Not Just Wall Street, but Hollywood Blvd., too
Surprise! The bailout includes unrelated giveaways to the undeserving rich!
Hollywood would get a little unexpected boost from the proposed $700-billion bailout of the nation's financial system.
The bill wending its way through Congress would provide tax breaks worth more than $470 million over the next decade for movie and TV producers that shoot in the U.S.
My favorite bit from the L.A. Times story:
Representatives of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, the Directors Guild of America and the Independent Film and Television Alliance, which backed the measures, said it was premature to comment because they had not been approved.
Like Congress, apparently, the MPAA doesn't want to get in the way of legislation by discussing it before it passes.
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
Any word on my bailout yet, Matt?
So Dan Glickman is D. B. Cooper?
Epi,
The man is a legend. I tip my hat to him.
A legend he is. Probably a dead legend, but so was Jesse James.
So should we expect a sequel to Boiler Room now where they lose money in high-stakes gambles and then a government official with lots of sex appeal hands them a huge check in a gripping climax?
Aren't tax breaks good for everyone in the long run? Aren't some better than all? We should be celebrating this, right?
Suck it down bitchez. I can't wait to see what else I can cram down your collective throats.
and don't forget
USA! USA! USA!
Episiarch! D.B. Cooper isn't DEAD!!! He lives as a pirate in Somalia doing what he does best.
I meant: "Aren't some better than none?"
anarch,
I'm always torn about that. On one hand, tax breaks are good. On the other hand, narrowly targeted tax breaks could be seen as having the effect of simply raising taxes on those outside the targeted class.
Dear Abby,
Is it morally acceptable for me to punch anyone who claims this bailout was necessary to save the economy? I understand the whole problem with "initiating force", but I'm not sure what other options I have. I promise to only punch men, but might make an exception for Megan McArdle.
Yes, the Film Actors Guild endorsed the measure, saying that actors and their servants would be living under a bridge without the bailout. Matt Damon was quoted as saying "Matt Damon!"
Extispicator, when I detect that response, I mean in myself, I suppress it as species of envy.
a species. Dunno what's with my typing today.
Lane, it's always morally acceptable to punch McArdle.
Aren't tax breaks good for everyone in the long run? Aren't some better than all? We should be celebrating this, right?
Targetted tax breaks distort the economy. Other entertainment businesses are put at an unfair disadvantage by giving tax breaks to Hollywood dipshit leftist fuckwads. Taxes need reduced and simplified. The present tax code is job security for tax lawyers and accountants, neither produce anything of real value.
You slept through Libertarianism 101, didn't you.
Dear Abby,
Is it morally acceptable for me to punch anyone who claims this bailout was necessary to save the economy?
It is not merely acceptable it is laudable. Then eat their brains.
By gosh, if the industry is not going to produce another in the Angel series then a government program is not only needed, it is required!
So, in the near future, movies won't suck as much as they do now. Right? RIGHT?
I just realized that Vancouver is probably trembling in abject fear that this might pass.
You slept through Libertarianism 101, didn't you.
Is there going to be a quiz later?
Why would that be, Episiarch? The state of British Columbia will benefit as well.
We haven't annexed it yet, ProL. But way to go giving away our evil plans.
This bill has become so porky that it may not come up for a vote in the House before they adjourn to campaign. At least I hope that's the case. Anything but passage...
Episiarch,
Can't blame me for that. As we discussed in another thread, Barry gave the game away when he mentioned 57 states--the U.S. plus the seven bordering provinces.
That's eight. Or six if you exclude Nova Scotia and Ontario because they only have water borders.
Seven, Eight, who cares? We don't need to count, we just take what we want.
The funniest part is that we'd take all the Canadian provinces by force, but still ignore Puerto Rico. Always at the dance, but never asked to dance.
If it's not 7, the Obama angle doesn't work. You're not very good at this, are you? Either way, you're forgetting about the plans to grant statehood to DC, Puerto Rico, Darfur and Monaco.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought we agreed no Quebec. Do you really want all those snotty francophiles gumming up the works?
