"+1"
Repeal the Hollywood Tax Cuts!
There's an old joke about a boy who complains to his mother that his little sister keeps pulling his hair.
"Oh," responds the mother, "she doesn't know that it hurts."
A few minutes later, the mother hears the girl scream and runs into the other room. "She knows now," the boy explains.
There's a lesson for Republicans in that old joke, if they're smart enough to absorb it.
For the past few years, there has been a drumbeat in favor of increased taxes from Democrats of all stripes. Make the rich pay their "fair share." Get rid of "loopholes." Make the fat cats "chip in a little more." Then Democrats hold up budgets and bills in an effort to extract some tax increases from Republicans.
It's no coincidence that much of the Democrats' base doesn't have to worry about taxes much, either because they work for nonprofits and public entities that don't pay taxes, or because they live off government benefits, or because they work in industries -- like the motion picture and recording industries -- with a long history of shady accounting and favorable tax treatment. Republicans, if they're smart, can nonetheless teach them that tax increases do, in fact, hurt.
They should head into the next budget battle with a list of proposals for tax increases that will sting Democratic constituency groups, but which will seem eminently fair to voters.
The first such proposal would be to restore the 20 percent excise tax on motion picture theater gross revenues that existed between the end of World War II and its repeal in the mid-1950s. The campaign to end the excise tax had studio executives and movie stars talking like Art Laffer, as they noted that high taxes reduced business income, hurt investment and cost jobs.
The movie excise tax was imposed in response to the high deficits after World War Two. Deficits are high again, and there's already historical precedent. Of course, to keep up with technology, the tax should now apply to DVDs, downloadable movies, pay-per-view and the like. But in these financially perilous times, why should movie stars and studio moguls, with their yachts, swimming pools and private jets, not at least shoulder the burden they carried back in Harry Truman's day -- when, to be honest, movies were better anyway.
For extra fun, they could show pictures of David Geffen's yacht and John Travolta's personal Boeing 707 on the Senate floor. You want to tax fat cats? I gotcher "fat cats" right here! Repeal the Hollywood Tax Cuts!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Nick H on -
On who? I'm assuming that the film industry in the US makes money so why would any party want to damage it for political reasons?
-
-
Permalink Reply by Nick H on
-
By the logic of this story, Democrats, to appease Republicans who want more cuts to government handouts, should cut farm subsidies, since I'm guessing the majority of those receiving them are Republican supporters.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Nick H on
-
Why can't welfare recipients just buy their own groceries? Or am I misunderstanding the concept of food stamp?
-
-
Permalink Reply by Shane on -
It's a separate program, Food Stamps is just one among a few. There is no one, catchall Federal "Welfare" program in the US. There are various social safety nets all run by different organizations. What makes it worse is each of the 50 States has its own eligibility requirements.
Some States are more efficient than others. Some have higher eligibility requirements than others. Back in '07/'08 I spent six months unemployed and then a full year working part time. I didn't qualify for any Welfare program.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Nick H on
-
We have similar all or nothing programs in Canada too. Crazy. I know of more than one family who've quit work because they couldn't afford to not be on welfare. There is one part of my town that the joke is you can find the welfare homes by seeing who can afford sat tv (they are the homes with the dishes).
-
-
Permalink Reply by Shane on
-
It wasn't all or nothing, I just didn't meet any of the qualifications. Mostly because I'm a white guy. My girlfriend at the time met the qualifications for two programs, health insurance and nutritional supplements. But, that changed as soon as her condition changed.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Nick H on
-
Crazy. Multiple programs with multiple government employees all doing overlapping work making government salaries and benefits.I wonder how much gets eaten up in the process of delivering the care. And I thought we were more into big gov't than you Americans.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Jack Bauer on -
They should be required to disclose what percentage of their budget goes toward administrative costs, and what percentage to actual use ... like a charity does.
JB -
Latest Activity
Steve replied to Jonny's discussion Was putting my dog to sleep the right thing to do?"That's no way for a much loved pet/companion to live...you absolutely did the right thing IMO.
It's always heart breaking to lose a pet in any circumstances, but we have to take responsibility for these things, and it would have…"
Steve replied to Vincent's discussion Appropriate Interview Suit?"I'd go for a more classic cut personally, and something far less shiny.
I have a suit that is similar to yours, it's cut in a more tailored style as opposed to the extreme slim cut of yours, but it's something I'd only wear for…"
Chuck Knight replied to Daniel's discussion Casual Belts for Jeans?"The real ones are called trophy buckles, and are actually given as trophies in rodeo events. The bigger and shinier the buckle, the higher the ranking.
I nicknamed them "turkey platter" buckles."
Aaron Lancaster replied to D.J.'s discussion Let Down in a Relationship"Good call. Actually college and drinking go together remarkably well. It sounds like you guys have a difference in values. Finish it up now before you both become miserable. Move on, find a nice quiet girl who doesn't drink,…"
Will replied to Herb Munson's discussion The Primacy and Existence of God in the group The Great Debate"I had assumed that was a joke, Herb!
We always used to say we hoped and prayed the school would burn down so we wouldn't have to go -- because it was torture, man! Not a joke I'd make in current circumstances, tho."
Todd Serveto replied to Rob Sexton's discussion Secular Manhood vs Christian Manhood in the group Christian Men"Hey, Rob, The Bible says:
3. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our…"
Aaron Lancaster replied to Aaron Lancaster's discussion Gday from New Zealand"Cheers Ian. It certainly is a good drop.
I'm never sure if I'm making sense or not when talking to people from other countries. We mainly call it "tramping" over here but then that implies walking from point A to Point B on…"
© 2013 Created by Brett McKay.
Powered by
