April 27, 2017 11:22 am
The 8th and final episode of Stranded by the State, entitled "Toxic Swaps" premieres today. A collaboration between In These Times and Kartemquin Films, the series is directed, edited and produced by Kartemquin associate Liz Kaar and explores the human impact of Illinois' budget crisis.
The final episode of Stranded by the State looks at the role big banks have played in destabilizing communities across the country. The same banks who were responsible for the foreclosure crisis in 2008 are now making huge sums of money from predatory loans made to state and city governments.
These “toxic swaps" contribute to widespread austerity policies, such as cuts to the CeaseFire violence prevention program in Chicago. This episode points toward alternative solutions to the crisis in Illinois: recovering money from the banks and enacting a progressive income tax.
Watch Episode 8:
Join the conversation using hashtag #StrandedIL, and follow the series on Twitter @strandedbystate.