Dear Boogie - Volume 5

Dear Boogie,

I have seen photos on your social media of you out on the Hollywood picket lines. I admire you for fighting the good fight! Lately, I've been consumed by an overwhelming rage as I watch the actors and writers bravely strike against the studios. The blatant inequality and the relentless power play of billionaires squeezing out the working class in all industries is killing me. How can human beings be this greedy? Don’t they have enough fucking money? Why can’t they see what they’re doing is just wrong? What do I do with all these feeeeeeelings?

Sincerely

Get the Guillotines 

Dear GTG,

I appreciate the atta boy, but I’m only on the picket line for the free shit. You should see it down there. There are snacks, beverages, pony rides, tarot card readings… I even saw a guy giving out free haircuts! The actors and writers know how to party!

True story: this sign took me 2 weeks and $49 to make.

But seriously, GTG - it is a rage-inducing situation. These studios want to own actors’ likeness in perpetuity, get robots to write all the scripts, and pay cents on the dollar to the people who actually create the film and TV that they’re making billions off streaming. “But we’re not making billions on streaming!” cry the streamers. Oh really, Jennifer Netflix? Then why won’t you show us your books? I have a feeling that if it looked good for you, we might get the numbers. A pox on you, your twin sister Jessica Netflix, and the entire extended Netflix family!

I assume they look pretty much like these guys but with fewer Culkins.

Here’s the thing to remember:  these corporate CEOS are sociopaths. And I’m not being a smartass or colloquial about that - they are actual sociopaths. According to many studies (I won’t bother linking because what am I - your fucking college professor?), the rate of sociopathy in corporate America is anywhere from 5 to 20 times higher than the general population. A sociopath has many traits, but a few of the greatest hits are: a grandiose yet fragile sense of self, a quick trigger to rage, and - most relevantly - incredibly low empathy. Personality disorders like this generally form in early life (infancy and toddlerdom) as a result of lack of nurturing and bonding with caregivers. So - quite literally - Elon Musk, Bob Iger, and Donald Trump were not hugged enough as babies. And they’re making us all pay for it.

So when you think things like “Don’t these billionaires have enough money?”, you’re thinking in the wrong terms. Weirdly enough, it’s not about the money for them. It’s about winning. It’s about crushing someone who would dare challenge them. They are so fragile that they can’t possibly see themselves as weak or flawed or capable of losing in any way. They must assert their dominance and crush the competition or they are nothing. So yeah - that’s what we’re up against.

Will we win? I’m not sure. I mean - I think the WGA and SAG have a good shot at taking this round, but this strike is likely just the tip of the spear. There are entire professions likely to be wiped out by unregulated corporate use of AI. “But Brendan,” you may be screaming at your screen as you get your perineum cosmetically lightened, “Changes in technology have always threatened certain jobs. How is this any different?” And you’re right, of course. It’s not any different. But… that’s still really bad. The working class have been taking it up the tuckus for the last several decades due to de-regulation and Wall Street’s untenable mandate for continued growth to eternity. It’s just not sustainable. The bottom has to fall out some time. I’m pretty sure we may be looking at it… now! No, wait… okay, it’s now. End times. Happening… now.

But back to managing your rage, GTG. For this, I always go back to one of my heroes Mr. Rogers. He said “When I was a boy and I’d see scary things on the news, my mother would say ‘look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.” And other than the free breakfast burritos (which I am completely addicted to), I go down to the picket lines to be around the people who are fighting the good fight. One of the coolest things about the picket lines is that it’s not just WGA and SAG members down there. People from other unions and walks of life come down to show their support. I met a couple on vacation from Indianapolis. They just wanted to spend their time marching to support the cause. It was cool! To me, the cure for rage about bad people is to be around good people. And hey - maybe you’ll even run into Mr. Rogers!

This is actually actor Walt Keller. On the right. I’m on the left.

Boogie Writes is a completely independent endeavor by one hard-working funnyman trying to make his way in the world today (which takes everything you’ve got.) If you like what you read, please subscribe, support, and tell a friend! Also - do you need advice? Of course you do! Send your queries to brendan@brendanboogie.com with “Dear Boogie” in the subject and get some solid or at least passable advice!