It's partially a symptom of the public's greed that it's hard for those who are genuinely hurt by corporations to do anything about it. Strange lawsuits from greed individuals sets the precedent for immunity and when people collectively or individually are subject to injustice, it makes it difficult for them to do anything about it.

As for action, I have to agree with the film. It's too much to try to change the minds of millions of souls, especially in the US where there is everything but homogeneity. When part of our paychecks involuntarily fund Medicare and Medicaid and welfare for those who need it despite the opposition from conservatives, we know that in some way the government is taking care of us. Likewise, businesses need to do not what is not marketable or attractive, but responsible and necessary, and we will like for that.