Using Taxation As A Weapon Against Strip Clubs
County commissioners in Lawrence County, Missouri, are planning a ballot initiative to discourage strip clubs from opening in the area. Their planned weapon: excessive taxation.
Currently, there are no gentlemen’s clubs in Lawrence County. The freedom stealing politicians aim to keep it that way by levying a 10% tax on a strip club’s gross income should any come to the area. The proposal would only apply to strip clubs, thus it is nothing more than politicians using the power of government to rob consenting adults of their court-affirmed rights to enjoy nude entertainment.
Residents of the county will vote on the proposed tax on April 8th. If it passes, it will be temporary and need to be renewed again in another four years.
More and more, governments are using their power of taxation to injure the ability of strip clubs to do business, of dancers to make a living, and to punish the millions of law-abiding people who enjoy the live entertainment they find at strip clubs. At the top of the year Texas began a $5 per head tax on strip club patrons. New Mexico is considering a similar tax. Other states are looking at proposals along the same vein.
If the citizenry does not want strip clubs to exist, they won’t exist because the clubs won’t have any customers and will go out of business. The people will vote with their dollar. It’s as simple as that.
Hopefully, state and federal courts will put a stop to this tactic of using taxation as a weapon against free expression. Otherwise, the United States will be regressing back to an era where the human body was viewed as shameful instead of beautiful. If this assault on strip clubs continues, you can rest assured that similar tactics will be used against other forms of speech that politicians and their vocal constituents wish to suppress.
We are on a slippery slope toward oppression. The enemies are on both the left and the right. A revolution at the ballot box may not be enough this time around.