by Darren Robertson

Created on: October 09, 2010

Hollywood has cheapened politics in the U.S.  Those who enjoy the spotlight of Hollywood are far from political experts, they simply have so much time and money they can take up whatever cause they wish.  The reality is Hollywood doesn't represent the majority of the population who have to do the grudge work day in and day out for their piece of the American Dream. 

We don't need some group of the privileged few to tell us that oil spills are bad, or that we should be fighting AIDS in Africa, or that Haiti needs assistance after a devastating earthquake.  Any one of us could turn on the television and see the world needs help.

Hollywood has been very effective at identifying the problem.  That is where their involvement ends.  The solutions Hollywood puts forth are based on emotion rather than rational thought.  There are many actors out there, such as Sean Penn, who are great at identifying the problems, and just as great at compounding the problems.

When people are out of touch, such as most of Hollywood, then the decisions they make tend to not effectively serve the rest of the population.  Many Americans right now are living paycheque to paycheque, are highly indebted, and don't have the resources available to the Hollywood elite.  Hard to put in place effective policies under these conditions.

Consider Obama and Hillary Clinton.  Obama acts like the Hollywood actor and Clinton acts like the politician.  Obama has driven the U.S. further into the cesspool while Clinton has been travelling the world, meeting with world leaders, and trying to maintain some sort of prestige for the high ranks of the U.S. political system.  Obama looks like a disaster and Clinton looks composed and in charge.

Yet, Obama is the one who is the darling of the Hollywood crowd.

Hollywood should be included in the political process for one reason - fundraising.  When a disaster does strike, get those people on the television appealing for money.  Otherwise, don't let them make decisions on policy.

The reputation of the Presidency has been tarnished by the current President's ties to Hollywood.  Obama has had actors work on his campaign and in the White House.  Not a precedent by any means, but it's Obama's willingness to embrace Hollywood that is frightening.  President's shouldn't be entertaining the women of the View, or sitting in the chair of a late night show getting interviewed.

Yes, all of that puts the people in touch with their President, but the general population doesn't need to be "in touch" in that way with their President.  Americans need their politicians to stand up and be politicians by setting policies that work for Americans.

The situation in the U.S. will improve as the general population begins to realize that Hollywood is not a good indicator of what policies will help the average American.  As they begin to shun the inclusion of Hollywood in the political process the situation in the U.S. will improve.

We need to return to a time when politicians were politicians, actors were actors, and the rest of us worked hard, saved hard, and prospered.

Learn more about this author, Darren Robertson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.