"Here is an example of something done by low level IRS folks.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/irs-employee-amazon-shopping-spree-678435
This is very different from what is going on currently with the IRS. This was discovered in December 2012…"
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
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Permalink Reply by Stein on -
So this basically starts with the Romney post election argument. First of all employees of nonprofits pay taxes, so that is an absurd comment. Secondly, most democrats have gainful employment. Thirdly, yes, all corporations should pay rightfully, and all others such as movie stars should as well. i don't think anybody is arguing that. And when you speak of what stars are talking about, maybe 300 people? This is the argument of a whiny loser.
Stein
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Permalink Reply by JonEdanger on -
Actually if you check the date (August 4th) I believe it was indeed before the election.
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Permalink Reply by Paul_of_TX on -
You can't use facts that makes it unfair and racist.
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Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on -
Sure, why not?--It's certainly a start.--The GOP campaigned on taking down big gov't, & it didn't work. The Dems have delivered big gov't as they promised, & that they lied about what they would do to cut deficits is implied in the promise of big gov't. They came back to offer more big gov't, or bigger gov't, or whatever they may call it, & they won. It is certainly time to reexamine the principles, see how best they can be applied, if they are found to be as deserving of devotion as once they were deemed.
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Permalink Reply by LShieldes on
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Is there a movement against having top hollywood stars not pay their taxes?
Once again, I fail to see what the big issue is -
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Permalink Reply by Nick H on -
When I think of Hollywood stars who complained of paying too much income tax the first one that comes to mind is Reagan.
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Permalink Reply by Nick H on
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Or they could just act like conservatives and base their tax increase/decrease decisions on logic.
But whatever. Please, increase your Hollywood tax. Everytime you do you just fuel the cinema industry North of the Border. Heck, so much business has already been driven out of the US that I bet many movie-goers think the skyline of Vancouver is that of an American city.
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Permalink Reply by JonEdanger on
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You can thank the State of California for that.
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Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on
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Policies cannot be completely separated from the people to whom they appeal. We have learned that a president ordering all sorts of people dead, including citizens, is not a problem for liberals if it's their guy. I daresay there were several things conservatives put up with because it was their guy doing them then.
So isn't it the part of the reasonable man to understand that reforming the tax laws should consider what can be done? Logic & expertise are not enough--unless somehow laws pass & enforce themselves...
Finally, the thing about taxing movies. By your argument, increasing taxes on business punishes business--business then flees, if it can. Should not that argue against many other taxes?
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Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on
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Calvin Coolidge would be proud of you. Trueborn American, so to speak. That is unfortunately a minority opinion these days...
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