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‘The Lovitz Curve’: The Chart That Shows Hollywood Dems Can Only Take So Much Class Warfare

The Lovitz Curve Theorizes Hollywood Dems Can Only Take So Much Class WarfareComedian Jon Lovitz

Playing off Arthur Laffer’s groundbreaking work on tax rates and revenue generation, a recent article from popular PJ Media blogger “Zombie” theorizes that wealthy, left-leaning donors will abandon President Barack Obama if he continues to double down on the whole anti-“1 percent” thing.

Named after the famous “Laffer Curve,” they’re calling it the “Lovitz Curve.”

But perhaps we should explain a little bit more about the “Laffer Curve.” Let’s turn to the Zombie’s article for a simple and succinct explanation:

…the Laffer Curve was a brilliantly simple economic graph which demonstrated that government revenue grows as taxes are increased only up to a certain point, after which revenues begin to decline as tax rates approach 100%.

The high point on the graph (below) represents the optimum rate of taxation. Anything left or right of center results in a reduction of generated revenues.

The Lovitz Curve Theorizes Hollywood Dems Can Only Take So Much Class WarfareThe Laffer Curve.

But what’s the reasoning behind Laffer’s proposition? Again, we turn to Zombie for the explanation:

Obviously if tax rates are 0%, then the government will collect no tax revenue; but if tax rates are 100%, then the government will almost certainly also collect no tax revenue, because there would be no motivation for anyone to work, earn or invest, since all their income would go directly to the government.

A tax rate of 100% may sound tempting at first, but since it would precipitate an economic collapse, the end result would be no economic activity to tax, and thus no revenue. Therefore, the most effective tax rate is somewhere in the middle.

So now that we understand how the “Laffer Curve” works and the theory behind it, we can turn to the “Lovitz Curve.”

Zombie came up with the “Lovitz Curve” after actor and comedian Jon Lovitz, a professed Democrat and supporter or President Barack Obama, went off on his now-famous “bulls**t” rant against the president’s economic policies.

Apparently, the whole “fair share,“ ”play by the rules,” and let’s tax “millionaires and billionaires,” thing can be taken too far. Lovitz and a few other left-leaning Hollywood types (who he says are too afraid to speak out) are finding their breaking point, or so says the article.

The “Lovitz Curve” argues that that many in people in Hollywood and other affluent, left-leaning areas of America enjoy, support, and appreciate rhetoric that rails against “corporate fat cats” and the greedy “1 percent.” However, the confiscation of wealth via high taxes will eventually include the Hollywood types.

“Wealthy West Coast liberals will cheer on and swoon over any politician who engages in overheated class warfare rhetoric — up until a certain point, when it suddenly dawns on them that the rhetoric is aimed directly at themselves,” the article points out.

“Then very quickly their donations, fundraisers and helpful propagandizing start to dry up as the radical rhetoric begins to threaten them personally,” the article adds.

So based on the theory that left-leaning celebrities will only support anti-wealthy dialogue to a certain point, we present Zombie’s “The Lovitz Curve”:

 The Lovitz Curve Theorizes Hollywood Dems Can Only Take So Much Class WarfareThe Lovitz Curve

“[T]he Lovitz Curve is going to be a rude awakening for the Obama campaign,” the article adds.

It continues:

He and his strategists had thought that they could amp up the class warfare rhetoric to the absolute maximum and still count on unquestioned support and unlimited donations from the Hollywood elite. But Jon Lovitz’s game-changing rant brought them crashing down to Earth; turns out that the wealthy liberals have acquired a taste for luxury, and their guilt-assuaging support for the proletariat has a limit. Obama unwittingly crossed that line, and he learned the hard way that the curve’s drop-off…is steep and pitiless as you approach Leninhood.

Now although the graph and the idea behind it is pretty humorous, it raises a good question: At what point will wealthy Democrat donors realize that a lot of this amped-up,  anti-“1 percent” rhetoric will eventually be aimed at them?

