John Stossel is fed up with celebrities whining about the very economic system that made them rich. From Russell Brand demanding redistribution of wealth to George Lucas decrying “capitalist democracy,” celebrities who are rolling in dough seem to be suffering from some sort of entrepreneurial guilt. Of course, they aren’t feeling guilty enough to ditch one of their seven planes (à la Harrison Ford) so as to lower their carbon foot print, but guilty enough to tell us that capitalism is wrong. Very wrong.
It’s bad enough that celebrities trash the only economic system that makes poor people’s lives better. What’s worse is that many are hypocrites.
Celebrities who support big-government politicians routinely take advantage of tax breaks, which reduce the amount they contribute to that government.
It’s nice that Obama supporter Bon Jovi has a foundation that builds houses for poor people, but at tax time, the musician labels himself a “farmer.” He pays only $100 in state property tax. And his tax dodge gimmick: raising honeybees.
Of course, there are some in Hollywood who see things differently, usually after trying to start a business.
When actor and lifelong Democrat Rob Schneider tried launching a business, he was so offended by California’s burdensome regulation that he left the state and changed political parties.
Comedian Drew Carey, on Reason.tv, says we don’t need to have big government telling us what to do all the time, and Stossel clearly agrees.
It’s good to be a celebrity in America. However, their de-crying the economic system that helped make them a celebrity comes off a bit like Marie Antoinette telling the peasants to eat cake. Capitalism for me, but not for thee.
