Video: Jtube: Louie

Published: October 24, 2010

Is it "evil" to buy nice things while others have nothing?

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Visitor Comments: 20

(20) Richard, September 18, 2011 2:00 PM

Yes, his attitude IS evil.

Making a mockery of the sad situations in which people find themselves is indeed an evil way of behaviour. In Pirkei Avot we are taught "When your enemy falls, do not rejoice, in case G-d sees (your complacency about the situation) and turns His anger from that person and casts it upon you". Lot's wife got her punishment for such a complacent attitude. In other words, be thankful for your own good fortune but always remain mindful of the less fortunate in society and never ever ride your "high horse" and think that their misfortune could never touch you.

(19) eva, February 20, 2011 5:01 AM

His driving a car doesn't cause someone else to starve

On the contrary, by buying a car he is providing someone else with a livelihood, and the more things you buy, the more you are giving to others a livelihood. The evil ones are the leaders of those impoverished countries who are enriching themselves at the expense of their starving peoples; So don't try to foist the big lie that someone having something automatically means that he must have taken it away from someone else.

(18) Anonymous, December 21, 2010 7:32 PM

sad

whats sad is that people are actually laughing, and doing the same the next day.

(17) Judy, November 28, 2010 7:33 PM

Not funny

I don't think talking about people starving to death - particularly babies - is in any way funny.

(16) SusanE, November 5, 2010 3:00 PM

I am not poor.

It is always in bad taste to flaunt wealth.

(15) Elana, October 31, 2010 1:28 AM

Thoughtful

I found this guy thoughful; he made a point across without being preachy. People respond better to humor. And to commentor #3; there is nothing wrong with being rich...you recoil probably because you (and I, and most people) don't have that kind of money to burn. We don't know what it is like or what we ourselves would have done with it. I know one thing though; when I had more money to live on, I ended up living to that amount. Most people are like that. And also, I had friends who resented me because I was able to buy a house and they could not afford it. Was I wrong to buy a house? So, who is to say what is the limit of what a lot of money to spend is? Some think it is awful that I even have cleaning help once a week. I should clean myself they say. So you see, who is to say what is a lot? You are right though, money does not pring entitlement. Being rich is a test...and so is being poor! Every life on this earth is not free from challenges. Need to appreciate what we have when we have it...never know when it will be taken away. So yeah, you who are rich...go ahead and enjoy it...and share some with others who cannot.

(14) cynthia, October 29, 2010 12:41 PM

He made me laugh and he made me think.

Humor is funny because we relate to what is being said... I don't buy into feeling guilt for having blessings but I do often wonder if I am using the blessings the way they were intended to be used.

(13) Anonymous, October 29, 2010 1:30 AM

It's all about balance...

In life there will always be poor and rich people. Rich people have the awesome opportunity to spread their wealth to others who are less fortunate. However, one is allowed to enjoy ones wealth, it's just balancing tzedakah and spending on oneself.

(12) Kip Gonzales, October 27, 2010 11:07 AM

G_d gives us power to get wealth

If all the wealth in this world were equally disrributed to every man, woman, and child on this planet, every person would get about 4.5 million dollars! There is a lot of good stuff out there, and our Creator made it for us to enjoy, but we have screwed up and become selfish. The reason HaShem grants us the ability to get rich is to bless us in order that we may be a blessing to others, and so on.. It is to establish His covenant in the earth. There´s nothing wrong with being prosperous. King Solomon said so. If we oppress and rob others to get rich, then it´s a problem. There will always be poor people. You can sell your fancy car and give the money away, but the poor people won´t go away. In the Warsaw Ghetto, there were people that were well off, and the poorest of souls, starving in the streets. The well dressed wealthy walked down streets lined with starving beggars. Is it that they didn´t care? Of course not; but if one were to roll up a cart full of bread, it would have created a stampede, and only a fraction of the needy would have gotten something. What´s more important is that wealthy people support worthwhile causes that really do help the needy. Many celebrities give millions to support good causes. This isn´t always in the media, because there is no scandal with it. One can be rich or poor, and still be either greedy or generous!

