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Maxed Out

Most Americans have gone into debt or are in debt one point or another in their lives. Most of us have run up credit card or other forms of debt and been daunted by the prospect of paying it off. Most of us have one or more credit cards. In fact the average American has about eight credit card and about $8000 in debt per household. In 2003, consumer debt hit an all-time, record-high of $1.98 trillion, not counting mortgage debt. Household savings are also plummeting. In 1993, the average American’s savings was a mere 5.9% of their disposable income. Ten years later, it had dropped down to 1.3%. Now, most Americans are struggling with what is called “survival debt,” meaning using credit cards to pay for groceries, rent, and other necessities. Banks, credit card companies and collection agencies meanwhile, are quite content with these statistics. The greater the average debt, the greater their profits.

But most news coverage of American debt focuses on how people get into debt, not how they are preyed upon. A new, acclaimed documentary by James Scurlock, Maxed Out, exposes the debt industry in the US and what you can do about it. According to Variety Magazine, Maxed Out is “Intelligent, informative, and unusually entertaining.”

For more information, visit www.maxedoutmovie.com.

Special thanks to Bollywood Cafe, Gabriela Network, Tracy Gore, Red Envelope Entertainment and Netflix for making donations to KPFK.

Bollywood Cafe 2 is located at 3737 Cahuenga Blvd West, North Hollywood, CA. Tel: 818-508-5533. They cook healthy and delicious food using only olive oil.

“Export Quality” is a play about sex trafficking in the Philippines, presented by the Gabriela Network. There are only two shows: Thursday 06/21 and Friday 06/22, at the Cal State Long Beach Auditorium, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840. For tickets call 323-393-5131.

“Sojourn at Ararat” is a play about the song and poetry of the Armenian culture, presented as part of the Summer Armenian Festival. It is showing June 7 – August 12 (Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm), at the Fountain Theater, 5060 Fountain Avenue in Hollywood. For tickets, call 323-663-1525.

There is a screening of Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL STARS on Tuesday June 26th at 7:30 pm, at the Fine Arts Theatre, 8556 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills 90211 followed by a special performance by the Refugee All Stars and discussion with filmmakers Banker White and Zach Niles. Other confirmed attendees thus far: Wyclef Jean, Aerosmith, and Ice Cube. Seats are limited. RSVP to scottb@eviltwinbooking.org.

Thank you Gifts: