Celebrity-Obsessed

Well, let's face it, obsessions of any kind speak of an unbalanced world view, a lack of personal equilibrium and worthwhile values. Obsession with gambling, with weight control, with wealth, reputation, with celebrity-watching, prestige, possessions, you name it. Balance is lacking. Moderation is always the key to a well-balanced personality and the life that results from it. It is also called the Golden Mean. We need to be reminded from time to time, to embrace meaning in our lives.

"If you look back on your childhood, or if I talk to my friends, all of us have that same impression when we go back home and we realize that the place where we were living was pretty small. These days people would say, 'How did you live in a place that small?' Well, it didn't feel that small at the time. It was secure. It was stable. We had a car. It wasn't a fancy car, but it got you around.
"Were there things that we might have liked to have? Sure. But partly, I think, there has also been a shift in culture. We weren't exposed to the things we didn't have in the same way that kids these days are.
"There was not that window into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Kids weren't monitoring every day what Kim Kardashian was wearing, or where Kanye West was going on vacation, and thinking that somehow that was the mark of success."
U.S. President Barack Obama

This is a Nobel Laureate speaking, and he is in a manner of speaking, emulating the simple statements of values and judgement that now emanate from an unpretentious and authentic human being who just also happens to be the Bishop of Rome. Who, in fact, seeks and succeeds in appearing to practise what he preaches. We do, actually, most of us, have respect for those whose claims and behaviours synchronize.

"I do think what's shifted is a notion that the wealthier you are, the more conspicuous consumption you engage in. The more successful you are, the more society should stay out of your way as you pursue the bigger house or the fancier jet or the bigger yacht. That particular idea runs contrary to what most Americans think of as the most important goals in life." Really! Really?

President Obama's world focuses on power. Power holds the ultimate prestige. Everything else falls before it. And the president's journey to power, to the most powerful position on the Globe, that of the Pope aside, in influencing people, corporate interests, other nations, the trajectory of world events in total, has depended hugely on massive sums of filthy lucre.

 

And it is, for the most part, other high-achievers, people obsessed with their station in life as CEOs, as celebrities, as social elite, who are capable of producing the vast sums of money required to run an ambitious and winning campaign. Money, lots of it, propelled Barack Obama into the presidency. That funding that came out of high-powered people in celebrity, social and corporate circles at the highest levels bringing in cash to mount a successful political campaign made Barack Obama president.



George Clooney's celebrity-packed fundraiser brought in $15-million. The president recruited singer Jennifer Hudson, actors Amy Poehler, Michael Cera and Kal Penn to help him sell his signature project for the country, Obamacare. The Washington Examiner reported last year that Barack and Michelle Obama had 28 fundraisers on their behalf featuring Hollywood famers.

And how about the prestige attached to the diplomatic corps, particularly heads of U.S. missions abroad? It is not necessarily career diplomats who become Ambassadors abroad, although Ambassadorial nominations according to law "should possess clearly demonstrated competence to perform the duties of a chief of mission, including ... useful knowledge of the language ... and understanding of the history, the culture, the economic and political institutions, and the interests of that country.



"Contributions to political campaigns should not be a factor", in such ambassadorial appointments. That seems fairly clear and above-board, and you don't have to be a Nobel Laureate to appreciate the rationale. Regardless, 35.2 percent of diplomatic appointees under the Obama presidential administration have gone to those who have proven adept at raising huge funds for the Obama administration.

Europe's capitals, the really popular ones go to fundraisers, those who are capable of advancing the Obama agenda by raising campaign funds.  Interesting set of standards at play here, to be sure.