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Matt D
Why does that surprise you? All you have to do is talk diiferently to Republicans. Obviously they don't like taxes, so that's how you defeat such a proposal to that audience.
Oh it is interesting to note several times in this thread that this jihad against our business is Republican driven. The Yahoo article specifically says that the tax sponsor is Arkansas Democrat Sen. Blanche Lincoln.
Steve
they never have yet - what makes you think they will start worrying about real problems now?
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Originally Posted by IntenseCash.com
Monica Crowley's reaction is the only one that totally surprised me, because she's a staunch, RNC-talking-points Republican. I expected her to make the "anti-indecency" argument that seems to be so popular with conservatives these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by desslock
And you're right to underline the fact that this bill is coming from Democrats. The DNC is totally adrift right now. We shouldn't expect any help from them, since most of them are cheap, conservative knock-offs.
We do have someome representing us, The Free Speech Coalition. It's the only group we have so everyone really needs to start supporting them. These attacks are not going to stop and unless we put forth a united front we don't stand a chance.Quote:
Originally Posted by ponyboy
Bill
I couldn't agree with you more Bill. We need to stand behind the only group out there fighting for our rights, before we have no more and are all out of business and bitching, what happened?Quote:
Originally Posted by hdkbill
Is this one of those mad ideas that will never happen or is it a real possibility over there?
America seems to be becoming less liberal all the time. :(
It's the current administration.. not Americans in general. It is a sad time for our country where, during a weak time in our existance, fear is being used heavily to take away our rights and control the sheep more then ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by BritishTwinks
I'm not falling for more hype in our industry at this point.. it seems we are being hit with a lot of do or die drama that ends up not being all it was presented to be. Even if a tax did get approved it takes time to put things into place... city to city, state to state, country to country etc.
Porn has always existed and will always continue to exist. People who do good business will stay in business. :groovy:
It's just interesting to me because my assumption has always been that us Brits were the shy prudish ones and Americans were more liberated and free. However, our site in the UK doesn't seem to come up against half the problems you guys face - our customers never chargeback because we don't have a chargeback culture - it's virtually unheard of, we never get laws like 2257 complicating things, we never get threats of porn tax. I'm counting myself lucky at the moment.
No country is perfect and we can't generalize our individuality by our location on this planet. Human nature exists in everything human. People of all cultures do all things possible in the gamut of human existance, no matter what nation they reside in at the time. The actions of the governments do not always reflect the will of the people, and vice versa. All governments are out to A) dominate, B) control and C) generate a profit and C is used to perpetuate A & B. No matter what country you're in, the goal of government is the same. Maybe we could stop judging eachother by where we live, and start focusing on people as individuals?Quote:
Originally Posted by BritishTwinks
Unfortunately I believe that it is a real possibility that a 25% tax could be imposed, here's why. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by BritishTwinks
The adult industry has always been in a battle with the republican party. Now it is the Democrats, Sen Blanche Lincoln, a democrat Senator from Arkansas....mother of twins, who has proposed the bill. The bill is the result of the newly released Third Way report on online pornography and kids, http://www.third-way.com, (which is an organization sponsored and funded by the Democratic Party). If you've read the report, it is so full of wrong information, mis-truths and out right lies that it makes your blood boil, but the problem is, who is going to contest it?
Who is going to stand up and oppose the bill? Certainly not the republicans and not the democrats. Neither party wants to be accused of being in favor of online porn and against kids. Of course, that really isn't the issue, but that is how it is going to look, so neither party is going to really try to fight it.
We can only hope that if it passes, someone, either the ACLU or the Free Speech Coalition or even perhaps someone like Larry Flynt, will challenge it in court as being unconstitutional. It simply isn't fair or legal to tax one industry at a higher rate than another industry.
Moving our businesses to Amsterdam is starting to look better and better all the time. First COPA, then 2257 and now this!!!! Doesn't seem they can get us for obscenity, so they are trying to go thru as many back doors as possible to put us out of business.
Bill
It is legal to tax one industry at higher rates then others because they take into account the impact on society and related industries. They tax Cigarettes and alcohol at a higher rate.. why not porn? 25% cannot be taken seriously IMHO.Quote:
Originally Posted by hdkbill
Where is the money in porn nowadays? Some processors charging %16 then 10% holdbacks, then 25% tax ... that's 51% taken off the top! Then deal with expenses, credits, chargebacks, paying for new content, equipment, advertising, etc. etc. It will be very difficult for some in the future if the 25% tax gets through :toff:
With respect, I think you're missing the point dude. Nobody here has attacked the American people - this thread has been all about the American legislation and what that might mean for us and our industry. Understanding this stuff is really important. It wasn't long ago that British webmasters were being advised to set up US companies, for example; now it looks like many US webmasters are going offshore. The industry is constantly changing and it's important to understand what might happen next. Looking into stuff and comparing different countries isn't about being judgemental or unkind, it's about staying in business. :love:Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirt
I think the idea of standing up for ourselves is the only way this will ever stop. Porn will always be the whipping boy topic no matter what the political party affliation, it's too much of a lightening rod issue for any politician to vote in favor of it.
It is definately going to have to be something fought be a trade group,
or by a lobbying group....but as it is, we are a very fragmented and isolated group of business people.... with only one organization that is even anywhere close to acting as a mouthpiece, or lobbying, or industry organization.
We need to take note of politicians names, keep tabs on their voting records, and publish lists of agressively anti porn politicians and vote against them in every election...... we need voter suggestion lists near each election cycle to remind people of what our votes stand for..
Until we stand up as a group and realize that our industry is under attack from every facet of the american political landscape, and do something about it by voting people out of office, and making our voices heard...
i am afraid we will continue to be the old whipping boy poster child.
We need to turn this around and make this issue about bad parenting..
who in the world leaves credit cards for children to access? who in the world gives teenagers visa cards that can be used on the net... why not have special coding for child atm cards that don't allow adult purchases..
why not have special requirements on what child protection software must be on computers in homes with children under 18..... etc.. we need to put this ball in their court....
Um.. No Taxation Without Representation? Is anybody home? Hello? *knock knock*
I didn't see your post as an attack at all. The main thing I picked up on was your comment "It's just interesting to me because my assumption has always been that us Brits were the shy prudish ones and Americans were more liberated and free." Then I posted my response mainly to that issue. It's flawed logic for us to judge any people only by the actions of their government... that's all I was saying basically, as relating to that particular issue. :love:Quote:
Originally Posted by BritishTwinks
Regarding American legislation.... our legislation is based mostly on issues of importance to the country and the administration in power. A conservative government acts in a different way then a liberal government would. I don't know much about the British government so I can't make parallels very well, Desslock would be much better at that then I would :groovy: But again.. this ties in with what I was saying about judging people by their government.. when we have a conservative government all Americans are perceived differently then when we have a liberal government.. that's why governments are not a good indicator of the people in a nation. Do you see what I mean now? The day Bush was "elected" the American people didn't change.. our government did. All the people were the same as they were the day before the election.