Comments on: Tapping the Golden Vein

By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » Tapping the Golden Vein

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Tapping the Golden Vein — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:10:06 +0000

[...] This post was promoted from GreenRoom to HotAir.com. To see the comments on the original post, look here. [...]

By: Ed Morrissey

Ed Morrissey — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:56:37 +0000

This post has been promoted to HotAir.com.

Comments have been closed on this post but the discussion continues here.

By: MaxMBJ

MaxMBJ — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:17:57 +0000

Perhaps Gibson was a poor choice. But my point remains, the best way to change the world is not with a club but with a delicioius pie, apple of course.

By: SagebrushPuppet

SagebrushPuppet — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:38:16 +0000

Mel Gibson proved you can promote conservative values without being didactic, obnoxious, or pathetic.

Did you have to drag that jerk into the conversation?

Nevertheless, there are some entertaining movies being made that don’t have an overt leftist slant. You do have to search for them sometimes.

By: Cold Fury » Tax ‘em bloodless

Cold Fury » Tax ‘em bloodless — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:01:18 +0000

[...] onto your hats, folks, because Doc Zero is arguing for new punitive taxes on a particular industry, and I am in complete agreement: Centuries ago, at the beginning of the Obama Administration, we [...]

By: applebutter

applebutter — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:44:23 +0000

Adam Baldwin?
TheQuestion on November 20, 2009 at 5:14 AM
I think you mean Stephen. He’s a friend of Abe.
Blacksmith8 on November 20, 2009 at 9:56 PM

Does it really matter? There are too many Baldwins anyway.
cntrlfrk on November 21, 2009 at 2:15 AM

If you want to tax people based on bad ideas, yes, it does matter. Both Stephen Baldwin and Adam Baldwin (no relation) are conservative.

Adam Baldwin has been known to post on BigHollywood.com.

By: Count to 10

Count to 10 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:59:04 +0000

While it generates much of its income in the United States, it’s one of the worst industries for outsourcing jobs overseas.

Up until this point, I thought you were setting up a lawyer joke.

By: mrfixit

mrfixit — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:53:19 +0000

Adam Baldwin?

TheQuestion on November 20, 2009 at 5:14 AM

Jayne!!!!

By: Barnestormer

Barnestormer — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:49:30 +0000

Great idea, but needlessly modest and short on the requisite Constitutional underpinnings. Clearly, “entertainment” is a public good (even rumored to be recession-proof–an especially attractive feature for the foreseeable future), and thus protected by the general welfare clause; right up there with subsidized housing, health care, food and Buicks (to name but a few). Therefore, the tax proceeds should also fund a public option for the less fortunate: movies, DVDs, live theater, streaming audio and video, whatever. Live performances you say? Of course. If government already owns the airwaves, what’s the argument against the right to tax ALL audio and light transmissions?
Concerned about blowback from the entertainment community? The Chicago Way has a way: threaten to exempt entertainment from copyright and trademark protection.

Send your lobbying dollars to Ratpac.com.

By: MaxMBJ

MaxMBJ — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:43:36 +0000

The view from across the sea(s) in good ol’ Lithuania, where I currently am teaching, is quite interesting. For all the money spent on foreign aid, for all the money spent on defense during the Cold War, for all the Christian work done in Eastern Europe, it must be acknowledged that it is Hollywood that transmits American values more than any other source.
.
My best English-speaking students tell me, to a person, that they learned their skills watching American TV, cartoons, and movies.
.
While I appreciate Dr. Zero’s somewhat tongue-in-cheek piece, the truth is conservatives should stop trying to bludgeon the world with their values and start producing some really good theater. I fault us, not THEM, for this failure. Mel Gibson proved you can promote conservative values without being didactic, obnoxious, or pathetic.
.
Young Christians and conservatives: hear me now. Get your degrees, go to Hollywood, inject your views via real stories, not semi-transparent allegories, and change the world. And we promise not to tax you to death in the process.

By: J.J. Sefton

J.J. Sefton — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:15:27 +0000

Go Doc!

I would dearly love to see Oprah’s ill-gotten gains ~~confiscated~~ taxed, as punishment for having inflicted King Hussein of the Teleprompter Manger upon us.

By: cntrlfrk

cntrlfrk — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:15:17 +0000

Adam Baldwin?