They've been asked to dance several times in the form of referenda on statehood/independence/status quo. Statehood's never won.
I count seven provinces actually bordering the U.S.:
* Alberta
* British Columbia
* Manitoba
* New Brunswick
* Ontario
* Quebec
* Saskatchewan
Nova Scotia is not a bordering province in my book, and Ontario touches Minnesota, does it not?
We are going to make the Maritime provinces into just 1 state? Right? Im not into giving PEI two senators.
Six of those provinces are coming over voluntarily; we're forcibly annexing and occupying the other one. All part of the Sanders Plan, conceived by the Masons and the Stonecutters.
Isnt Nova Scotia Northern Maine? Or am I getting my canadian provinces confused? I thought there was a Maine - NS border.
Pro Lib,
What about the No Homers? Are they involved too?
Maine borders Qu?bec and New Brunswick Stew Land.
Okay, looked at a map, I got Nova Scotia and New Brunswick confused. Actually, I thought NS was where NB was and thought NB was Newfoundland and forgot about Nova Scotia.
Democrats, tools of the Wall Street rich. God damn their 'rescue' plan. Oh, and man how quick the media got on board with the talking points. Rescue plan, my ass.
I want British Columbia for myself. You guys fight over the rest.
Minnesota's border with Ontario is the Rainy River and the Lake of the Woods (and a few other lakes). All water.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought we agreed no Quebec. Do you really want all those snotty francophiles gumming up the works?
Do you really want to give up Shatner just to get rid of Celine Dion?
My suggestion would be take the maritime 4 (NS, NB, NFL&L and PEI) in as one state. Leave Quebec and Ontario alone. Take the western provinces in as states. That only adds 5 states. With Puerto Rico and Baja California, that make the 7 states that Barry spoke of.
I leave for just a little bit and you guys are warring over a tundra farm?
JEESH! You are worse than women fighting over shoes!
Do you really want to give up Shatner just to get rid of Celine Dion?
It's a tough call, but yeah, if we have to take out The Shat to get to her, it's a worthy sacrifice for a worthy cause. I think Shat would agree, since he hasn't banged her.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought we agreed no Quebec. Do you really want all those snotty francophiles gumming up the works?
No worry, we assimilated Louisiana just fine.
robc,
I believe Barry was including DC in the mix. That one actually has Presidential Electors too.
I want British Columbia for myself. You guys fight over the rest.
Fuck you, dude, I'm gonna be King of Vancouver.
No, we should cede Prince Edward Island to the Czech Republic, just to annoy the world map poster makers. Not sure what to do with the Northwest Territories, though.
No worry, we assimilated Louisiana just fine.
OK, just Montreal, since it has such a kicking sex trade industry, but the rest of it can go pound sand.
Fuck you, dude, I'm gonna be King of Vancouver.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE. I am NOT taking no fucking Manitoba!
I am NOT taking no fucking Manitoba!
You can have Yellowknife.
What the holy goddamn fuck.
Whenever I would see a preview for some Micheal Bay or Will Smith or Richard Gere shitfest or Disney abomination, I could at least take comfort that it was between Hollywood and ignorant moviegoers and it wouldn't cost me any time or money.
Apparently that is now only half true.
Lakes and rivers are different, border-wise, than the friggin' ocean. Just for that, we're going to institute an affirmative action program for non-Canadian hockey players.
Incidentally, since The Shat comes from Qu?bec and since we're occupying and defrenchifying the former province, I suggest that we rename it Shatnertoba. Or maybe Kirok.
Prior estimates put the origin of HIV at 1930. But Michael Worobey of the University of Arizona in Tucson now believes HIV began infecting humans between 1884 and 1924.
When will the 19th century stop trying to kill us?
I suggest that we rename it Shatnertoba. Or maybe Kirok.
Tiberiusland?
I think Shat would agree, since he hasn't banged her.
Are you sure about that? How do you know?
I suggest that we rename it Shatnertoba. Or maybe Kirok.
Tiberiusissippi!
OK, I'll take Quebec, but ONLY if I can violently put down their strikes and revolts. You *know* they're going to have them.
