This is a copy of a letter that I am going to send to members of the Congress from the State of Florida. I am in the process of searching out their email addresses to do so (it is much harder than you think to get this information) as well as sending a copy to all the major news networks, prominent radio shows and blog sites. I just wanted to give you all a first look at it. It is time we all come together and support the President, but to do so in a small way that will prove beyond a doubt that one of his most controversial idea could work.
To: The Florida Congressional Delegation of 2012
Dear Senators and Representatives,
Now that our very contentious election is behind us and President Obama has won a second term in office I believe that it is time to put partisanship behind us and find ways to work with each other. This will mean having to do what most of you consider to be political suicide, but in order for our nation to remain a great one we will have to do it. You will have to compromise and give both sides some of what they want.
I have always been one that wants to offer solutions instead of contributing to the problem. To that end I believe that we need to embrace one of the President’s proposals and generate much needed revenue for our nation. It is time that we tax the Millionaires and Billionaires (those that make over $250,000 a year). However a vast number of Americans do not believe that this approach will work so we must ask a sub group of the Millionaires and Billionaires to step up and be a test so show this nation that it will work. This way we can test the idea that raising much needed revenue can be achieved through this method without harming our economic engines in the process.
I call this the Moore-Simmons Act (named after two great champions of the underprivileged and members of the M&B subgroup this act will target Michael Moore and Russell Simmons). This Act will raise the income tax rate on those in the entertainment industry who make over $250,000 a year to a modest 75%. This would apply to anyone who performs in movies, television, radio, plays, or concerts and associated functions that draw income from the industry (i.e. agents, producers, directors, etc). There is a vast pool of citizens who get in front of a camera that make vast amounts of money that they should be paying a higher rate. Anyone, from Oscar award winning actors to newscasters to reality TV stars, to musicians playing sold out concerts and the thousands more who benefit directly from their labors would be included. They can afford it.
Also in the Moore-Simmons Act we could tax any production that outsources its work overseas just to avoid Federal and State taxes. Did you know that many of our movies and television shows that depict their stories being set in American cities are actually shot in Canada, New Zealand or Australia to get around tax and union rules? That is a travesty that must be answered and this Act will do it. Also we can require that all productions of movies, television, radio and even news broadcast would be required to utilize union labor no matter where in the world it is produced. Those hard working men and women deserve work and employment and it is shoddy for the Big Corporations that produce them to move them out of the country to avoid giving them much needed work.
Now I know that some of you may claim that raising taxes this much would be unfair and end up destroying the Entertainment Industry. I do not think it would do so. Many in this industry have publically stated that they would love to have the government raise their taxes and have publicly supported our President in his attempts to do so. I am sure that with their open and public platforms many would support this and produce tweets and You Tube videos in support. If it works and we can show the American people that you can raise taxes this much on Millionaires and Billionaires without destroying the Entertainment Industry then we can spread it to other sectors of the public as well. If it turns out to be a disaster and destroy the livelihoods of thousands of people it will be OK because out of all the economic engines in our country the Entertainment one produces the least for the amount of money they earn and also there are scores of young men and women in this country that would be willing to star in the next Hollywood film for far less money than Tom Hanks or Gwyneth Paltrow will accept, or cut a hit record for less money than Madonna or Jay-Z.
This may also help artist because if they have to pay a higher tax rate then they will have to make more money to pay it and live the life they are accustomed to (one that many of us in the 99% could never afford) they would actually start putting out movies, television shows and music that people would actually enjoy partaking in, instead of the steady stream of mediocrity that they produce now.
So, I urge each and every one of you to create and pass the Moore-Simmons Act for the good of our country. It is time that we work together and at least test to see if some of the President’s ideas will work for our country. I know that this may not be done before January but for those of you that are still in congress you can work on this now. For those that lost their elections and will be departing I thank you for your service and ask that you forward this to the incoming member that will be taking your place in a show of bipartisanship.
Please consider this. It will help heal our country and make us strong again. It will be a test of a greater idea and those immediately affected by it will surely not mind since they have more than they need and have stated their willingness to give.
Sincerely,
Derek Collins
Jacksonville, FL
Further contact information available upon request.
P.S. In addition to your esteemed selves I will be forwarding a copy of this letter to all the major news networks as well as several prominent radio host and blog sites to help build popular bipartisan support.
Awesometific American 