#1 2008-05-24 22:25:08
Ruh-roh...
California Considers "Porn Tax" to Reduce Budget Shortfall
So-called "sin taxes" have been added to alcohol, tobacco, and the like, but pornography? That's the idea being fronted by state Assemblyman Charles Calderon, who has introduced bill AB2914.
The tax would be 25% on the production and sales of pornographic videos, most of which are produced in Southern California. Obviously the porn industry is a huge one, and such a tax would be very useful at refilling the state's coffers.
Many economists believe that the demand for pornography is inelastic:An economic term used to describe the situation in which the supply and demand for a good are unaffected when the price of that good or service changes.
If that's the case, then this cost will simply be passed on, and California will reap major benefits. If instead, however, producers choose to leave California, the state will lose out on the income taxes, etc. already paid by the producers. (source)
And what will Schwartzenegger charge for his own nudes, hmm?
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#3 2008-05-24 23:06:01
Funny thing is the hole in the budget is just about the same size as the hole in the budget that caused his predecessor to be recalled and led to the governator's rise to the seat of Raygun.
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#4 2008-05-24 23:10:48
Never happen. But just in case, we'll have to change the name of the Rule #34 thread to California and place a credit card turnstile at the door.
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#5 2008-05-24 23:21:59
I suppose the Governator is looking forward to a huge money shot from this act.
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#6 2008-05-25 00:02:52
I was only marginally aware that they still sold "nudie magazines" anymore. Do people who don't have the internet still LOOK at porn? And how, exactly would they tax the producers? Suddenly, you'd be seeing all these porno sets with lavish craft service budgets, just so they could write it all off. I wonder if this tax would also extend to vibrators and other 'marital aids.' I'd expect an uproar over that.
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#7 2008-05-25 00:33:23
pALEPHx wrote:
I was only marginally aware that they still sold "nudie magazines" anymore. Do people who don't have the internet still LOOK at porn? And how, exactly would they tax the producers? Suddenly, you'd be seeing all these porno sets with lavish craft service budgets, just so they could write it all off. I wonder if this tax would also extend to vibrators and other 'marital aids.' I'd expect an uproar over that.
You're way overthinking this. This is one guy trying to pass his moral agenda in a "see what I'm doing for you, reelect me" bid. Hell, nobody can even define what pornography is. Hard to enact a tax on "I know it when I see it".
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#8 2008-05-25 01:58:53
Baywolfe wrote:
You're way overthinking this. This is one guy trying to pass his moral agenda in a "see what I'm doing for you, reelect me" bid.
Perhaps, I am overthinking things, but that's nothing new. Nor is someone trying to get re-elected on a little game of convenient morals regarding porn.
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#9 2008-05-25 05:49:04
orangeplus wrote:
Funny thing is the hole in the budget is just about the same size as the hole in the budget that caused his predecessor to be recalled and led to the governator's rise to the seat of Raygun.
The whole recall was the most idiotic thing ever. Absolutely nothing that people were complaining about didn't already exist when they elected Gray Davis in the first place.
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