The Real Wizard 03.05.2015 04:49 |
link Discuss ! |
gerbenletzer 03.05.2015 05:04 |
What a twat |
brENsKi 03.05.2015 05:06 |
I'm not agreeing with Dr May, but Brand is an issue that needs tackling - and soon. Brand is a dickhead. the anarchy he preaches is ridiculous. The unfortunate aspect of this is that his pseudo-intellectual made-up-words, shag-everything that moves, celebism appeals to far too many extremely impressionable younger people. if people are directionless they look for a guide, and sadly, he is one of those that shouts the loudest. his reasoning is crap: for one if you don't vote, then you can't complain about the Govt you end up with - he should just shut the f*ck up and shove his "booky-wook" where the sun don't shine. secondly, his rant this week about stirring up another toxteth, belfast etc - shows what an ignorant fool he is. basic common sense (and history) would tell him and any other "Che" impersonator - that if you stir up the prolls - the first casualties/property to get burned is that of his neighbourhood. |
Martin Packer 03.05.2015 05:08 |
Actually I see Brand's point. But I also see Brian's. It's possible to do both. And they both endorse Caroline Lucas (who I'd vote for if I were in her constituency - despite being somewhat to the left of her). |
AlbaNo1 03.05.2015 14:49 |
I believe Brian would also be happy to enfranchise badgers |
people on streets 03.05.2015 18:02 |
Brian said it all right here: I have nothing to add. OK. One thing. Brian handled this situation in a great way. What a smart gentleman he is. link |
Costa86 03.05.2015 18:59 |
They wrote "Freddy" wrongly in the URL, but at least they got it right in the title. |
mooghead 04.05.2015 02:50 |
They are both just as boring and ridiculous as each other when it comes to politics. Remember when Brian used to play guitar? |
thomasquinn 32989 04.05.2015 06:29 |
It is a simple, undebatable fact that our political system is completely rotten to the core - plutocracy rules, multinationals don't have to play by the same rules as smaller businesses, the extremely wealthy get to buy off prosecution for economic crimes that would land anyone else in jail (see the bankers and their illegal doings with regards to mortages/loans, but also outright fraud like falsifying rates), there are entire corporations whose industry is the destruction of real economic value (a group of investors buys a large business, has it borrow to the max of its credit-worthiness, divides the money up as profit, gets money BACK from the tax authority because you can spread a loss (like that of a large loan) out retroactively, then has the company go bankrupt and sells it off in pieces, resulting in the net loss of capital goods and hundreds or even thousands of jobs. This has happened, in The Netherlands alone, with three large businesses in the past five years, at an expense of several thousands of jobs). Politics refuses to do anything substantial about this - the same bankers and financial moguls who got us into this enormous depression are still in charge, they are not suffering from the collapsed economy, and they get to go on with business as usual. Nearly all political parties have direct lines to these economic interest groups - ex-politicians get juicy top-level jobs with them - the few politicians who try to make a difference run up against 'party discipline', the vast majority of the people fall for the lies they are fed by those same politicians who scare them into voting for the status quo yet again. People refuse to make the effort to inform themselves before making a vote, voting 'like their parents did', or on the basis of a couple of sound bites. Meanwhile, the returns on capital are still growing while those on labour are declining. Wealth is increasingly concentrated in ever fewer hands. Legislation to protect workers is abolished. Large employers are finding ever shrewder ways to con their employees out of things like sick pay, contributions to pensions and the likes. Labour unions, partly through their own fault, are becoming ever more ineffective while workers increasingly fail to see how they need to join forces to have a chance of enforcing their interests. Meanwhile, we still have a political system that was designed in the 18th and 19th centuries and has been only marginally modified to catch up with the times. People are increasingly disinterested and spoiled by decades of peace and prosperity, sacrificing without so much as a grumble what generations of their ancestors fought, bled and died for. All we have gained since the Great Depression is being gradually given up. We will need a lot more than simply a vote for a different party to change things around. Our economies, our system of finance, our international regulations, our democratic system, and most of all our mentality need to be dramatically overhauled. We don't