Two Americas: The movie
Don't know how our friends at RealClearPolitics missed this poignant elaboration of the standard John Edwards campaign shtick by George Washington University economics professor Bryan Boulier: "Two Americas: The movie." Professor Boulier reports:
The following is a plank that was introduced, but is now mysteriously missing from the Democratic Party Platform:Professor Boulier notes the windfall profits earned by the film industry and the outrageous salaries paid to its executives and stars. He also notes that American filmgoers subsidize the tickets of foreign fans. He concludes:There are two Americas — one for people who can afford to go to movies and one for those who cannot. Rich Americans can obtain high-quality education on important national and international issues by attending lucid documentaries such as Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/ll." Poor Americans must rely upon old-fashioned methods of acquiring information, by reading books and newspapers and listening to biased right-wing radio programs, tasks consuming valuable quality time that could be better spent around the kitchen table with children.
It is time for new initiatives in government policy. A commission to investigate the practices of this industry and to formulate needed regulations is urgently needed. The millions of Americans who work hard every day at minimum wages should not have to worry about sacrificing food, clothing and shelter so that their children and elderly parents can go to movies. A tax credit for tickets would help those who are deprived, so that they, too, can share the benefits of movie attendance already enjoyed by those who are more fortunate.Here I think Professor Boulier goes astray. Controls on ticket prices would clearly be the preferred solution. Otherwise, a bravura performance.
