Russell Brand

[DodgyAgent]

The point about how much Brand earns is irrelevant. He earns the money he does because a large demographic thinks that dressing like a cartoon pirate, fcking anything he can and using word you wouldn't normally attribute to an ex-heroin addict is something to aspire to.


Edit: Having heard him being interviewed recently (not by paxman) I'm not of the opinion that he's an idiot. Fame hungry, yes. Idiot, no.

What he earns is entirely relevant because what he is saying is that there should be a redistribution of wealth through the tax system. he cited bankers as epitomising the rich and powerful and the large corporations as being guilty of exploitation. On two fronts Paxman should have challenged him. Would he - Brand - be prepared to give up most of his wealth and have it redistributed through the tax system? and does he regard people paying him money as exploitation in the same way as people are being exploited into buying food from Tesco?

[pjclarke]

Disclaimer: I've never seen a Brand performance, read a Brand book or seen a Brand movie, he seems successful in those areas, but popularity is no guarantee of quality. Sure, his earnings don't disqualify him from expressing an opinion, any more than his success in showbiz means his political opinions should carry any weight. What I've seen of his blogs and TV appearances do not encourage me to find out more: they remind me of one of the more embarrassing entries in 'The Diary of Adrian Mole' in a 'the world is sometime a horrible place, why can't we all just be nice to each other?' kinda way. I've no doubt he's sincere and he has a gift for self-publicity in this tweeting and facebooking era, but not exactly a deep thinker. If he really wants to make a difference, then he should write a manifesto setting out his beliefs, the policies that flow from them and stand for Parliament. But he won't, and his fifteen minutes are nearly up.

To truly demonstrate defiance in the face of this sad violence, we must be loving and compassionate to one another. Let's look beyond our superficial and fleeting differences. The murderers want angry patriots to desecrate mosques and perpetuate violence. How futile their actions seem if we instead leave flowers at each other's places of worship. Let's reach out in the spirit of love and humanity and connect to one another. Perhaps we will then see what is really behind this conflict, this division, this hatred, and make that our focus.

<Cringe>

[doodab]

What he earns is entirely relevant because what he is saying is that there should be a redistribution of wealth through the tax system.

Does he say that or are you falling into the trap you usually fall into of assuming that anyone who talks about fairness and addressing inequity plans to do so via the tax system ?

[oracleslave]

Brand makes me sit back, consider and reflect - he is a benefit to society for this alone.

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He certainly got the US to take notice with this effort on the MTV awards.

Please, America, elect Barack Obama. On behalf of the world. Some people, I think they're called racists, say America is not ready for a black president. But I know America to be a forward-thinking country because otherwise why would you have let that retard and cowboy fella be president for eight years? We thought it was nice of you to let him have a go, because in England he wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors.

I laughed like a drain, especially the reaction it got.

[doodab]

If he really wants to make a difference, then he should write a manifesto setting out his beliefs, the policies that flow from them and stand for Parliament. But he won't, and his fifteen minutes are nearly up.

His point seems to be that writing a manifesto and standing for parliament is utterly pointless because it won't make a difference.

[DodgyAgent]

Does he say that or are you falling into the trap you usually fall into of assuming that anyone who talks about fairness and addressing inequity plans to do so via the tax system ?

He says that. He says that there should be a paradigm shift in how we live our lives and how we look at the entire way in which we are governed (with no idea of how this should happen) and then he goes on to say that wealth should be redistributed through the tax system (so no paradigm shift in that old system then!).

What we all want to know is if the rules of redistribution apply to him or whether they simply apply to less worthy earners than himself.

[DodgyAgent]

His point seems to be that writing a manifesto and standing for parliament is utterly pointless because it won't make a difference.

No because he has nothing to offer

[doodab]

No because he has nothing to offer

Why don't you write a manifesto?

[amcdonald]

Why don't you write a manifesto?

Like Goldie Lookin Chain ?

[DodgyAgent]

Why don't you write a manifesto?

All wealth should be handed over to recruitment agents

There you go.