PUBLIC OPINION > A Skin Tax for Strip Clubs Is Unfair
SodaHead News
2012/08/30 21:00:00
Illinois State Sen. Toi Hutchinson recently introduced the Live Adult Entertainment Facility Tax Act, which proposes a $5 "skin tax" for strip clubs. It would require that all strip club patrons pay a $5 tax upon entering a facility, and that the proceeds would go to the state's Sexual Assault Prevention Fund. The proposal has since been passed into law, but we want to know if the public thinks it's fair.
There wasn't a ton of support for Sen. Hutchinson's proposal, as far as the public's votes go. Only a third of respondents said the tax was fair. The Top Opinion read, "Next they will be happy to introduce a theater tax, a concert tax and a breathing tax." Others suggested it was just a cleverly disguised poll tax. Still, others were disappointed at having to give up that last table dance. But there were a few people willing to pay for their sins.
Men Aren't Amused
Some respondents suggested the tax was specifically aimed at the male population, and is therefore unfair. Naturally, men were less likely to call it a "fair" tax. Women, on the other hand, didn't see the problem. Nearly half of female voters (42%) said it's fair. Not that women don't go to strip clubs on occasion, but they're certainly less likely to frequent them.
Liberals Kind of Like It
Obviously, there's a big political divide here. It's a tax, after all. Even more than half of liberals admitted the tax is unfair, but there was still a large portion of left-leaning voters who supported it. Conservatives were expectedly opposed, and libertarians even more so. Political opinion was definitely the divide here.
Drinkers Are Opposed
Lots of voters compared the "skin tax" to existing "sin taxes," namely taxes on alcohol and tobacco and proposed taxation on marijuana. That could be why smokers and drinkers were more likely to oppose the new tax -- they're already paying extra for their... hobbies, and they're not thrilled. It could also be that people who go to strip clubs are more likely to be drinkers or smokers, but there's no evidence for that.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about the Live Adult Entertainment Facility Tax Act. We'd love to hear from you!
There wasn't a ton of support for Sen. Hutchinson's proposal, as far as the public's votes go. Only a third of respondents said the tax was fair. The Top Opinion read, "Next they will be happy to introduce a theater tax, a concert tax and a breathing tax." Others suggested it was just a cleverly disguised poll tax. Still, others were disappointed at having to give up that last table dance. But there were a few people willing to pay for their sins.
Men Aren't Amused
Some respondents suggested the tax was specifically aimed at the male population, and is therefore unfair. Naturally, men were less likely to call it a "fair" tax. Women, on the other hand, didn't see the problem. Nearly half of female voters (42%) said it's fair. Not that women don't go to strip clubs on occasion, but they're certainly less likely to frequent them.Liberals Kind of Like It
Obviously, there's a big political divide here. It's a tax, after all. Even more than half of liberals admitted the tax is unfair, but there was still a large portion of left-leaning voters who supported it. Conservatives were expectedly opposed, and libertarians even more so. Political opinion was definitely the divide here.Drinkers Are Opposed
Lots of voters compared the "skin tax" to existing "sin taxes," namely taxes on alcohol and tobacco and proposed taxation on marijuana. That could be why smokers and drinkers were more likely to oppose the new tax -- they're already paying extra for their... hobbies, and they're not thrilled. It could also be that people who go to strip clubs are more likely to be drinkers or smokers, but there's no evidence for that.If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about the Live Adult Entertainment Facility Tax Act. We'd love to hear from you!
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me."
The Beatles
The power to tax is the power to destroy.
If a $5 tax is ok, then a $500 tax is ok. Then the business is closed.
If it ok to tax and destroy this business, then others will follow.
REMEMBER:
When they came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
PS...How about that bucks worth of extra tax, because that milk product is frozen, like ice cream? Wouldn't that be considered an indulgence?