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01-05-2008, 14:28 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Military Professional
Moderator
Join Date: 02-23-05
Location: Krblachistan
Country: 
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Pole tax
I thought the 24th amendment banned this tax  
Quote:
Strip clubs | The Texas pole tax | Economist.com
The Texas pole tax
Jan 3rd 2008 | AUSTIN
From The Economist print edition
A good cause, but a bad policy
THERE is a new price to be paid for looking at naked women in Texas. On January 1st the state's strip clubs began imposing a $5 surcharge for each visitor. The “pole tax,” as it is commonly called, is expected to bring the state an additional $40m in revenue each year. Most of the proceeds will go to programmes that support victims of sexual assault.
Helping rape victims is obviously an excellent idea, and the measure was passed by the Texas legislature easily last year. But it is controversial in some quarters. Club owners, in particular, think they are being shaken down and vilified despite providing a perfectly legal service, and are already sounding a little defensive. Commercials for The Lodge, in Dallas, boast that its customers enjoy “women, manly steaks, cigars, and women.” In light of the new tax a co-owner has noted, rather less laddishly, that the club also raises money for charity via car washes. Smaller clubs are worried that their patrons cannot or will not pony up five measly dollars, a prediction that may prove true but is certainly rather depressing.
Another gripe is that the tax implies an unfair link between club patronage and sexual violence, though no evidence to support this has been presented.
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Public policy and the arguments used for it are often quite fascinating. However, I think that The Economist gets it wrong in the last sentence. While from a slightly different context, I think that Steven Landsburg's article "How the Web Prevents Rape - All that Internet porn reduces sex crimes. Really." is applicable: Proof that Internet porn prevents rape. - By Steven E. Landsburg - Slate Magazine.
__________________
"So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3
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01-05-2008, 22:42 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Senior Contributor
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Drop the price of drinks to a reasonable level and the pole tax won't keep the customers away. If the tax is illegal then it should be fought with extreme prejudice.
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01-06-2008, 00:06 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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Resident Curmudgeon
Military Professional
Join Date: 03-12-05
Location: Panama City Fl
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I support the right of good looking Texan women to dress in g-strings and slide around on a pole. Taxes be damned!!!!
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