Hollywood and Health Care: Because They Know Better

To quote my good friend Tom: Thank God I have Hollywood to tell me how to think.

As many of you probably already know, Will “Elf” Ferrell is leading Hollywood’s latest band of Obama’s Merry Men, in a joint effort with MoveOn.org, in a satirical bid to tell you and me how grateful we should be for ObamaCare and how we should despise those dastardly insurance company executives who make millions of dollars by exploiting us.

My friend Kitty’s thoughts on the video: “I’m sure O’s supporters will think it’s hilariously creative, but I honestly thought these people could do better. There’s nothing subtle about the video, and satire needs subtlety. All politics aside, I was disappointed.”

The creative juices of Hollywood keep on flowing, folks!

I suppose since Obama has Hollywood’s back – he’s continuing to cheapen the office of the President by shilling for George Lopez’s new show on TBS – it’s their turn to “give back.” And since it’s been eight long years since they’ve been proud to be Americans, it’s not surprising that all of that choked back patriotism is coming out in a rush.

I have to admit, I’m really pleased to know that Will Ferrell and his pals are concerned about my access to health care. And yet…and yet…I can’t get around the irony that a man who makes up to $20 million per film – which is what, a few months’ work or so? – is wagging his finger at “greedy” insurance company executives. At least the insurance execs provide a service – although the quality of that service is obviously what’s up for debate here.

What does Will Ferrell have to offer his fellow man? Movies like “Land of the Lost,” aimed at children that cash in on – and trample – their parents’ childhood memories for a cheap and vulgar laugh. Not to mention being so bad that it didn’t even come close to breaking even, let alone make a profit. Yet his decision to be in that film didn’t hurt him one little bit – he got paid, didn’t he? Like high-paid executives at a corporation, big time actors like Will sign contracts. He gets paid no matter what. Moviegoers who watched it most likely regretted the decision that put them back $10. The producers and the studio probably have more than a few regrets.

Insurance companies give people access to health care. Will Ferrell gives people access to sophomoric humor.

Here’s a thought: Isn’t Hollywood full of film studios that are corporations? Is Will Ferrell a corporate puppet? Does he stop to think about those greedy studio execs who line their pockets off the sweat of his brow? He’s a union guy, right? Is “the man” somehow holding him back? Are they making more than the $20 million he pockets? There ought to be an investigation. Call Barney Frank and Chris Dodd! It’s time to get a Hollywood Pay Czar in the White House!

If Will is really worried about pay inequities, what does he think about the fact that the average police officer who would come to Will’s aid in an emergency, the average nurse who would tend to Will’s needs in the hospital, the average firefighter who would risk his life to save Will’s burning mansion, and the average soldier who risks his life around the world so that Will can shoot off his mouth about whatever, make so much less than he does?

But then, Will doesn’t get paid to think. He gets paid to spout out memorized lines that someone else wrote and play the buffoon in front of the camera. All for a cool $20 million a pop. And he thinks his celebrity means that, like the Star Bellied Sneetches, he can tell those of us without stars what’s what.

Hey, where do I sign up?