Bill Moyers's Blog, page 7

Will Lawmakers Avert The Next Financial Collapse?

(Photo by Robin Holland)

In this week's JOURNAL, Bill Moyers spoke with veteran regulator William K. Black about the proposed new financial reform legislation and the systemic problems that led to the economic collapse in 2008.

Black expressed disappointment with President Obama's speech on financial regulation this week, and said that the pervasive influence of Wall Street money and ideology has created what he calls a "criminogenic" environment:

Should the Federal Government Fund Journalism?

(Photo by Robin Holland)

This week on the JOURNAL, Bill Moyers spoke with FCC Commissioner Michael Copps about his perspective on net neutrality and the future of journalism in the digital age.

Copps, who believes that the government should play a role in regulating and promoting Internet access, suggested that government also has a role to play in funding and encouraging investigative journalism. He said:

"I think newspapers are going to...

Michael Winship - Goldman Sachs: What Hath Fraud Wrought?

(Photo by Robin Holland)

Below is an article by JOURNAL senior writer Michael Winship. We welcome your comments below.

"Goldman Sachs: What Hath Fraud Wrought?"

By Michael Winship

Goldman Sachs is the Blackwater of finance, the latest in a long line of companies you love to hate, like AIG and the Dallas Cowboys.

Or, as ROLLING STONE's Matt Taibbi infamously characterized it last year, the financial behemoth is "a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its ...

Bill Moyers on Retiring from the JOURNAL

Thanks to all of you who wrote to express your disappointment and dismay at hearing me say last week that the JOURNAL will be coming to an end with the April 30th broadcast. My team and I were touched by your messages, but I want to disabuse those of you who fear that we are being pushed off the air by higher-ups at PBS pointing to the door and demanding that we go. Not so. PBS doesn't fund the JOURNAL; our support comes from foundations and our sole corporate funder, Mutual of America...

Financial Regulation & Regulatory Capture

(Photos by Robin Holland)

This week on the JOURNAL, Bill Moyers spoke with financial experts Simon Johnson and James Kwak about Wall Street's influence in Washington and their support for new financial regulation that might reduce the banks' power.

James Kwak explained why he and Johnson advocate for more financial regulation, including breaking up America's largest banks:

"It used to be maybe eight or nine banks. But what's happened over...

How Much Is Your Community Spending on America's Wars?

At the Cost of War, a Web site sponsored by the National Priorities Project, you can find out how much money your community has spent - and continues to spend - on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tell us how much money your community has contributed to the wars.

Do you believe the wars are the best use of your tax dollars? If not, what do you think would have been a better use of your money?

Bill Moyers & Michael Winship: Crocodile Tears on Wall Street

With all due respect, we can only wish those Tea Party activists who gathered in Washington and other cities this week weren't so single-minded about just who's responsible for all their troubles, real and imagined. They're up in arms, so to speak, against Big Government, especially the Obama administration.

If they thought this through, they'd be joining forces with other grassroots Americans who in the coming weeks will be demonstrating in Washington and other cities against High Finance...

Staying In Touch With Bill Moyers

The JOURNAL on-air will be coming to an end on April 30th but the conversation continues online and on our blog.

We'll be posting commentary, features and selections from the Moyers Digital Archive. Stay in touch even after we're off the air at this address and through RSS feeds, podcasts, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and our newsletter.

Sign up at our links! We look forward to hearing from you.

Can the U.S. Military Achieve Victory in Afghanistan?

(Photo by Robin Holland)

In this week's JOURNAL, Bill Moyers sat down with historian, retired Colonel, and military expert Andrew Bacevich to discuss America's "long war" in Afghanistan, which is now in its ninth year.

On a recent trip to Afghanistan, President Obama said in a speech to U.S. troops that the war is a "vital mission" and that he is determined to achieve victory:

"Your services are absolutely necessary, absolutely essential to...

Language and Culture

(Photo by Robin Holland)

This week on the JOURNAL, Bill Moyers spoke with acclaimed author Louise Erdrich about her writing and her Native American heritage.

Erdrich described the significance of her Ojibwe language and culture:

"Native American people puzzle other people. Why is [their culture:] so strong with them? Why don't they just become like the rest of us? What is it that's so important in their culture that they cling to it so? I...