Asked whether a six-week vacation in Cancun starting right now would be a good idea, a majority of Iowans would surely vote “yes.” But if you then asked if it would still be a good idea if it meant they would lose their jobs and move into a homeless camp by the river, support would decline.
So it is with today’s Des Moines Register Poll showing Iowans in favor of film tax credits even though the program has ground to a halt in scandal and corruption. The poll shows 61 percent of respondents in favor of film tax credits.
Here’s how the poll asked the question:
Now, I’d like to ask about tax credits to movie productions. Overall, do you think tax credits to companies that produce movies in Iowa would be good for the state or bad for the state?
The problem with that question is the same as the problem with the vacation question — It doesn’t say anything about a cost. If it’s free, who wouldn’t be for it? It’s too bad the Register didn’t follow up:
Would you still favor the film credits if they cost every Iowan $26? What about $121?
Would you favor the film credits if it meant firing 1,000 teachers?
The same thing applies to another “finding” of the poll – majority support for business tax credits, though only at a 51 percent level.
This is why “issue” polls aren’t very useful: they ignore the trade-offs. You probably can’t have both a long warm vacation right now and keep your job and house (if you can, why are you here?). The Pew Research Center did a poll that illustrates this. Katherine Mangu-Ward summarizes the findings:
The Pew poll [PDF] inquired about 20 different issue areas, ranging from “dealing with the problems of the poor,” to “strengthening the military,” to “reducing the budget deficit.” For virtually every issue, the combined total of people who chose “top priority” or the second-highest option
Tags: corporate welfare, Des Moines Register, Film accountant report, film credits, Film criminal investigation, harold hill, iowa tax policy, Katherine Mangu-Ward, tax credits
Joe Kristan writes the Tax Update items, and any opinions expressed or implied are not necessarily shared by anyone else at Roth & Company, P.C. Address questions or comments on Tax Updates to
Awesome!
Free is always good!
More ethanol mandates!
According to your poll results, it looks like your blog attracts a pretty one-sided audience that tends to agree with you. It’s nice to know I’m not the only evil capitalist in our new warm and cuddly America.
Erich – I’ll drink some fine aged ethanol to that!
Shane – To listen to some people, corporate welfare is the only thing saving capitalism. I would have been frightened if the poll turned out the other way – but that anybody would vote for the first option is a bit disconcerting. It’s like voting for a python to eat cuddly bunnies.