Should there be a Porn Tax? Is it a bad idea?

Question

In Pennsylvania, "they" want to impose a 100% Porn Tax.

Although porn is an adult activity, it does not necessarily mean it is a sin, worthy of a "sin tax", especially 100%

Porn can be a picture, video, music and literature.

Where one person may view porn as vulgar, another may view it as entertainment, or even art.

So how do they draw the line? Some novels are porn. Some magazines have porno pictures, and some women's magazines even have descriptive articles (than even men find offensive to a degree).

Will cable TV and Satellite radio have some sort of porn tax? The library too? You can't tax one, and not the other. In the USA, media (no matter what form) is supposed to fall under free speech, thus not being liable for a tax, mainly magazines and books.

Then again, Pennsylvannia (PA) is known for overtaxing anything they can slip by the people. Look at the casinos in PA, they already spent the money from the profits, even before the casinos were built. ...so greedy..

Ok, taxing media exists (my bad), but 100% tax is not that ridiculous, compared to cigarettes, which is like %500 or something.

My point is, a can of worms, johnny Holmes size that is, will be opened if a porn tax is unfairly imposed. The porn industry is huge, and people already do pay taxes for the products.

Will condoms be tax free, but a vibrator be taxed? Who will be the head-politician dealing with all of these specific sexual details? It would be funny to see that in action. Make it a reality TV show.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwsk/91947265/

Answer 1

100%?! Good Lord, that's steep. If they can charge a cigarette tax, an alcohol tax, etc, then why not charge a porn tax? They could make a killing off of it. But, again, 100%?!

Media is free speech and therefore not liable for a tax? Interesting argument, but I'm not sure I'm buying it. After all, when I buy a book--any book--I pay taxes on it.


EDITED TO ADD THIS AFTER YOU ADDED ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

The cigarette tax is 500%? Are you sure about that? Honestly, I never researched it, but I really don’t think it's 500%. In fact, I don’t think it’s even 100%.

Why do you think a porn tax would be ‘unfairly imposed’? I don’t see that. Do you mean because of the ‘how do they decide what will get taxed’ issue? I think it will take a lot of time/energy/effort/debate to work out the details and the definitions, but I think it can be done.

Let me just add this---many would actually consider me a part of the porn industry because I happen to write erotic romances :) And while I don’t consider them pornographic, and my publisher doesn't either, there are those that do, and I’m fine with that. Am I going to be terribly upset if they start charging an extra tax on my books? No. It will likely decrease my sales/royalties a bit, but the people who want to read my books are still going to buy them, just like smokers still buy cigarettes even though there’s a cigarette tax. That’s just my opinion though. And I’ll admit that I have other income, so I’m lucky enough not to have to depend on my royalties for a living.

And actually, I want to thank you for posting this. It is certainly a post that made me think. I enjoy post like that.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Payment of taxes is a necessity for the government to do it's functions of rendering service to it's people. I don't see any reason why government cannot impose porn tax when it can be of good to it's citizen. Porn items is viewed differently by everybody others may find it obscene while others can treat it as an art. Imposing porn tax is not a bad idea I believe it will help regulate it's circulation in whatever form, Freedom of expression is not an absolute right it also have some limitations that people should be aware of.........

Answer 4

Sure, as long as I get to define what is porn. Same answer as in "Is a world Dictatorship a good idea?" As long as I'm the boss. Otherwise, we fight to the death. (yours)
Actually, I simply oppose new taxes, ANY new taxes. The only way to keep the monster of big (brother) government from eating everything is to starve it. Personally I would like a constitutional amendment limiting total taxation (including fees, assessments, fines, etc any source of revenue) of all governmental sources to less than 60%.

Answer 5

i does not say the two are exploited in legally made porn. although, women have preferential therapy interior the marketplace. women do gets a commission extra. they have each and all the concepts. they are able to choose on the actors they artwork with. they are able to choose on the acts that are finished. they are able to pass back and forth between opposite intercourse porn and comparable intercourse porn freely. they are able to truly pretend arousal if their bodies are not cooperating. men are paid much less. they have not got a say who they artwork with. they are advised what acts could be finished. in the event that they like to pass over to bisexual porn or gay porn, they are black listed from mainstream quickly porn. they have no thank you to pretend arousal so they are forced to take relatively volatile drugs with the intention to accomplish. yet whilst this is criminal porn, all are adults and all choose for this marketplace of their own unfastened will and decide to settle for the dangers.

Answer 6

Well, they tax the hell out of everything else that's fun, so I don't see why there shouldn't be. There's no way it should be 100%, though. It should be equal to the tax on tobacco, or the gas tax.

Answer 7

Yes. Why not we tax booze, boats and cars. It would be un-american not to tax.

Answer 8

they wanna do it in california too who cares the states will get MILLIONS lol