Three Bay area theaters host single-night screenings of I.O.U.S.A. this Thursday evening. The new economics documentary and Sundance contender focuses on the country's mountain of national debt, its causes — an ever-growing government and military, increased international competition, strained entitlement programs, debts to foreign countries — and its consequences, increasing gasoline, food and health care costs and their relation to the debt, and solutions to present-day financial challenges. After the presentation, audiences are invited to stick around and enjoy a live simulcast of a town hall-style discussion about America's economic crisis with a panel of financial leaders and policy experts: Berkshire Hathaway CEO and world-renowned investor Warren Buffett; Pete Peterson, senior chairman of the Blackstone Group; Dave Walker, former U.S. comptroller and current president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation; CATO Institute Chairman William Niskanen; and Bill Novelli, CEO of AARP. Thurs., Aug. 21, 8 p.m., Regency 20, 2496 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon; Woodland Square 20, 3128 Tampa Road, Oldsmar; and Citrus Stadium Park Mall 20, 7999 Citrus Park Town Center Mall, Tampa; tickets are $12.50 or $18. iousathemovie.com.
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2008.