You are correct Ross in that my post was incredibly provocative. I intended it to be just that. That is the way this board used to work. I want people to think. And you clearly do and are knowlegeable. Could my post be called trolling? absolutely.

But that doesn't mean I don't respect the opinions here and I read them. That is what this board used to be all about. Nowadays it seems there is only one opinion here though and I wonder what kind of social discourse is that?

I used the Sean Penn example because he is David's friend and ex-roommate and I have been here long enough to know that. And I know they think alike on many things. He's also a great actor, but it also bothers me when people use their celebrity to try to influence something they know nothing about. And you've pointed out some of those problems in this thread. That was my only purpose...point-counter point....get a discussion going.

Maybe the Sean Penn thing was too much for this board, but hey let's face it, Venezuela is no utopia. Not even close, and you handled that more diplomatically than me. On the other hand, Sean Penn is an actor (albiet a very good one) and I don't want him making policy decisions on my behalf. He should just remain a great actor and David a great musician. Because when either of the two use their celebrity for influence, it appears to me as trolling just as I did here.