Call me crazy, but I did not expect my day to include @jonathanchait was debating @RobLowe.
— James Downie (@jamescdownie) August 26, 2014
You may not have expected it, but it happened. As Twitchy reported, actor Rob Lowe weighed in on Burger King and the dangers of “high tax rates.” New York Magazine’s Jonathan Chait responded:
Don't listen to Rob Lowe's opinions about Burger King http://t.co/c75qwwGjC1 pic.twitter.com/oLcqkHia99
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) August 26, 2014
Rob Lowe didn’t let it pass.
@jonathanchait You don't need to be a policy expert, to see the move was tax related. In most cases, tax flight costs jobs.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) August 26, 2014
@RobLowe 1. That is was tax-related is in question. 2. Even if so, there is no case that BK is shedding US jobs via a tax inversion.
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) August 26, 2014
@jonathanchait Yes, in this case and many "inversion" cases jobs may not be lost. My point is business will flee prohibitive environments.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) August 26, 2014
Ding, ding, ding!
@RobLowe You wrote that BK is a "good example" of this phenomenon. That is a different claim than the one you're now making.
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) August 26, 2014
Lowe was gracious as always.
@jonathanchait We shall agree to disagree. Maybe we can hash this out over a Whopper in Moose Jaw! I'm buying.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) August 26, 2014
Other Twitter users had some points and questions for Chait.
I'm sure you're right, @jonathanchait . Corporations never undertake business decisions over things like $. @RobLowe @ezraklein @instapundit
— Orwellian_Dilemma (@Orwells_Dilemma) August 26, 2014
https://twitter.com/marktheneocon/status/504430502607335426
@RobLowe @jonathanchait so inversions do not cost jobs per se, but the underlying problem with US tax code IS a jobs-killer
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) August 26, 2014
Yep. Chait did score in one area, however.
https://twitter.com/Yair_Rosenberg/status/504395917265350656
I agree w/@RobLowe on today's debate (http://t.co/wU29gK3Cjk), however, @jonathanchait does make a point w/this gem: pic.twitter.com/rN5zc3FTsy
— Armen Devejian (@daddykool) August 26, 2014
Related:
‘Rob Lowe 2016’? Actor speaks truth about dangers of ‘high corporate tax rates’
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