My introduction to the Yes Men, Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno, came about from watching their recently released DVD The Yes Men Fix The World. To say I was awestruck by the audacity and daring of the form their protests against multinationals, globalization, and the "free market system" in general and corporations like Dow Chemical and Halliburton in particular is to put it mildly. In fact they have given me cause to believe that if you looked up the word "chutzpah" in the dictionary you'd see their happy faces grinning back up at you.
After reviewing their DVD I emailed them in the hopes of being able to interview either one or both of them in an attempt to find out a little bit more about who they are and what they do. Half expecting "no" for an answer due to the hectic nature of their schedules — working day jobs while trying to fix the world doesn't leave you much spare time — I was very grateful when Mike Bonanno said he'd be willing to answer my emailed questions. He's a lot better at getting to the point than I am so although some of his answers are shorter than my questions it's only because he doesn't waste any words.
Hopefully this interview will give you the incentive to check out at least my review of their DVD and maybe support their efforts by picking up a copy of it for your own pleasure. Those who want to get more directly involved can always check out their web site for a list of actions ongoing around the world which you can involve yourself in. Now without further ado, Mike Bonanno
Any special reason for the name "Yes Men"?
We started out wanting to be a funhouse mirror for big business. We thought we would say "yes" at corporate conferences until the ideas all seemed amplified and comic. Over time, the name seemed to be more reflective of our culture of capitalism overall: we agree with the people in power just for a little short-term gain, no matter what the effect on the planet.
So how did you settle upon this as a career choice? As a child did you say to your parents "I want to be a professional shit disturber when I grow up" or did you just gradually evolve into the role?
It happened to us by accident! We really did stumble into it... although we both had serious mischief streaks as kids.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - roger nowosielski
Thanks for the great article, Richard, and especially for the links for becoming more involved.
I happen to think it all has to start with local politics - the councilpersons, the mayor, etc. The culture of corruption and collusion with business interests pervades local politics, and it only becomes reinforced on the national level. After a while, it's all country-club atmosphere where they all scratch one anothers back.
It's got to be nipped in the bud.
2 - Cindy
Richard,
I'd never heard of them. Very inspiring vigilante justice! Thanks for this interview and the review of the DVD. I will post a link to your article on my blog.
I'm so happy to know about these guys.
3 - roger nowosielski
I'm glad you checked this article, Cindy. I was going to email you and alert you.
They're doing great work; and there's plenty opportunity to get involved.
Do check out all the links, including their "Laboratory."
4 - Cindy
Great stuff, Roger. Thanks for thinking of me. :-)
5 - roger nowosielski
It's like revolutionary, street theater, Monty Python style. Ridicule sometimes works better than anything else.
6 - Cindy
I am about 40 minutes into The Yes Men Fix The World and I am noticing how the faces of power are exclusively white males. I would make a wager right now that this trend will hold throughout the film.
7 - roger nowosielski
Of course, Cindy. The old guard.
Interestingly, you won't Handy or Glenn, our poster-boy liberals check this article out. Even zing is a missing person.
I suppose it's too shocking for the liberal mind.
8 - Cindy
Look at this! I don't know when I laughed so hard. It's the one called Survivaballs Storm US Capitol.
I love when the policeman tries to grab the survivaball guy with the megaphone and he sort of makes himself into a ball and rolls down the stairs...LMAO!!!!!
The megaphone sort of plops out onto the pavement. I can't stop laughing at this one. I have watched it 10 times today.
9 - Cindy
Oh! And don't fail to notice the survivaball person wearing the sign "I will survive".
10 - roger nowosielski
Yes, it's hilarious. Not to be missed.
11 - handyguy
Have you seen "Billionaires for Wealthcare"? A spinoff from the 2004 Billionaires for Bush. Hilarious and also right on.
They were also at a recent Tax Day tea party event in San Francisco:
...two members of the Raging Grannies headed over to the Tea Party, where they satirically advocated for a health care system run by wealthy corporations.
“Billionaires for Wealthcare,” was the sign one held, while the other’s read, “Blue Cross, Palin, 2012,” advocating that we cut out the middle man and elect Blue Cross as the next president, with Sarah Palin as its running mate.
And then they broke into the song “We shall overcome,” but with a modified chorus: “We shall overcharge.”
12 - roger nowosielski
Thanks for the link, Handy.
13 - Cindy
lol, Handy. Save the Rich!
14 - roger nowosielski
Except that what he gives now, he takes it away on the next thread: still believes in politicians' integrity.
15 - Cindy
The response of HUD at about 1:15 in makes me want to refrain from saying what it makes me want to do.
16 - Cindy
I am going to commit soon to spending most every effort at monkey-wrenching.
17 - roger nowosielski
Yes - it's definitely worth the effort. I've got to start looking at the political corruption in the local community. All these people, from the lowly councilpersons to the higher ups, are in the pockets of moneyed interests. They're not "of the people" and they've got to be exposed for pretending to be public servants.
18 - roger nowosielski
What HUD response do you have in mind? Any links?
19 - Cindy
It is the HUD response to what the Yes Men do regarding New Orleans, in the film.
20 - Cindy
...at 1 hour 15 minutes in...
21 - handyguy
Some politicians' integrity, not all, Roger. I believe in giving credit to the good ones. And I join you in booing the bad ones.
22 - roger nowosielski
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, Handy. What passes as present day legislation stinks. It's the climate, Handy, no longer the individuals. You too would be helpless to make a difference because you'd have to play ball.
Try to connect the dots for a change. Again, eliminate the money influence and the present election system, and I'll be with you.
23 - handyguy
Money will never be entirely removed from politics, and all legislation is a compromise at least from someone's point of view. That doesn't automatically make the legislation evil. It's a false premise and a false conclusion.
I am the one dealing with reality here, thanks.
24 - roger nowosielski
Politics is being dominated by money, Handy, in this day and age. So are you saying that it's beyond fixing.
As to politics being an art of compromise, that's a good formula but no longer applicable today. Things have gone too far. Private and public interests are no longer reconcilable in any meaningful sense: they're each stand in the others way, there being no common ground anymore.
Why? Because capitalism is reaching its final stage, the stage of final consolidation. All you're going to get by way of public good is table scraps.
Break capitalism's back or restore the ethical component as a major organizing principle, and we can have a conversation.
25 - handyguy
We've had this "argument" before, and I suspect it's pointless.
You want to make sweeping pronouncements about the imminent death of the system. But that may be years or decades away, and all we can do is speculate about what the outcome will be.
In the meantime, we will all be living our daily lives in the real world, where actual elections occur and actual legislation is passed. It will affect us, imperfect though it may be. It is worth discussing those effects, which as always are not all good or all bad, but a mix of both.
The left and right usually disagree on which parts are good and which bad. That's what most discussions on here are about, and rightly so.