Well, here's an indy film you won't see featured at SXSW

[Dover]

This locally produced indy film is being debuted in a smallish conservative Texas town about an hour west of Austin, TX.
While on the surface it looks like it's a story about a local couple's horrific experiences growing up in Romania during Communist rule, its propaganda value was not overlooked. And it's primary character, Elena Chitta, makes no secret of the fact that she thinks the horrors of her childhood ("that wicked slavery" under communism) is on the rise again under the current American government.

Which is why the film's debut is being hosted (and probably funded) by the Highland Lakes Tea Party Coalition.
Here's a review (showing at Uptown Marble Falls Theatre, Apr. 7) -
http://www.llanonews.com/news/article/27358



Just to give a little more flavor of the area, the local online news website posted this survey in its 'opinion' section:

Does the President and the Democratic Congressional majority represent you?


-- 87% No. The American people have clearly said they don't want the Democrat health plan, but they are forcing it on us with secret deals and parlimentary tricks

-- 13% Yes, the President and the Congress are smarter than the majority of voters. When I voted for change, that meant I wanted lies, secrecery, tricks and backroom deals.


http://www.highlandernews.com/



I'm not posting this as ridicule so much as showing one small town's response to current events. I do see these kinds of reactions as more fearmongering and attempts to exploit people's legitimate fears and insecurities during a terribly unstable time.
Personally, I don't feel government is the answer to our woes, but rather, that the corruption and dysfunction in government, finance, corporations, and our society as a whole is symptomatic of a much broader, deeper and more complex set of issues. Can government be fixed/reformed within the current environment? If so, what should it look like? If not, then what's next? Whatever is created from the chaos will be a reflection of who we are as individuals and as a collective.

[sonias]

1. The Newspaper "Highlander News" is a joke

What a lame poll. Even Fox is more subtle.

This film might not be a bad documentary if the Tea Party wasn't using it for political purposes. I'm sure it was horrific for that couple in Romania. What's disgusting is that the tea party is using it to incite people in this country. This is not Romania and we are not becoming communist. This is just fear mongering. :mad:

[Dover]

2. Well, maybe Democrats ought to make a point of owning more local newspapers.

The Highlander is probably a reflection of much of the populace so what appears to be bias (like with Fox) is not considered as such.