Will they realize the implications of anti-wealthy rhetoric and have their own Lovitz-style rant, or will they continue to go on supporting the White House’s crusade against people who aren’t “paying their fair share”?

By the way, Zombie has another variation of the “Lovitz Curve” he says is more accurate. See it here.

This article has been updated.

Comments (108)

1 2 3
  • hauschild
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 5:03pm

    I just wanna be loved; is that sooooo wrong???

    Report Post »  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 6:49pm

      Spell check please

      “left-leaning donors will abandon President Barack Obama is he continues to double down on the whole anti-“1 percent” thing.”

      Should be “as he continues” not “is he continues”…

      Pontiac  
    • lovenfl3
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:28pm

      While I agree with Lovitz, it’s kind of funny watching some of these liberals coming out now when their pocketbook is being threatened. What did these liberals think they were voting into office? I bet they were laughing at Joe the plumber, now we’re laughing at them. He who laughs last…..
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R83lXxK_8SI

      Report Post » lovenfl3  
    • Hollywood
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 9:41pm

      NOPE. And Bawnie Fwank will be looking for a little action, on the side. Careful what you ask for! Better be a LOT more SPECIFIC nowadays. HOLLYWOOD bubble allows little Oxygen inside. That is why MOST are brain damaged, thinking they are Intelligent, because they can ACT![Well,some anyone]. They believe this ability gives them WISDOM to discern what is right or wrong in the world, and THEY can change things.

      Report Post » Hollywood  
    • WatchingAmericaDie
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 12:00am

      To Pontiac: I think it should be “if”, not “is”.

      Report Post »  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 11:02am

      @WatchingAmericaDie
      You’re right. I hit that word and got focused in on the few words adjacent to it.

      Report Post » Pontiac  
    • muffythetuffy
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 9:38pm

      The Hollywood Elites lost a lot of money in the Obama stock market, bonds market, and real estate markets. Do these elites really want four more years of Obama? Democrat-Commies may be telling everyone that O received 15M but there isn’t anyway to prove it. No one wants O for 4 more years.

      Report Post »  
    • koyettsu
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 10:18am

      They need to make a Constitutional amendment that says the Govt. may not tax or charge fees equaling above 15% of a personals take home pay. They need another one also saying no budget, politicians in the senate go to jail for life. Finally they need another one that says the Govt. may not through budgeting and special spending spend more than they take in and the Govt. borrowing money is illegal.

      Report Post »  
  • moussiagilda
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 4:24pm

    There’s a measure of truth to that.

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:56pm

    I new an Execute of a Major Corporation… who had a Chart of the Curve… and would explain every Product & Idea… using it! The Executives thought he was a Genius… I thought he was an Idiot!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • kat747
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:54pm

    Hollywood should be a lot nicer to the little guys under the top 1%. Those are the people going to the movies, buying/renting DVD’s and Blue Rays. If this economy keeps tanking under this demonocrat, the little guys will not be paying $10 to see a movie or buying/renting DVD or watching cable tv. There goes your income Hollyood ! Who is laughing now ?

    Report Post »  
    • jcldwl
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 4:12pm

      We have already stopped going to movies, renting dvd’s and we dumped our dish when Glenn left Fox. There is nothing Hollywood puts out that is worth supporting.

      Report Post » jcldwl  
    • vcforlife
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 6:29pm

      I have been boycotting Hollywood for years. I was disgusted with their vile comments against Bush and Republicans. Also, Johnny Depp stated he hates America and in fact he called us beasts, I have not watched any of his movies and encourage all Americans to boycott him. He needs to be asked why is he making movies here if he hates America. Hollywood is a enabler for Obama’s Socialist Agenda. The only way to stop them is to shut off the money spigot.

