Disney won't let their subsidiary, Miramax, distribute Michael Moore's latest film.Michael Moore has always been known for making in-your-face documentaries with a liberal slant. And for those who didn't know, his acceptance speech for Bowling for Columbine at the 2002 Academy Awards (in March, 2003) made it clear where his loyalties lie. So when Miramax signed a deal with Moore to finance and distribute his next film, Farenheit 911, everyone at Miramax -- and Disney -- knew what they were getting into.
Now it turns out that Disney wants to renege on the deal. Why?
There are two theories.
First is the belief, supported by Moore himself, that Disney is afraid of losing lucrative tax breaks. Disneyworld is in Florida. Florida's governor is Jeb Bush, brother of George W. Bush. He certainly won't like the film, so it comes as no surprise that people think he might want to take revenge on Disney for distributing it.
Before moving on, I pose a simple question: Has it occurred to anyone just how Disney got those tax breaks in the first place? After all, if this Florida largesse can be revoked on the whim of the governor, doesn't it stand to reason that the governor gave out this money on a similar whim? And what does this say about companies that get tax breaks and the politicians who dole them out?
Suppose tax breaks like this were outlawed. Then no state could bribe corporations with special breaks. And no corporation could bribe state politicians in order to get them. Competition for corporations, and the jobs and tax revenues they bring, would be cleaner. Additionally, taxes could be lowered for the rest of us who can't afford to bribe politicians (and therefore are in more need of those breaks).
Uh huh. Sure. Bribery would just go away. And you'd see pigs fly.
All right, but at least this form of bribery would be thrown out. It's not a complete solution, but it is a start.
The second theory is that Michael Moore is manipulating the issue, and the story, in order to generate publicity for his new movie. He wouldn't be the first, or the last. Those who subscribe to this theory say that either Disney will allow Miramax to distribute the film, or that some other distributor will suddenly step forward. Moore gets his movie distributed, Disney keeps their tax breaks, and everybody's happy.
It's a great theory. There's also not a shred of evidence to back it up. Furthermore, Michael Moore's entire background says that he's not capable of thinking that way. So trot out the first theory, run it up the flagpole and see who salutes. Keep the second theory on the shelf, if only because it's fun.
While putting the second theory back on the shelf, consider what happens to freedom of the press, and its partner freedom of speech, when the government gets to decide what gets distributed and what doesn't. If you're not extremely frightened by this prospect, you aren't a loyal, patriotic American.
Fortunately, despite the best efforts of the Republicans, we're not there ... yet.
In the meantime, may I suggest to Mr. Moore that his next film be about the myriad attempts by the right wing in this country to suppress our First Amendment rights?
Copyright 2004, Dan Jacoby
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