Review of Where to Invade Next (2015) by Dustin D — 28 Nov 2018

Yes, it's one-sided, but you don't expect to get an objective or balanced view from Michael Moore movies. The movie can be infuriating at times that Europeans apparently have life so good, while we don't. We work harder, but are miserable. They feel entitled to a good life, while we don't.

Having studied some of the issues Moore addresses in depth, particularly school reform and recidivism, I think he gets the solutions somewhat correct. I don't think the reason Finnish schools outperform the average American school is because they did away with standardized tests, but because as Moore points out, they don't have private schools. When the rich can't opt out of the system, they will push the system to be better. I also don't think the reason the recidivism rate in Norway is low is because they coddle their inmates, but because they don't convict people on petty bullshit in the first place. (Moore mentions relaxed drug laws in a couple places.) Also, as a student of public policy, I don't think policies can be cleanly transported across the Atlantic. However, the fact that Moore points to more successful models should undermine the status quo argument that we can't do any better.

(I also liked the shout-out to my colleague, Bill Black, for his inspiration to send Icelandic bankers who brought their economy to the brink of collapse to prison.).