Does anyone think Hollywood is given preferential treatment that other citizens don't have?

Why do you hate capitalism?

Hollywood is the freest of markets, exactly because it allows anyone who is a big earner to act as crazy as they want. It isn't preferential treatment for them, if you made your company the same profit, they'd let you come to work in a sarong made from peanut butter and shoot fireworks in the halls.

You'll notice that those who can't guarantee regular paydays are soon ignored and marginalized.

So pick up your game if you want to speak your mind at work.

Many people in Hollywood actually are not working at a specific time when they are saying crazy things. They work now and then, if they weren't making millions when they do work, they'd be poor (like struggling actors who haven't made it often are). Whether they would be fired from a job for some things they say or some actions, I don't know.

As for politics, yes, they speak out politically and I don't always agree with them, but many non-celebrities probably would speak out if they had a chance for millions to hear them. I have no trouble with them speaking out politically, I would not probably change politics because a favorite star liked a certain party or politician, or the other way around if a guy I didn't like voted for my candidate, I would not change my vote. They are just another citizen who has an opinion and a microphone in that case.

Gossip sells. Shows like 'TMZ' and even the 'venerable' "Entertainment Tonight" thrive on celebrity gossip. If nobody paid attention, they would stop showing it or talking about it.

You can't be fired for expressing your political opinion. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, particularly political opinion.

Virtually everyone has political opinions, and most people share them rather freely. The difference with Hollywood is that because they are celebrities in the spotlight, people are interested in what they have to say. So their opinions wind up on TV or in magazines, while the rest of our opinions tend to stay limited to our circle of friends. It's a two-edged sword, of course. That kind of fame also means that paparazzi follow them around and harass them, crazed stalkers chase them, tabloids report on their personal affairs and print nasty photos of them if they gain a few pounds.

No one's forcing you to listen to any of them, any more than you'd listen to your own friend's opinion if you thought it didn't have merit. If you don't like what they're saying, tune them out.

Another reason that some stars speak out is that they feel that they have an obligation to use their fame for something good, so they choose a cause or charity and use their fame to draw attention to it. Some of them actually do a lot of good, in that respect. Both Jerry Lewis and the late Danny Thomas raised huge amounts of money for their respective charities (the Muscular Dystrophy Association and St. Jude's hospital).

I find it hilarious that Hollywood thinks it has any credibility in its political opinions. They have no idea what it's like for the common people and what they must do to carve out a living, so how can they know what would be best for us?

Same goes for the corrupt executives, politicians, and others. Money truly is the root of all evil.

Yes I do.