Hoggiestylists, Super Consumers, Oprah fans BEWARE

Julie mentioned Oprah as a comment in my last blog. I replied, but kept writing and writing. So now I have a new blog instead of a comment to an old one...

I just read up on Oprah a bit. Her net worth right now is $1.5 billion. That is $500,000,000 more than your number! Alright! Bonus cash!

She has given away about $250 million in her lifetime. Which is great, but considering she is the only philanthropist that has a huge TV show largely based on how much she cares, and how much we should care...it's hard to swallow. If she is living "The Way", then what is another $250 million? [Some would say "Well, it isn't like she has $1.5 bills in cash. She has to consider what is tangible and intangible, and the liquidity of certain cash and assets, etc..." Whatever. Go write your own blog.]

Does someone that really cares have to live in a $50 million house, like Oprah? Is that the result of growing up in poverty? You get filthy rich and say to yourself, "I deserve this $50 million dollar house because I worked hard at it"? That is "Rugged American Individualism". A great model for the ultra-capitalist society and a stack of Horatio Alger, Jr. books. Not a great model for the greater good. (FYI, her $50 million house wasn't even for sale. She liked it and gave the owners an offer they couldn't refuse. Now THAT is throwing your money around.)

She is also largely responsible for the success of "The Secret" (been meaning to blog on it). A book that is basically about thinking positively about having money, and the money will positively happen. (My synopsis is not open for debate.) I wonder if all those positive thinkers will give their magic money away to the needy?

Here is the Philanthro-Power Rankings:
http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2005/0548_philsco.pdf

Bill Gates is a filthy-rich dude! $51 billion! But he has quietly given away 55% of his money (as quiet as you can give away that much money), while Oprah stands at 18% and can't stop talking about it. (I know, I know...Bill Gates is still left with $25 billion. He can do more as well.)

We are, of course, talking about Oprah because of how much she big-upped the Red campaign. Althought I don't want to do a hitjob on Oprah. It isn't like she is evil. But I think (Red) and her show's topics illustrate a false sense of caring. No, a false sense of activism. You could call it "suburban-white-lady-activism". They care, but they don't do much outside of buying a red shirt at Gap to let the proceeds do the work.

The whole concept of doing good by giving away money is crass. I understand that it takes money to make things happen. But feeding that model isn't going to make it go away. (One model that doesn't need to eat. Hardy har!) I always say you have to attack the root of things (cliche, my ass). Giving money and buying red iPods are only plucking leaves off the tree. It won't get you anywhere because more leaves will grow back. Real activism has to start with daily actions of regular people at the bottom, not the money of the rich.

It starts with living based on your needs, not the fat American hogstyle of buying shit you don't need because you are brainwashed into thinking you need it.
Hoggiestyle© is fed to everyone, everyday, everywhere in this country. At least half of my readers might have Hoggiestyle songs on their MySpace. Say NO to the Hoggiestyle!

You are also given prime opportunities for acting this out, since you might not buy enough on your own. So there are bullshit holidays created. Christmas and Easter are now pagan. There are sporting events that you have to watch and participate in, or else you are a loser. The Superbowl, obviously. "Get off the World of Warcraft, nerd!" (I think Domino's and the caffeine lobby might be in on the W.O.W. conspiracy!) This "March Madness" also comes to mind. How many of you really give a shit about these scholarshipped kids? They don't pay my bills. They don't cut my grass. But you'd better go buy all your beer and supplies for the Final Four, or you might get left out of the sports coolness. Remember last year?! That was such a great time! We threw chips at each other, laughed, someone threw up, and we really don't remember the second half. Then, across this great land, 1,000 people died in DUI accidents and 10 people suffocated by way of pretzel. Good times.

Once these suburban activists change their consumer mindstate, then maybe they will start doing things. "Doing is the best way of saying"

But, I remain my super-cynical self. Nothing will ever change and we are headed to a scary climax in 100+ years. It is unnerving to bring a baby into this world that I so disagree with. I am faced with the task of raising children in a world of assholes. Did I mention cynical?

I can't lay out my activist manifesto, because I don't do anything. At this point, I could call myself a hypocrite. The Nintendo Wii is awesome, but no one brainwashed me into that one.