want the transition from our current declining age to the next one to be like the last 'major' transition - through the blood of World War I and the poverty of the Great Depression. Mass communication, dramatic innovations in transport and the rise of the internet have changed the world into one that is entirely unlike the world of a century ago. Literacy and education are spreading across the globe, technology is reaching people who lived in pre-industrial conditions a few decades ago. Ideologies like ultra-nationalism and religious extremism are spreading among the fearful and the (sorry) dumb and gullible. Internationalism is a fact, and has been for decades, yet increasingly people are trying for national autarky, an utter deception. Increasingly, intellectuals, scientists and experts are distrusted and populists and demagogues lauded. People like Brand think that they have a clue, but they really don't - they're just loudmouths getting some attention. Brian May thinks he understands and means well, but he doesn't have any true solutions to offer, simply encouraging words. I don't have a solution either. Nobody has all the answers. We need to work together, internationally, with everyone who can contribute something meaningful getting a word in. We need to distrust and fight narrowly based interest groups maintaining the status quo. We need to resist the urge for conservatism - the present situation cannot be maintained, and we must move forward, no matter how scary and uncertain that is. |
RafaelS 04.05.2015 08:12 |
I don't have anything more to say that Russell Brand is an absolute moron. |
AlbaNo1 04.05.2015 08:48 |
thomasquinn 32989 wrote: It is a simple, undebatable fact that our political system is completely rotten to the core - plutocracy rules, multinationals don't have to play by the same rules as smaller businesses, the extremely wealthy get to buy off prosecution for economic crimes that would land anyone else in jail (see the bankers and their illegal doings with regards to mortages/loans, but also outright fraud like falsifying rates), there are entire corporations whose industry is the destruction of real economic value (a group of investors buys a large business, has it borrow to the max of its credit-worthiness, divides the money up as profit, gets money BACK from the tax authority because you can spread a loss (like that of a large loan) out retroactively, then has the company go bankrupt and sells it off in pieces, resulting in the net loss of capital goods and hundreds or even thousands of jobs. This has happened, in The Netherlands alone, with three large businesses in the past five years, at an expense of several thousands of jobs). Politics refuses to do anything substantial about this - the same bankers and financial moguls who got us into this enormous depression are still in charge, they are not suffering from the collapsed economy, and they get to go on with business as usual. Nearly all political parties have direct lines to these economic interest groups - ex-politicians get juicy top-level jobs with them - the few politicians who try to make a difference run up against 'party discipline', the vast majority of the people fall for the lies they are fed by those same politicians who scare them into voting for the status quo yet again. People refuse to make the effort to inform themselves before making a vote, voting 'like their parents did', or on the basis of a couple of sound bites. Meanwhile, the returns on capital are still growing while those on labour are declining. Wealth is increasingly concentrated in ever fewer hands. Legislation to protect workers is abolished. Large employers are finding ever shrewder ways to con their employees out of things like sick pay, contributions to pensions and the likes. Labour unions, partly through their own fault, are becoming ever more ineffective while workers increasingly fail to see how they need to join forces to have a chance of enforcing their interests. Meanwhile, we still have a political system that was designed in the 18th and 19th centuries and has been only marginally modified to catch up with the times. People are increasingly disinterested and spoiled by decades of peace and prosperity, sacrificing without so much as a grumble what generations of their ancestors fought, bled and died for. All we have gained since the Great Depression is being gradually given up. We will need a lot more than simply a vote for a different party to change things around. Our economies, our system of finance, our international regulations, our democratic system, and most of all our mentality need to be dramatically overhauled. We don't want the transition from our current declining age to the next one to be like the last 'major' transition - through the blood of World War I and the poverty of the Great Depression. Mass communication, dramatic