ABOUT

If you ever wondered how the great public ambitions of postwar America collapsed into the bitter parsimony of the permanent tax revolt, look no further than Howard Jarvis, whose 1978 ballot initiative, Proposition 13, changed everything in California and beyond. The First Angry Man unpacks the dramatic campaign, its quirky characters and the enduring consequences that continue to define our times.

Proposition 13 slashed property taxes in California. But more importantly, it launched a nationwide tax revolt that continues unabated today. The forty years since Proposition 13 has witnessed historic growth in economic inequality and the unraveling of America’s safety net.

The First Angry Man  frames this history for an audience that was raised with an aversion to taxation and government, without fully understanding the consequences for schools, health services, public safety, and public infrastructure.

The First Angry Man  is presented in association with KCET and will air on PBS SoCal and other stations  beginning October 13, 2020. See air times below or check your local listings. 

Funding for this film provided by