Defending Kim Kardashian

Unlike my daughters, I am not a fan of Kim Kardashian. For one thing, she doesn’t like Minnesota. But Miss Kardashian has the same right to enjoy the fruits of her labor (such as it is) as the rest of us. Which is why it is important to defend her against this sort of attack:

First, protestors targeted the one percent. Now, they have their eye on just one — Kim Kardashian.

A California group calling itself the Courage Campaign has released an ad targeting Kardashian, arguing that the reality TV star needs to pay more in taxes. The television ad, and accompanying website TaxKimK.com, attempt to gain support for a November ballot initiative that calls for increasing taxes for California’s wealthiest citizens by 3 to 5 percent. …

After a montage of Kardashian images, the campaign alleges, “Kim Kardashian made $12 million in 2010!” The ad stacks this up against the average “Middle-Class Californian,” who made $47,000. The ad alleges that while Kardashian’s tax rate was 10.3% — just one percent higher than the tax rate for average citizens.

“Ask Kim to support the Millionaires Tax of 2012,” the ad concludes. “Not everyone was born a Kardashian, but we all need to pay our fair share.”

This illustrates the viciousness of the Left, which is always eager to target the unpopular. First they came for the Kardashians…

It also shows how unable liberals are to learn from their mistakes. California is dying because its high taxes and anti-business political climate have driven its most productive citizens, and many of its highest taxpayers, to other states. The result is a budget crisis from which California likely will not recover.

It is rather shocking that the state’s top income tax rate is already 10.3%. That rate, and the state’s other income tax rates, need to be lower, not higher. Moreover, the ad’s comparison is highly misleading. The $47,000 income earner (single, like Miss Kardashian, usually) pays 8% only on taxable income in excess of $38,000, which is almost certainly zero. That taxpayer’s effective rate, depending on deductions, is almost sure to be less than 4%. Kardashian, on the other hand, probably paid more than $1 million in income taxes to the state of California last year. That would seem to be her “fair share,” and more. In fact, California liberals should thank their lucky stars that there are still some high earners like Kardashian who haven’t left the state. If she were to follow her sister Khloe to Dallas, she could save around $1 million a year.

UPDATE: Dan Mitchell has more, including the ad:

Dan suggests that the lefties aren’t going far enough:

[L]ike the Nevada Realtors Association and Arizona Business Relocation Department, I’m going to support this ballot initiative.

Not because I overdid the rum and eggnog at Christmas, but because it’s good to have negative role models, whether they are countries like Greece, cities such as Detroit, or states like California.

So here’s my challenge to the looters and moochers of the Golden State. Don’t just boost the top tax rate by five-percentage points. That’s not nearly enough. Go for a 20 percent top tax rate. Or 25 percent. After all, think of all the special interests that could use the money more than Ms. Kardashian.

And if somebody tells you that she will move to South Beach or Las Vegas, or that the other rich people will move to Texas, Wyoming, or Tennessee, just ignore them. Remember, it’s good intentions that count.

Heighten the contradictions, Comrade!

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