MovieChat Forums > The Fountainhead (1949) Discussion > Roark and income taxes

Roark and income taxes

posted 14 years ago by jmcghee001
15 replies | jump to latest

My contention is that a character like Howard Roark would have gone to prison for income tax evasion - Roark was a prominent figure, and his notoriety would have eventually called attention to his refusal to pay income taxes. After all, Roark did not recognize anyone's right to lay claim to the fruits of his (Roark's) labor. And it wouldn't have been an audit that did him in. IMHO, Roark would have refused to file a return or pay the tax, and would have been prosecuted for that. The novel was published in 1943 - I don't know how sophisticated the feds were in tracking income tax evaders back then. Perhaps the Roark of the novel would have been less famous, and thus might have avoided detection for many years.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rossrjensen 14 years ago

Not to mention that you would lose all freedom if you don't pay taxes by going to prison. He probably did not like paying as much as he did, much like I don't, but he did it to maintain the freedom he was provided with.

[–] KrystelClaire 13 years ago

There is no mention whatsoever of this point in the film, but let's take for granted that he paid rent for his office, and that he bought himself all those expensive suits he is wearing all the time, shall we?

[–] rossrjensen 13 years ago

Absolutely, income taxes was not a focus of the Fountainhead. However, Ayn Rand did have some things to say about income taxes. A person can pay income taxes while believing they are inherently wrong. This is not hypocrisy, this is believing in an ideology while operating with what the world gives you. Being coerced to pay for services that you believe should not exist is not as bad as being coerced to live in a cell with almost no liberty whatsoever.

[–] dangus 12 years ago

He just hired a good accountant and used tax shelters and loopholes to avoid or indefinitely defer paying taxes.

[–] Zipper69 12 years ago

Oh, come on that's ridiculous!
Nobody could get away with that if they were a public figure..

Oh, wait.......

Come on lads, bags of swank!

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Indeed.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jayrussell1993 11 years ago

Big earners don't get jailed for tax evasion, unless they're criminals otherwise. Uncle Sam keeps them out in the workforce so he can suck in his confiscatory taxes. Of course, in Ayn Rand's world they just have stuck Roark in prison for 20 years at hard labor.

[–] macfilm 11 years ago

<<<Big earners don't get jailed for tax evasion,....>>>

Once upon a time there was a woman named Leona Helmsley........

[–] GassyTroll 11 years ago

For Howard Roark, everything was about his work and he was extremely "right wing" protective of it. Outside of that, he was fairly easy-going and law-abiding. So, I doubt he would have protested taxes. On the other hand the artist Stephen Mallory (from the book, not the movie) -- I could see Stephen getting pretty testy around income tax time :-)

[–] shiftylee 9 years ago

Not paying taxes is not a theme of objectionism or the Randian hero.

[–] shiftylee 9 years ago

Objectivism. Darn auto correct.

[–] IClaudius7 8 years ago

Ironic, huh ? AND he just became the Prez . . . :-0

[–] shiftylee 8 years ago

How is that ironic? I never really saw Trump as a Randian Hero.