"We’re Not Broke"

May 21, 2013 PBS Wisconsin Leave a Comment

Written by Director’s Cut guest host Pete Schwaba, a film writer, director (and occasional stand-up comic) whose credits include “The Godfather of Green Bay.”

This week on “Director’s Cut” I get a chance to talk with Karin Hayes, one half of the talented directing/producing team behind “We’re Not Broke.”

This is a provocative documentary that explores how U.S. corporations hide earnings in off-shore tax havens, thereby effectively dodging billions of dollars in income tax.

“We’re Not Broke” doesn’t pull any punches and is bound to ruffle some feathers regardless of what side of the aisle you’re on politically. The film takes a look at the beginning of the movement “U.S. Uncut” – which eventually joined forces with the Occupy Wall Street movement – and how people from around the country joined forces to address the problem of corporate tax dodging. Hayes and Co-Director Victoria Bruce fairly expose both Democrats and Republicans for fostering this practice.

For a film with a political/economic edge, Hayes and Bruce do a nice job with pacing and not losing financially challenged viewers – like me. “We’re Not Broke” has insightful interviews from economists as well as regular people that help explain the situation in layman’s terms. It also has excellent music which helps keep the pace. I found it funny that at one point during the film I was irritated by what I was watching but still tapping my foot.

“We’re not Broke” is a deftly produced and directed documentary and most of all very entertaining.  See you Friday night at 10 p.m.!

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