The points you made were irrelevant.
Russell Brand.
- Thread starter Von Smallhausen
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The points you made were irrelevant.
Soldato
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Might write to him and see if he'd do me a solid and loan me a million quid. I'll pop that in a high interest account for a year, then give it back to him and keep the accrued interest.
I'm sure he'd be up for that.
I'm sure he'd be up for that.
It's down to you if you admit you can't even debate on the subject, it says a heck of a lot more about you then him. And you fell into the classic trap of anyone disagreeing with you is a 'troll' that made you look very silly indeed.
+1
I agree with a lot of what Russell Brand is saying even though, as he feely acknowledges, he doesn't have the answers.
FWIW I do believe we're living in an increasingly unequal society and it's very obvious that the current economic system is designed to make the rich richer and keep the poor in poverty!
Since the 'financial crisis' we've seen the government try and reduce the roll of the state to replace it with private companies answerable only to their shareholders and effectively given the electorate increasingly less power via the democratic process. This in conjunction with years of austerity has seen wages cut, working hours increased and the cost of essentials like housing, energy and food spiral. We're told this is down to austerity/recession but if we're living in a system we've designed which has caused this to happen then why shouldn't we question whether it's working in the interests of the majority of the population or simply serving a tiny minority?
Nobody condemns anyone for doing well and working hard but there comes a point were some become so rich that, rather than simply buying a bigger house or nicer car, they actively use their wealth to influence politics in order to game the system as they realise it's a more effective way to ensure they get exponentially richer.
http://www.theguardian.com/business...rcent-half-global-wealth-credit-suisse-report
As the reports state the wealthiest 1% of people own nearly have of global wealth. Russell Brand giving away all of his wealth wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference.
I'm equally cynical of 'charity' raising events like Band Aid, Comic relief, etc. When some individuals have the same wealth as millions of others you very quickly realise that throwing money at this problem won't change a thing. For instance, look at the amount of money the latest band aid single raised and compare it with how much all the musicians in it are actually worth in terms of their overall wealth. Plus, the musicians/stars give up their time whereas people buying the single are the ones who actually contribute their money! Multi-millionaires asking people on minimum wage to give money to charity by buying their single ....? If anything that so called 'charity' is actually actively moving money from the poor to the wealthy! Bob Gelfof himself (net worth $150 million) has become very wealthy due to his investments in developing countries so everyone in Britain contributing money will raise barely a fraction of the wealth of one individual. Charity alone won't fix this situation.
In my opinion the only solution is for us to give more power to governments to control corporations and hopefully use technology to create a more direct democracy that allows the public to have a say/vote on local and national matters rather than relying on 650 politicians that can be easily influenced by wealthy/powerful individuals.
That's what I feel Russell is campaigning for and I hope he continues to do so....
</Steps down from soap box!>
Merry Xmas Everyone BTW!
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Soldato
I've been watching The Big Fat Quiz of the ... on YouTube and Brand is on a few of them. I don't mind him in films but on the quiz he is so annoying. He seems to just be trying to sound intelligent chucking words in that whilst they fit but are just pretentious. A bit like people using juxtapose, trying to sound clever, when compare is fine.
Also in the one I'm watching now he's paired with the unfunniest person ever, Noel how the **** do people find him funny Fielding.
Also in the one I'm watching now he's paired with the unfunniest person ever, Noel how the **** do people find him funny Fielding.
*screams internally*
This is EXACTLY what Brand is doing!
You have just entirely validated my point and contradicted yourself!
Associate
Jono8 you're a bit like a broken record. Ya seem to be repeating the same points to people. You seem obsessed with the idea that someone can only preach about anything financial if they are broke or victims of the system. I bank, I pay interest on loans etc. But I still hate a lot of the banking system. Guess I'm a hypocrit in your eyes.
I should get paid cash and keep it under my mattress.
Just leave the thread because your points aren't interesting anymore.
We all have mixed opinions on the guy but it's getting repetitive.
I should get paid cash and keep it under my mattress.
Just leave the thread because your points aren't interesting anymore.
We all have mixed opinions on the guy but it's getting repetitive.
Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with everything he's ever said and before I started watching his 'Trews' YouTube videos I used to think he was a bit of a tool. Yes, you could say he's a hypocrite for criticising a system that's made him extraordinarily wealthy but if you took that approach you could equally shout down anyone poor for criticising the system as being jealous. People who use that tactic are simply arguing against change rather than contributing anything meaningful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMwfEqKqFE
However, I personally like the fact that he's questioning the system in a way very few other celebrities are. Whether you consider him to be misguided I feel he's genuinely doing it for reasons he believes in. If he was only interested in making a quick buck from charity appearances and movies he certainly wouldn't be saying the things he is. It's likely to lose him more money than he'll make as you can already see right-wing media outlets like the daily mail starting to increasingly have a go at him and I can't see his current tact going down well in Hollywood/US circles given the nature of US politics.
I think some of his attitudes towards drug legalisation are a bit mental and his current push to question the mainstream politics has led him to start appearing on some very dubious channels like Russia Today news (which is nothing more than a propaganda arm of the Putin regime). Also, he did a terrible job of putting forward his views on Question Time last week spent most of his time attacking Nigel Farage on a personal level rather than making a coherent argument. He looked very nervous and out of his depth which is understandable given he's a comedian on a panel full of professional career politicians.
Nevertheless, it's increasingly clear that we have an economic system globally that works purely in the interests of the minority rather than the majority and has far more influence on the politics of our democratic system than it should. I'm glad he's making people think about the current system and how we could change it for the better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMwfEqKqFE
However, I personally like the fact that he's questioning the system in a way very few other celebrities are. Whether you consider him to be misguided I feel he's genuinely doing it for reasons he believes in. If he was only interested in making a quick buck from charity appearances and movies he certainly wouldn't be saying the things he is. It's likely to lose him more money than he'll make as you can already see right-wing media outlets like the daily mail starting to increasingly have a go at him and I can't see his current tact going down well in Hollywood/US circles given the nature of US politics.
I think some of his attitudes towards drug legalisation are a bit mental and his current push to question the mainstream politics has led him to start appearing on some very dubious channels like Russia Today news (which is nothing more than a propaganda arm of the Putin regime). Also, he did a terrible job of putting forward his views on Question Time last week spent most of his time attacking Nigel Farage on a personal level rather than making a coherent argument. He looked very nervous and out of his depth which is understandable given he's a comedian on a panel full of professional career politicians.
Nevertheless, it's increasingly clear that we have an economic system globally that works purely in the interests of the minority rather than the majority and has far more influence on the politics of our democratic system than it should. I'm glad he's making people think about the current system and how we could change it for the better.
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Great point, it goes to show that there is an argument against everything. It's worth pointing out though that if he was a poor 'pleb' he wouldn't have got even 1% of the attention he has done and he'd probably be too busy trying to put food on the table anyway to campaign for what he believes in.
Another great point, if his aim is publicity and appearance fees he'd be much better served promoting politically convenient topics like atheism or man made climate change.
You're right, but now he has that position he has the chance to make an enormous gesture on the scale he's being bleating on about. The fact is, he is in that 1%!
Not true, he would only be half as famous or in the limelight as often if he only stuck to the tried and tested formula of typical celebrity topics, he'd just be an 'also ran'. He's ensured he has a unique message to stay in the public eye longer than he otherwise normally be
I disagree with that assertion. He was being paid very handsomely for starring in triple AAA Hollywood blockbusters, hosting award shows and forging a successful TV career. He may sell a few more books in the short term but his current political stance risks him being shunned by Hollywood and could see him off UK television in a short space of time whereas towing the party line was a pretty sure-fire thing for him.
If his goal was purely to rake in the cash he'd have stuck with what he knew and landed an easy job hosting a chat show, gameshow or something similar on Channel4/BBC. He's a million times better at it than the bland dull mainstream 'comedians' we have on TV currently like Alan Carr, Michael McIntyre, Johnathon Ross and Graham Norton. He could easily have taken over their jobs in a heartbeat if he'd wanted to IMO.
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Soldato
The jelly looks like it has set. Merry Christmas 
No, no one has given any sort of decent rebuttal so i have to keep repeating myself. Also loads of people in this thread still just think those critising him are jealous....an incredibly childish argument. Why not have a go at them instead? If you are bored of the thread, move on.
