Jimmy Carr and his (no) tax

[Eric Mc]

Certain types of comedians, especially those who make comment on current affairs and especially those who comment on the perceived misbehaviour of others, perhaps have a certain moral obligation to not engage in the very practices they are lampooning.

I couldn't have cared less if Tommy Cooper used a tax avoidance scheme - because castigating those who engaged in such acts never formed part of his act.

Carr is making a (very substantial) living from having a go at certain people.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone - etc etc.

[johnfm]

Well, if they simplified and reduced the tax burden, he probably wouldn't bother.

[Jobbo]

Eric Mc said:

Certain types of comedians, especially those who make comment on current affairs and especially those who comment on the perceived misbehaviour of others, perhaps have a certain moral obligation to not engage in the very practices they are lampooning.

Angus Deayton being the obvious example. You can't effectively satirise the news if you are the news.

[Ayahuasca]

Eric Mc said:

Certain types of comedians, especially those who make comment on current affairs and especially those who comment on the perceived misbehaviour of others, perhaps have a certain moral obligation to not engage in the very practices they are lampooning.

I could sympathise with your view if he had undertaken a moral crusade against tax avoidance but I can only find one reference to a joke about Barclays that he told over a year ago. Branding someone a hypocrite based on that is I think a little harsh.

[Eric Mc]

Ayahuasca said:

Eric Mc said:

Certain types of comedians, especially those who make comment on current affairs and especially those who comment on the perceived misbehaviour of others, perhaps have a certain moral obligation to not engage in the very practices they are lampooning.

I could sympathise with your view if he had undertaken a moral crusade against tax avoidance but I can only find one reference to a joke about Barclays that he told over a year ago. Branding someone a hypocrite based on that is I think a little harsh.

I'm sure there are far more. He's been such a regular on TV shows over the past ten years that he will have multiple opportunity to make appropriate quips.

[wiggy001]

This really is a non-news story though, isn't it? The sketch he took part in was broadcast over a year ago (so isn't news), the scheme has been running a while I assume (so isn't news) and it completely legal (so isn't news) and there are a load of other well-known and not-so-well-known people doing all sorts of legal things to avoid paying income tax, many basing themselves in the Channel Islands for just this reason (Jenson Button for a PH example) and not making the news on a daily basis.

So, why is this news exactly?

[iphonedyou]

Eric Mc said:

I'm sure there are far more. He's been such a regular on TV shows over the past ten years that he will have multiple opportunity to make appropriate quips.

You know that won't wash, Eric. And I'm not being nasty (I like your posts!) but you can't rely on 'I'm sure he's said lots of stuff, I just haven't heard it'

[z4me]

johnfm said:

Well, if they simplified and reduced the tax burden, he probably wouldn't bother.

course, reduce the tax burden for the rich to a point where it's no longer cost effective for them to pay lawyers to avoid it

[Eric Mc]

iphonedyou said:

Eric Mc said:

I'm sure there are far more. He's been such a regular on TV shows over the past ten years that he will have multiple opportunity to make appropriate quips.

You know that won't wash, Eric. And I'm not being nasty (I like your posts!) but you can't rely on 'I'm sure he's said lots of stuff, I just haven't heard it'

I'm working at the moment and don't have the time to trawl the internet looking for suitable excerpts from shows.

Unlike Mr Carr, I have to work fairly hard to earn a living - saving tax for my clients in an honourable and legitimate way.

[Soovy]

Ayahuasca said:

Eric Mc said:

Certain types of comedians, especially those who make comment on current affairs and especially those who comment on the perceived misbehaviour of others, perhaps have a certain moral obligation to not engage in the very practices they are lampooning.

I could sympathise with your view if he had undertaken a moral crusade against tax avoidance but I can only find one reference to a joke about Barclays that he told over a year ago. Branding someone a hypocrite based on that is I think a little harsh.

He's as bad as that other prize prick Billy Bragg with his songs for the working man, written in his million quid mansion by the sea.

Amazing how angry young men become much less angry when they make a load of money.

[mattnunn]

I think the issue here is that tas havens exist, until tax havens don't exist you'll have people and peoples dogs using them to put money in.

[obob]

So he's a hypocrite but no one on PH is even though they would defend anyone in any other industry avoiding tax legally?

He told one (or more) jokes about bankers, were you poor city boys offended awwwwwww.......

[arfur]

Interesting that he uses the same scheme as quite a few people in the same room as me right now !

No, I am not connected to K2 as it still tries to use employee basis for the trusts

[Soovy]

obob said:

So he's a hypocrite but no one on PH is even though they would defend anyone in any other industry avoiding tax legally?

He told one (or more) jokes about bankers, were you poor city boys offended awwwwwww.......

Not really. Just pleased that one of the "do as I say not as I do" brigade has been shown up as a hypocritical tosspot.

[Ayahuasca]

Eric Mc said:

iphonedyou said:

Eric Mc said:

I'm sure there are far more. He's been such a regular on TV shows over the past ten years that he will have multiple opportunity to make appropriate quips.

You know that won't wash, Eric. And I'm not being nasty (I like your posts!) but you can't rely on 'I'm sure he's said lots of stuff, I just haven't heard it'

I'm working at the moment and don't have the time to trawl the internet looking for suitable excerpts from shows.

Unlike Mr Carr, I have to work fairly hard to earn a living - saving tax for my clients in an honourable and legitimate way.

Come on Eric, that sounds like sour accounting grapes (combined with a touch of pre-existing animosity towards dear old Jimmy).

[otolith]

wiggy001 said:

Do you really believe that every joke told by a comedian represents their own personal views and beliefs and isn't told just to get a laugh?

No.





But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't point and laugh when they turn out to have been hypocritical. It's what they would do.

[Soovy]

otolith said:

wiggy001 said:

Do you really believe that every joke told by a comedian represents their own personal views and beliefs and isn't told just to get a laugh?

No.





But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't point and laugh when they turn out to have been hypocritical. It's what they would do.

Elegantly illustrates my "angry young man" point.

Elton doesn't seem to be quite so willing to stand on picket lines since he made his millions, does he?

[obob]

Soovy said:

obob said:

So he's a hypocrite but no one on PH is even though they would defend anyone in any other industry avoiding tax legally?

He told one (or more) jokes about bankers, were you poor city boys offended awwwwwww.......

Not really. Just pleased that one of the "do as I say not as I do" brigade has been shown up as a hypocritical tosspot.

But he doesn't say that, he just told one joke about it. He often makes jokes on current events and that was a major event. Do you know what his actual thoughts are on the subject?

[crofty1984]

KrazyIvan said:

Ayahuasca said:

successful entertainer makes lots of money and does something completely legal shocker.

But that's not the issue, it the fact that he was happily berating others for doing exactly what he knew full well he was doing.

So? I'm sure we've all angrily called someone a wker before.

[Eric Mc]

Ayahuasca said:

Come on Eric, that sounds like sour accounting grapes (combined with a touch of pre-existing animosity towards dear old Jimmy).

Me - sour?

I am jealous of no man - especially JC.

Why should I be jealous of somebody I don't particularly admire in any real way?