View Poll Results: Does J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, deserve to be a billionaire?
Yes
144
90.00%
No
16
10.00%
Voters: 160. You may not vote on this poll
Does J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, deserve to be a billionaire?
07-17-05, 09:43 PM
#26
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by silentbob007
Since when does talent always equal success? Whether she's a crappy author or not, that is still a horrible argument. People buy her books, thus she deserves her cut.
07-17-05, 10:44 PM
#27
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by JasonF
"Plenty" is probably an exageration. While there are plenty of people who favor a graduated income tax with higher rates for upper brackets, there are very few people who favor a 100% bracket (or anything close to it for that matter).
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...75#post6223675
07-17-05, 11:47 PM
#29
DVD Talk Legend
Yes she does. There is no arguement against it that makes any sense to me. Stephen King has the same kind of crap said about him and people are just as wrong. If people are buying your books you are doing something right and deserve all the fame and fortune you get from it. Who cares if your writing is up to the quality of some English professor as long as people enjoy it.
07-18-05, 08:03 AM
#32
DVD Talk Hero
I voted no. J. K. Rowling doesn't not deserve her fortunes.
The woman is a whore of Satan who has turned an entire generation away from God. She should be burned at the stake.
The woman is a whore of Satan who has turned an entire generation away from God. She should be burned at the stake.
07-18-05, 09:17 AM
#33
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She made 36 million over the weekend. This from a woman who was on welfare.
Talk about having a potter to piss in....
Talk about having a potter to piss in....
07-18-05, 09:52 AM
#34
Retired
Of course. She's not exploiting anyone. She's writting great books that sell millions of copies. As long as people don't exploit others, they're entitled to however much money people are willing to shell out for their goods and/or services.
07-18-05, 09:56 AM
#35
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Originally Posted by Mordred
It doesn't. Success is horribly unfair and rarely rewards those who deserve it. I didn't say it was a good argument, just a common one and easy to understand. You don't see it too often with Rowling, but you do a lot with Stephen King whom the literati considers lower than dirt.
07-18-05, 10:09 AM
#36
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J.K Rowling is one of my few people I actually respect. I find it remarkable that she was a divorced mother living on welfare and was able to construct a story so endearing that it has transformed millions of children and adults. She deserves every penny she has.
07-18-05, 10:17 AM
#38
Originally Posted by resinrats
I've actually never heard of this before. Why would anyone feel that way? I'm betting they are hippie communists that know they are never going to get rich so they feel noone else should.
If some retarted law did get passed, why would people feel motivated to work beyond the level that gets them to that point? Why should they put in the effort if it won't get them some reward?
JKR has earned her money and deserves every penny she makes. She used her own tallent to write these books that are loved across the world by kids and adults alike. As others have said, it takes something special to get kids and adults this excited about a book (a huge book at that).
If some retarted law did get passed, why would people feel motivated to work beyond the level that gets them to that point? Why should they put in the effort if it won't get them some reward?
JKR has earned her money and deserves every penny she makes. She used her own tallent to write these books that are loved across the world by kids and adults alike. As others have said, it takes something special to get kids and adults this excited about a book (a huge book at that).
07-18-05, 10:26 AM
#39
Originally Posted by Mordred
I've never heard any propose a maximum income. How could they tax them more then?
This is from the Green Party platform:
http://www.greenparty.org/Platform.php
Maximum Income: Build into the progressive income tax a 100% tax on all income over ten times the minimum wage.
Maximum Income: Build into the progressive income tax a 100% tax on all income over ten times the minimum wage.
07-18-05, 10:30 AM
#40
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
I haven't read any response to this thread yet, and I'm sure someone has already said this:
Boy, what a stupid question. As much as anyone can "deserve" money, she deserves having more than a billion dollars. You know why? Because she has it! She produced a product people wanted, people paid for it. End of argument.
Boy, what a stupid question. As much as anyone can "deserve" money, she deserves having more than a billion dollars. You know why? Because she has it! She produced a product people wanted, people paid for it. End of argument.
07-18-05, 11:44 AM
#41
Originally Posted by Mordred
You don't see it too often with Rowling, but you do a lot with Stephen King whom the literati considers lower than dirt.
07-18-05, 02:30 PM
#42
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
"Talent" doesnt' necessarily equate to "success"
vis: Billboard charts from, oh, almost any year; half the hackfests on the Top 10 Paperbacks; pretty much any Neilsen ratings [or cancelled programs] from the last five years. Futurama and Firefly get cancelled, but by damn, there'll be another Big Brother come hell or high water.
She created a legal product, people are buying it. Sounds good to me.
vis: Billboard charts from, oh, almost any year; half the hackfests on the Top 10 Paperbacks; pretty much any Neilsen ratings [or cancelled programs] from the last five years. Futurama and Firefly get cancelled, but by damn, there'll be another Big Brother come hell or high water.
She created a legal product, people are buying it. Sounds good to me.
07-18-05, 07:50 PM
#44
DVD Talk Hero
Change the poll to Michael Moore and watch those numbers change...
07-18-05, 08:03 PM
#45
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Though I vehemently disagree with, well, virtually everything Michael Moore has said or done, and think he's an attention hogging windbag, my core thinking would still apply. He's got a product, that for some reason sells, more power to him.
I can wonder as to how much he gets or how many people buy it, the same way I wonder how one athlete is "worth" 500 million or whatever, but hey, that's the marketplace.
Ironically, the big business, "rich man" capitalist mentality that Moore and so many of his compatriots seem to detest, but from which he has no problem profiting.
I can wonder as to how much he gets or how many people buy it, the same way I wonder how one athlete is "worth" 500 million or whatever, but hey, that's the marketplace.
Ironically, the big business, "rich man" capitalist mentality that Moore and so many of his compatriots seem to detest, but from which he has no problem profiting.
07-24-05, 06:48 AM
#47
DVD Talk Godfather
dmpre: Or children to read "adult books"...
All I know is that college professors and teachers all across the world must be jubilant. What kids regularly read a story/saga that takes thousands of pages to explain?
All I know is that college professors and teachers all across the world must be jubilant. What kids regularly read a story/saga that takes thousands of pages to explain?
07-25-05, 08:26 AM
#48
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I'd go with partially. DC Comics and Neil Gaiman deserve some of that scratch as well. Harry's a carbon copy (in appearance) of the lead character from Books of Magic. Yes, I know, Neil has said that it's "probably just coincidence." Anyone familiar with comics should look at how many times Todd McFarlane had to screw Gaiman over to finally get him angry. The man is too easy going.
It does sadden me that so many Americans gladly give their money to a woman that dislikes or maybe even outright hates them, though.
It does sadden me that so many Americans gladly give their money to a woman that dislikes or maybe even outright hates them, though.
07-25-05, 10:18 AM
#49
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Originally Posted by Filmmaker
In a world where teachers, police, firefighters, military officers, etc. are paid pittances, and where hundreds of people are dying daily in Africa from preventable medicines, I find it hard to ever find justification on what any entertainers are paid. I vote no--distribute the wealth. The fact that so many are voting yes, though, means the American culture of celebrity will apparently remain unchallenged for the foreseeable future...
Here's a thought - champion the cause of raising the salary for these people, they definitely deserve it. But leave out the whole "punish the innocent" aspect and try to find a new solution... because what you're saying now makes you look ignorant. Salaries paid to these people and money spent by people on the entertainment of their choice are two very different things.
07-25-05, 10:58 AM
#50
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Jk Rowling is a MILf who deserves my hands on her bum. 
