Be Brave, Exercise and Don’t Give Up

We caught Michael Moore’s Sicko recently and enjoyed it thoroughly. At one point of the film, Moore interviews Tony Benn, a prominent British Labour politician during the 1970’s and 1980’s, on democracy which we found very intriguing.

Transcript after the jump.

Tony Benn: This idea of choice which capitol talks about all the time — you’ve got to have a choice – choice depends on the freedom to choose and if you’re shackled with debt you don’t have a freedom to choose.

Moore: It benefits the system if the average working person is shackled in debt.

Tony Benn: People in debt become hopeless and hopeless people don’t vote. See they always say… that everyone should vote, but I think if the poor in Britain or the United States turned out and voted for people who represented their interests it would be a real Democratic revolution. So they don’t want it to happen. So keeping people hopeless and pessimistic… See, I think there are two ways in which people are controlled. First of all, frighten people and secondly, demoralize them. An educated, healthy and confident nation is harder to govern. And I think there’s an element in the thinking of some people “We don’t want people to be educated, healthy and confident because they would get out of control.” The top 1% of the world’s population own 80% of the world’s wealth. It’s incredible that people put up with it. But, they’re poor, they’re demoralized, they’re frightened, and therefore they think perhaps the safest thing to do is take orders and hope for the best.

What I liked about this clip was how it highlighted the root of one’s wellbeing and mental strength. It applies to everything in life, including fighting the debt battle. Don’t be intimidated by the banks and debt collectors. Stay strong, healthy and motivated and constantly educate yourself on finance issues, so no one can ever say that you’re hopeless and that you’ll never make it.

Transcript credit (link)