Begging for Billionaires (2009)

Explores the erosion of private property rights in United States and exposes how municipal governments use tax money and abusive eminent domain policies to aid private developers and corporations.

Director:

Phil Klein

Writer:

Todd Messelt

Storyline

As school children, we were taught that only foreign governments could take private property from one citizen and give it to another. But the property rights that once defined us as a nation have virtually disappeared. Begging for Billionaires: The Attack on Property Rights in America is the first feature-length documentary to expose how city governments seize private property from everyday citizens and give it to billionaire developers and Fortune 500 companies, absurdly justifying their actions as "community economic development." Poor and disadvantaged families are forced out of their homes, sometimes with little notice. Good, hard-working Americans hold back tears as family histories are bulldozed to smithereens. Frantic homeowners scramble to rescue their life's possessions as heartless demolition crews pulverize the walls around them. Historic neighborhoods, rich with ethnic history, are systematically wiped away despite their beautiful homes and carefully maintained gardens. ...

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Plot Keywords:

government | developer | property rights | missouri | eminent domain | 

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Taglines:

The Attack on Property Rights in America

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$140,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crash & Sue's, Echo Boys, Limelight Cinema Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

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