Another of example of politicians abusing the power of the government.

[The Great Catpiss]

Houston Strip Clubs Hit by New 'Pole Tax' - WSJ.com

Another of example of politicians abusing the power of the government. Each person who walks through the doors of a strip club must pay a $5 fine to pay for rape kits. Either the politicians and voters are extremely stupid and think rape wouldn't happen if it weren't for strip clubs, or the politicians are actually trying to punish people for partaking in something that they don't like and tax something to death.

Council member Jack Christie said the strip clubs will survive. "When you look at videos of these clubs and see women putting $5, $10 and $20 dollar bills in their remaining clothing, I don't think a $5 tax will hurt anybody," he said.

That sounds like a jealous rant. In my experience, that happens rarely. Mostly it's just $1's. Jack Christie probably hates single mothers.

[stolz25]

Originally Posted by The Great Catpiss

or the politicians are actually trying to punish people for partaking in something that they don't like and tax something to death.

Wouldn't be the first time. What do you think cigarette and alcohol taxes are?

[David]

Originally Posted by stolz25

Wouldn't be the first time. What do you think cigarette and alcohol taxes are?

Cigarettes and alcohol have demonstrable public health and safety problems and taxing those items helps pay for the programs that prevent/fix those problems. Strip clubs don't do anything more then demean women (who seek out such jobs in the 1st place). The best you can point to is organized crime but getting rid of strip cubs will simply have them move their investments into their other fronts.

[The Great Catpiss]

Originally Posted by David

Cigarettes and alcohol have demonstrable public health and safety problems and taxing those items helps pay for the programs that prevent/fix those problems.

If I have 1-2 beers in my own home, why should I be fined? What health and safety problems am I causing?

Originally Posted by David

Strip clubs don't do anything more then demean women (who seek out such jobs in the 1st place).

I don't think that they demean women at all. They put women on a pedestal. They kind of demean men.

[stolz25]

Originally Posted by David

Cigarettes and alcohol have demonstrable public health and safety problems and taxing those items helps pay for the programs that prevent/fix those problems.

Heh, whatever you want to tell yourself. Let me know what percentage of the cigarette tax goes to preventing problems caused by cigarettes. Of course this has no bearing on my point whatsoever anyway.

An over-reaching government over-reaches. It touched an area you don't agree with finally. At least there is the comical side effect of seeing a socialist complain about government.

[David]

Originally Posted by stolz25

Heh, whatever you want to tell yourself. Let me know what percentage of the cigarette tax goes to preventing problems caused by cigarettes. Of course this has no bearing on my point whatsoever anyway.

An over-reaching government over-reaches. It touched an area you don't agree with finally. At least there is the comical side effect of seeing a socialist complain about government.

How is a socialist complaining about gov't comical? Most of us are civil libertarians.

[stolz25]

Originally Posted by David

How is a socialist complaining about gov't comical? Most of us are civil libertarians.

Exactly, it's comical because you want a giant government then get upset when it leaks over into areas you don't like. Social conservatives do the same thing (they just get upset about the opposite stuff).

[The Great Catpiss]

Originally Posted by stolz25

Exactly, it's comical because you want a giant government then get upset when it leaks over into areas you don't like. Social conservatives do the same thing (they just get upset about the opposite stuff).

Someone explained it in a way by stating he wants a "smart government". Does that mean a government that agrees with you?

[David]

Originally Posted by stolz25

Exactly, it's comical because you want a giant government then get upset when it leaks over into areas you don't like. Social conservatives do the same thing (they just get upset about the opposite stuff).

Look up the meaning of civil libertarian. If giant gov't is mentioned, it'll be in the negative.

[stolz25]

Originally Posted by David

Look up the meaning of civil libertarian. If giant gov't is mentioned, it'll be in the negative.

Indeed, in regards to civil liberties. It's when you get outside that area (medicare, medicaid, social security, welfare... etc.) that you want a big government. That's why it's comical. You want a government big enough for all that stuff but you don't expect it to invade your civil liberties.

[David]

Originally Posted by stolz25

Indeed, in regards to civil liberties. It's when you get outside that area (medicare, medicaid, social security, welfare... etc.) that you want a big government. That's why it's comical. You want a government big enough for all that stuff but you don't expect it to invade your civil liberties.

I don't want a big gov't, I want a heavily decentralized gov't divided into democratic local regions (states are too big even) answerable to a central gov't that can collect taxes, declare war and maintain a fiscal/monetary union and no more. In short I want a confederation.

[stolz25]

Originally Posted by David

I don't want a big gov't, I want a heavily decentralized gov't divided into democratic local regions (states are too big even) answerable to a central gov't that can collect taxes, declare war and maintain a fiscal/monetary union and no more. In short I want a confederation.

Then you might want to change your political association. Socialism really doesn't work in small doses. They go broke too quick.

[David]

Originally Posted by stolz25

Then you might want to change your political association. Socialism really doesn't work in small doses. They go broke too quick.

It worked in Spain just fine. And in Germany. And in Russia before the Bolsheviks co-opted the Russian Revolution and even then it still worked until Stalin killed Trotsky and usurped power. Yes they failed but due to outside forces, not any flaw in the system (unlike the Soviet collapse in '91). Establish socialism with a meaningful military and with capitalists willing to co-exist and I'd put down money that it'll work out just fine, maybe even better then it's capitalist neighbors.

[stolz25]

Originally Posted by David

Yes they failed but due to outside forces, not any flaw in the system (unlike the Soviet collapse in '91).

You can't really say that though. It's very possible they were headed for collapse without the outside forces. If someone were to invade and take over the US right now you could say the same thing about our government, but right now the US is on the path for a massive collapse.

[David]

Originally Posted by stolz25

You can't really say that though. It's very possible they were headed for collapse without the outside forces. If someone were to invade and take over the US right now you could say the same thing about our government, but right now the US is on the path for a massive collapse.

The US has fallen into the same trap the USSR did, debt so large it can't be payed off, too much spending on the military at the expense of everything else and state-capitalism. When we fall apart (and we will within 50 years) it won't be because capitalism is flawed. Same with socialism, all the examples I gave were advancing and prospering up until they were crushed. As I said, I'd put money on it.

[stolz25]

Originally Posted by David

Same with socialism, all the examples I gave were advancing and prospering up until they were crushed. As I said, I'd put money on it.

You would have said the same thing about the US a century ago though. And if you want to argue its the people and not the system I suppose there isn't much to argue about. You could very well be right, but if you had such a group of people that socialism did work I doubt very much it would matter what form their government was.