The story to rebuild the American Dream

Charlotte Reid reports on filmmaker Annie Leonard’s latest release, The Story of Broke, which critiques the American economy in attempt to make people start again.

A new film has been released that states that the American economy is broken and that, “It’s time to rebuild the American Dream; but this time let’s build it better.”

The Story of Broke, by filmmaker Annie Leonard, says that the US is continuing to fund businesses that pollute, rather than investing in something better. It challenges the idea that America is out of pocket by saying that America’s “public money has been hijacked”.

The film, which was released on November 8th, explores the idea that US government officials have been investing in ‘dinosaur’ industries such as oil, gas and coal mining, rather than investing inrenewable and sustainable alternatives.

Leonard, who took part in the Oakland protests last weekend, called this movement “exciting” in the Huffington Post, saying, “Together … we do have real power to make a better future. And we have enough money to get started right now.”

Leonard is used to controversy after the release of her first film, The Story of Stuff, which was released in 2007, and focused on America’s overconsumption of goods.

US television presenter Glenn Beck called her first film an “anti-capitalist tale that unfortunately has virtually no facts correct”.

Nevertheless, the film has so far received over 15 million views and been seen in 228 countries and territories, as well as shown in schools, economic classes and places of worship.

Leonard ends her latest film on an upbeat note saying, “We can afford to have a healthy environment, good jobs and a top notch public education but not if we continue subsidising the dinosaur economy.

“We are not broke. There is money, it is ours and it is time to invest it right.”

If you don’t want to invest in businesses that continue to pollute our environment, then ask your financial adviser if you have one, or complete our online form and we’ll connect you with a specialist ethical adviser.