Damn you Epi.
Not sure what to do with the Northwest Territories, though.
Send our units over from Kamchatka of course.
I love the trend of every article's comment section getting turned into nonsense.
Are you sure about that? How do you know?
We'd ALL know.
Shameless and craven. That, they are.
Alkirka? Captain Kirk Island? New Hesdeadjimland? Nova Shatneria?
JW,
That's the whole point of the merger, from the Canadian and U.S. federal governments' perspective.
Sage:
"Yes, the Film Actors Guild endorsed the measure, saying that actors and their servants would be living under a bridge without the bailout. Matt Damon was quoted as saying 'Matt Damon!'"
Ha! Excellent.
but ONLY if I can violently put down their strikes and revolts
If you promise to do that, the rest of Canada will give you Quebec no questions asked.
I just realized that Vancouver is probably trembling in abject fear that this might pass.
My first thought, too. Their economy would crumble without the many sci-fi shows filmed there.
You can have Yellowknife.
Anyone stupid enough to accept one of the friggin' territories in this draft deserves what they get.
If Epi promises to be a good, non-raping kind of king, I'll return to being a subject in the Kingdom of Vancouver. There are lots of lovely waterfront properties and boats we can steal from their rightful owners...that's never happened in Canadian history, nope!
Alkirka? Captain Kirk Island? New Hesdeadjimland? Nova Shatneria?
I think you may be on to something there old chum.
Canada=Roddenberrydonia
PEI=Regulus VI
Nova Scotia=Ceti Alpha V
New Brunswick=Rigel VII
Quebec=Orion Slave Girl land
Ontario=DeForest Ontario
Manitoba=Mantraptobia
Alberta=For the world is hollow and I have touched the Mountie
Saskatchewan=Sarekchewan
British Columbia=New Shatner
If Epi promises to be a good, non-raping kind of king, I'll return to being a subject in the Kingdom of Vancouver
Hmm...no raping.
(thinks briefly, realizes that he's not a rapist)
Sounds good! However, there may be some pillaging as obviously, with that much power, I will be corrupted.
There are lots of lovely waterfront properties and boats we can steal from their rightful owners
...and I see you already thought of that.
As long as they're throwing money at everything to buy support for this welfare-for-the-rich scheme, might I suggest sizable sum for the immediate expansion of the Lingere Football League (gives a whole new meaning to fantasy football). At any rate, maybe Seattle can stop whining about losing the Sonics now that they have the Mist.
Sounds good! However, there may be some pillaging as obviously, with that much power, I will be corrupted.
Pillaging goes without saying. It's all settled, then. We will have cordial but lucrative trade relations with surrounding New Shatner (previously Shanialand), and will become the premier party destination due to our hot women and lack of any fun-inhibiting laws.
Some years ago, while I was living (and voting) in Canada, I figured out an amount that it would take for the US government to pay 50% of the eligible Canadian voters $1 million each to vote to join the US.
I don't remember the total then, but I just figured it out for today's Canadian population and it comes to about $575 billion, or 25% less than $700 billion. And that's for 50% of Canadian voters. The truth however is that historically, Canadian elections have been won with about 60% voter turn out, and the winning party with 40% or less of the popular vote... so... taking all that into account, it is possible we could simply buy Canada for slightly less than $200 billion, and we'd be creating several million new millionaires with cash to spend and invest in ... ta da... US!
Are ya willing to take on all of Canada, all of it including Quebec, Vancouver, Nunavut, Yellowknife, fucki' Manitoba, the Maritime Provinces, Newfies, Shat, Celine, and a province mostly full of tree huggers and gun banners (British Columbia) for the special deal, low-risk investment of $200 bucks for every man, woman and child in the US. (I've always wondered why that "man, woman, child" thing - is "child" a gender?)
You can put down rebellions, sort out senators, annex, clear-cut, de-register guns, whatever... later.
Its less than a third of what the US Senate is playing with now, and we could still make movies in Vancouver! Whaddya think?
How much oil does Canada have?
