Because the city of Houston, Texas doesn't have the funds readily at hand to foot the bill for rape investigations, they've come up with a new, somewhat controversial way to drum up the cash: Levying a "sin tax" -- being referred to as a "pole tax" on strip clubs (as well as any other establishment that offers adult entertainment, like bars that do wet t-shirt contests). It's only $5 per customer, but since all Texans already have to pay a $5 state-levied pole tax, nude lady-oglers of Houston will have to cough up double now. (As if lap dances weren't pricey enough -- hrrmph!)
But covers at some high-end nightclubs could cost you as much as $20 just to enter, so what's all the brouhaha about? The only thing I find a little off-putting is the case supporters of the fee made in order to get the tax passed ...
They claimed that strip clubs contribute to sexual assaults by fostering an unhealthy attitude about women that could ultimately lead to sexual assaults.
Studies haven't shown that to be the case, and even in my limited personal research -- two memoirs written by former strippers Lily Burana (Strip City) and Diablo Cody (Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper) -- I never got the impression that strip clubs are obvious promoters of violence against women. And they're certainly not the only institution in this great nation of ours that objectifies and sexualizes women. (Just take a look at men's magazines, beer commercials, some rap music, etc.) So to make it as if they're the folks who should obviously be writing this check just strikes me as bizarre and reaching.
Nonetheless, if they can't come up with the money, I guess this way is as good as any. If levying this pole tax means Houston could raise as much as $3 million to go toward more quickly analyzing evidence collected in rape kits (an estimated 6,000 rape kits currently sit untested) and defending and protecting sexually assaulted women, I'm all for it. Ultimately, bolstering rape investigations is more important than saving strip club goers a measly $5.
Check out this video for more on the tax ...
Do you think strip club-goers should have to pay a pole tax to fund the city's rape kits?
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Comments 4
I'm sorry, but this is as bad as threatening to fire teachers when the school district (or state education) budget is depleted, or threatening to fire police/fire/emergency workers when the city budget goes to trash.
How many politicians have received a raise since these Rape Kits started falling behind in processing? How many new benefits have they added to their pensions? How many state-funded (or city-funded) business trips have been taken? How many city/county/state-funded festivals have happened?
How many times have they seriously audited the budget and cut it to the very bone? Because I'm sorry... I'm all for politicians being paid fair wages for the work they do. As much as I hate to admit it, SOME of them work hard, and do good work, especially as you get down to more local representatives. But why should they get completely free healthcare (for example) when there is no money for rape kits? Why should they be promised massive pensions when there is no money for teachers?
Once those things have been cut, then I'm fine with turning to the citizens for yet more tax dollars. But prove to me that every possible cut that can be made has been made, first. Because we've been TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
This is bull. They are just trying to find a way to tax the middle man some more, so they don't have to take paycuts (or give up raises!) Politicians need to STOP TAXING THE MIDDLE CLASS, people can't take anymore, It's just like taxing cigarettes to pay for children's healthcare and schools, why should smokers bear that burden? (not a smoker, btw, i just think targeted taxing like this is redic)