TheQuestion on November 20, 2009 at 5:14 AM

I think you mean Stephen. He’s a friend of Abe.

Blacksmith8 on November 20, 2009 at 9:56 PM

Does it really matter? There are too many Baldwins anyway.

By: KendraWilder

KendraWilder — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:13:16 +0000

Having worked for a smallish company in the TV entertainment industry, I can attest to their “cooking the books” to avoid paying corporate -and- personal income taxes on chunks of money, since I was the one they demanded do the cooking.

Guess when I said “no”, and a year later I refused to help one of the officers/stockholder-owners who demanded that I help slip extra money to him and his wife via the payroll processing, I rather hammered the last nail in my coffin. The hit was on, and within 8 miserable months after that last demand I was on the verge of being booted. Except I suddenly came down with a dreadful autoimmune disease and they didn’t have to worry any longer. I had to go on extended disability, after which they laid me off when things took a bad turn.

Now the company’s out of business, and that was many many years ago, so no use dragging details into the public arena. But the things I witnessed, being in top management, just appalled me, while at the same time they constantly assured me it was de rigueur for Hollywood.

Great article as usual, Doc!

By: rocketman

rocketman — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:12:01 +0000

***
Great post, Dr. Z. However, during your “lead in” describing the bad stuff the “perps” were doing you really faked me out!
***
I didn’t expect the “bad guy” to be Hollywood. Your descriptions fit THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE-and our EXECUTIVE BRANCH perfectly. Particularly as they throw my healthcare under the bus.
***
Keep up the good work.
***
John Bibb
***

By: Christian Conservative

Christian Conservative — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:33:15 +0000

Will never happen since Hollywood is the Left Coast propaganda arm to the Democrat party, and if and when Republicans are in power they will (maybe, if they’ve learned their lesson yet) reduce taxes on everyone. But thanks anyway Dr. Z for the dream.

By: redridinghood

redridinghood — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:53:51 +0000

It’s Hollywood that is responsible for the constant villification of Bush, Palin and Conservatives. Time to bleed the Beast. Don’t support anything that involves Hollywood. I’ve been doing this since 2008. If they don’t like Conservatives then I guess they don’t need their money either.

By: CCRWM

CCRWM — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:35:41 +0000

Excellent Idea…I say we go for it! It would be fun to see Zo or Crowder interview some of the celebs out there about giving up more of thoer money… Moore, Afleck Penn, Damon Clooney, Sarandon, Robbins, Jay Z, Combs, West all the vocal big mouths…

By: Cindy Munford

Cindy Munford — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:12:48 +0000

I’d like to see someone write an article about the write offs most of the Hollywood folks use for their charity events. I have seen little snarky remarks about their time(at exorbitant rates) the clothing, and the supporting staff, being used as tax deductions. I am sure that many are very giving people but I think they play the system every bit as expertly as Turbo Tax Timmy.

By: sawbuck

sawbuck — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:08:01 +0000

How ’bout some government mandated reductions in movie ticket prices (and Hollywierd can eat the losses). Along with foodstamps and unemployment checks the gubmint can issue free movie passes! Goin’ to the cineplex will be like goin’ to the DMV! I smell industry takeover! BO can give a speech explaining how the Weinstein Bros.’ et al. production companies are going to be taken over by a consortium of SAG, the NEA/NEH, and *ahem* Georgi Soros!
Hell, maybe they already ARE!!

By: Seven Percent Solution

Seven Percent Solution — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:05:52 +0000

I wouldn’t mind seeing everyone who is “exempted” from these bills taxed to dust…

By: bbh

bbh — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:04:49 +0000

Great point – trial lawyers next.

By: Blacksmith8

Blacksmith8 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:59:22 +0000

I enjoyed the lead in. I thought for sure Doc was going after trial lawyers. Big surprise it’s the “actors”. Personally, I don’t think some of them are really “acting”.

By: bbh

bbh — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:58:39 +0000

Oh yeah! Oprah, Reiner, Springsteen, Garofolo, Stewart, and Penn – the list of these buffoons is endless. They should be the first to volunteer their personal fortunes for redistribution.

By: Blacksmith8

Blacksmith8 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:56:59 +0000

Adam Baldwin?

TheQuestion on November 20, 2009 at 5:14 AM

I think you mean Stephen. He’s a friend of Abe.

