but again, that's not the same thing - streisand isn't "taking" your money thru the TV screen and then saying it

oh no! and I thought you were SO CLOSE to getting it, too! :) Because she is no longer being an artist! The point of this discussion is that you said the artist's job is to "speak out". I thought I laid it out fairly cleanly when I said McCartney can sing about animal rights (ie: using his art to make his point) but as soon as he starts to lecture me about it (rather doing do so via his art ie: music) he is then using the fame I gave him by paying him for his art, to lecture me. Streisand isn't using her art to tell me to conserve energy, but, again, she is using the fame and fortune we (well, certainly not me! :) gave her to push her views on us. Babs makes a cd. We buy it. She "takes" the money (perhaps accepts is a better word?), then says "thank you. Now let me tell you why you should vote Democrat in the next election." She's not using her art to speak out there, is she? She's taking my money then telling me how to live my life. Which was Dan's whole point (i believe, it's certainly mine). And just because I tell her (via the tv) to shut up doesn't make me close minded. You're really stretching to make me (not personally, but the consumer who doesn't want to listen) look ignorant. Perhaps I've already made up my mind on the issue and don't feel I need to hear more? Perhaps I really don't care. McCartney has been telling me for years not to wear leather and eat steak for dinner. Does it mean I'm closed minded because I choose to change the channel if he pops up with a public service ad telling me again? I hardly think so. -paul