Posted on 12/11/2013 11:42:47 AM PST by Kaslin
I'm annoyed that so many Hollywood celebrities hate the system that made them rich.
Actor/comedian Russell Brand told the BBC he wants "a socialist, egalitarian system based on the massive redistribution of wealth."
Director George Lucas got rich not just from movies but also by selling Star Wars merchandise. Yet he says he believes in democracy but "not capitalist democracy."
Actor Martin Sheen says, "That's where the problem lies ... It's corporate America."
And so on.
On my TV show, actor/author Kevin Sorbo pointed out that such sentiments make little sense coming from entertainers. "It's a very entrepreneurial business. You have to work very hard to get lucky, mixed with any kind of talent to get a break in this business. I told Clooney, George, you're worth $100 million -- of course you can afford to be a socialist!"
It's bad enough that celebrities trash the only economic system that makes poor people's lives better.
What's worse is that many are hypocrites.
Celebrities who support big-government politicians routinely take advantage of tax breaks, which reduce the amount they contribute to that government.
It's nice that Obama supporter Bon Jovi has a foundation that builds houses for poor people, but at tax time, the musician labels himself a "farmer." He pays only $100 in state property tax. And his tax dodge gimmick: raising honeybees.
Bruce Springsteen sings about factories closing down but pays little tax on the hundreds of acres of land he owns. His dodge: An organic farmer works his land.
Hollywood's campaign to "save the earth" brings out the most hypocrisy. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently announced, "I will fly around the world doing good for the environment." Really? Flying around the world? I'm amazed they're not embarrassed by what they say.
Maybe they don't know how clueless they are because reporters rarely confront them about their hypocrisy. Hollywood reporters want access to celebrities, and posing uncomfortable questions reduces that access.
To fill the gap, Jason Mattera, author of "Hollywood Hypocrites," confronts hypocritical celebrities.
He and his cameraman located Harrison Ford after the actor had himself filmed getting his chest hair waxed. Ford said the pain of ripping out his chest hair should make us think about the pain the earth feels when trees in a rainforest are cut down. Chest hair, rain forest -- get it? But that environmental message came from a celebrity who owns seven airplanes. Ford once even flew his private jet to get a cheeseburger!
"I don't care that he owns seven airplanes," said Mattera, "but do not lecture the rest of us that we're on the precipice of global warming Armageddon while you have a sasquatch-sized carbon footprint." Even though Ford ignored Mattera when confronted by him, at least he was forced to listen to someone questioning his positions.
Some actors wake up to the burden of big government when they try doing something outside acting. Actors usually collect a paycheck. They rarely deal with government regulation; their agent handles the details.
When actor and lifelong Democrat Rob Schneider tried launching a business, he was so offended by California's burdensome regulation that he left the state and changed political parties.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was enthusiastic about free markets when he owned a bricklaying business. But, unfortunately, during his time as California governor, he started to act more like a supporter of big government. Being a politician has that effect on people, especially in California.
Actors Drew Carey and Vince Vaughn are among the few others who've seen the light. On ReasonTV, Carey said, "We don't need a centralized government to tell us what to do all the time."
On a radio show, Vaughn recently said, "I'm very supportive of Ron Paul ... As you get older ... you just get less trust in the government running anything. If you look at the Constitution and the principles of liberty, the real purpose of government is to protect the individual's right."
Hooray for Carey and Vaughn. Maybe they'll convince their colleagues.
I think Vince Vaughn is pretty tight with Glen Beck too.
And just where is this wealth going to come from in such a system? Russell needs to review a few quotes by Maggie Thatcher.
Hypocrites? I always thought they are nothing more than ignorant, bloviating a$$ clowns.
Ping.
They are all this, plus hypocrites.
Yet another celebrity opens her big mouth..Katy Perry turned down her parents’ request to attend O’s inauguration, where she was performing. Here’s what she said: “My parents are Republicans, and I’m not,” she continued. “They didn’t vote for Obama, but when I was asked to sing at the inauguration, they were like, ‘We can come.’ And I was like, ‘No, you can’t. I love you so much, but that—on principle.’ They understood, but I was like, ‘How dare you?’ in a way.” Makes me sick to my stomach.
Russel Brand? I’ve never heard of him and I doubt I missed anything.
I've heard of him but I've never seen him in anything. From what I've heard you are correct that you haven't missed anything.
I still like his films though...
Let’s see how this socialism works out for them. Let’s massively redistribute their wealth.
They believe in it, they should be the first ones to volunteer to do it.
Otherwise just hypocrites.
bobo
As always, some one(s) other than Russell. The left is good w/ the Royal We stuff.
I think he was married for a nanosecond to Ms. Perry. See post #8 on this thread for a little info about the lovely woman.
Russell Brand??? Isn’t that a breakfast cereal you eat to regulate your colon?
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Actors who think of themselves as part of the privileged left think they will maintain their celebrity with the government elites. They have enough cushioning them from the controllers they don’t believe they will ever lose it.
Shmucks who are robbed by government enough to feel the pain know who their enemy is. Big corporations don’t tax us, and they don’t make laws that control us. I’ve never had a corporation tell me what kind of food I can eat, or what kind of light bulb I can have, or what kind of toilet I can have in my house. Big corporations don’t grab my guns, tax my fuel, or tell me what kind of words I can use, or what kind of customers I have to serve. I’ve never had a big corporation tax me, regulate me, and seek to control every aspect of my life. Big government is evil in ways big corporations don’t even think about.
He’s a “comedian” who is even less funny than Dane Cook.
Your life is the very best it will ever be in the second before socialism takes hold, because you will spend the rest of your life watching the government take everything you have. Maybe quickly, maybe slowly, but make no mistake. They will take everything you have away from you.
Exactly! Would that those who preach ‘massive redistribution of wealth’ would have THEIRS redistributed immediately. How much would Clooney be left with-of his 100 million? Would Ford mind if 6 aircraft were immediately confiscated to be sold? I just want these people to LIVE THE DREAM! Let there be the socialism they long for- and let it begin with THEM!
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