Bono is a hypocrite because he has options to pay less tax that most of the world would call tax shelters and most people don't have access to. He criticizes Paul Martin in Canada yet he's like him. Paul Martin pushed for lots of social programs and increasing them, and helping the poor while having his company headquarters in tax shelters. If Bono is paying less tax in the Netherlands he's also not contributing what he could for Africa anyways. Also the reason to go to Netherlands was not to help out a country that gives aid money to Africa but to avoid the removal of special tax incentives to artists in Ireland. I mean when you are a multi millionaire you can easily take sides on an issue especially when you have nothing to lose. Netherlands has special tax considerations for artists. Why not lower taxes for all industries? Of course we would have to reduce social programs in order to do that. A double standard is a double standard no matter how many dodges people make like The Edge calling it "tax efficiencies". Sure. "Pay less tax". I would like some "tax efficiencies" over here too.
Ironically Bono is more honest about himself in his songs like HMTMKMKM, Acrobat, Gone, and Mofo. If Bono wants equality he could easily give 90% of his income away and have more savings than most people will in multiple lifetimes. I don't feel sorry for him one bit. Bono said that he doesn't give away too much money because he likes to "play." Well that tells everybody that they should take care of their own situation. Rich people are constantly telling us that money makes them miserable but you don't see them getting rid of the money as step 1. I think rich people say this because they see LOTS OF ENVY from the rest of the population and they want to deflect it as much as possible. I understand what they must go through. I'm sure everyone has seen someone envy themselves by the look on someone's face. The evil eye doesn't feel good, and when you are such a success, it must be enormous pressure, and a good way to get kudos is to be like Princess Diana and talk about how landmines are bad and show up to every function you can.
Why are there rituals that people do in even ancient cultures to pretend their new born babies are defective and sick when they are beautiful and healthy? It's to deflect envy and envious retribution. It must be a common thing people find in society that they do these rituals. If I was rich I KNOW I would see people envying me. I see it sometimes from bosses who earn more than me and shouldn't envy me. Envy can go down sometimes. "The grass is greener on the other side" syndrome. If everyone had plastic surgery to wear the same face and had the same clothes and lived in the same house there still would be envy. Some people would imagine (correctly or not) that some other couples are having better sex, or have better interests than themselves. I mean I actually saw envy in the store today when I bought an expensive remastered CD of "Songs of faith and devotion" by Depeche Mode. Yikes! Can you imagine Bono trying to walk down the street and try to live a normal life? Zero anonymity and lots of envy. I read a saying a book one time that said: "If envy was something that could physically hurt people, the world would be a hospital."
I can't pussyfoot around this issue. Why give these celebrities such a soft touch and an easy ride? I know the music is lovely, but melody is emotional. Emotions are limited, and hence they are part of the lower brain functions. The most recently evolved parts of the brain add rationality.
"I'm not asking for your money, but your voice." I'm too smart to fall for that stuff.
I know that Noel Gallagher is moronic, and his head only has mass because of the collection of alcohol and champagne supernovas swirling inside. Yet despite all the cocaine nosejobs, he's right in saying that Bono should stick to his day job. I just don't know what Noel's should be
Maybe a Guinness (pun intended) world record for worlds fastest liver depletion combined with most brain cells destroyed per cocaine snort. I think when they do an autopsy on Noel Gallagher they will find just underneath the skin no organs or tissue but just neatly wrapped keys of cocaine.