It annoys me that entertainers have a greater influence on politics than the average citizen. While I believe all citizens have a duty to participate at some level in this democratic republic, I do not think that entertainers should have a greater voice than other average citizens–and I do think of entertainers as average citizens. Like average citizens, entertainers can be intelligent, informed, and committed to the duties of democratic citizenship. Also like average citizens, they can be ignorant, ill-informed, and dangerous. Barbara Streisand belongs to the latter group. The only reason she has any forum at all is that she is a singer of some note. That’s it. There is no indication that she has any more understanding of politics and policy than, say, the average plumber, stock broker, or check-out clerk. Oh, but she does have money and star power to draw money. Is money worth this embarrassment?
The Rhetorica Network
I offer commentary on the rhetoric of the American conversation, especially as it unfolds in documentary film, the news media, and politics. Check out my feeds on Twitter and Instagram. Also be sure to see my work at Carbon Trace Productions, a non-profit documentary film studio in Springfield, Missouri. I am a Professor of Media & Journalism at Missouri State University. I teach classes in mobile journalism and documentary filmmaking.
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