innovations in transport and the rise of the internet have changed the world into one that is entirely unlike the world of a century ago. Literacy and education are spreading across the globe, technology is reaching people who lived in pre-industrial conditions a few decades ago. Ideologies like ultra-nationalism and religious extremism are spreading among the fearful and the (sorry) dumb and gullible. Internationalism is a fact, and has been for decades, yet increasingly people are trying for national autarky, an utter deception. Increasingly, intellectuals, scientists and experts are distrusted and populists and demagogues lauded. People like Brand think that they have a clue, but they really don't - they're just loudmouths getting some attention. Brian May thinks he understands and means well, but he doesn't have any true solutions to offer, simply encouraging words. I don't have a solution either. Nobody has all the answers. We need to work together, internationally, with everyone who can contribute something meaningful getting a word in. We need to distrust and fight narrowly based interest groups maintaining the status quo. We need to resist the urge for conservatism - the present situation cannot be maintained, and we must move forward, no matter how scary and uncertain that is.Hi Russell, never knew you were a Queen fan |
thomasquinn 32989 04.05.2015 09:23 |
AlbaNo1 wrote:Hi Russell, never knew you were a Queen fan Responding to my post with a pathetic non sequitur like that doesn't exactly help you to come across as a reasonable individual. How about responding to the substance? Or is it too much to ask that you stop and think for a bit? Don't answer that, your remark about Brian wanting to enfranchise badgers says all we need to know about the level you operate on with regards to discussions. |
AlbaNo1 04.05.2015 09:47 |
Yes help me think please |
AlbaNo1 04.05.2015 09:47 |
Yes help me think please |
AlbaNo1 04.05.2015 09:49 |
Maybe someone can help you with your humour in return |
AlbaNo1 04.05.2015 09:52 |
And actually my comment isnt a non sequiter because many of your points are not in contradiction to Russell Brands, or Brian Mays. They are similar and you reach a similar conclusion in that you dont know what to do. |
Costa86 04.05.2015 10:54 |
mooghead wrote: They are both just as boring and ridiculous as each other when it comes to politics. Remember when Brian used to play guitar?Does him being a guitarist preclude him from commenting about politics? I don't agree with him nor with Russel, but since he is a bright public individual with an interest in politics, he is entitled to comment. About the Greens - these are renegades of their origins. The original Greens were ecofascist Nazis. |
mooghead 04.05.2015 15:00 |
It doesn't preclude him at all.. the fact he was a famous guitar player means people are listening to the stuff he is spouting that really dont care about his political spiel. The Greens are ok, they need an image overhaul. They need to start by changing the name.. 'Greens' implies hippies who shag trees and want the world to be vegan. What are their opinions on Europe and the NHS and immigration? Do they know? I dont. |
brENsKi 05.05.2015 03:07 |
thomasquinn 32989 wrote:or he could've been joking?AlbaNo1 wrote:your remark about Brian wanting to enfranchise badgers says all we need to know about the level you operate on with regards to discussions.Hi Russell, never knew you were a Queen fan just throwing that in for consideration |
Supersonic_Man89 05.05.2015 05:24 |
[quote]I don't have anything more to say that Russell Brand is an absolute moron[/quote] I get Russell can across as annoying. I get that. However, i'm sick of people insulting Brand rather than counter-arguing the points he makes. Obviously people can hand pick a few things here or there which he says which they're not quite so sure about, but i don't understand how people can disagree with the majority of things he's pointing out - even if he does it in a slightly annoying way sometimes (and sometimes a funny way). |
The Real Wizard 05.05.2015 06:28 |
mooghead wrote: 'Greens' implies hippies who shag trees and want the world to be vegan. What are their opinions on Europe and the NHS and immigration? Do they know? I dont.Call your nearest Green candidate and find out. I'm sure they'll have an answer. Or do a quick google search like I did and you'll find something like this: link link Your biases are getting the better of you. Green parties all over the world have complete platforms that include all the major issues, and they are not all a bunch of left wing loonies to be immediately dismissed because they make science the cornerstone of their platform. Indeed, you do have a point about the party name itself, but it isn't their fault that vegan naturopath morons have tainted the name in recent years. Green parties existed long before anti-vaxxers and hippies. In Canada the Green party leader is Elizabeth May, who is by far the most intelligent person in our parliament. She was an advisor to Brian Mulroney's environment minister in the 80s. In other words - our Green party leader is actually a conservative. But most people don't realize that. She is no fool. And if you do a bit of homework into who's running your Green party at home, I bet you'll find that they're no fool, either. |
