Russell Brand ignites a revolution with The New Statesman

According to Wikipedia:

 

The New Statesman is a British political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the socialist Fabian Society, the magazine has a left-of-centre political position.

 

On 23rd October 2013, the magazine revealed Russell Brand was the guest editor of the October 27th issue. Here’s a screenshot of his video introduction of it. (With the usual editor in the background)

Screen Shot 2013-10-31 at 6.47.53 PM

I don’t know enough about the magazine to make a statement of what they do, but what sparked my interest was Brand’s interview with the BBC which does speak of simple truths.

On the BBC’s Newsnight on 23rd October, Brand was interviewed by Jeremy Paxton for the launch of his guest edit. Here is what transpired:

 

The piece to his take on politics is online on The New Statesman here, and the full video introduction below:

1) Our takeaway from it is: 

With Shepherd Fairey’s cover artwork and guest editors Diablo Cody (who wrote Juno), Naomi Klein & David Lynch amongst other notables having their take on a now-necessary revolution, we’re already listening.

2) Brand’s rationale on what this revolution is about:

‘A socialist egalitarian system based on the massive redistribution of wealth, heavy taxation on corporations and massive responsibility for energy companies and any companies exploiting the environment. The concept of profit should be heavily reduced. David Cameron says Profit isn’t a dirty word, but I think profit is a filthy word, because wherever there is profit, there is also deficit. And this system doesn’t currently address these ideas. And so why would anyone vote for it? Why would anyone be interested?’

3) On why Brand is doing this:

‘I am angry…because this is real…and it is what I care about.’

4) What’s the revolution for?

‘Revolution in consciousness, a revolution in the way we see information, a revolution in truth.’ 

In Brand’s own words… Let’s approach this optimistically.