Reader comments
Utah Supreme Court rules strip club tax constitutional; escort tax isn't

cody | 2:22 a.m. Nov. 21, 2009

i always laughed at this, why is it legal to tax something that any and all humans are able to give away for free?

Davis | 7:27 a.m. Nov. 21, 2009

If the State is going to tax Nudity, when will they impose these taxes on the BYU, UofU, Salt Lake Art Center collections? All have major nudity in their permanent art collections. Nude or semi-nude models at the schools for art classes should be taxed too.
Get real folks, you are trying to fight human nature and it is a losing battle. Wasting taxpayers money for foolish legal battles. Only the lawyers get rich from these things.

Anonymous | 8:00 a.m. Nov. 21, 2009

That's good to hear; now may I make a further suggestion that the State and other munipalities, including the Police, leave the Escort Services alone; they are simply providing a service that men want; that includes prostitutes; leave them alone. If they are using illegal substanes, or buying them, that is the ONLY time the Authorities can touch them, other than that, LEAVE THEM ALONE! There are other, more serious crimes on the agenda.

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Durham's position | 8:24 a.m. Nov. 21, 2009

This article is informative, but should have more explicitly stated the Chief Justice's views. It is vital that the people of Utah understand that the Utah Supreme Court is commanded by a woman who wrote a lengthy opinion on why the state should not control public nudity and lascivious strip acts. Fortunately for Utah families, Justice Durham was not able to muster enough votes for her libertine views.

I read the opinion. I acknowledge that it is long and complex and intellectually challenging. Nonetheless, the Deseret News does a disservice to its readers by glossing over Justice Durham's anti-family values that consistently and persistently find their way into the law. Informed voters would quickly remove her from office.

rainforest | 10:28 a.m. Nov. 21, 2009

The third comment here must come from a pimp. If you want to sin, go to Las Vegas. Or better, read the Bible and find all the answers!

@Durham's position | 11:50 a.m. Nov. 21, 2009

All behavior in question takes place behind closed doors.

It takes a busybody police force, supported by blue-nosed citizens, to interject themselves into these private places ... just as many temple-worthy individuals see erotica on their home computers.

Live and let live for a spontaneous order, or reap the whirlwind of calculated chaos.

Anonymous | 12:11 p.m. Nov. 21, 2009

"{It assesses a 10-percent tax on admission fees and user fees charged by sexually-explicit Utah businesses, those that employ nudity for more than 30 days per calendar year." This tax could apply to OB Gyn doctors. :-)

@Durham's Critic | 12:29 p.m. Nov. 21, 2009

We live in a liberal democracy, not an popular democracy. That means certain rights are protected (including free speech) no matter what people think. Now that you've read the opinion here, go read the Constitution.

P.S. Mormons should be libertarians. We believe that a war in heaven was fought over the ability to make our own choices. Who are you to overrule freedom of choice?

Re: Cody | 1:01 p.m. Nov. 21, 2009

Maybe because thy aren't - they are charging and are therefore subject to taxation

wandrew | 1:19 p.m. Nov. 21, 2009

The Court's position on the dance clubs is simply legally wrong, and only the Chief Justice understands this. To write her off as a "libertine" and opposed to "family values" is ridiculous. Thank you, Madam Chief Justice, for your support of constitutional freedoms, even at times when that support makes both of us feel pretty lonely.

About Durham? | 7:15 p.m. Nov. 21, 2009

Is this really about one inconsequential judge? Or is this about how far we are willing to let the courts go in perversion before reining them in? I'm sure that Durham is a nice lady and the personal attacks belong somewhere else. As Andrew McCullough said in the previous comment, one should not just write her off. Just because she happens to agree with Mr. McCullough and the strip clubs and escort services doesnt' make her anti-family. She probably has never been to one of these places. If you want to complain about judges, there are better ways. Talk to your elected representatives about using the power of the purse strings or simple vote against retaining the judges that you don't like.

"Family" values | 12:40 p.m. Nov. 22, 2009

I'm starting to think that 'family' has become code for imposing Leviticus through legislation. Where's my freedom of religion to not be Christian?

Malcolm Boura | 1:34 p.m. Nov. 23, 2009

As far too often happens the law is confusing sex and nudity. They are not automatically the same things and refusing to recognise that encourages attitudes known to result in widespread and often serious harm.

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