      Report Post »  
  • inferno
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:50pm

    If there is one movie roll most in Hollywood are perfectly type cast for it is the roll of a flaming idiot.
    Even that is difficult for most, even the average idiot realizes that ‘s what he or she is. Most actors are completely unaware. Did I say actors, sorry. If anyone has seen a movie lately, we no longer have actors, with computer graphics, we only have REACTORS, trying to react in front of a green wall.

    Report Post »  
  • Maxim Crux
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:48pm

    So how come Lovitz is not hosting an Aniti-Commie Clooney/Obama dinner at his house to raise money for the other guy?

    Report Post »  
  • Kenny_in_Indiana
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:45pm

    I wish everyone in Hollywood would shut up and dance like we pay them to do. I don’t care about any of their political views BECAUSE they are actors and actresses. To act, at it’s core, is to lie. To tell a story by acting like a character from the story and making it believable to us. Example, George Clooney portraying a simple minded buffoon in O Brother Where Art Thou all the way to a thieving mastermind in Ocean’s Eleven. SO, since at the core, actor’s and actresses are basic liars, the monkeys need to shush and dance like we pay them to do.

    Report Post »  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 12:21am

      Here, here…I think George Clooney knows what’s best for Americans. George Clooney is a god. And so is Obama. George makes around $100 mil per movie after royalites, and he’s made plenty of them. That gives him the right to pick and choose the way our country is led. Master and Commander Clooney and his Hollywood sycophants choose the narcissistic, inter-racial guy whose dysfunction best exemplify their own lack of values.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 8:35pm

      KENNY_IN_INDIANA, I laughed so hard at my now favorite scene in Oh Brother Where Art Thou. It was when Clooney managed to get on that train then had his ass yanked out when his chain gang partner could not quite make it. Interestingly telling since he was thinking only of himself and did not help his partner.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • Shiroi Raion
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:16pm

    I like that Lovitz curve, Zombie. Ya, Reagan would work as the opposite of Lenin because… what other President tried to shrink taxes and government waste and spending? You could use Obama in place of Lenin, but Democrats probably wouldn’t understand its meaning. You could use a lot of people for Lenin. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Obama, Wilson… Most of our politicians have been headed that direction and only a very few that have chosen to go in the opposite direction. Anyone choosing Libertarianism and freedom over Statism and control is demonized by the media. Hollywood are mostly useful idiots blindly following in lockstep… lemmings.
    Remember Alec Baldwin’s reaction to higher taxes? He called for higher taxes on the wealthy and when he got hit… HEY! I didn’t mean me! LOL You’re one of the wealthiest, pinhead.
    We need the government to police the businesses for fraud and abuse, not agencies to write regulation after regulation after regulation. We need Congress to stop making deals with the biggest businesses regulating everyone else out of business, destroying jobs, destroying the free market, and increasing poverty.
    You would have to be a corrupt, an anarchist or a Marxist (Progressives) to be a Democrat today… or just an oblivious lemming marching into the river towards death. That’s an analogy by the way… I’d better explain that to Liberal trolls.

    Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • johnsnare
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:39pm

      Oh the left wing Hollywood liberals love Obama, until they are personally affected by his big mouth. All of a sudden the Hollywood elite are singing. Don’t thread on me. Hypocrites, the entire self absorbed bunch.

      Report Post »  
  • ADNIL
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:10pm

    So, they think they are exempt? “Not us, the OTHER 1%!” HAHAHAHA (the fools)

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:09pm

    Hollywood is a complete “pretend” society. Most are not interested in the country. They want to remake the country into their image where they can do what they please and suffer no consequences. Seems that some of them have awakened to the fact that they like their pools and their butlers and their 1000 dollar-a-night hookers. Someone told them what socialism really means. Of course….many…like Clooney,….are stupid.

    Report Post »  
  • cemerius
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:58pm

    They will realize their mistakes when they are blindfolded and placed against the wall!! Just like the psycopath when they are caught facing the barrel of a .45 or that late night burglar just before the bright flash and explosive sound of the shotgun goes off…….these are the ultimate in FAKE people and they will go like the Dodo brids off a cliff one by one and in an orderly fashion!!!!