We will have cordial but lucrative trade relations with surrounding New Shatner (previously Shanialand), and will become the premier party destination due to our hot women and lack of any fun-inhibiting laws.
Excellent. I like the way you think.
I must think of a position and title for you. You may make suggestions.
I must think of a position
Dirty!
You may make suggestions.
Chief Executive in Charge of Quality Control: Fast Boats, Fine Food and Wine Division.
Or, if there is any doubt that our kingdom is in fact a private business:
Princess of Luxury Real Estate Aquisition and Coca Imports.
Position: 69
Title: Your Babe-ness
Dirty!
Of course! 😉
Or, if there is any doubt that our kingdom is in fact a private business
Our? I suppose. I am not greedy. "Princess of Luxury Real Estate Aquisition and Coca Imports" it is. But I will take a substantial cut of your "imports".
Position: 69
Title: Your Babe-ness
Ha!
Never go down on a Canuck. They take the "beaver" notion way too literally.
Is "Copyright Law" the bailout you're talking about? The MPAA and RIAA have been getting regular bailouts for the last 30 years.
Got my vote!
Let's hear it for Low Carbs!
Never go down on a Canuck. They take the "beaver" notion way too literally
Ha! You have officially met your skeeve-out quota for the day, SF.
But I will take a substantial cut of your "imports".
I suspected as much.
Incidentally, I do also answer to 'Your Babe-ness.'
Ha! You have officially met your skeeve-out quota for the day, SF.
Woo-Hoo!
cornhorn-dog 17 years agoI'm changing my handle to Low Carb Canuck!
C'mon down.
I will be "The Dude" of Quebec Orion Slave Girl land, so long as you don't pee on my rug.
Do that, and be prepared taste my steel, as dueling shall be the sanctioned method of arbitration in my lands.
This is typical Washington thinking at work. The more pork you add to a bill the better it will taste. It applies to democrats and republicans alike.
Now will see if it's tasty enough for the house.
I suspected as much.
Of course. I will be cruel but fair. And very demanding ;-D
Incidentally, I do also answer to 'Your Babe-ness.'
I suspected as much. How could you properly represent my Kingdom if not?
Never go down on a Canuck. They take the "beaver" notion way too literally.
Wait, don't you have a beard? Doesn't that therefore kind of end up as a wash? You know, like, there's a bunch of hair "in the general area" either way?
Not sure what to do with the Northwest Territories, though.
Send our units over from Kamchatka of course.
Yukon count on this plan not working.
I think there's another region in the way as well, but I'm not sure. Perhaps Sarah Palin knows. I'll ask her.
You know, like, there's a bunch of hair "in the general area" either way?
Hair? I can handle hair. I'm talking about the buck teeth, mud and twigs! Jeesh! Don't you know anything about womyn?
And very demanding ;-D
"Even if it means me taking a chubby, I will suck it up."
(If you're torn between picturing a hot girl and David Cross, I have done my job.)
I'm talking about the buck teeth, mud and twigs!
The teeth especially disgusting since they're all orange n'shit. Because womyn definitely don't believe in Crest Whitestrips Sexist PatriarchyStrips. And the mud is Gaia's preferred sunscreen.
(If you're torn between picturing a hot girl and David Cross, I have done my job.)
Aiiighhhh! Damn you!
"Oh, I've been in the film business for a while, but I just can't seem to get one in the can."
Is "Copyright Law" the bailout you're talking about? The MPAA and RIAA have been getting regular bailouts for the last 30 years.
Speaking, of which, have you seen the latest, the PRO-IP bill? Creates a Cabinet-level "copyright czar," increases penalties on piracy. The bill did contain orders for the DOJ to go after civil copyright infringement cases and sent the recovered damages to the copyright holders, essentially doing pro bono (pro malo?) for the RIAA and MPAA. That last noxious provision was stripped when the White House and DOJ complained.
Apparently there's some vague hope of a pocket veto, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Pro Lib...all that separates Maine and Nova Scotia is a dinky little bay. There's even a ferry that goes from Eastport to Yarmouth.