Comments on: The Age of Oprah, Cultural Icon For the Neoliberal Era http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:08:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jason http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21899 Jason Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:44:56 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21899 Actually hp even factoring in her large income, Oprah's phianthropy is astonishing in. Business Week keeps a list of the most generous people in America, and there's only about 30 or so people ahead of Oprah on the list. Meanwhile there are a couple hundred billionaires in America who are richer even than Oprah. And you can't forget that Oprah came from nothing, and had to overcome great odds to acquire the hundreds of millions she's given away. I like that Oprah is constantly using her show to raise money for the poor through her Angel Network, but what impresses me more is that she has also given so much of her own money. Actually hp even factoring in her large income, Oprah’s phianthropy is astonishing in. Business Week keeps a list of the most generous people in America, and there’s only about 30 or so people ahead of Oprah on the list. Meanwhile there are a couple hundred billionaires in America who are richer even than Oprah. And you can’t forget that Oprah came from nothing, and had to overcome great odds to acquire the hundreds of millions she’s given away. I like that Oprah is constantly using her show to raise money for the poor through her Angel Network, but what impresses me more is that she has also given so much of her own money.

]]> By: hp http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21898 hp Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:03:29 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21898 Oprah no doubt also feels the need for some substantial tax write offs and I'm sure she employs at least a dozen or so good lawyers to assist in her humanitarian efforts. Oprah no doubt also feels the need for some substantial tax write offs and I’m sure she employs at least a dozen or so good lawyers to assist in her humanitarian efforts.

]]> By: Thomas http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21840 Thomas Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:14:26 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21840 I very much dissent from neoliberalism. I just don't think the type of personal philanthropy and self-improvement Oprah promotes has anything to do with it. I've been a radical left-winger since I turned eighteen, and I've always been the first to protest the lack of government assistance, but it's hypocritical to expect the government to assist the poor if you're not willing to do so yourself, which is why I applaud Oprah for all the money she gives away. And the self-improvement that Oprah preaches trancends economic disparity. These are concepts for weitht loos and personal happiness Oprah herself feels she needs, despite her great wealth. I very much dissent from neoliberalism. I just don’t think the type of personal philanthropy and self-improvement Oprah promotes has anything to do with it. I’ve been a radical left-winger since I turned eighteen, and I’ve always been the first to protest the lack of government assistance, but it’s hypocritical to expect the government to assist the poor if you’re not willing to do so yourself, which is why I applaud Oprah for all the money she gives away. And the self-improvement that Oprah preaches trancends economic disparity. These are concepts for weitht loos and personal happiness Oprah herself feels she needs, despite her great wealth.

]]> By: Lupita http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21825 Lupita Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:35:57 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21825 I wonder what the readers of "Dissident Voice" dissent from. Surely it cannot be neoliberalism! Maybe Ms. Peck should have her essay translated and published where its subtlety will be appreciated, someplace where there is a left. I wonder what the readers of “Dissident Voice” dissent from. Surely it cannot be neoliberalism! Maybe Ms. Peck should have her essay translated and published where its subtlety will be appreciated, someplace where there is a left.

]]> By: Sandra http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21720 Sandra Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:57:44 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21720 How can anyone accuse a woman wh who has climbed out poverty to give several hundred million of her own hard earned money to the poorest of the poor of abhoring assistance to the poor? Business Week ranks Oprah as the most philanthropic black of all time, and the most philanthropic person in show business. Oprah not only helps poor people, but she helps the poorest of countries. Oprah was also one of the first people to go down to New Orleans after Katrina hit, she vocally complained on those shows about governments abandoning the people, she got Anderson Cooper to admit it would not have happened in a white neighborhood. Oprah did more to promote Michael Moore's movie Sicko than anyone else; Michael Moore begged Oprah to run for president and no one believes in government assistance more than Moore does. In addition, the candidate Oprah campaigned for will raise taxes on the rich more than anyone else who's been running, and according to the National Journal, has the most left-wing voting record of any Democrat to recently run for president. And Oprah does not preach personal responsibility, but rather emotional empowerment. Her latest book club pick A NEW EARTH by Echart Tolle is all about the key to happiness is to release ourselves from the need for materialism and wealth. In my opinion people are just nit-picking everything Oprah does because she's an exceptionally successful black woman. How can anyone accuse a woman wh who has climbed out poverty to give several hundred million of her own hard earned money to the poorest of the poor of abhoring assistance to the poor? Business Week ranks Oprah as the most philanthropic black of all time, and the most philanthropic person in show business. Oprah not only helps poor people, but she helps the poorest of countries. Oprah was also one of the first people to go down to New Orleans after Katrina hit, she vocally complained on those shows about governments abandoning the people, she got Anderson Cooper to admit it would not have happened in a white neighborhood. Oprah did more to promote Michael Moore’s movie Sicko than anyone else; Michael Moore begged Oprah to run for president and no one believes in government assistance more than Moore does. In addition, the candidate Oprah campaigned for will raise taxes on the rich more than anyone else who’s been running, and according to the National Journal, has the most left-wing voting record of any Democrat to recently run for president.

