In case you are one of the few who hasn’t seen this plastered all over Facebook (thank you, Aunt Susan), here’s the breaking news of the day: Russell Brand is a political genius.
A few nights ago, Brand appeared on the British political program “Newsnight” where he discussed the state of the world with host Jeremy Paxman. At first, it’s mildly amusing to watch the author of literary crown-jewel “My Booky Wook” use words like “paradigm” and “lexicon” without hesitation, but I can guarantee it will take no more than three minutes to find your jaw firmly planted on the floor.
The discussion starts off with Brand’s explanation of why he has never voted…
“I am not not voting out of apathy, I am not voting out of absolute indifference and weariness and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and deceit of the political class that has been going on for generations…Why pretend? Why be complicit in this ridiculous illusion?”
…and continues down a winding path of political intrigue. He covers poverty, corruption, the media; all without failing to insert a 63-point Scrabble word somewhere in the sentence.
If you think this is all a bunch of idealistic crap, Brand has news for you:
“This movement is already occurring, it’s happening everywhere. We’re in a time when communication is instantaneous and there are communities all over the world. The Occupy movement made a difference even if in that it only introduced into the popular public lexicon the idea of the 1 percent versus the 99 percent. People for the first time in a generation are aware of massive corporate and economic exploitation. These things are not nonsense and these are subjects that are not being addressed.”
Brand’s political prowess isn’t exactly news, though. Just last month he wrote a charged op-ed for the Guardian that should have clued us in way earlier that this man needs to be in charge of something. It all makes you wonder what he and Katy Perry talked about over dinner…
But why are you still listening to me?! Hear Russell Brand say more articulate things in the full interview below:
Thanks to The Guardian and Newsnight.
Image via Just for Laughs Chicago.
