Rich corporate greedheads don’t like high taxes on their obscene profits
And they’re screeching about having to pay their fair share. Hey, it’s for the good of the almighty Community, guys!
We’re constantly told that taxes don’t matter to business and investors, but listen to that noted supply-side economist, Alec Baldwin. The actor recently rebuked New York Governor David Paterson for threatening to try to help close the state’s $7 billion budget deficit by canceling a 35% tax credit for films shot in the Big Apple.
“I’m telling you right now,” Mr. Baldwin declared, “if these tax breaks are not reinstated into the budget, film production in this town is going to collapse, and television is going to collapse and it’s all going to go to California.” Well, well. Apparently taxes do matter, at least when it comes to filming “30 Rock” in Manhattan.
Believe it or not, Mr. Baldwin’s views are shared across the movie industry, which is pleading in state capitals across the country for most-favored-tax status. Hollywood productions are highly mobile and can film just about anywhere. So they have taken to shopping around the country — and the world — for the most lucrative tax avoidance deal.
Of course, this is the same Hollywood film industry whose members fund causes and candidates that favor raising taxes on everyone else. The Motion Picture Production and Distribution industry last year gave $14 million in political contributions: 89% went to pro-tax Democrats. A few years ago, director Rob Reiner funded a successful California initiative to raise the state income tax rate to more than 10%. Unlike a film shoot, which can relocate on a moment’s notice, your average small businessman in Encino is stuck paying the highest tax rate in the country — at least until he gives up and moves to Reno.
Which he really ought to do, forthwith. How perfectly typical of these fantastically hypocritical tapeworms: high taxes for thee, but not for me. As with their counterparts in Congress and untold numbers of the Current Occupant’s ruling junta, they decry corporations and the Evil Rich dodging their tax bill, while doing the same fucking thing themselves.
Is there anything in the whole world more supremely despicable than a limousine liberal? If there is, don’t tell me; things are sickening enough as it is.
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"You are use-ress, Arec Bardwin!"