France Goes After Actor Salaries; Sunday Shopping "Reform" French Style

Townhall.com ^ | December 14, 2014 | Mike Shedlock

[Kaslin]

Preposterous Film Setup

The entire process is preposterous from start to finish. France should get out of the movie-making business altogether. Instead it pays subsidies to films that the free market would never create, then to pay for that boondoggle it charges a tax on every ticket, every DVD, and every TV station.

With all that graft, it's no wonder some actors are overpaid.

Yet, it's highly likely that some are actually underpaid. The problem is government would have absolutely no way of knowing. With all the subsidies and taxes, it's impossible to know who is overpaid and who isn't.

What we do know is that dozens of bad films are subsidized in the name of "preserving culture". It's the same setup in France's agricultural industry, and everywhere else one looks as well.

For example, please consider Sunday shopping rules.

France Seeks to Liberalize Sunday Shopping

France-24 reports France Wants to Increase Sunday Shopping.

The French government wants shops to open on more Sundays, according to a proposed reform to be unveiled this week, but the measure is running into opposition.

In a country where stores are currently subject to tight restrictions on opening hours, the move is seen as a spur to much-needed consumption in an economy badly in need of a boost.

Town halls would be allowed to grant trading licences on 12 Sundays a year, compared to the current five Sundays annually. In addition, local officials would be obliged to grant five Sundays a year whereas currently they can decide to grant none.

But the measure has run into opposition in France where, unlike in many of its European rivals, the idea of Sunday as a day of rest still attracts considerable support.

Opposition to the Sunday opening comes from all points of the political spectrum, as well as from the Catholic and union lobbies.

An opinion poll published on Friday showed that 62 percent of respondents were in favour of shops opening on Sundays, although 60 percent said they would be reluctant to work on that day.

Sunday Shopping "Reform" French Style

• Towns halls could approve shopping on 12 Sundays up from the current 5
• Local officials would be obliged to offer 5 Sunday shopping days

This is so controversial, debate is at the highest levels. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said "Paris in particular was at risk of seeing visitors go elsewhere to spend unless retail laws were loosened." Nonetheless, Valls noted "there will be a debate" about the proposal.

[a fool in paradise]

Oldie but goodie

Will Smith is told France has 75% Tax Rate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyf6NvaAKHU

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Last year they went for 100% which I would imagine gave liberals here orgasms....as long as it’s not *their* money.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2013/05/21/french-tax-soars-over-100/

[ClearCase_guy]

This may cause Gerard Depardieu to urinate inside a jetliner again. He always reacts in unexpected ways when they tax him more.

[lormand]

I am all for an entire industry being forced to live under the Marxist rules that they wish upon everyone else.

All actor salaries should be $15/hour. It’s social justice after all.

[hosepipe]

Mosquitoes are very annoying.. Marxists are much much WORSE...
They dont want a drop of blood they want it ALL..

[ExCTCitizen]

I’m glad I can go and shop at Midnight if I want without resulting in looting. We love shopping on Sunday.

[lavaroise]

Ah, Europe, everything closed on Sunday except red light districts with all the sex toy shops and beer halls open...