Lawmaker declares war on highly lucrative state industry

Feb. 15, 2013

By Chris Reed

measure_bSo let’s get this framed correctly: California is the leader in a form of home entertainment that is immensely popular around America and the world, for better or worse. If California adopts rules that wipe this industry out, it is 100 percent certain to move to other other states and continue flourishing — and with the same seemingly minor health downsides that led the Golden State to push the industry away. So moral posturing by California leaders will achieve nothing but destroying jobs and driving an unsavory but legal and very profitable state industry to other states and nations.

Stupid, right?

But this is California. Stupid moralistic posturing is what we do best.

So first Los Angeles County voters declared war on this industry. And now, according to the Contra Costa Times, a lawmaker thinks that it is the state Legislature’s turn.

“Assemblyman Isadore Hall III, D-Los Angeles, announced he’s holding a news conference … to introduce a bill requiring condom use in all adult films produced in California.

“Hall will be joined by Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Darren James, a former adult film actor who contracted HIV while working in the porn industry. The assemblyman’s news release said his bill would ‘provide statewide uniformity needed to ensure that the thousands of actors employed in this multi-billion dollar industry are given reasonable workplace safety protections needed to reduce exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.’

“About 57 percent of Los Angeles County voters in November approved Measure B, requiring the use of condoms in all adult films produced within the county.

“The Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation conducts regular screenings of porn performers, which has minimized the spread of HIV and other diseases. But James was believed to have contracted the virus during a film shoot in Brazil, and transmitted it to several actresses here in California before he tested positive a few weeks later in 2004.”

Notice the economic ignorance on display in Hall’s legislation, specifically the presumption that “this multi-billion dollar industry” will stay in California once it faces regulations that are unusual in its niche field and that won’t be the norm elswhere.

Posturing vs. facts vs. unexpected consequences

But Sacramento is so mindbogglingly stupid that recent governors and a majority of legislators believe higher energy costs are good for the economy, so who knows? Maybe they think smut will bloom once it is micromanaged by state bureaucrats.

Here’s what the rational people sound like — namely, the First Amendment defender, the Libertarian Party official, the businessmen and the physicians who wrote the ballot statement against Los Angeles County’s condom measure:

“Every single actor is tested at least monthly. In 8 years, not one has contracted HIV on a set anywhere in the U.S. In fact, by driving film productions underground where there is no testing and no industry regulations, actors would be less safe, not more.”

No real health issues? Possible unexpected consequences? Who cares! Let’s regulate.

As a libertarian, I feel like this is a no-brainer. I honestly would be surprised if any rational person of any ideology who detaches the factual details (exaggerated problem, ease of industry exit, legality of conduct) from the moral preening (it’s porn!) thinks a Los Angeles County or state ban makes sense. I know they might not say this in public because it’s easily smearable and easily mocked. But in their heart of hearts, or their brain of brains, smart people have to know it’s true.

Jobs are good. Losing jobs? Bad.

Duh.

 

 

6 comments

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  1. jimmydeeoc
    jimmydeeoc 15 February, 2013, 09:09

    Finally! A topic I have some knowledge of! lol lol lol……

    Seriously, though. Mr Reed is absolutely correct. The industry continues to enhance its safety measures. Somewhere I read the infection rates are LESS among performers than of the general public.

    But again, low-information LA County voters saw the word “AIDS” and checked the box. Speaking of AIDS, whatever happened to THAT pandemic? I recall sometime in the ’80s it was projected that half of us would be dead by now. Hmmmm….well it turns out I was right 25 years ago, at the height of the AIDS scare, when I identified the primary route of transmission. Yet the government still refuses to acknowledge the specifics, suggesting that if you have s-e-x of any stripe you need a wrapper.

    lastly – amazing that while one would presume it would be the bible-thumpers who are spearheading this effort, turns out not to be the case. They’re pretty much silent on the issue so far as I can tell. It’s the control freaks with the capital “D” next to their names.

    Go ahead, California. Las Vegas is looking forward to welcoming a multi-billion dollar industry. A much-needed economic stimulus. And far more “shovel-ready” than anything the ARRA produced. Let’s hear your silly little chuckle on that one, Obama.

    Reply this comment
  2. Donna
    Donna 15 February, 2013, 10:31

    First, I am adamantly opposed to pornography. That said, the most insane part of the current LA County law is that federal agents are being paid to “monitor” adult filming to be sure the guys are wearing rubbers. Really? We’re paying the salary of individuals whose job is to watch porn in the making? Hello? California is insane. They probably see this as creating jobs. So when all the filming takes place in Ventura or San Bernardino Counties these guys will be paid to hang out and wait for the law to be thrown out. CA government needs to implode, coming soon, and start over. Planning to move out of this crazy state by end of 2013.

    Reply this comment
  3. Rex the Wonder Dog!
    Rex the Wonder Dog! 16 February, 2013, 05:50

    I hear Teddy and seesaw made a movie together 🙂

    Reply this comment
  4. SeeSaw
    SeeSaw 16 February, 2013, 09:30

    Didn’t I just see you on another thread, accusing another poster of Libel, Rex.

    Reply this comment
  5. Hondo
    Hondo 16 February, 2013, 16:19

    Donna:
    Federal agents have been ‘monitoring’ porn for years now, weather or not its in their job description. Every few months another group of federal workers ‘monitoring’ porn is discovered and are threatened with discipline. They are never fired though.
    Hondo…..

    Reply this comment
  6. Ftheunions
    Ftheunions 17 February, 2013, 13:25

    jimmydeeoc,
    The AIDS pandemic went the same way as the Killer Bees invasion that was so hyped some 25 years ago. I recall being fearful at reports that sometime in the mid to late nineties we would all be overrun by this “new” species of bees that was making its way north from Brazil. News reports even showed graphics with maps of the US slowly turning red to highlight the projected presence of these Killer Bees in given years. The bees were described as unstoppable and relentlessly moving north with killer intent. It’s all media driven.

    Reply this comment

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