Movie and rock stars lecturing us plebs on the horrors of capitalism

The recent World Economic Forum in the alpine town of Davos Switzerland brings together political and business leaders to discuss contemporary economic issues. Lending glamour to the conference is movie star Leonardo DiCaprio who later met with the Pope to discuss issues with capitalism and environmental issues. 

DiCaprio, who was reportedly paid $20 million for The Great Gatsby and $10 million for The Wolf of Wall Street; DiCaprio is blessed with a current net worth estimated between $220 - $245 million. The business of motion pictures has been pretty good to Leonardo; as they say, there is no business like show business.

Just as before when U2 frontman, Bono addressed the conference we all raised a smile. We have ultra rich rock stars avoiding tax in their own countries, then lecturing the world on the need for clamping down on corporate tax avoidance - whoa. The hypocrisy is startling, after being exposed for his own irregular tax affairs, that is tax avoidance in any other terms.

He is happy to espouse Ireland's tax policies that, according to him have “brought our country the only prosperity we’ve known.” In essence, Ireland's lax tax laws attract corporations seeking to reduce their tax and social burden. These corporations are predominately tech and pharmaceuticals avoid paying tax in the countries they earned that revenue.     

I fully believe corporations have a social responsibility to enrich the communities from where they derive their wealth. Movie stars and rock stars should be addressing finance managers and accountants on the details of their extensive tax avoidance schemes leaving the symbolic gestures alone.