Russell Brand's new film on financial inequality: The Emperor's New Clothes Trailer

I find myself in an awkward situation... I think I'm going to defend the guy a bit!

He's an excitable guy and has a few 'mind states' that he switches between which is where I think where he loses much of his audience. His most annoying is his immature mockery tone, rife with belittling of his opponent before he clarifies his position. His next mind state is his stretching out of concepts with so much superfluous bulltish that his message he tries to convey is completely lost.

His other mind state however can occasionally shine a little bit of light on things in quite profound ways. That's the Russell I like. And I think he can actually monetize that power for good, which is what I think he genuinely is trying to do.


Yes he has a good wad of dough in the bank, but it's nothing in terms of the gross inequality at the top end of town. The ONLY reason I am trying to actually give him a go here is because I've been watching his series 'Trews' on youtube. If you can accept he is that kid, you know the annoying one in class that was always causing trouble and yapping but occasionally came out with a cracker of a very hard to swallow truth that turns a teacher bright red...

Ignore the excitable puppy side, but try and hold in there to actually hear his summising words. Usually the Trews is around 6 minutes - but it's not until the last minute he finally pulls together his points and thoughts, and honestly each week I'll find myself agreeing with the guy at least once.


Anyway, I'm just saying if you think he doesn't care I think you may be prejudging him slightly - at least he is actively out there trying to get his message out, he direly needs a real time mouth editor though. (much like myself)

Check out Trews on youtube, it took me a while to find its worth, but it is there.

a reply to: jaws1975

Don't forget to throw some trickle down economics nonsense in there too!

I'm sorry I don't speak stupid republican BS.

Nor do i speak stupid democrat BS.

Nor do I speak useful idiot socialist BS.

I wake up in the morning and go to work like I assume you do too.

Don't much like the fact that food costs have soared over the last decade.

Don't like the fact that the second gas prices reach a relief price level the first thing government wants to do is tax it.

Don't like the fact that welfare is both impossible to get out of if you need it, impossible to get into if you need it, and easy as pie if you don't.

Don't like the fact that corporations write regulations to favor themselves and screw the little guy.

Don't like the fact that as we devalue our currency by buying the junk that Wall Street leaves us as "collateral", we suffer the consequences in crap wages, high costs of food and fuel, and a bunch of banksters that should be in jail stay out of jail and get richer in the process.

But none of that is capitalism. None of that is even socialism. Its corportatism.

There will ALWAYS be a moneyed elite in any system you can dream of. There will always be corruption. We can whine about it all we want. We can dream up fantastical ways of "beating the man" all day long. We can even be dumb enough to listen to a moron like Brand as he laughs his way to the bank using the money that he makes from the banksters he denounces. But so few of us have the patience to think long term. To make small changes here and there. To train ourselves mentally, spiritually, and physically for the # storm we have NO CHOICE but to eventually face.

I'm not spending my time complaining. I'm using the last few vestiges of economic liberty left anywhere in the world to start something. What are you doing?

As soon as Brand began to speak about his ideas the media (which is primarily owned by millionaire oligarchs whose values and world views Brand was explicitly speaking out about) immediately set out to discredit and smear him in any way possible.

I'll throw my (threadbare) hat into the ring here and say that overall I like him and he uses his privileged position to actually do and say things that no one else has the balls to say. I find him articulate and engaging and a unique voice who tries to speak up for those who have none.

The problem most people have with Russell Brand seems to be his own personal wealth and people see this as hypocrisy. I don't, for one thing his wealth affords him a certain autonomy ie. he isn't afraid to lose his job by saying something his employer/political handlers disagree with.
With his millions he could quite easily retire to his own private island with anything he could desire and live comfortably for the rest of his life and say "to hell with the world" but he chooses to stick his head above the parapet to be shot at.

ATS is crammed full of people who are awake and aware of what the system truly is so therefore anything he says is really preaching to the choir on this site and therefore his value is not apparent.

If he wakes up some people who currently cannot see the wood for the trees and encourages them to peek behind the curtain and think for themselves then he has done good. Also his life experience and beating his addictions only add to his credibility in my humble opinion.

To all the haters who criticize his personal wealth, and his speaking out in public just ask yourself....
Who listens to poor people?
Nobody.

originally posted by: ugmold
Just stumbled on this. doubt there is anything that will be earth shattering News. Maybe at least it will shame the Banker Cockroaches a bit.

Wondering why it's not Free. This is the Trailer.

Its not free because he wants to make more money from it

a reply to: projectvxn

I think we are on the same page with the points you bring up, I take exception with the insults thrown at Russell by you and others.

You asked me at the end of your post what I'm doing, well I'm doing my best to raise two young boys, teach them right from wrong, and hope that they have a future. At this rate they won't, it scares me to think what life will be like for them, that's why I find myself looking at buying land in Idaho, lol.

The point is Russell could be doing any number of other things with his time, surely making far more money, so why bash him when his words are true. He has a great following, which can potentially lead to a lot of people waking up, which God knows we need for a paradigm change.

a reply to: jaws1975

so why bash him when his words are true

There's a huge difference between truth and honesty. You can honestly believe what you are saying is true even if the reality is different. It doesn't make you a liar, it just makes you wrong...But honest.

I don't believe Brand is honest. I certainly don't think he's speaking any kind of truth. Like I said a few posts above, his actions analogous to selling Che Guevara t-shirts made in China that he bought 2 for $3 bucks and is selling to his fans for $25.

