Posted on 03/21/2012 12:06:50 PM PDT by presidio9
Rick Santorum hasn’t been shy about wanting to return America to its good ol’ Puritan days. Santorum has openly championed against separation of Church and State, homosexuality, contraception, NAFTA, teleprompters, but what has escaped many is his plan to ban pornography.
Santorum has tried to be the candidate that wants to create jobs, yet doing so would actually hurt our economy and significantly demotivate a significant portion of the population.
In 2010, 12% of websites on the internet were pornography related, accounting for $2.84 billion per year online. Worldwide, that number grows to $4.9 billion, meaning that the United States is currently dominating the production and export of pornography. When you factor in traditional outlets, the porn industry generates about $13 billion in revenue. While that number may not sound like a lot when compared to the $4 billion tax break oil companies receive from the government, its comparable to the revenue of some big name companies like Viacom or Texas Instruments.
While it has been said that the porn industry has suffered in the recession, other economies continue to grow. But even in these countries people still need to consume pornography. America, in true fashion of being #1, currently outperforms other producers of porn by a significant amount of money. Unfortunately, a good deal of revenue is lost due to free streaming websites or illegally shared content, much like the film and music industry.
It’s online presence has been so big that ICANN has recently created a top-level domain just for porn sites. This helps combat the growing number of children stumbling across porn online. While many argue that children shouldn’t run free around the internet, parents should take better precautions regulating where they can visit online. Just because many do not take the time to learn about parental controls doesn’t mean that they have the right to be the world’s moral police.
Now, ignore for a moment the morality behind pornography. Knowing that this industry contributes a significant amount of tax revenue, shouldn’t it be allowed to continue? We consistently raise taxes on cigarettes (about $12 per pack in New York) despite its harmful health benefits rather than outright outlaw them. It is ridiculous to think that because pornography clashes with Santorum’s Leave it to Beaver idea of America that we could potentially see such a huge loss in tax revenue. Don’t even get me started on how much tax revenue we’re currently missing out from the estimated $35 billion marijuana cultivation industry (imports from Canada and Mexico put this number closer to $100 billion).
We’re living in a time where people can better find communities that better reflect their personal views on morality. We’re still learning to find the balance between sharing too much and not sharing enough. We may be moving towards a Brave New World-type society but what is more troubling is the potential number of people behind ideas like this without having read Brave New World.
Bottom line, America produces too much profitable pornography to make it illegal. It creates jobs, brings money into our lagging economy and gives hope to anybody who has ever worked as a pizza delivery guy. Moral fiber be damned, we can’t complain about both “morality” and how much money me pay each week for gas or taxes.
I’m sorry for the loss of your mom. Mine died an untimely death accidentally nearly 20 years ago.
Our family get-togethers are always held on a family member’s ranch-there are several within 100 miles.
I’m sorry for the loss of your mom. Mine died an untimely death accidentally nearly 20 years ago.
Our family get-togethers are always held on a family member’s ranch-there are several within 100 miles.
Wow a ranch. How cool is that. You said some of your family came up from Mexico a long time ago. Did you learn to cook Mexican food? Except for tortillas, which my grandma said I should quit trying to make and just buy (because I couldn’t roll them round, only square) I do make lots of other good Mexican food, at least I’m told I do.
Losing your mom hurts whether it was 20 or 2 years ago. Thank and same to you. I just wish I looked more like her. No one knows I have 1/2 Mexican blood in me. Some in my family teases me and calls me gringo.
We’ll also need a host of sub departments (ministries) and committees.
Committee to Evaluate Standards (what exactly is obscene
behavior?)
Ministry of Enforcement (fines, criminal prosecution etc.)
Ministry of Transition (help society make the transition through subsidies/tax credits)
Ministry of Device Inspection/Maintenance (ensure devices are functioning properly)
Ministry of
Nothing fancy or big-just small working ranches with a few cattle, sheep and goats-most even have a side job-mostly construction.
We all learned to speak Spanish as a second language and cook Mexican food, but just about everyone in rural South Texas does, whatever their ethnicity. My grandmother made great corn tortillas, but I never managed to get them evenly rolled out-they looked like corn cakes gone wrong, but my menudo is very good, as are my gingerbread pigs...
You also need a couple of czars for that-and maybe a mad monk like Rasputin to preach the approved religious standards...
“You also need a couple of czars for that-and maybe a mad monk like Rasputin to preach the approved religious standards...”
Aha!
Ministry of Education and Public Safety (to educate the public as to why devices are needed, and what constitutes obscene behavior and how to avoid fines/prosecution)
Revolting, you can’t help yourself, can you? I didn’t say that Santorum likes porn.
“Unamerican”? HAHAHAHA! There is nothing I can do that is unamerican. I don’t have that kind of character. I am a patriotic Army vet who loves the Constitution and this land. Santorum loves the Constitution and the Founders just the same.
BTW, who ya voting for?
If you think Santorum wan’t any of those, then you don’t know him. I would encourage you to see the video of his presentation at the San Fernando Valley Republican Club. I was there. My boyfriend shot the event.
Sounds like a wonderful life on a ranch. I also am good at making menudo.
I also make enchaldas, sopa, mole, and my kids favorite mexican fried bread. I only make it every few months. Nice talking with you. Maybe we’ll debate in another thread. Blessings from above.
You’re right, I cannot help being revolting. But I will thank you for your service, if that means anything.
I don’t care about pornography, and neither should a Presidential candidate when the country is falling apart, and moochers are beginning to outnumber the producers. Just a few minutes ago I learned that a popular local cafe, owned by a world renowned chef (not his main outlet) has closed after 28 years. No explanation given on the thank-you signs hanging in the windows, it wasn’t me who never spent a dime there - too snobbish and too expensive, but what else could it be but Obama economy, which the owner, a rabid RAT and Clinton-Obama fundraiser, will never admit.
Anyway, who’s my boy? It was (in random order) Perry, Herman and Newt. I’d even settle now for Huntsman instead of the current two leaders. WSJ today says that Paul Ryan has thrown his hat into the ring.
Blessings to you also.
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