Celebrity Widgets
by Tom Buchanan  04/23/03

Celebrities such as Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, Barbara Streisand, Janeane Garofalo, Dixie Chicks, Martin Sheen, Michael Moore and other outspoken critics of America obviously just don't get it.

They are accusing anyone that disagrees with their view point as attacking and suppressing their right to freedom of speech. They have not been censored and are allowed to say what is on their minds.

The Dixie Chicks enjoyed a pretty good reputation as a country music entertainers. I personally do not think they are un-American, but they chose the heat of the moment to make a silly statement that they probably thought would put them in better graces with the anti-American crowd they were performing for. Would the crowd have liked their music any less if they hadn't foolishly tried to appease them?

They must realize first and foremost that they are nothing more than a commodity, like a widget on a shelf. If they are to be successful they have to market themselves to the widest audience that they can muster. Not everyone is going to like them, just as not everyone will buy the next wonder widget to hit the market.

Anyone in business will want as many people to visit their store as possible. Knowing that only a certain percentage of those they reach with their advertising will actually purchase their product. A business person would not wish to alienate anyone from checking out his special widgets.

It does not take a genius to realize that this country is almost equally politically divided. During an election period I rarely notice signs for a candidate adorning the property of a business. By doing so it would have the potential of discouraging half of the population from considering his product or service. Word of mouth would spread like a wildfire among the opponents of the candidate not do business with that person because of his political views. His profit potential would be cut in half. It is best not to mix politics with business.

Americans are blessed with the freedom of choice in just about everything we do. We have the choice on what to purchase with our money. When we go to purchase a music video, rent a movie, or visit the theater we are presented with a multitude of artists from which to choose; isn't America great! We browse through a multitude of titles by thousands of artists. All of the CDs, and DVDs and choices at the movie theater are nothing more than widgets on a shelf. We use our entertainment dollars to be entertained and to feel good.

If by purchasing a product we know that our money goes to support someone whose views we disagree with and allows them more capital to use to express their views and to fight for causes against our beliefs we would probably be listed as insane. This would be the same as someone buying the bullets used to execute himself. A good case in point is The Lethal Weapon series. Director Richard Donner uses films that Americans flock to because of the action and use of firearms. Once we give him our cash he turns around and supports the anti-gun establishment.

Hollywood seems to break this rule. The publicity generated by controversy only endears them to their fellow entertainers and producers. They know that their widget's value increases by attention they get by being controversial. The problem with the American consumer is that we, as a whole, do not use our brains when making purchases. After all, we continue to buy Chia pets and spent millions on pet rocks.

Email Tom