Frank Zappa: TAX THE CHURCHES

[90-percent]

The frank-speak starts after about 1:20 in. His suggestions to improve the 1980 economy (yeah - pretty ironic, huh? Think of the shared prosperity we've lost since Ronnie's "trickle down" failed economic experiment) included taxing churches, legalizing and taxing all drugs, legalizing and taxing prostitution, and work harder and do your jobs better.

Based on measures of productivity increases in that time period, we all have REALLY BEEN DOING OUR JOBS BETTER. Unfortunately, it's the .1% oligarchs that have been pocketing virtually all of the rewards of that hard work, while we all get pretty much what we've always got and are thankful for at least having a job. That we are holding onto by our fingertips.

He also suggests politicians should avail themselves of legal prostitutes, as sexual frustration and repression results in bad legislation.

-90% Jimmy

[The CCC]

1. Frank Zappa: TAX THE CHURCHES

I prefer the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

[stopbush]

5. The Constitution can be amended.

I say we start with amending the First and Second Amendments. Why religious beliefs - ie: fantasy - have an elevated position in our society is beyond me. It's a conceit we really can't afford anymore. One may as well base their lives and our laws on a belief in Santa Claus as a belief in, say, Jesus.

Why individual gun ownership is considered to be sacred and irrevocable is beyond me.

Don't hide behind the Constitution as an excuse for beliefs that have outgrown any usefulness in our modern world. The Founders intended for the Constitution to be amended when and if needed. We should have the courage to embrace their wisdom and act accordingly.

[JackHughes]

2. A Navy band jamming to Joe's Garage.

Pretty cool.

Frank Zappa -- gone too soon.

[Hulk]

3. Vilnius, Lithuania has a park in his memory....

Albeit a small one, there is a park in the city dedicated to Frank Zappa. Sorta makes me want to know more about this man. His statements in this video are certainly revealing of a clear thinking influence on his fans.

[MrMickeysMom]

4. Realize that all three taxes are "sin taxes"!

The love of power and absolution of sin for another week (tax the church)
The love of sex and satisfaction of lower chakra function (tax the prostitutes)
The love of self realization through altered states of reality (tax recreational drugs)

All love is SELF LOVE… so , is it a sin not to have achieved that love through any one of the above? If you think so, America (and you sure seem to), then by all means, tax it.

If you need NOT ONE OF THE ABOVE… you're ahead of most Americans… and something to be admired.

[FailureToCommunicate]

6. Tax the rich and corporations first, IMO. Churches (many of them) actually do much

Last edited Sun Jan 19, 2014, 07:45 PM - Edit history (2)

good for communities...and would disappear completely if taxed. (If the rich disappeared from being taxed, well, we could dress up in our best Gatsby outfits and throw a party.)

I always liked Zappa's music and his occasional 'straight talk' responses to interviewers...

But some of his opinions -as he often added as a caveat himself- were just plain horse sh*t.

(Edit to add: To 90-percent...I mean no offense to Frank. Really)

[YOHABLO]

7. I say go after the Churches that violate the Constitution.