All research shows that people and job creating industries are attracted to a city or state by quality of life.  Yet Louisiana gives tax incentives to the movie industry which only helps the movie industry and a rather small number of Louisiana workers.  Tonight the movie industry will recognize the best movies of the year when the Oscars will be presented in Los Angeles.  Filmed mostly in and around New Orleans, "Django Unchained" written and directed by Quentin Tarantino is nominated for five awards including:

  • Best Picture
  • Best Supporting Actor, Christoph Waltz
  • Best Original Screenplay
  • Best Cinematography
  • Best Sound Editing

I must admit I have not seen the movie, nor do I plan to for a couple of reasons.  Django attempts to rescue his wife from slavery and in the process shoots anything that gets in his way.  In addition to the violence Django says,

You kill white folks and they pay you for it.  Is that the life?

So the movie is filled with violence at a time when the country is reeling from the Newtown, Connecticut shootings, there are nationwide demands for more gun control and the movie has racists undertones that would cause rioting in the streets if any other race was the target.  I certainly am not calling for censorship of Tarantino or any other producer/director's work but as a tax paying citizen of the state of Louisiana I really wish we could find some other way to attract business.  Can't we spread those tax credits to industries that are home based, less violent and racist?

 

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