Tax on Porn called "Sin Tax"?????

[Neo]

Show-Me State Wants a Little Less to Show.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - In the eyes of one Missouri legislator, the show-me state needs to tone down its image — as far as the adult entertainment industry is concerned. "Travelers in our state are being sent a signal that Missouri is a porn-friendly state," said State Sen. Matt Bartle. To combat that, Bartle has sponsored a measure for a sin tax.


The proposal cleared the state Senate with little debate on Monday. The legislation needs another vote to move to the House. Under the bill, tipping strippers would be illegal, as would any physical contact between exotic dancers and their customers. Total nudity would be banned, and no one under 21 could work in such businesses.


The legislation also would impose a $5 per customer charge for sexually oriented businesses, from strip clubs to adult bookstores, and a 20 percent tax on revenues. The provisions are similar to what casinos in the state already must pay. Bartle, a Republican, said the restrictions and taxes are necessary to combat problems such as prostitution, juvenile delinquency and declining property values.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=816&ncid=816&e=18&u=/ap/20050308/ap_on_fe_st/show_less_state



My Opinion:

This is a clear example of the "Right-Wing Nutjobs" at work. Geez! It's because all that 2nd hand porn can cause cancer and birth defects. Soon enough they'll start hitting up National Geographic for porno tax too. I still don't understand the reasoning for making prostitution illegal. Why is it illegal to sell something that is perfectly legal to give away? What really scares me the most is if this passes in Missouri, other states will follow suit. Why can't the US Government stay out of my pants and wallet.

Here is their agenda:
2006 ban the adult industry
2007 ban homosexuals
2008 ban every thing else that is immoral (In their eyes)
2009 ban liberals
2010 bring back Prohibition

[cocky4ever]

We're definately moving in that direction. It seems that the govt. wants more and more control over what goes on in the houses of its' citizens. Plus it gives them an excuse to raise taxes to bring in more revenue. In this case they arent really saying"This is immoral so you cant do this." They're saying " We think this is immoral so if you're gonna do it you have to pay us more money." Plus whats up with them making it illegal to tip strippers? Dont they think that is gonna lead to more escort services and special "treatment" in VIP areas since they wont be bringin in nearly the money they were before. So you cant go see a nude stripper but you can go to the movie theater and watch an R rated movie with sex scenes and nudity in it? Plus how in the hell is the govt. gonna preach about doing what's morally right? If thats not hypocrisy I dont know what is. But I agree with you Neo that they're not only preaching about it but imposing their will slowly but surely in the American people. That may sound a little harsh but they are certainly working on taking rights away instead of perserving them. All of these hardcore,conservative, right wing, evangelical, "My God is right so do what he says or go to hell", A$%#&# make me wanna puke. Its a sad state of affairs.

[Neo]

The US Government is the biggest prostitute. Big bad government says you can't have this or that and you can't go to a stripclub without giving us money.

Who's the bigger prostitute? The woman trying to make a living to survive or the US Government? :cool:

[JBryant12]

prostitutes are legal in a lot of places in europe.... i think

[RW13]

in Nevada also, makes good tax money too...

[Jordan]

I can understand your argument about the "sin tax" for the originally questioned topic. But questioning the legalization of prostitution??? Ethics/moralitites aside, don't you guys think we have enough STDs running rampantly around the world today without adding to the number of women that have sex with 100s of men a year?

[RW13]

I just want it legalized so we can tax it and lower my taxes...

[allaboutavol]

I can understand your argument about the "sin tax" for the originally questioned topic. But questioning the legalization of prostitution??? Ethics/moralitites aside, don't you guys think we have enough STDs running rampantly around the world today without adding to the number of women that have sex with 100s of men a year?


Good point, however, just because it isn't legal, doesn't mean it isn't happening. The government wants to control everything else, why couldn't they control prostitution too. I mean, I wouldn't want to be the hooker inspector or anything, but, if they know which IHOP is clean or dirty, they should be able to handle a couple working girls don't you think?