    Report Post » cemerius  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:58pm

    Tax ‘em enough and all of Hollywood will rescind their citizenship and we’ll have no more American actors…Bollywood and Chinese movies will reign supreme. (If Hollywood can only come up with movies like “Battleship” then perhaps that won’t be a bad thing.)

    Report Post » KickinBack  
    • shirleyandpearl
      Posted on May 12, 2012 at 12:00am

      Lovitz should take this further and use his influence to set his fellow entertainers straight. It’s time for anyone who has worked hard for their dough (though that’s a fraction of one percent of acting community) to stand against the re-election of Dear Leader. Kudos to Jon Voight and a few others who have had it with the hypocrisy, and who care about something else, (freedom and debt burden) besides themselves. Barack and the phony Clooney’s of Hollyweird have one thing in common: too much time spent in dreaming about an unrealized utopian society and time spent in front of the mirror!

      Report Post » shirleyandpearl  
  • Kathleen
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:48pm

    So it takes their pocket books to be affected for Hollywood to wake up. How noble of them.

    Didn’t clueless Clooney just gather $15 million for Obama from the Hollywood dopes?

    Report Post »  
    • kat747
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:45pm

      Yes Clooney did get $15 Million. $40,000 per person ? If those “guests” can afford to pay that amount for dinner, it shouldn’t be a tax write-off ! And that it the only reason they did it.
      Hard to imagine…..most people don’t earn $40,000 A YEAR.

      Report Post »  
  • thevamprn
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:47pm

    What amazes me is that Progressives demand increased taxes when there is so much Govt. waste of money. Shoot, there are 10 IG spots not filled which means nobody is watching our money in 10 different Govt agencies including the State Dept. They make it sound like folks don’t pay their “fair share.” Who is truly the ruling class? The 1% or Congress. Who can confiscate private property from on group of folks to purchase votes from folks who don’t pay anything. It was written, “Democracy is a fine thing until the people learn they can vote people into office who will give them special consideration from the public treasury resulting in fiscal irresponsibilty ultimately leading to collapse.” That’s why the Founders made us a Constitutional Republic. They, unlike most folks today, read and understood history. “Those who do not know history are bound to repeat it.” Why do you think real history is no longer taught in the public schools and universities?

    Report Post »  
  • nocomment
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:45pm

    Well, they just gave the ‘Fraud-In-Chief’ 15 million, so they ain‘t going to ’get it‘ until after he’s reelected.

    Too late by then…

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:38pm

    ..hmmm, Mr Lovitz is obviously in the 1% of Hollywood millionaire celebs who CAN think for themselves…

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • korbin
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:58pm

      You think so?? did you see the interview? he is a forked tongue liberal, he still supports the ideals of this president. these ultra wealthy/famous people change with the wind I have yet to see one really be a free thinker. Thats my take say and do what they want as long as it doesn’t affect them. The more wealth/fame the farther from God and principals eventually you become your own God.

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:32pm

    The poor will always be poor…… The Democrats will make sure of it……….

    Report Post »  
    • MSMOM
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:51pm

      Yes as anti poverty spending has increased so has the # of people

      Report Post »  
    • charles116
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:12pm

      In what ways? Enlighten us.

      Report Post » charles116  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 4:40pm

      Obama’s Economic Legacy: Highest Poverty Rate Increases In 50 Years. It has gone from 13.2 percent to about 15 percent since Obama has been in office.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
  • JimL
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:22pm

    Imagine
    the Post-Global Revolution
    and Political paranoia dictating to state cinema

    Report Post »  
  • PCsince1776
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:19pm

    Actually on a serious note … I think Reagan should be moved to where Optimum is shown and where Reagan is shown right now should be replaced with Anarchy.

    Report Post » PCsince1776  
    • Balrog28
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:45pm

      So what you’re saying is that Ronald Reagan trumpeted Class Warfare Rhetoric in some form?