Anyway, is anyone even going to try and explain why a man willing to die for this "revolution" wont get the ball rolling and distribute his vast wealth to those in need of it? After all, he wants a more fair and just society without a small majority having a lot of wealth. A man with that amount of passion on the subject ( he is willing to die for this remember) would surely be hugely upset this morning knowing that what he pays in extortionate monthly rent could pay the food and heating bills of a fair few disadvantaged families.
He clearly wants to wait for the revolution to have succeeded before giving up his excess wealth for those that urgently need it.
It wont make a difference you say? Tell that to the people he could have helped have a hot meal and shelter today. Tell that to the parents who could not afford to buy their children a single present this year. He absolutely can make a huge difference to many people's lives by being the first in his revolution and the first in the "1%" to give up his life of luxury and become one of the many.
Lead the way Russell...after all, a minimum wage job and no swanky apartment in London is still better than dying and you were willing to do that straight off the bat anyway.
Soldato
You talk like the man is seeking a full on communism, and that he is one of the richest men/company on planet 1%.
A better spread of wealth would help the very people you are talking about. It does not mean everyone having the same and there being no rich and no poor... it means no super rich and no super poor.
The gap between the 1% and the 99% is getting wider and wider... have you seen this presentation about wealth inequality? (american but hey)
Have you heard of the NASA funded study about where this will most likely lead? <<< link
A better spread of wealth would help the very people you are talking about. It does not mean everyone having the same and there being no rich and no poor... it means no super rich and no super poor.
The gap between the 1% and the 99% is getting wider and wider... have you seen this presentation about wealth inequality? (american but hey)
Have you heard of the NASA funded study about where this will most likely lead? <<< link
No I don't. I am talking about a man who is so passionate about social justice, the redistribution of wealth, and the end of our corrupt, elitist, capatilist society that he is willing to die for it.
Or at least I think I am.....according to Russell.
Soldato
Yes you do!
You talk like Russell Brand is seeking Communism.
This is crazy, the man has just helped 93 save families from eviction. Do you think he could buy 93 properties in London for them?
Man, just this one thing is worth him keeping his 15million quid. He can keep it if it helps keep him where he can carry on helping people.
I wish more of the 1% could be more like him. Especially the super rich% of the 1%.
Lets wait and see what happens with the proceeds of the book and all his future profits that he is keen on redistributing.
It is interesting really; he talks like he does not need money any more so will give back, that sounds like a responsible attitude from a well off individual.
You talk like Russell Brand is seeking Communism.
This is crazy, the man has just helped 93 save families from eviction. Do you think he could buy 93 properties in London for them?
Man, just this one thing is worth him keeping his 15million quid. He can keep it if it helps keep him where he can carry on helping people.
I wish more of the 1% could be more like him. Especially the super rich% of the 1%.
Lets wait and see what happens with the proceeds of the book and all his future profits that he is keen on redistributing.
It is interesting really; he talks like he does not need money any more so will give back, that sounds like a responsible attitude from a well off individual.
You're making the assumption that he's choosing to leave Hollywood rather than the fact that he's already been shunned by Hollywood, he was a fad over there and then Arthur was a disaster no one was interested in him anymore. And when a British celebrity leaves for the US and fails and then comes back bowl in hand haven't you notice UK TV doesn't take them so kindly? Same thing happened to quite a few people now, one off the top of my head is Piers Morgan
This is a man showing classic signs of desperation, all he has left is his books and getting on TV because he wants others to start a revolution on his behalf, but until he puts his money where his mouth is no one will take him seriously, and he'll be ever more a hypocrite
The rest is guff but i'll comment on this. I'm keen to see this too, but somehow i doubt it and he'll slink off for another couple of years until he releases another book. He's yet to do what he's promised to do in that Vanity Fair interview.
He doesn't need 15 million either, a couple of mill will keep him happy for the rest of his life and donate the rest if his ruddy heart bleeds so much. I don't bemoan him being rich, but when he bleats on about the 1% (of which so many here forget here he's very much a part off) it just sounds very off.
Associate
He just needs to give away all of his wealth and then he will be a lot more appealing eh! If he's bankrupt and living on the streets he will be a real great ambassador.
You refuse to give him any credit. Which I find kinda lame. Even if I don't like someone I can appreciate if they are at least doing something different to the norm.
The guy is better than I could be at almost anything so I give some respect for that.
He's better than 90 percent of celebrities so fair play.