The Real Wizard 05.05.2015 06:54 |
Supersonic_Man89 wrote: i don't understand how people can disagree with the majority of things he's pointing out - even if he does it in a slightly annoying way sometimes (and sometimes a funny way)."Friends" was a successful show largely because the six characters were exaggerations of personality traits. When you stick out from the norm, you get people's attention and keep their interest. But while people like this approach in sitcoms and films, they don't like it when it comes to real life and issues that urgently need discussing. Our species is a funny bunch. Politicians keep the status quo in place with their rhetoric, because the corporations with the money and power keep the campaign funding rolling in, and thus their jobs in place. But when anyone uses these exact same tactics from a retaliatory position, they are immediately dismissed. This simply illustrates how effective the method is when politicians do it. They've been doing it for long enough that they've almost branded the method for themselves and only themselves. And people call politicians idiots. Far from it. They are tacticians to the core. The more we see the corruption of the western system, the more we should be standing in sheer awe of the politicians who continue to get elected while they uphold the systematic inequality and corruption. Fun fact - in France, corporate funding for elections/politicians is actually illegal. Some places in the world do get some things right. Of course Brand is full of rhetoric and is being over the top. But look beyond the method and see the actual message. He's not a scholar, and he's not right about everything. But he's right about enough things (more than most politicians), so for that reason alone people should be at least listening intently before outright dismissing him. But he's fighting a losing battle. Unless people take to the streets like they did in Iceland, nothing is going to change. |
Supersonic_Man89 05.05.2015 07:22 |
/\ Good post. We should have a like button on this forum |
The Real Wizard 05.05.2015 08:08 |
thomasquinn 32989 wrote: We don't want the transition from our current declining age to the next one to be like the last 'major' transition - through the blood of World War I and the poverty of the Great Depression.But sometimes depressions are necessary. I cannot count how many stories I've heard from people in their 70s and 80s saying how the depression had a silver lining in the black cloud - that people simply took care of one another. There really is nothing like talking to old people to hear first hand accounts on what the world was like before television and commercial airlines. In the early 30s most people ensured their neighbours had shelter and enough to eat. There was an overwhelming sense of selflessness. But when the depression ended, people once again returned to the old ways of protecting what was theirs. It's easy to be kind when you *and everyone else* has nothing. We need to learn from this and take the next step, which is to learn to cultivate this attitude when we are doing well. Extreme events like war and depression are unfortunately the kick in the arse civilization sometimes needs in order to realize how good we once had it, and what truly is important. More broadly, life lessons tend to come from our failures and hardships, not successes. Magnificent post, by the way. That fool who responded to you doesn't have one hundredth of your intellect or ability to communicate an idea. |
The Real Wizard 05.05.2015 08:21 |
Supersonic_Man89 wrote: /\ Good post. We should have a like button on this forumThanks ! Just doing our best to make some sense here. And we already have that - it's called the Queenzone facebook page ;) *groan* Here's a great current example of the right wing politics of maintaining the status quo. Even if one doesn't give a fuck about Canadian politics or know the names involved, this spells out everything that is wrong with the western socio-political model we currently adhere to. link Furthermore - it is articles like this that have governments continuously decreasing funding to the public broadcaster (the CBC is like our BBC) as punishment for upholding their moral and journalistic integrity by actually doing their job as the media and reporting the news as it is without having to answer to corporate lobbies. This adherence to facts leads those in the positions of power (and those whom they hire to troll the news articles to "correct misinformation" - this is absolutely proven to be true) to accuse the public broadcaster of being a shill to the other political parties (with great success). And you won't find any of the private broadcasters reporting the news this accurately. Why? Because they *are* the corporate lobby. They are the ones who help fund the politicians, so they keep mum and the status quo continues. Neoliberalism wins every time. |
