Al Gore's "Inconvenient" Hypocrisy

Oh and MrNiceGuy, Honestly, I don't care how much $ Gore makes. I figure he had to come up with some way to put food on the table. If his professional success depends on there being "... one born every minute" (PT Barnum), then so be it. What matters is I know he won't be getting my dime!

"Oscar winners can, and sometimes do, invite whomever they want on stage with them--the actors, the producers, etc. Is that really a big deal?" Of course, it is not a big deal. The big deal is when the guy who was invited up, but did not win, is reported on the news to have won.

Oscar winners can, and sometimes do, invite whomever they want on stage with them--the actors, the producers, etc. Is that really a big deal?

That's actually not a big deal, either. Gore was the lead cast member, and the movie was based on his presentations, which you see him making. The film also talks about Gore's personal history. To call Gore just a "commentator" is way off base. Documentaries often benefit from having a hihg-profile personality appearing in them, giving voiceovers, or even simply promoting them. If Al Gore hadn't been so involved in this film, it probably wouldn't have gotten a nomination, much less an Oscar.

Hi Denmarkguy, Although I respect your view, I'll ask you to think about a couple things: I have never worked for Walmart. But know someone (well) who has made his career with Sam's Club Management. According to him, the Walmart organization promotes from within, they reward according to performance, and they offer a smorgasboord of benefits, which the employee can accept or decline based on individual want & circumstance. I can't argue with any of those tendencies. As for imported items: when I was fresh out of college I worked for a wholesaler who supplied one of the largest chain stores in the USA with product (not Walmart, but another), and their entire line was imported from sweat shops around the globe. The vast majority of tags on items in US retail stores identify the item as being imported from less developed countries (LDCs). So, Walmart is certainly not alone. And finally, Walmart's corporate policy of buying from LDCs has done more for the improvement of the living conditions in LDCs than virtually any other conglomerate. Granted, someone in Indonesia or China may only be making $3 per day, but without the Walmart contracts they'd certainly be making less. As those sweatshop workers improve their professional skills, some of them will surely start their own businesses. And, remembering the sweatshop conditions of their past, they might be inclined to offer better working conditions, or start unions to protect worker's rights. This is the way America developed. Our forefathers had Europe to buy our early products. Then as the world grew, so did the marketplace. This is also true of LDCs. Those folks need international contracts to develop their economies, and personal standard of living. Furthermore, as those LDCs develop their economies, they also develop their interdependence with the globe. People who are interdependent tend to make an effor to 'get along'. When people's basic human needs are met, they are free to focus on better education and self-improvement. This is what's meant by 'capitalism fuels peace'. One other really important point: If American's aren't making t-shirts and sneakers anymore ... it frees up the work force to delve into emerging markets. Technological development and new product ingenuity, that's where America should be focusing it's energy! Anyone can make sneakers. Not everyone can invent the computer or the internet, thereby catapaulting us into a whole new world. It's up to America to either cling to the past, or step into the future. I vote for looking forward! Just some food for thought.

Denmarkguy, If you had your "sarcasm button" turned on as you opined, then I'll ask that we all have a good laugh at my 'preaching to the choir'. It occurred to me after the fact that you were probably being facetious, but it was too late to retract. It would seem that I get the 'ding' award for the day!