Michael Moore
I listened in to part of a radio programme yesterday - Radio 5 Live, I think - which featured that well known American rabble rouser - Michael Moore.
Michael was due to be in the UK around now apparently - on a tour to promote his new book - but for reasons that were unclear the event was cancelled - at very short notice.
So an extended radio interview - took its place.
I didn't hear much about the book itself - which appears to be another auto-biography.
But I did hear Michael drone on interminably about his support for the anti-capitalist protesters - who have sprung up recently - both in the US and UK.
What I found decidely odd is that Michael Moore is a business person himself - and a very wealthy one to boot.
As far as I know he doesn't make films or write books for charity - he does so for profit and personal gain.
Which allows him to live in a luxurious apartment in Manhattan - for example - and the last time I was there - property prices in the Big Apple were way beyond most ordinary people's reach - certainly most ordinary Americans.
The message from Michael was that the really rich capitalists were really really bad - an argument I have some sympathy with - I have to admit.
But the corollary to this argument is that the not so rich capitalists - i.e. people like Michael Moore - are actually really really good - and should be free to do as they please.
And this is where the big man's analysis breaks down - he can't say or won't say - where to draw the line between 'good' capitalists and 'bad' capitalists.
Which is why his views don't gain any political traction - in the land of the free and the brave.
Yet - personally speaking - he is laughing all the way to the bank.
Michael was due to be in the UK around now apparently - on a tour to promote his new book - but for reasons that were unclear the event was cancelled - at very short notice.
So an extended radio interview - took its place.
I didn't hear much about the book itself - which appears to be another auto-biography.
But I did hear Michael drone on interminably about his support for the anti-capitalist protesters - who have sprung up recently - both in the US and UK.
What I found decidely odd is that Michael Moore is a business person himself - and a very wealthy one to boot.
As far as I know he doesn't make films or write books for charity - he does so for profit and personal gain.
Which allows him to live in a luxurious apartment in Manhattan - for example - and the last time I was there - property prices in the Big Apple were way beyond most ordinary people's reach - certainly most ordinary Americans.
The message from Michael was that the really rich capitalists were really really bad - an argument I have some sympathy with - I have to admit.
But the corollary to this argument is that the not so rich capitalists - i.e. people like Michael Moore - are actually really really good - and should be free to do as they please.
And this is where the big man's analysis breaks down - he can't say or won't say - where to draw the line between 'good' capitalists and 'bad' capitalists.
Which is why his views don't gain any political traction - in the land of the free and the brave.
Yet - personally speaking - he is laughing all the way to the bank.