[cocky4ever]

I can understand your argument about the "sin tax" for the originally questioned topic. But questioning the legalization of prostitution??? Ethics/moralitites aside, don't you guys think we have enough STDs running rampantly around the world today without adding to the number of women that have sex with 100s of men a year?
Actually if you look at the countries in Europe where prostitution is legal you will see that the number of STD cases there are lower than they are here in America. It's like Allaboutavol said about having an inspector. If the business is in a controlled environment it's a lot easier to keep clean and safe. The way things are now we have a system where prostitutes run the streets without any supervision or system spreading all kinds of stuff to people. Prostitutes are taken to jail, charged a fine for a few hundred bucks, and released back out onto the street within a few hours. That isnt a very effective system to keep STD's to a minimum.

[Jordan]

Well, I would never give a vote to legalize it here in the states. While yes, there is prostitution in the streets right now, it would bring in a lot more "business" if it were legalized. More girls would likely be tempted to be prostitutes if it were legal, and to me that has to be one of the most degrading "jobs" that a woman can possibly do. While it is truly that person's own choice whether or not to do it, it's a lot more tempting to say "yes" to it if there's some gov't agency out there "promising" to keep you from getting pregnant/diseased.

[cocky4ever]

Well, I would never give a vote to legalize it here in the states. While yes, there is prostitution in the streets right now, it would bring in a lot more "business" if it were legalized. More girls would likely be tempted to be prostitutes if it were legal, and to me that has to be one of the most degrading "jobs" that a woman can possibly do. While it is truly that person's own choice whether or not to do it, it's a lot more tempting to say "yes" to it if there's some gov't agency out there "promising" to keep you from getting pregnant/diseased.
It basically is legal except that it isnt regulated. Name any other crime in the country that you can committ 25 times and still get out of jail the next day as long as you have a few hundred bucks. The only regulating they do is to go out every once in a while and lock up a few of em to make some quick cash for the dept. The most they might do is give them an AIDS test and make the punishment a little bit harsher if they are positive and get caught again. And even if they are positive they still let them go and most of them are caught again at some point, after giving HIV to God knows how many people. It may be legal but it isnt really enforced except to bring in revenue to the station. Like I said if I get caught speeding more than a few times they will take my license. ANY other crime you committ more than a few times you will spend at least a while in jail. Not with prostitution, you'll be back on the streets in no time.

[Tator]

ahhhh, the "sin tax". So what the MO government is doing is making themselves dependent upon people commiting "sin". Basically, they get this extra revenue and place it in the budget and fund a whole cornucopia of new programs. THEN, when "sinning" people and "sin" businesses start moving accross state lines for their "sinning" they'll have to make up for the tax revenue that is lost. Guess how they're going to do this?? That's right, the everyday tax payer. So, in essence, they are not trying to STOP or REMOVE these "sinful" acts/businesses, they are secretly hoping that they will continue or even florish!! All so they can have more money in the guise of "morality" based legislation. Making profit from sinful acts is also a sinful act. That's why I don't agree with this as a christian. I mean, how do you explain to an orphan that the govt. program that helps feed, clothe and educate him/her, is funded by strip clubs, XXX bookstores, etc.? If you were benefitting from a "sin tax" funded program, would YOU want them to start closing down and moving out of state???

This is not about morality, it's about state government finding an "easy way" to increase it's already bloated budget. Morality is just being USED as the "easy way".

[Tator]

Louisiana is trying to do the same thing with gambling, cigarettes and alcohol sales. All so they can give the teachers a pay raise. IF it passes, do you think teachers would do ANYTHING to discourage their students from drinking and smoking!?!? Heck NO! I'd be passing the stuff out as free samples!!!(I'm being facetious of course, I'm not saying teachers would or should do this...)

Also, I find it rather odd that, when the state and national Power Ball lotteries were approved, it was pushed through because they (the state govt) promised the education system $50,000 per classroom - PER YEAR, from tax revenue off of lottery purchases. And that was on top of the state funding already going into the system! NOW, all of a sudden, they don't have the money to give the teachers a pay raise!!!!!!!!??????? HELLOOOOOOO! What the *blankedy-blank-blank-blank* happened to the lottery money! Oh, yeah, they pissed it away.......gosh, what a shock.......

[BigSpur]

I don't have enough money for a sin tax. This could finish me.