By: Patricksp

Patricksp — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:42:10 +0000

Just look up “Jock Tax” and the NHL players when they play in Canada have a tax just to help float the other Canadian teams.

By: james23

james23 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:14:51 +0000

All in favor, say “Aye!”

By: bikermailman

bikermailman — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:13:30 +0000

Liberals like to be generous with other people’s money. rbj on November 20, 2009 at 8:38 PM

C'mon now...that's not other people's money, it's Obama money! You know, from his stash!

By: BKeyser

BKeyser — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:57:06 +0000

And there’s another wealthy group of Obama voters that should be hit with an 80 or 90% tax- team sport athletes.

By: katy

katy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:40:49 +0000

Let’s just ponder Michael Moore for a moment, and move on.

LOL!

By: Chubbs65

Chubbs65 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:40:00 +0000

Stands and claps.

At least sports types sacrifice their bodies.

By: rbj

rbj — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:38:14 +0000

Heh.

Spot on.

Liberals like to be generous with other people’s money.

By: javamartini

javamartini — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:30:47 +0000

I am going to print out this post and mail them disguised as fan letters to all the actors you mention…fun fun fun!

By: Robert17

Robert17 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:18:04 +0000

Let’s not stop at Hollywood. Entertainers of every stripe have engaged in largess both of political nature and incorrigible behavior that in many cases trumps Hollywood, when not commingled with Hollywood.

Admittedly some sports heroes have done some jail time, certainly more often than the Hollywood elite. They field themselves as role-models, rake in extraordinary paychecks, and often as not deliver little bang for the buck.

On to musical heroes. Hmmm, there’s a crew for you. OK, OK, there are some in this category just as there are in sports or Hollywood that have their act together, their heart in the game, but I just don’t need a Dixie Chick. And can you say Phil Specter? Count the number of times ZZ Top didn’t mention fellatio in a song, then divide into the sales-take on the album. Is that a way to calculate bang for the buck? (Pun intended)

A good hearty dose of taxation to relieve their suffering, used to open some detox centers, feed the hungry, bandage the injured may be appropriate. Somehow a 5% tax on Botox injections doesn’t feel like it would trickle down to the 2nd string left tackle of any NFL team, nor the latest keyboardist for the Stones (Harry, Nancy, Obamaramadama, you listening?) but a Windfall Profits Tax on all entertainers should be much easier to monitor off the form 1040’s, the box that says occupation. And failing to enter “Entertainer” in this box could result in a heavy fine as well. You guys are really missing the Golden Vein

By: acat

acat — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:00:24 +0000

That’s one golden ~~goose~~ turkey I’d happily serve for dinner next week…..

Mew

By: DrRansom

DrRansom — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:22:37 +0000

great article.

don’t you hate it when you try and watch a movie and then start thinking about an actor’s political headupassishness? i can’t tell you how many it’s ruined for me. _sigh_…

By: TheUnrepentantGeek

TheUnrepentantGeek — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:03:45 +0000

Somebody on Big Hollywood wrote a similar article a couple months ago. Can’t seem to find it though.

By: SWChance

SWChance — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:53:12 +0000

You hit it right on the head Doc. I was just thinking yesterday why someone like Lindsay Lohan has so much money when my own kind, caring & intelligent son works 60+ hours/wk to support himself. My son has so much more to offer this world than that skank.
Also, tax professional sports too please.

By: Free In Idaho! » Blog Archive » Taxing Plastic

Free In Idaho! » Blog Archive » Taxing Plastic — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:14:51 +0000

[...] been said (many times, many ways), but it’s always good every time I’ve heard it. Doc Zero suggests It’s time to tap the last untouched golden vein in the American economic bloodstream. Let’s tax [...]

By: casel21

casel21 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:12:52 +0000

Naturally, Dr Zero says it best. There is this paradox: the more socially “valuable” what you do is, the less you own it. The things a surgeon, inventor, hard-working businessman are so important to the rest of us that their freedom and salaries need to be controlled. Athletes and movie stars not so much.

By: JCred

JCred — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:38:30 +0000

I had a bad professional encounter with Will Farrel – he’s a complete douchebag.

I agree Doc, we can’t have one free industry tainting everything we’ve worked hard to ~~destroy~~ change. Organized and empowered, we can personally impose this particular tax.

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