      I’m a little confused with your logic.

      Report Post » Balrog28  
  • Wilma
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:19pm

    Q – “Will they realize and have their own Lovitz-style rant, or will they continue to go on supporting the White House’s crusade against people who aren’t “paying their fair share”?”

    A – It will start with the “D” list celebrities and work its way up.

    Report Post » Wilma  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:16pm

    Here is something else of interest that the Democratic support base has to contend with:

    The extended unemployment benefits runs out this week for the majority of them, especially in CA where some 250K are now out of luck; Democrats are already rushing headlong to blame the Right for “obstructionist tactics and uncaring feeling for the needy and unemployed,” this is actually due to the low numbers of the unemployment – in short cooking the books to make the unemployment numbers look good has cost his voting base considerably.

    May the truth come forward and Obama cook his own goose.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Henrys_Ghost
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:03pm

      Perhaps Oblamer has “forgotten” the real numbers they have been glossing over for the past three and half years?

      Report Post » Henrys_Ghost  
    • Texan4ever
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:58pm

      Yes, but as Rush said today, they planned it this way so as to blame Republicans. I really think, though, that obummer has pushed things so far that most people are onto the game, especially with the media. I hope he gets his butt kicked all the way back to Kenya in November, in spite of clueless, air-headed celebs.

      Report Post » Texan4ever  
  • PC_Illiterate
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:08pm

    REAGAN?……REAGAN is the extreme to Lenin? Really?
    Hollywood still has no clue.

    Report Post »  
    • chingachgook
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:25pm

      He is seeing his taxes go up but he is still a democrat. The democratic party is so far left that even some of their Hollywood lefties are getting nervous. To compare Lenin to Reagan WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      How do you possibly ignore the death of millions of people, 20 million forced labor ect. Ya that is what Reagan was doing right. We are in trouble when people think like this.

      Report Post »  
  • SREGN
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:05pm

    If you made election day April 15th, or tax day the first Tuesday in November you’d have saner elections.

    Report Post »  
  • scuba13
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:02pm

    That chart looks like Encinom’s pointed head to me.

    Report Post » scuba13  
    • PCsince1776
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:10pm

      Actually on a serious note … I think Reagan should be moved to where Optimum is shown and where Reagan is shown right now should be replaced with Anarchy.

      Report Post » PCsince1776  
    • JRook
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:13pm

      Convenient that the author fails to reference the insights/recommendation economists make with regard to the optimum tax rate on the Laffer curve. Certainly a much more intelligent thing to spend ones time understanding that the ranting of a washed up comedian. More like the Palin effect than the Lovitz curve. That he can make more money criticizing the President and feeding the angry mob rather than actually do something productive.

      Report Post »  
    • scuba13
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:40pm

      A laugher curve is right. I get a good laugh every time I see Encinom’s pointed little head.

      Report Post » scuba13  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:41pm

      ROOK,

      You make me laffer OL

      Still using that “feeding the angry mob” line?

      It’s getting old, tired, and worn out dood.

      Doesn’t media matters feed you trolls any new material from time to time?

      It makes it real obvious that you are just spouting the party line talking points when you use the same buzz words over and over and over and over and over and over again.

      Come on Rook, show some creativity and maybe even a little rugged individualism once in a while.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:44pm

      And Rook,

      Care to mention the names of some these economists you speak of?

      Krugman maybe? That’s a Laff

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
  • copatriots
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:00pm

    Wow…..who’d of thought Hollywood might have finally caught a clue? Now could you please shut your pieholes about your position on politics since you clearly aren’t very intelligent.

    Report Post »  
    • kentuckypatriot
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:48pm

      You know, ever since the enemy in chief has been flapping his jaws about “ paying your fair share ” and taxing “millionaires and billionaires ” , you’d think Hollyweird would have gotten a clue by now. Guess the elitists are as narcisstic as oblammer is.

      Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
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