(11) Ruth, October 27, 2010 9:27 AM

who is really responsible

I also find the comedien makes us ponder a serious social observation about poverty and responsibility through his tongue in cheek comments. That is the best kind of comedy. It makes us question. However, there is no simple cause and effect between Western comfort and Third World deprivation. We have seen time and again the "leaders" of kleptocracies, the Idi Amins, Stalins, the Mugabes, the Yasser Arafats consign their people to deprivation, ignorance and starvation to maintain their power. And we know they sleep well at night after sacraficing their own people as collateral damage or unwitting martyrs. Recently, we have seen the high value of blue collar life in a Judeo-Christian society such as Chile's (the huge expenditure of effort to save the trapped miners). This regard for the sanctity of life goes on daily in any preemie hospital ward in an American city. Be aware, ladies and gentlemen, that high regard for any human life is founded on our wonderful Jewish laws and traditions. Hitler summed it up well when he said he wanted to eradicate Jews because of their tiresome ethical code. So whenever you feel like you want to write a check to a good cause, first check the track record of the administrators. Will they skim off a reasonable amount or will the hungry orphans and tsunami victims continue to suffer in ignorance despite Western guilt-offerings.

(10) Rena, October 26, 2010 11:11 PM

keep the car and keep being funny

without the material motivation to succeed there wouldn't be any extra to donate - im all for capitalism - pple want to make money to afford a nice lifestyle and if they are good they give to others as well - if there were'nt nice things to look forward to pple wouldn't work as hard and would make a lot less and there would be no leftovers for anyone else, that is what happened with communism. Keep us laughing and thank you for making us think and possibly making us more giving if we are able to be!

(9) Anonymous, October 26, 2010 4:24 PM

He's Lively, He's Loud...

He's just not funny.

(8) Moe, October 26, 2010 3:07 PM

If you're cheap with yourself you'll be cheap with others

I think he should drive the nice car. Why should he drive a cheap car and resent it. That's a negative motivation. I also think the feeling of comfort will drive him to share his generous spirit with others.

(7) sarA, October 26, 2010 4:38 AM

WHAT?

Why is he making a joke about this?? It's serious business!! No, you dont have to give your car away, but then why is laughing about this?

(6) Anonymous, October 25, 2010 9:57 PM

Guilt ridden by birth..............

Thank goodness I drive a 10 yr. old Hyundai. Otherwise...oy, the guilt would kill me............... He's a comedian folks..... lighten up.......

(5) Murray, October 25, 2010 8:11 PM

SusanE and Anonymous are both incorrect

Anonymous misses the point. This is satire. Louis CK is bringing attention to the issue of people who are in dire straits. As far as SusanE she is busy recoiling about the wrong things. She is not wrong to show compassion to poor people but to say it is "in bad taste to flaunt and show off wealth" that is in bad taste. Whose to say that a person who drives a luxury vehicle and didn't steal the money to get it, is doing something wrong? How would you know that person doesn't give money to charity or donate a kidney? Certainly that person is paying a disproportionate percentage of their salary in taxes which support a myriad of contributions to third world projects. This is America and people work hard to get material things. It is not bad to want or achieve them.

(4) Shalom F., October 24, 2010 10:46 PM

Missing the point

I find Louis C.K. to be an extremely insightful and important comic out there. Yes, his vehicle to his message is comedy, but I did not find that he was making fun of suffering. He was doing just the opposite. He is making fun of those who live a life of excess. If you have a Lexus you are not a bad person, but what does it say about a culture that promotes luxury and status when there are children who would get excited if they had a bowl of rice once a week? Keep it up Louis C.K. and all I can say to Jennie and Anonymous is give a little more charity. You will feel less guilty and not feel the need to misrepresent this clip to fit your needs.

(3) SusanE, October 24, 2010 9:55 PM

Point Taken ............

It is always in bad taste to flaunt and show off wealth. Those who do are truly evil. When a $1.5 million oil painting is bought by a private 'collector', I recoil. When a wedding party costs $750.00, I recoil. When an automobile costs more than most of the world makes in a lifetime, I recoil. When a man buys a 3 million dollar 18 room house for his wife and 3 kids, I recoil. When a woman adorns her body with precious jewels while volunteering in a soup kitchen, I recoil. Money does not bring privilege or entitlement. If a man has less, (or drives a Focus) compared to your Infinity, that should cause you shame. It should not bring you pride.

(2) Jennie, October 24, 2010 2:38 PM

Totally agree

I was recoiling inside as I watched this clip. The routine itself was a million times more evil than having an Infiniti. PS- If you can afford an Infiniti, why do you need to sell it to give charity?

(1) Anonymous, October 24, 2010 1:58 PM

If owning an infinity isn't evil,making comedy of peoples suffering certainly is. Cruel, Insensitive, Evil.

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