And Oprah does not preach personal responsibility, but rather emotional empowerment. Her latest book club pick A NEW EARTH by Echart Tolle is all about the key to happiness is to release ourselves from the need for materialism and wealth. In my opinion people are just nit-picking everything Oprah does because she’s an exceptionally successful black woman.

]]> By: Giorgio http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21717 Giorgio Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:58:22 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21717 "hp said on June 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm # We could all move to Israel!" Oh, Yes! I saw a documentary not long ago showing that Israelis are building huge underground bunkers to shield them from a nuke attack...one haulage I saw dwarfed a man walking along it. Its COST (likely paid by American aid money) and DEPTH is an Israeli State SECRET. Aren't they smart? “hp said on June 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm #

We could all move to Israel!”

Oh, Yes! I saw a documentary not long ago showing that Israelis are building huge underground bunkers to shield them from a nuke attack…one haulage I saw dwarfed a man walking along it.
Its COST (likely paid by American aid money) and DEPTH is an Israeli State SECRET. Aren’t they smart?

]]> By: Deadbeat http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21708 Deadbeat Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:47:15 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21708 <i>Oprah of all people promotes social responsibility and helping the poor</i> Oprah does not do that. She abhors government assistance and Oprah made some derogatory comments about helping inner city schools while she built one in South Africa. If Oprah paid taxes at pre-Kemp-Roth rates not only would she still be fabulously rich that money could have went to fix such schools she deplores. Oprah as the Dr. Peck remarked is the cultural icon for what wrong with neoliberalism Oprah of all people promotes social responsibility and helping the poor

Oprah does not do that. She abhors government assistance and Oprah made some derogatory comments about helping inner city schools while she built one in South Africa. If Oprah paid taxes at pre-Kemp-Roth rates not only would she still be fabulously rich that money could have went to fix such schools she deplores. Oprah as the Dr. Peck remarked is the cultural icon for what wrong with neoliberalism

]]> By: Deadbeat http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21707 Deadbeat Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:43:17 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21707 <i>I strongly disagree with Janice Peck. Just because people like Oprah and Angelina Jolie encourage individuals to give to the poor does not mean they are discouraging governments from doing so</i> On the surface that is true BUT Oprah over the years (especially during the Reagan/Clinton years) had shows where she displayed utter contempt for people on Welfare. Oprah has constantly promoted the "self-help" and "personal responsibility" rhetoric. Somehow corporate welfare is OK but social welfare implies something else. The author correctly characterizes and captures the cultural aspect of Oprah. She essentially IMO she promotes a sort of "feminist narcissisms" that encourage her primarily white female audience to equate "independence" with careerism and strive for a false sense of status. Seeing that Oprah has had a declining ratings over the past three years especially with younger viewers would seem to indicate that she is out of touch with that demographic. Her support of Obama may have been an attempt to get in "touch" with that demographic. Young people IMO are finding it extremely difficult to get all wrapped in the "American Dream" which she represents and she is clearly out of touch with the hip-hop crowd. It would be sort of interesting to see how the impact of her support for Obama either hurt or helped her in the ratings with white women but overall I agree with Dr. Peck's thought provoking analysis. I strongly disagree with Janice Peck. Just because people like Oprah and Angelina Jolie encourage individuals to give to the poor does not mean they are discouraging governments from doing so

On the surface that is true BUT Oprah over the years (especially during the Reagan/Clinton years) had shows where she displayed utter contempt for people on Welfare. Oprah has constantly promoted the “self-help” and “personal responsibility” rhetoric. Somehow corporate welfare is OK but social welfare implies something else.

