Why Russel Brand is not Jesus Christ

So everywhere I look amongst the good progressive netizenry, everyone seems to be reposting or commenting or flaming about that Brand interview with Jeremy "old Beardy" Paxman. The interview is worth it for the humour alone - in between railing against the failings of modern capitalist democracy, Brand manages to make doe eyes at an unresponsive Paxman and compliment the great man on the luxurious nature of his beard.

Needless to say, the interview had aroused a great deal of division. Of course, from the so called conservatives (more on that later), there are the hysterical accusations of an irresponsible advocacy of "slacker" culture, apparently especially reprehensible as it comes from a man of great personal wealth - enter accusations of hypocrisy and "he should know better".

But far more interesting is the division Brand's interview has stirred up on the progressive side of the great cultural divide.

On the one hand, strenuous calls for revolution will never fail to excite lefties - I suppose its part of the cringeworthy Marxist inheritance from which we will never quite escape. Brand's revolutionary enthusiasm must also appeal to that leftover Uni idealism that still festers somewhere beneath the professional facade, appealing like an ex girlfriend on Facebook to former passions.

On the other, there are many who reckon that his advocacy of dropping out, of refusing to take part in a compromised democracy, is a dangerous invitaton for further concetration power amongst those unscrupulous individuals who remain "in the system", providing said individuals with even less opposition as they bring their nefarious plans to fruition. Alternatively, Brand is being castigated for being unable to articulate a solution to the problems he so angrily defines.

Personally, Brand has reminded me of why, at heart, I consider myself a centrist conservative (told you). Dont get me wrong, I love a good wind farm and firmly believe that Keynesianism (both old and new) has at least some merit. I'm all for gay marriage and don't think that markets hold all the solutions. But what I am increasingly coming to believe in is that change, when it happens, wont be instigated by great and illustrious leaders. As interesting and amusing as Brand can be, he's a Baptist, not a Christ. In fact, the more I think about it, I dont think there ever will be a Christ, so to speak - no great leader un who we can pin all our hopes for much need social, political and ecomomic change.

The mark of the true conservative is a belief in the concept of change as an organic function, a process that has its roots in the simultaneous realisaton of multiple individuals at once. I'm fairly sure there are political economics/science nerds out there who can name the specific theory I am trying to articulate, but in a nutshell, its this: "You are the system, fucknuts".

Look, perhaps I'm wrong. Brand certainly has an uncanny resemblance to Aryan fantasy Buddy Christ. Still, I reckon people should stop focusing on the hypocrisies and failings of one long haired funnyman and start looking at their own compromises and allowances.

Or maybe we should just blame the banker wankers.