Independent Lens Season 14 Episode 4 Park Avenue: Money, Power & the American Dream

In the fourth episode of Independent Lens' 14th season, titled Park Avenue: Money, Power & the American Dream, viewers are taken on a journey into the ultra-exclusive world of New York's wealthiest families. Through interviews with both the wealthy elite and those struggling to make ends meet, the episode explores the ever-widening gap between the rich and poor in America, and the ways in which the ultra-rich use their power to maintain their status and control over the government.

The episode begins with a look at 740 Park Avenue, one of the most exclusive addresses in New York City. This building is home to some of the wealthiest individuals in America, including billionaires David Koch and Stephen Schwarzman. Through interviews with people who have lived and worked in the building, viewers get a sense of the extreme wealth and power that is concentrated within its walls.

As the episode progresses, viewers are introduced to a number of other ultra-wealthy individuals and families, including the Tisches, the Wilpons, and the billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones. These individuals have accumulated vast amounts of wealth through various means, from finance to real estate, and they use their money to fund political campaigns, purchase influence with politicians, and advance their own interests.

At the same time, the episode also shines a light on the lives of those who are not part of the elite, including residents of the Bronx and other low-income areas of New York. Through interviews with social workers, community activists, and others, viewers get a sense of the daily struggles and challenges faced by these individuals, from lack of access to basic services like healthcare and education to the constant threat of eviction and homelessness.

Throughout the episode, the filmmakers ask a simple but important question: how did we get here? How did we reach a point where the wealthiest 1% of Americans control more wealth than the bottom 90% combined? The answer, according to many experts interviewed in the episode, lies in the way that America's political and economic systems are structured.

The episode explores the history of American capitalism, tracing its roots back to the Gilded Age of the late 19th century and the rise of industrialists like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. It also looks at the role that government policies and regulations have played in shaping the economy, from the New Deal-era reforms of the 1930s to the deregulation of the 1980s and beyond.

Ultimately, Park Avenue: Money, Power & the American Dream is a powerful and thought-provoking look at the state of American society today, and the challenges that face us as a nation. By highlighting the extreme wealth inequality that exists in America, the episode raises important questions about the role of government, the power of the wealthy elite, and the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality.