Russell Brand tears Britains best political critic a new asshole

[DroppingPlates]

I think the point coach is trying to make is celebrities/athletes are not ones to talk since they are far from the average person in terms of income. It makes them look so hypocritical talking redistribution of wealth, taxes, etc...

He might not have 6 cars in his garage but I reckon he is no cheapskate and indulges and spends on other stuff whether it be boats, mansions, expensive watches etc

I understand Coach' objection, but how many people will listen to an average Joe? (if he's/she's interviewed). It would be way easier for him to make a couple of jokes about nothing like most comedians do, but he chose for a sensitive topic.

[DroppingPlates]

He's a fast talker and can clearly think on his feet. Sharp as hell? I don't know... I guess that depends on your definition of "smart" but I don't think that a man who advocates for "a socialist-egalitarian system based on the massive redistribution of wealth, heavy taxation of corporations and [...] the very concept of profit should be hugely reduced" is smart.

Socialism doesn't work. Wealth redistribution doesn't work. Heavy taxation doesn't work.

These are facts.

He makes good points elsewhere (such as the fact that the people are being underserved by the politicians that they keep in power; mostly platitudes, but still good points) but I simply can't take seriously a man who promotes a position that goes against established and indisputable facts. It's simply not rationally defensible.

I hate to agree with Coach but Brand wants to redistribute other people's wealth, why doesn't he start by redistributing his own wealth first? Because it's always more fun when other people's means are used for one's ends. That's why.  

Regarding that bold part, how do you 'know' that he isn't?

[avxo]

Regarding that bold part, how do you 'know' that he isn't?

He isn't, and that much is obvious: he's living quite the life, after all. But even if he was giving it away, the onus is on him to prove that he is because until he can show people that he believes what he says and is willing to live it, nobody should take him seriously. Please note that I don't begrudge him for being rich and living an extravagant lifestyle. I applaud people who are successful and I genuinely believe he is and deserves every penny that he has, and his performance in the interview proves it.
 
But even if he had given his fortune away, so what? I don't think that giving his fortune away entitles him to manage mine. From where I'm standing, Brand's idea is that his ends justify the seizure of my means; that the public - whoever the fuck that is - can treat me as a sacrificial animal; that I am nothing more but a machine that produces money which some nebulous public can seize to use in any away; that my profits and my life belong to everyone but me.

I recognize Brand's politics and vision for what they are: thuggery and slavery respectively. Thuggery because he seeks to take from me, at the point of a gun, the money that I labored to earn. Slavery because he believes that my wants, needs and desires ought to be subjugated. Does it, then, matter who holds the gun or to whom I must subjugate myself? The answer is no.

Russell Brand thinks that profit is a filthy word. So be it. I don't think it is and my opinion is the only opinion that matters. I say that openly and fully cognizant of the meaning of the words I'm writing. I work hard and do so for no other reason except for my own profit, a profit which I make with the voluntary consent of anyone I do business with. I refuse to consider this a sin or to apologize for it. I refuse to consider my success a sin or to apologize for it. I refuse to consider my money a sin or to apologize for it. And I refuse to live my life as a slave to Russell Brand or to the public or to apologize for it.

[The Abdominal Snoman]

Here's the home Brand just bought recently...Pretty modest for Hollywood standards at 2.2 million...Brand is an interesting character...He says he's a sex addict or recovering sex addict. The amount of pussy this guy must get has to be off the charts...

http://www.realtor.com/news/tour-russell-brands-new-home/

[DroppingPlates]

He isn't, and that much is obvious: he's living quite the life, after all. But even if he was giving it away, the onus is on him to prove that he is because until he can show people that he believes what he says and is willing to live it, nobody should take him seriously. Please note that I don't begrudge him for being rich and living an extravagant lifestyle. I applaud people who are successful and I genuinely believe he is and deserves every penny that he has, and his performance in the interview proves it.
 
But even if he had given his fortune away, so what? I don't think that giving his fortune away entitles him to manage mine. From where I'm standing, Brand's idea is that his ends justify the seizure of my means; that the public - whoever the fuck that is - can treat me as a sacrificial animal; that I am nothing more but a machine that produces money which some nebulous public can seize to use in any away; that my profits and my life belong to everyone but me.

I recognize Brand's politics and vision for what they are: thuggery and slavery respectively. Thuggery because he seeks to take from me, at the point of a gun, the money that I labored to earn. Slavery because he believes that my wants, needs and desires ought to be subjugated. Does it, then, matter who holds the gun or to whom I must subjugate myself? The answer is no.

Russell Brand thinks that profit is a filthy word. So be it. I don't think it is and my opinion is the only opinion that matters. I say that openly and fully cognizant of the meaning of the words I'm writing. I work hard and do so for no other reason except for my own profit, a profit which I make with the voluntary consent of anyone I do business with. I refuse to consider this a sin or to apologize for it. I refuse to consider my success a sin or to apologize for it. I refuse to consider my money a sin or to apologize for it. And I refuse to live my life as a slave to Russell Brand or to the public or to apologize for it.

Solid post, props. Well, Abdominal Snowman seems to prove your "living the life" point. It would be thorough if the interviewer discussed Russel's wealth. We'll never know exactly what is going on in his life; it's depends on which thoughts he shares with the public. Some rich people come to a point that they give it all (or most of it) away.
In a perfect world all of us would be rich, happy & healthy.. but that's just a naive dream..

[Bevo]

He isn't, and that much is obvious: he's living quite the life, after all. But even if he was giving it away, the onus is on him to prove that he is because until he can show people that he believes what he says and is willing to live it, nobody should take him seriously. Please note that I don't begrudge him for being rich and living an extravagant lifestyle. I applaud people who are successful and I genuinely believe he is and deserves every penny that he has, and his performance in the interview proves it.
 
But even if he had given his fortune away, so what? I don't think that giving his fortune away entitles him to manage mine. From where I'm standing, Brand's idea is that his ends justify the seizure of my means; that the public - whoever the fuck that is - can treat me as a sacrificial animal; that I am nothing more but a machine that produces money which some nebulous public can seize to use in any away; that my profits and my life belong to everyone but me.

I recognize Brand's politics and vision for what they are: thuggery and slavery respectively. Thuggery because he seeks to take from me, at the point of a gun, the money that I labored to earn. Slavery because he believes that my wants, needs and desires ought to be subjugated. Does it, then, matter who holds the gun or to whom I must subjugate myself? The answer is no.

Russell Brand thinks that profit is a filthy word. So be it. I don't think it is and my opinion is the only opinion that matters. I say that openly and fully cognizant of the meaning of the words I'm writing. I work hard and do so for no other reason except for my own profit, a profit which I make with the voluntary consent of anyone I do business with. I refuse to consider this a sin or to apologize for it. I refuse to consider my success a sin or to apologize for it. I refuse to consider my money a sin or to apologize for it. And I refuse to live my life as a slave to Russell Brand or to the public or to apologize for it.

Good post pretty much the "socialist" mentality is all of Hollywood

[Radical Plato]

If how much money you earned was based on how hard you worked, the rich would be poor and the poor would be rich.  When CEO's of companies can make in 1 week what their employees make in 5 years, their isn't a person on the planet that can convince me that CEO is working 250 times harder than his employees.  It is an elitist system designed by them for them.  PERIOD.

Does anyone truly believe the $100 million Paris Hilton is worth is because she worked harder than other people her age, or that she is more talented?  Please!

[PJim]

Behind every fortune there's a crime...

[Army of One]

He at least admits he doesn't know how this system would work or be put in to action, I don't think I've ever seen a quicker thinker than him, his mind literally functions at light speed.

[Radical Plato]

Behind every fortune there's a crime...

If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at those to whom he gives it - Dorothy Parker

[_bruce_]

avxo is a swell poster.

I remember the idiot Pitt on a talkshow with his "Socialism is cool" brain fart and the folks inside the studio were applauding him.
Most celebs belong to the machinery of "social change" and the western cesspool seems to have largely fallen for it.

[dustin]

I really like him too, but socialism is flawed, redistribution of wealth is flawed and there's no such thing as altriusm. People are greedy and lazy. And taking money away from the rich is not the solution. I don't want to pay for bottom feeders. However, I don't think massive tax cuts should be given to corporations.

They say that their wealth will benefit the wealth of those around them and sometimes that's true to an extent, but there are so many corporate tax cuts and loop holes that these guys are setup far beyond what they need. With all their offshore accounts and ways of laundering money and evading the tax man just isn't fair. They already get so many cuts, kick backs and exemptions.

If Brand realized that I think he could be unstoppable. Hilarious, charming and definitely has the gift of gab. Just wish he would take off the rose tinted glasses and see things a bit more clearly for what they are. Definitely a cool dude though, flawed ideologies aside.

[BigCyp]

He at least admits he doesn't know how this system would work or be put in to action, I don't think I've ever seen a quicker thinker than him, his mind literally functions at light speed.

Are you saying that it only took him a fraction of a second to decide to pull off some guy in a soho toilet, Army of One?

[Coach is Back!]

Here's the home Brand just bought recently...Pretty modest for Hollywood standards at 2.2 million...Brand is an interesting character...He says he's a sex addict or recovering sex addict. The amount of pussy this guy must get has to be off the charts...

http://www.realtor.com/news/tour-russell-brands-new-home/

That house is about two blocks from my wife's aunts house, she bought in 2009 for $3.2 and after the holidays goes back up on the blocks for $12mil. His house is modest at $2.24mil for that area but how many more homes (or home) do you think he has along with other investments that he is PROFITING on? I quite sure his money he's redistributing serves as a nice little write off to his benefit. Ask him to write an an extra check to the IRS to make him feel better and tell me how that works out.

[RagingBull]

Well said...

He has the gift of the gab but that was all platitudes and cliches and verbal backtracks and detours-nothing there beyond what your average 1st year uni student has been saying since the dawn of time.  He didnt win that debate at all.

[The Abdominal Snoman]

That house is about two blocks from my wife's aunts house, she bought in 2009 for $3.2 and after the holidays goes back up on the blocks for $12mil. His house is modest at $2.24mil for that area but how many more homes (or home) do you think he has along with other investments that he is PROFITING on? I quite sure his money he's redistributing serves as a nice little write off to his benefit. Ask him to write an an extra check to the IRS to make him feel better and tell me how that works out.

Ya I agree it's probably not his only home...I do remember reading that in his divorce with K.Perry, he supposedly left with what he came into the marriage with and took nothing...People thought he was crazy because Perry was worth much much more than him and they didn't have a pre-nup...If that is true, that's says something about his character...He could have went after half her shit.

[The Abdominal Snoman]

Imop a lot of these Hollywood types would prefer a socialist system because they are already considered close to the top of the social/economic structure. And in a socialist system, they just eliminated most of their competition and future competition and cemented a position at the top...