According to CNN, the Adult Entertainment Industry - or Porn Industry - is requesting a bailout. My first reaction is that is absurd. The Federal government should not aid an industry that intentionally objectifies women, demeans the spiritual act of sex and plagues our society with the goods it produces. Put bluntly, nothing good comes from this industry so why should the Federal government ensure it's survival?
However, thinking about the reasons for the last bailout, it occurred to me that if you were in favor of bailing out the big three - particularly from the perspective of social justice - you should also be in favor of bailing out the porn industry. Consider a brief comparison. Just as a person concerned with social justice considers the porn industry diminutive to women, they likely consider the American automotive industry hurtful to the environment. Just as the person concerned with social justice considers worries for the standard of living of the autoworker, they should also be concerned with the porn-star who also subject to the business judgement of some head honcho CEO. Finally, if we're concerned about the scale and size of the auto-industry, the porn industry is pretty sizable.
Some may try and distinguish the sort of industry, arguing that automobiles are not morally taboo while pornography certainly is. However, this argument cannot be made for someone concerned with social justice because, as has been oft quoted to the Christian Right by the Christian Left, "who made you the moral police"?
I can stand principally against this bailout because I am against all government bailouts. I think the porn industry, much like the American auto industry produces nothing good and should not be aided by public funds. While others may try and distinguish this bailout from the auto-bailout, the fact is they are extremely similar and attempts to distinguish are likely futile. Just as automobile manufacturing is essential to some sectors of the economy, so is porn (whether we like it or not).
No question, what we value as a society is a difficult question and one that needs to be answered on a daily basis. Circumstances like this, where the worst slippery slope fears have come true, demonstrate that leaving those decisions to individuals and the market is far better than expecting government to make principled distinctions because, as shown, there comes a point where government simply cannot make these decisions for the whole of society.
If you haven't considered calling or writing your Congressman against government bailouts of private industry, I encourage you to do so right now.
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