Roger & Me Page #9

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Then came the lowest blow.

Money magazine declared Flint

the worst place to live in all the country.

The chamber of commerce and local

beer distributors decided to take a stand.

They would burn Money magazine.

I came to burn Money magazine,

because Flint's my adopted city.

I've lived in plenty of cities,

and this is one of the best.

There's plenty of things to do.

The economy isn't that bad off.

We're all hard workers and survivors,

and I support Flint.

This is to tell people

that Flint is our hometown.

There's no way on God's green earth

it's the worst place to live in the country.

A lot of people say

there's nothing to do in Flint. "Ha!" I say.

I mean, how many cities

have their own PGA Tour event?

Not that many. We have one right here.

How many cities have an air show

the size we have?

How many people have parks,

rivers and trees...

and huge colleges like this over here?

Not that many.

We've got a lot going for us,

and don't ever forget it.

One good way to start out

would be with a song...

about another industrial city

that has seen hard times.

The Boss, Bruce Springsteen,

singing a song about his hometown.

Burn, Money, burn!

That smells like Gary, Indiana.

Don't let anybody tell you

you live in the country's worst place.

They're wrong!

Good evening.

I'm Ted Koppel, and this is Nightline.

Flint was now in the national spotlight.

The biggest event was to come...

when Ted Koppel announced

he'd interview city officials live...

in front of city hall, on Nightline.

The trouble started...

Here's what we know so far.

The ABC news program Nightline

was to be broadcasted live...

from in front of city hall tonight.

The reason? The closing

of the historic Fisher One Plant.

Apparently, moments before

the broadcast...

someone got in the satellite truck

and drove it off, cables and all.

Nightline has had to cancel their segment

from the city of Flint...

and police are looking for a suspect.

Reporting live from city hall in Flint,

I'm Barb Schroeder, TV 12 News.

They caught the unemployed worker

who made off with the Nightline van.

But crime in Flint continued to grow.

One guy thought he was Superman's

cousin and decided to save the town.

He didn't get very far.

He just wanted us to call him Captain Dah.

He said, "You can call me Dah-Dah,"

whatever that meant.

The old jail couldn't hold...

the increasing number of inmates

the judges were locking up.

So the county built

a new, state-of-the-art jail...

that was five stories high

and filled a city block.

The night before the jail was to open,

the city threw a party...

where couples paid $100

to stay overnight in jail.

When you first come in

from the limo ride...

from the pub-crawling before you get here,

they book you...

they give you a free Breathalyzer test,

and a mug shot...

complete with your fingerprinting.

Why do you want to spend the night

in Flint jail?

- Just for the experience.

- Yes, I've never been in jail before.

Eureka!

Let's fight.

And we're having a fantastic time here.

It was time to confront Roger face to face.

Posing as a GM stockholder, I got into

the annual GM shareholders' meeting.

I sat patiently as stockholders

aired their grievances to the board.

Finally, it was my turn at the mike.

Microphone number 40 is somebody

who hasn't had the opportunity to speak.

Mr. Chairman, I have Mr. Michael Moore...

a stockholder from Flint, Michigan.

Mr. Gilbert, I wonder

if you'd like to make a motion to adjourn?

I think we've answered all questions.

I think everyone

has had a turn at the mike.

I have one question.

All right. Moved and adjourned.

Thank you very much.

You've been a great audience.

I thought you said Louie was here.

- He's right there.

- He was sleeping.

He got up slow,

and didn't know what the hell to do.

I think he was surprised,

for whatever reason.

Me, too.

I'm going to leave this stuff here, okay?

They'll pick that up and bring it?

It was two weeks before Christmas.

General Motors was closing the factory...

where the great Flint Sit-down Strike

had taken place.

The UAW had promised...

that a massive demonstration would

be held on the last day of the factory.

Only four workers showed up

to protest the plant closing.

This is my second one I've closed.

It must be my destiny

to close all General Motors plants.

It's never pleasant when something

like this comes to an end...

but life goes on.

What are you going to do?

Excuse me a minute.

Where are you guys from?

We're making a documentary

about Flint, Michigan.

- From where?

- We're independent.

- We'd like you off the lot.

- Why?

Because this is private property.

We'd like you not to be here...

We thought it was a significant day

here today. The factory's closing...

It is a very significant day.

It's a very sad time,

a very private, personal time.

What do you think about General Motors

closing up this factory?

This is a very private, emotional,

family time.

- We would not let outsiders in the plant.

- We're not outsiders. We're from Flint.

You are outsiders. You don't work here.

This community

depends on General Motors...

Jerry, this guy, out.

I don't understand why we can't

talk to them for a couple minutes.

This is the factory's last hour.

What's the problem?

The problem is,

we were told to keep you on the sidewalk.

- You're hired by GM to do that?

- That's correct. On the sidewalk, please.

Mrs. McGee. There she is. Let me ask her.

Why can't we talk to you

if you're the spokesperson?

You can. I'll come outside and talk,

but not inside.

I've asked you to leave.

- We'll go, if you come and talk.

- don't think I'll talk to you.

You're the spokesperson,

and you won't speak to us.

That's correct.

You don't represent anybody.

You're a private interest,

and I won't speak to you.

We happen to be citizens

of this community.

That's not a private interest.

We're all citizens of the community.

On the sidewalk, please.

The 1,800 hourly workers at this operation

were sent home with flowers today.

Even union leaders

offered them bleak advice.

One worker told me, "You know when

they send you flowers? When you die. "

So, not a very merry Christmas.

In fact, as one man

walked out of the plant...

he told me, "I want to wish Roger Smith

a merry Christmas."

It was now Christmas Eve in Flint.

After three years of trying to bring

Roger here, I was ready to give up.

Deputy Fred had three evictions

scheduled for this day.

At the same time, in Detroit...

Roger Smith was beaming

his Christmas message...

to every GM factory throughout the world.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

I'd like to welcome you to our traditional

General Motors Christmas program.

We're trying to clear up

all evictions today...

so it won't get into the latter part

of Christmas, which is tomorrow.

We don't want to do any tomorrow.

- Because it's Christmas?

- Right.

Ladies and gentlemen,

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