Silver lining
Kinda hard to see it, but there is one:
But seriously, for the people who are leading the environmental movement and spearheading efforts to turn the Academy Awards green, cut back on the number of SUV’s in their entourage, and demonstrate frugality to Al Gore, this is such a great opportunity to demonstrate restraint and help out the new President. What better way to show solidarity with Democrats who want to impose a command and control economy and to confiscate wealth from the rich. Especially since everyone needs to make sacrifices right now. Not to worry though, Steven Spielberg and crew, it will feel patriotic.
As such, we should cap the compensation that movie studios and Silver Screen stars make, particularly given the wealth disparities between the actors and actresses and the grips, stagehands, and extras. While there will be times for profits, this is not that time, especially when people are losing jobs and the Golden State’s $40 billion budget deficit is bigger than most countries’ total economic GDP.
I am one hundred percent for it. How can Hollywood actors, directors, and other big shots possibly justify their obscene profits and outrageously high — even criminal — salaries, when so many in the country they love (this week) are hurting?
How much is enough, Hollywood greedheads?
These rapacious fatcats have way more than they need, and we all know it; the disgusting spectacle of relentless, wasteful consumerism they present is morally stultifying and wholly indecent. It’s time for them to give something back to the community they’ve leeched off of for too long now. In this unprecedented crisis, we must all pull together in a new spirit of unity, and if persuading them requires a little prodding from the ol’ big-government bayonet, well, what’s good enough for the rest of us in flyover country ought to be good enough for them too. If we don’t all buckle down and do our part here, the catastrophe that will surely result will be of a magnitude unparalleled in the history of the universe.
SOCIALISM NOW! Start in Hollywood. Let those who have whined the loudest and longest for it show us all the way. Forward, comrades, for the good of the collective!
Update! Allahpundit provides some specific proposals, all of which ought to be mandated immediately:
Barney Frank’s already declared open season on executive compensation whether it’s tied to government rescue programs or not. Instead of pledging to pet their dogs a few extra times a day or whatever, celebs could pledge to cap salaries at 500K per film — with a new Celebrity Windfall Tax imposed to recoup the huge profits the industry will make with costs cut so dramatically. No need to worry about disincentives, either: The prospect of global fame will continue to attract talent to film and TV notwithstanding the “meager” pay. Everyone wins! Exit question: Second look at socialism?
Hell, yeah. That’s Change! I can believe in.
- Entries
