California, the world’s 9th largest economy, is currently in the shitter. Law makers are struggling to close a massive budget gap and with nearly every source of taxable revenue wrung dry they are starting to look at one of the only industries surviving this recession: naked ladies who bring people booze.
The state I love so dearly is looking to pass a bill that would levy a 10 dollar “pole tax” on every patron of an alcohol serving strip club – an extra cover charge that goes directly to Uncle Sam. Supposedly, this money will go towards the funding of programs that treat and prevent sexual assault. The people supporting it claim that this bill was drafted specifically to help rape victims, and not just squeeze more money out of Californians.
James Joyce is a porn sounding name. It’s also the name of a spokesman for the state Assemblyman who sponsored this bill. He feels as if this tax is a fair way to fund services for sexual assault victims, and won’t really affect strip club patrons that much since they are already going there to spend money recreationally. According to Joyce:
“Most who go to these establishments know very well they’ll have to bring an extra few bucks. So, for those who go, $10 is not so much to sacrifice. Let’s face it, adult entertainment does very well even during a recession.”
I’m going to call bullshit on something here. The only reason they’re throwing the sexual assault stuff in there is to justify the new tax. Funding those programs through strip clubs only frees up the existing funding to go towards more vacations and golf clubs for Sacramento fat cats. This tax is simply about getting a few more bucks out of the good people of California.
As a former teacher in this wonderful mess of a state, I know firsthand how few fucks are given about people by policy makers. These guys will lie straight through their teeth to get what they want and I have to assume this is no exception.
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