“If you can’t be arsed to vote, why should we be arsed to listen to your political point of view?”
That’s what British Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman asked Russell Brand in a heated interview that’s quickly gone viral.
Brand is guest-editing a political magazine this month, but admitted to Paxman that he’s never actually voted before (unlike here in Aus, voting in Britain is not compulsory).
What followed was a pretty fiery (yet intelligent and fascinating) exchange that is definitely worth watching:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGxFJ5nL9gg
Did Russell Brand just start a revolution?
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We desperately need articulate rebels. Those little kids who commented on "The Emperor's New Clothes" have grown up and now that their audience is HUGE - they're speaking out.
We must comment loudly about those "beige corporate types" and governments around the world who behave as though they're untouchable and unstoppable.
Those cultures that refuse to drag their haunches out of the Dark Ages when it comes to human rights (including the treatment of women) must be called to account.
I've seen quite a few complaints about Russell's interview such as "Who does he think he is - talking like that ?" and, "He's rich - what would he know ?", and "Wasn't he a drug addict ?" ......."He's only a media personality !"...."Long-haired idiot - why ask him about anything ?" "He's getting people all riled up and he has no solutions !!" ......the point is that because he's famous, people DO listen, and this time I hope they do.
He's not advocating bloodshed in the streets, mayhem & rioting. He's using "revolution" as a form of new thinking........he's trying to get people to wake up.....to start a dialogue about the way things have always been done, the way in which they've failed - and the fact that if we don't start reassessing those things - more bad things will happen.
Over 30 years ago John Lennon made similar comments with the focus on PEACE, but it upset those militant conservatives for whom "the way things are done" suited THEM perfectly......(conspiracy theories, anyone ?)
Poor people are unlikely to thrive in such a world, so a few things have to change to make our societies fairer places in which to live.
Mega-rich people will still exist but widespread philanthropy may become the new crusade and I don't mind if the world knows about their "selfless generosity".
Russell Brand is very entertaining. He is passionate, articulate & slightly demented (in a good way). I enjoy listening to his perspective on things and like how he is prepared to share his view.
As many have commented below. I find someone who is effectively a creative capitalist - he is in the arts, and commands high fees because he is now in the top echelon of his profession (not the elite - that's for the likes of Daniel Day Lewis, Paul McCartney etc) - not entirely credible. He slams the corporations, yet is a brand (can't avoid that non deliberate pun, I didn't choose his surname ;-) ) himself. He has the Russell Brand brand, that would include a team of employees to support his building of that brand & public persona.
It's great that his brand includes yoga, veganism and many other alternative choices, but he also does not eskew the trappings of wealth - and nor should he, he's worked hard for his money.
He is stringing together amazing power sentences, filled with fantastic words designed to connect with the dissatisfied & disenfranchised. Yet I don't feel it's grounded in anything substantial. Where are the solutions? Or is it about the rant, and continuing to position himself as a 'person of the people' via that approach?
It's an impressive speech, I could feel myself getting pulled into the moment of it, as I believe it is designed to do. However when I step back, I just didn't feel there was the substance there - he's talking about the problem, so what are the solutions? Or does he just want to be an articulate dissenter and build his popularity (therefore his brand, and his celebrity value) that way?