I'd be ok with that if he wasn't trying to sell an idea his ACTIONS show he doesn't really believe in.

He's a liar, a political opportunist, and a hypocrite.

a reply to: projectvxn

The question is-How accurate is the information he actually disseminates?

The rest of the quibbles concerning who he is or what he was has NO significance in a discussion of economics. Motivations of the presenters does not alter the truth or lies expressed. Ad hominem attacks strike me as more a problem for the assaulters' credibility.
For that matter, the moderators' perspicacity in managing to keep a topic clean of irrelevancy also should be questioned.

Stick to the issue(s).
I in turn, wont speak of gun nuts worrying about communist inspired t-shirt sales. Fair?

a reply to: largo

The topic is Russel Brand and his new for profit movie he's making on an issue he knows little about and is far removed.

If you'd like to take my words out of context and start name calling over it that is entirely your prerogative. I may have a sour opinion of Brand, but I can express it without making personal attacks on you.

I find Brand to be a pseudo-intellectual. He regurgitates leftist ideology for the sake of profit and unfortunately for him it is documented.

a reply to: projectvxn

Since the device used to discredit the presenter of a story here is he is not wholly familiar or vetted to discuss an issue his comments therefore are of no value, or that he he is not a 'good' person', a reply stating that it is not the value of the person being measured but what is said that is critical seems to be appropriate.

We do not feel that when Walter Cronkite does an announcing of a WWII series that we are measuring his statements by HIS being who he is. He was not a historian but his work was generated by those who were. Yes he did proofread and approve what he stated for the record. We believe that he was informed of what he said and that he felt deeply about the subject.

The fact that Russell is a profiteer is what you expect from someone earning his (lucrative) way through life. The fact is he is representing an entire class of folks who were disenfranchised by their 'betters'. No one said that he is a saint, now or in his past. The fact he is standing up to announce his stance on a subject that can only harm people who deserve to be harmed can only be applauded.

Once again it isn't the town crier, who because they have the talent of of a loud voice, that should be shushed. Brand is personally polarizing. It does not mean that what he is saying on this subject is not important to US.

I think of him as a lout. I think his humor is edgy and uncomfortable. I don't much care for his expressed sexual habits. It doesn't mean he can't tell when the populace is being buggered by the Elite. I give (bad expression here) about his existence except as to how it can be used to further my aims for a more just society. In this we are aligned and this is the subject of the film and this thread.

Otherwise you can talk abut the fullsome backsides of Chloe and Kim and have as much content in your comments.

Really, the Che Guevara T-shirts are worthy of mention here?

a reply to: largo

Really, the Che Guevara T-shirts are worthy of mention here?

Of course they are.

The very notion of profiting from them is as ludicrous as Brand whining about income inequality that he doesn't experience.

Viva La Revolucion!

You all know ATS makes money too dont you? Maybe you should stop posting here?

So much illogical thinking here it hurts, people make more sense in the comments on his youtube videos which is telling.

If I have to believe you guys you cant sincerely want change if youre rich?

Oh and the profits of his book went to charity by the way, and he has helped lots of people and still is and his fame actually helps him to help others. If you think he does it (just) for money then you are just paranoid and biased.

a reply to: projectvxn


Maybe look up what shooting the messenger means and hypocracy. Because nowhere does he say you cant make money if its done in an honest way. And its not like people who want to support him dont know he is making money through it. That is the whole purpose of buying stuff from him... It would be hypocrite if he would be creating the inequality himself or was scamming or robbing people. But he isnt and him making some money of of his work, yes this his is work, is a non-issue compared to the issues he is opening peoples eyes to. But you are to smallminded to see that.


And shooting the messenger is just a cheap tactic. If you would follow the guy you wouldve known he has helped lots of people. But apparantly youre not allowed if your rich because that would somehow make you a hypocrite? I wonder if the people he helped feel the same way..

wait ..

until..

you ..

EVERYTHING ...IN YOUR LIFE.. !!!!!!!! and are HOMELESS....

your reality 'lens' WILL change...!!!!

and everyone that think RB is a lunatic.. don't remember THIS LITTLE FACT ABOUT WHAT THE US GOVERNMENT DID FOR THE BANKERS / COPRS..!!

THOSE were OUR tax $$$$$$... and how many of YOU will do the same as RB will and step up to the corruption !!!! HOW MANY !!! or are you completely satisfied with your cushy life and not thankful for the very pillow of which you take advantage of every .. single ...NIGHT!!!

while the rest of us....barely have a cox to sleep on !! THAT'S THE POINT OF THE MOVIE...!!

WAKE UP !!!!

I like it when someone ,who is putting up
one of the best fights so far against our obviously
corporate owned governments, gets tossed aside
for weirdness and skinny jeans.

a reply to: UnderKingsPeak

Weirdness and skinny jeans are OK with me.

a reply to: ugmold

So this rich elitist progressive scum bag is trying to be the next Michael Moore..........SCUM BAG. These elitists know what is best for everybody else and try and push there personal truths on others.



If he wanted to make a real statement he should give away all of his wealth accept 1 million. What do you say Russell........YA.


And before you go and say I am pro corporations take a look at my past posts. This scum bag actually is working for the very people he would have you think he is against. Controlled opposition is all I see when rich scum bag progressives like him spout off.