MovieChat Forums > J. Edgar (2011) Discussion > Anyone ashamed that the US tolerated thi...

Anyone ashamed that the US tolerated this decades-long abuse of power

posted 13 years ago by Froggy_Bottom
7 replies | jump to latest

for so long?

How many of you were inspired by J. EDGAR to dig deeper into this matter?

[–] ratracer 13 years ago

I had read quite a lot about Hoover before the movie plans surfaced, and couldn't wait to see it. I actually liked the approach they took. The reason I could appreciate the film more than your average moviegoer is probably due to the fact that I had more background knowledge to start with. It was interesting to see how they would deal with the relationship issue. I thought they handled it pretty well. As for his abuse of power, they should have gone deeper into that IMO.

I'm not in the US though.

[–] Bellatrice 12 years ago

He was a power-crazed opportunist who destroyed many lives. Ashamed? Am I to be held responsible? You mean this kind of abuse of power never happened in your own country, Froggy Bottom?

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I love you too but I'm going to mace you in the face!

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] skywalkr2 12 years ago

Even today we have President's who selectively enforce the law... ignore the law... create new law without consent...

Be ashamed of Hoover and not embarrassed that it still happens? Hypocrisy.

[–] DonMachiavelli 12 years ago

Yes.

It has also lead me to a string of research.

[–] chicago85 12 years ago

Many Presidents used the IRS more to go after their enemies than Hoover and the FBI. I guess the IRS was more easily controlled.

After all the IRS nailed Capone when no one else could. Capone went to a major league baseball game and FDR was there. He got angry at Capone's celebrity status sitting on the front row with players coming over to talk to him and having his picture taken for the newspapers. FDR started hounding people asking when are you going to get that guy.

[–] TheLightFantastic 12 years ago

I already knew plenty about Hoover before the film because I was taking a history course at the time, so I didn't have to dig deeper. In fact, I dug a little too deep when I had to do a paper on some-or-other for the class and found out about his weird habit of taping everyone's phone calls and his general paranoia.

And no, I'm not ashamed of his actions (or the FBI's for that matter) because I had nothing to do with it. I don't agree with them but I haven't observed anyone who is in a position of authority who didn't abuse it somehow. Whether it's appointing one's friends to positions they probably don't deserve to spying on people just so one has dirt on them to keep them in control, it's all been going on since time began.