hobbit in Rhye 05.05.2015 13:27 |
Excellent posts, Wizard and Thomas ~~ The Trudeau Tax article was spot on. I don't think Brian could go far on the politic road. He's too gentle for it. But at least he tries. I haven't. So thumb up to him. I prefer him to focus on the guitar, which would benefit the human race more (in his particular case), but it is his choice and I respect it. I hate politics, but it still stays, and it isn't going anywhere, so better to improve it than to ignore it. On a side note, it needs more scientists in the government to create a more balanced and reasonable policy. But scientists generally aren't interested in it, because they think it's boring and rotten. So any scientists/artists going that road with a good intention are welcome. I don't quite understand why Russel Brand was taken back by Brian's question. It is a thought-provoking question. Unless he wasn't taken back and the article made things up. But his retort was kinda interesting. I can imagine the pressure that the good Doc put the band under when he's in a bad mood :D |
Costa86 05.05.2015 15:32 |
hobbit in Rhye wrote: Excellent posts, Wizard and Thomas ~~ The Trudeau Tax article was spot on. I don't think Brian could go far on the politic road. He's too gentle for it. But at least he tries. I haven't. So thumb up to him. I prefer him to focus on the guitar, which would benefit the human race more (in his particular case), but it is his choice and I respect it. I hate politics, but it still stays, and it isn't going anywhere, so better to improve it than to ignore it. On a side note, it needs more scientists in the government to create a more balanced and reasonable policy. But scientists generally aren't interested in it, because they think it's boring and rotten. So any scientists/artists going that road with a good intention are welcome. I don't quite understand why Russel Brand was taken back by Brian's question. It is a thought-provoking question. Unless he wasn't taken back and the article made things up. But his retort was kinda interesting. I can imagine the pressure that the good Doc put the band under when he's in a bad mood :DBrian has focused on his guitar quite enough, and the human race has more than had its share of benefit from this. His guitar heyday has passed, and that's why he now concentrates on other things things besides the guitar. He spent the 70s and 80s completely focused on that instrument. |
Bad Seed 06.05.2015 05:12 |
Brian has been up Brand's arse for months now. Constantly mentioning Brand in tweets, hoping to get some response, it was becoming quite cringe worthy. At least Brian has Brand following him on Twitter now. As for his common decency thing, I agree with a lot of what he appears to be trying to achieve. The problem is, you're only a 'decent' person/politician if you agree with his views! And as for being 'colorblind', he is, as long as you belong to a left wing party. |
brENsKi 06.05.2015 13:03 |
the problem now is that with Brand now endorsing the Labour Party - this could have one of TWO equally obvious consequences 1] plenty of Brand's 9m twitter followers vote labour 2] millions of undecided voters react to him voting labour by "not voting the same way as that t*at" I really hope that 2] doesn't happen - as five more years of the current administration is bad for everyone except rich businessmen (regardless of who you voted for last time) |
Vocal harmony 07.05.2015 09:22 |
It looks like it will cone down to the same two parties with such a narrow majority that another coalition maybe the only way forepward again. brENsKi is right about Brand siding with Labour, and also right when he says we need a change. The disturbing thing is that it my come down to a simple choice for many people. Fix the economy or save the NHS, although the political landscape is far more complex than that. Something it would appear is beyond Brands understanding in many ways. Wizards coments about the Green Party in Canada are interesting, I think in the UK they are not taken seriously for a number of reasons, not least the fact that they seem unable to present any budgeting details that are based on anything other than an idea that hasn't been thought through. UKIP's reasoning for leaving Europe makes good sense on the boarder control issues but shows total disregard for any wider economic grounds. For example a huge percentage of the UK car, van and truck building industry is lined by Germany, Japan and China. The eastern counties use UK production as a means to supply Europe, and BMW some of their brands in the Uk. If UKIP are given the power to govern they will run the county into the ground through creating unemployment and rising prices. Back to Brand, him showing a political interest may focus young people on the idea of voting which is maybe the one really positive thing he can achieve. |
