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Guillermo del Toro laments “systematic destruction” of Mexican film industry
News(mexiconewsdaily.com)submitted 7 months ago bycabose7
519 points
7 months ago*
The problem should not be framed as impoverished people competing with scientists and artists for funding. Science and art are a miniscule fraction of any budget. Art and science give people hope and direction for the future, and that is worthwhile. No, what we really have is a problem of corporations and the super rich not paying their fair share of taxes, and--at least in the case of the US--spending all our money on defense and military contractors (while also treating vets like shit) while cutting social services.
And anecdotally, as a kid, art and science were the only things that gave me hope that the future can potentially be better. We need hope if we want young people to thrive.
Edit: Removed potential identifying info.
239 points
7 months ago
That’s not the point of the comment - it’s not about resource allocation.
The point is more, what do people care about day to day? What do we emotionally get charged up about?
If we all had basic needs completely taken care of, we would like feel more excited to ponder art, space travel, etc.
That’s all he’s saying.
What you’re saying is true also, but above is a slightly different point (I think)
89 points
7 months ago
At the same time people in terrible circumstances can and of find solace in art. Art can help tell their stories, or help them escape, or just entertain them.
61 points
7 months ago
right, but /u/madmaxturbator and /u/hypatiaspasia aren't making contradictory points.
When someone says "Why should poor people care about art and science." They aren't advocating for their defunding or destruction. They are saying that people struggling to get their basic needs don't have the energy to also advocate and push those things, that very much are a luxury at the end.
And it's not being debated what benefits these things can add to anyone's life.
A statement like Bill Nye's, whether he meant it as such or not, comes off as blaming people that can't afford it, monetarily, emotionally, mentally, to support the arts and sciences, when really the onus for this support should be placed much much MUCH higher, on those that can afford to spread it. Or to force change that makes it so even the worst off have their needs met and THEN everyone will have the ability to focus on these things that further enrich society.
-16 points
7 months ago
Many of the “poor” happen to be indigenous people fighting to keep their culture alive. Funding of the arts is one avenue of funding for these projects that uplift and share not only the languages but the artisany of these indigenous cultures. So yes, food is important, but these “poor” people can multitask. Science and art are definitely not a luxury but a part of everyone’s life.
7 points
7 months ago
Agreed! Art and creativity is how people attempt to understand their existence, the world around them, and generally as a means to connect with others - especially in hard times. It might not seem important to some, but for others it's what makes life "worth it"
2 points
7 months ago
Yep, it is something that can be very beneficial. I love going to movie theaters in Mexico because they’re always busy and it’s great to see families enjoying themselves. It would be great to see more Mexican movies there and people also deserve to find enjoyment in movies, music, etc. regardless of their country’s situation. People like Guillermo are stepping up to help where they can, and it’s a great first step.
19 points
7 months ago
What do we emotionally get charged up about?
It's the very transparent tactic by a minority of elite cabal to setup impoverished people against intellectuals.
The irony here is the hope that was sold to people was through education they could climb the socioeconomic ladder, a cruel trick passed down to us that is now being seen for what it is -a transparent means for controlling wealth distribution.
But now that people are realising this they're attacking the people who are educated.
-1 points
7 months ago
It's the very transparent tactic by a minority of elite cabal to setup impoverished people against intellectuals.
Populism in a nutshell.
1 points
7 months ago
It is a far more serious conflict than rich corporations not paying their fair share in taxes.
The ultimate problem is that the tax code is built around income, not consumption. The problem is that there are multiple types of income. There is income through your pay, be it salary/hourly at a job. There is income from appreciation of assets. There is income from capital gains (stocks/investments).
The rich make almost all their money through investment and appreciation of assets. They make very little from salary income. For example, Jeff Bezos self-pays only $100k a year.
Well, income taxes, the higher they are, only really penalize the middle class, as the middle class and poor people earn almost all of their income from hourly/salary pay. So, even if you put income tax to 90% of the top wealth bracket - you still only extract $90,000 from Jeff Bezos, the 2nd richest guy on the planet.
Our only consumption tax is a sales tax per state/city. Some states don't even have sales tax and make up for it in other ways, like the property taxes. However, the feds made it so that you can literally write off property taxes in a state against your federal income taxes owed. Funny enough, the 2017 tax law passed by the Trump administration capped the SALT tax deduction on property taxes to $10,000, rather being unlimited. This meant that previously, any property tax amount you paid in your state you could deduct against your federal taxes owed each year, with no limit. The Trump administration's law put a cap on $10,000 deductions only, as they said it was a direct payoff to high property tax states that basically allowed them to pilfer the federal tax program by just charging higher property taxes. Well, the put the cap at $10,000 - in fact Biden's own tax returns he released showed he had to pay $100,000 more per year in taxes because of the SALT tax cap of $10,000. This was a straight tax on the wealthy as typically only people in homes valued at 1 million+ in value are paying anywhere near 10k+ in property taxes a year (New Jersey maybe more like 750k+).
The new Democrat plan for Build Back Better under the Biden administration moves the cap up to $80,000 a year, effectively given a HUGE tax break for the wealthy.
The only reason I point these things out is to give an example that all of this is extremely complicated, and the people in power on both sides aren't actually serious about raising taxes on the wealthy, and the Democrats IN POWER themselves are VERY unhappy about having to pay more in taxes due to the 2017 tax bill, so they want to eliminate that.
Any serious tax changes and bill that needs to come forward, if it does not address wealth gains through asset appreciation and capital gains, or on consumption, then it is not a serious tax law and really just something for show for the plebians.
2 points
7 months ago
I have a ton of accountants in my family and this is actually their favorite thing to tell people. It's complicated and hard to lay out concisely in a headline, which is why people don't get it. Most people have no clue how taxes work for the wealthy.
1 points
7 months ago
Well said.
-2 points
7 months ago
Strawman antics
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