The author correctly characterizes and captures the cultural aspect of Oprah. She essentially IMO she promotes a sort of “feminist narcissisms” that encourage her primarily white female audience to equate “independence” with careerism and strive for a false sense of status.

Seeing that Oprah has had a declining ratings over the past three years especially with younger viewers would seem to indicate that she is out of touch with that demographic. Her support of Obama may have been an attempt to get in “touch” with that demographic. Young people IMO are finding it extremely difficult to get all wrapped in the “American Dream” which she represents and she is clearly out of touch with the hip-hop crowd.

It would be sort of interesting to see how the impact of her support for Obama either hurt or helped her in the ratings with white women but overall I agree with Dr. Peck’s thought provoking analysis.

]]> By: Dianne http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21703 Dianne Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:58:09 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21703 This Janice Peck sounds pretty nutty. Oprah of all people promotes social responsibility and helping the poor. What do you think her school in Africa was all about and the homes she built in New Orleans? The message of Oprah's show is that it's better to give than to recieve, that true happiness comes when he help the less fortunate. and that to whom much is given much is expected. This Janice Peck sounds pretty nutty. Oprah of all people promotes social responsibility and helping the poor. What do you think her school in Africa was all about and the homes she built in New Orleans? The message of Oprah’s show is that it’s better to give than to recieve, that true happiness comes when he help the less fortunate. and that to whom much is given much is expected.

]]> By: hp http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21695 hp Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:29:06 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21695 We could all move to Israel! Oh, that's right..........never mind. We could all move to Israel!
Oh, that’s right……….never mind.

]]> By: Giorgio http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21693 Giorgio Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:22:19 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21693 "Water polluted? Buy it bottled. Dissatisfied with your kids’ school? Find a private one or home school." Got NUKED? Build yourself a bunker ten thousand feet below surface and live there for the rest of your life... !!! LONG LIVE FREE ENTERPRISE !!! “Water polluted? Buy it bottled. Dissatisfied with your kids’ school? Find a private one or home school.”

Got NUKED? Build yourself a bunker ten thousand feet below surface and live there for the rest of your life…

!!! LONG LIVE FREE ENTERPRISE !!!

]]> By: Erica http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/06/the-age-of-oprah-cultural-icon-for-the-neoliberal-era/#comment-21658 Erica Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:47:34 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=2124#comment-21658 I strongly disagree with Janice Peck. Just because people like Oprah and Angelina Jolie encourage individuals to give to the poor does not mean they are discouraging governments from doing so. Indeed government assistance is nothing more than millions of individuals giving their money to help the poor on mass. After years of watching Oprah's show I'm more inclined to support political candidates who value the importance of fixing America's crumbling schools, helping the poor in New Orleans, and I really want a president who will reach out to third world countries like South Africa the way Oprah does. No one makes helping the poor more of a priority than Oprah does. Why else would she spend hundreds of millions of her own money building schools for the most poverty stricken, building houses in New Orleans, sending hundreds of African American men through college? And for Peck to argue that Oprah doesn't support collective problem solving is absurd. Her show is all about creating social movements, getting people to raise money, and her show the Big Give promoted teamwork to help the less fortunate. I strongly disagree with Janice Peck. Just because people like Oprah and Angelina Jolie encourage individuals to give to the poor does not mean they are discouraging governments from doing so. Indeed government assistance is nothing more than millions of individuals giving their money to help the poor on mass. After years of watching Oprah’s show I’m more inclined to support political candidates who value the importance of fixing America’s crumbling schools, helping the poor in New Orleans, and I really want a president who will reach out to third world countries like South Africa the way Oprah does. No one makes helping the poor more of a priority than Oprah does. Why else would she spend hundreds of millions of her own money building schools for the most poverty stricken, building houses in New Orleans, sending hundreds of African American men through college?

And for Peck to argue that Oprah doesn’t support collective problem solving is absurd. Her show is all about creating social movements, getting people to raise money, and her show the Big Give promoted teamwork to help the less fortunate.

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