Costa86 07.05.2015 09:49 |
UKIP has become so popular simply becaused Farage is saying what people want to hear. But, in reality, they have no idea what would happen if the UK left the EU. They seem to think they can negotiate some kind of EFTA-like free trade agreement, and keep all the good things but get rid of immigration. The UK's so-called immigration problem is not the fault of the EU. This country is full of non-EU migrants. Farage is a good orator, but that's it. Vocal harmony is right - if UKIP were ever in power, they'd ruin the UK in a few years. You don't manage a country with a pint of lager and macho bullshit statements to the effect of "the UK can be so great and it can do it all alone", Sadly, the only way to vote in this election is Labour, although I far from agree with all their policies (I think, for instance, they need a stronger stance on welfare - I agree the welfare policy needs to be seriously revised). I'm not British (yet) but still managed to vote, since I'm from a Commonwealth (and European) country. And it gave me great pleasure to vote for Labour, against UKIP. Fancy that, a migrant with non-British citizenship voting against Farage. Truth is, I'd die for England before I'd die for my birth country, and Farage makes a grave mistake in thinking migrants all come here to scrounge benefits. That's an absolute load of tosh. Most of them are hardworking people. |
brENsKi 08.05.2015 15:45 |
bacon sandwiches,.. "hell yeah"...denial about overspends...tripping up at the debate....unfortunately, "Brandgate" was just one of many miscalculated jockeyings that had MiliBLAND's obliteration written on the wall - long before the ill-advised "tombstone" gesture. there are questions today about how the pollsters got it so wrong - for weeks it'd been "neck and neck". I don't think they got it wrong at all - i think that the undecideds were waiting and hoping for any reason to vote labour - any single reason at all...but when it didn't happen - right at the death - they voted for the other lot - or the SNP. Labour's problem is one of leadership and charisma....Blair was the bigest liar that ever led a politcal party, but he had leadership ability and charisma in bucketloads - i wonder what Miliband would give for even an ounce of what Blair had? blessing in all this? Clegg - has found out what happens when you choose not to stick to your principles. |
Costa86 08.05.2015 16:20 |
The masses voted for what they thought was best. Let's see what will happen with the 2017 EU referendum. Stormy waters ahead, Queen fans. But go buy yourselves a beer because Cameron is still at number 10 - make sure you down it well, and you'll need a lot more to face what's coming, you bunch of Conservative beeps. |
brENsKi 09.05.2015 10:33 |
the biggest problem in all of this is so obvious that most people have overlooked it:- Cameron's promises made during the last four weeks - were made when he thought it'd be another hung parliament/coalition. now they have a majority Govt, the main points from the manifesto are now more worthless than usual: - £5,000 of free childcare - Income tax-free minimum wage - Raising the personal allowance for tax to £12,500 - Increasing the starting salary for the 40p rate to £50,000 - No increase in income tax, VAT, National Insurance - Raising the inheritance tax threshold for family homes to £1m - Seven-day access to GP service - An annual £8bn boost for NHS funding - 30 hours of childcare for three and four-year-olds - Repeal the Hunting Act - Increase state pension by at least 2.5% with a triple lock - 200,000 starter homes built - Committed to four-boat Trident nuclear deterrent be honest people...in 5 years' time - how many of the above will have happened? (i've highlighted those i think will happen) can you see any commonality in them? |
Day dop 21.05.2015 10:39 |
Typical empty response from Brand. I've already made my views fairly clear on Brand on this forum. It's about time people stopped getting what they wrongly perceive as "education" from YouTube videos made by uneducated and ill informed celebs like Brand. link |
Day dop 21.05.2015 10:50 |
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Supersonic_Man89 22.05.2015 04:32 |
