John Stossel focuses his attention on anti-capitalist celebrities in a column posted at RealClearPolitics.com.
Celebrities who support big-government politicians routinely take advantage of tax breaks, which reduce the amount they contribute to that government.
It’s nice that Obama supporter Bon Jovi has a foundation that builds houses for poor people, but at tax time, the musician labels himself a “farmer.” He pays only $100 in state property tax. And his tax dodge gimmick: raising honeybees.
Bruce Springsteen sings about factories closing down but pays little tax on the hundreds of acres of land he owns. His dodge: An organic farmer works his land.
Hollywood’s campaign to “save the earth” brings out the most hypocrisy. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently announced, “I will fly around the world doing good for the environment.” Really? Flying around the world? I’m amazed they’re not embarrassed by what they say.
Maybe they don’t know how clueless they are because reporters rarely confront them about their hypocrisy. Hollywood reporters want access to celebrities, and posing uncomfortable questions reduces that access.
To fill the gap, Jason Mattera, author of “Hollywood Hypocrites,” confronts hypocritical celebrities.
He and his cameraman located Harrison Ford after the actor had himself filmed getting his chest hair waxed.
Ford said the pain of ripping out his chest hair should make us think about the pain the earth feels when trees in a rainforest are cut down. Chest hair, rain forest — get it? But that environmental message came from a celebrity who owns seven airplanes. Ford once even flew his private jet to get a cheeseburger!
“I don’t care that he owns seven airplanes,” said Mattera, “but do not lecture the rest of us that we’re on the precipice of global warming Armageddon while you have a sasquatch-sized carbon footprint.” Even though Ford ignored Mattera when confronted by him, at least he was forced to listen to someone questioning his positions.
