$31 Million Dollars in estimated tax revenue apparently isn’t enough for Attorney General John Ashcroft to keep him from attacking the adult entertainment industry.1.Newsflash: America is way too well off. At least that’s what John Ashcroft seems to be thinking.
$31 Million Dollars in estimated tax revenue apparently isn’t enough for Attorney General John Ashcroft to keep him from attacking the adult entertainment industry.1
The latest obscenity charge issued against Extreme Associates is just one of many more attacks to come, Mr. Ashcroft promises. Of course, as a political power figure who allegedly holds regular bible studies with his staff(!) he won’t be able to stand for anything other than what in his mind can be perceived as moral and proper in Christian values.
“Today’s indictment marks an important step in the Department of Justice’s strategy for attacking the proliferation of adult obscenity,” Ashcroft said. The department will “continue to focus our efforts on targeted obscenity prosecutions that will deter others from producing and distributing obscene material.”
The question now is what is considered “obscene material?” This is up for interpretation by a jury and by God himself, who apparently goes by the name John Ashcroft. The problem is that the definition of obscenity varies from political party to party, locality to locality and from individual to individual.
Mr. Ashcroft went after adult content producers shipping / distributing adult material to states (i.e. Alabama, Mississippi) that prohibit “obscene material.” But everyone who pays attention knows that that’s not where he will stop. His quote above clearly indicates his personal discontent with ANY adult material.
In the past, the adult industry took several big hits when VCA’s Russell Hampshire went to prison for nine months, and the founders of Vivid Video settled a case for $500,000 for shipping adult material to Mississippi.
In the meantime Mr. Ashcroft is missing the boat. Today’s adult performers such as Jenna Jameson are becoming popular enough to appear on television (E! True Hollywood Story with Jenna ran on Sunday, August 10th), and the sales tax porn brings in doesn’t hurt our ailing economy either. California in particular can use a dollar or two lately. What Ashcroft is planning borders on fiscal irresponsibility and neglect. Even though he may never be able to completely get rid of the evil porn industry, he will certainly try, and therefore alienate a good chunk of entrepreneurs and consumers from exploring this potentially lucrative avenue. Good job!
Even though our company, Kroywen Phoenix LLC, is not producing any kind of adult content, we feel strongly about Mr. Ashcroft’s “Christian Rambo” tactics. Unless children, animals or unwilling persons are involved, there must not be any form of prosecution of freedom of speech and self expression. Pornography and sex must be left alone by the government. I am highly concerned about the implications of our current legislation. President George Bush and his cabinet have declared more than war on terrorism. They furthermore declared war on freedom of speech, self expression and economic development of our country. If you don’t agree, please open your eyes for five minutes and do some research.
My proposal
We must defend our rights, both written and unwritten. Ashcroft’s unfavorable attitude and attacks towards the adult entertainment industry means more than discontent with pornography. It means a prosecution of individual rights and freedoms. The first indictments against written (fictional) pornography are surfacing, currently focusing on “virtual” child pornography. Soon enough anything that’s not to Mr. Ashcroft’s or Mr. Bush’s liking will be attacked.
When the next Presidential election is up, please make sure Bush, Ashcroft and the rest of the gang will be replaced. If not for you, then for your business’ sake.
1 The estimated $31 million tax revenue is merely the amount generated in the State of California and pertains only to video rentals. The actual Gross National Tax Revenue is estimated to be much higher.
Sources:
http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/showcase/la-fi-obscene8aug08.story
http://www.bjcpa.org/Pages/Resources/2003RFTC%20PDF/march5.pdf
John Ashcroft’s bio:
http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/ashcroftbio.html
Kroywen Phoenix LLC is a horizontally diversified company headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, venturing in E-commerce, and adult- and non-adult media featuring Web sites including KroywenPhoenix.com and GatesOfSin.com. The Kroywen Think Tank is looking for members in the following areas: adult entertainment, sales and marketing (all industries) and political development. To apply please visit http://www.kroywenphoenix.com/thinktankideafactory.htm.