Day Dop... why are you posting that made up, pointless bit of propaganda made up by somebody who quite possibly follows Britain First and all the crap they post on FB? Russell, recognised that Labour was the lesser of two evils, and considering that Milliband was polite enough to have an interview, whereas Cameron mocked him and spent his time hanging out with the likes of Katie Hopkins - Russell did suggest people vote Labour. I think that decision was quite brave as he knew the kind of backlash the largely conservative media monopoly would throw back at him. He recieved letters from disabled people who's benefits were going to be slashed, and recognised that even if the differences appear very minute between Labour and conservatives...those differences still affect a lot of people. Since the election, as you will be able to see, nothing has changed. He continues to do his Trews show where he deconstructs and criticises governments worldwide. He hasn't quit politics at all. So what's your point? Seriously, what's your point? |
Day dop 04.06.2015 22:20 |
Supersonic_Man89 wrote: Day Dop... why are you posting that made up, pointless bit of propaganda made up by somebody who quite possibly follows Britain First and all the crap they post on FB? Russell, recognised that Labour was the lesser of two evils, and considering that Milliband was polite enough to have an interview, whereas Cameron mocked him and spent his time hanging out with the likes of Katie Hopkins - Russell did suggest people vote Labour. I think that decision was quite brave as he knew the kind of backlash the largely conservative media monopoly would throw back at him. He recieved letters from disabled people who's benefits were going to be slashed, and recognised that even if the differences appear very minute between Labour and conservatives...those differences still affect a lot of people. Since the election, as you will be able to see, nothing has changed. He continues to do his Trews show where he deconstructs and criticises governments worldwide. He hasn't quit politics at all. So what's your point? Seriously, what's your point?Why on earth would you think that's "propaganda made up by somebody who quite possibly follows Britain First"? Because you (wrongly) perceive that anyone who disagrees with Brand's bullshit or makes a parody of him is right wing? Far from it. Just because a person holds attitude X, that doesn't mean they automatically hold attitude Y. Or to put it another way, just because someone's aware that Brand talks a lot of crap, that doesn't mean that person automatically believes everything the media comes out with, or that they're right wing. In fact, David Cameron saying that Brand's "a joke" is one of the few times I've found myself in agreement with something he's come out with. As someone who is center left, I consider Brand to be an embarrassment. And I'm far from the only one: link That meme is a parody of Brand, if it wasn't obvious. Yes, Brand did tell his fans to vote Labour AFTER it was too late for them to register and AFTER he'd been promoting his "you shouldn't vote" bollocks. "I will never vote and I don't think you should, either." - Russell Brand, the New Statesmen 24 Oct 2013. And let's not pretend that wasn't the message that was coming across the loudest. So it could be argued that he contributed to the Conservatives winning, by telling his fans - the young / working classes - who would've otherwise have most likely voted for Green or Labour, that they shouldn't vote. Impressive. Brand "deconstructs and criticises governments worldwide"? Fans of David Icke and Alex Jones tend to believe they both do the same. If you want to inform yourself on something, Brand isn't the place to start - and if you're going to listen to him, at least double check - because he's fairly unreliable when it comes to fact checking. Like... Brand's completely idiotic and long debunked views on 9/11 - mentioned here, in case you missed it > link ? Or, here's another one... link Or how In a rant on energy, Brand described a Britain in which “energy companies are subsidised by taxes while renewable energy is ignored.” Well, no. Renewable energy is the energy form most heavily subsidised by taxes – and precisely because, far from being ignored, it is being incentivised by government regulation. You're welcome to plenty more examples of how Brand talks crap - and not someone to be blindly believed. As for Brand quitting politics, I thought he said he was quitting politics? Although, he appears to know as much about politics as he does science. Sure, he might get it right every now and then (just like David Icke), enough for the uncritical to blindly buy into and lap up everything he comes out with, which brings me to answering your question... I think I've already said what my point was (and still is): it's about time people stopped getting what they wrongly perceive as "education" from YouTube videos made by uneducated and ill informed celebs like Brand. |