Ohio Senate Bill 16

EvilCyn: I'll definitely go to STOPTHEHOUSE.COM. These things really make me angry. Why do the "do gooders" and the politicians always seem to target strip clubs and prostitution? I've mentioned in the past that the local politicians and "community groups" have ran the strip clubs out of my area - South Bend. South Bend used to be a VERY good place for strip clubs, until THEY got their grubby hands on it. Now, there are just two clubs (actually one, because the two clubs are owned by the same person and they share the same building).

They say that strip clubs and prostitution bring crime to the area. Well, I think South Bend has proved that is false. With strip clubs all but eliminated, the crime rate is soaring. Just yesterday, we had two policemen shot (one killed, one critical)... that happening on the one year anniversary of the killing of the last policeman killed.

The one spear heading this whole thing is Phil Burgess of Citizens for community values, he is a ex-porn addict he clams and so he feels that no one should be exposed to things sexual in nature because he had issues.. Ya gotta be kidding me... He has been quoted in Saying that if people can't live morally, they will do it for us !! WHAT!! Why does one have the right to chose for us all..

I spent quite a lot of time in Ohio during my working years, '70-'03. They were always puritan compared to the rest of the country where I visited. Only place worse I can recall, SLC.

Don't courts usually throw out laws like this? Seems to me that's what has happened other places.

Christ! I'm glad I made a visit to Bugsy's in Elyria before learning about this bill!

Cyn, you know you have my support, as well as many others here at TUSCL. I'll go to the website and check it out.

Don't forget, a lot of church groups go to politicians to get these new strict laws enacted. I agree with Cyn, in that where is our freedom of choice going? We seem to be getting closer and closer to "communism" in this aspect! Our 'bill of rights' and 'constitution' are being torn down due to these "holyier than thou" people!

While I agree that this type of action is restricting my choice of entertainment by those who feel morally above me. If passed, the big question is, will local law enforcement enforce it? The 6 ft. rule and many others are already on the books at various cities, counties, and states. Including my favorited club. I break the law every time I go there and so do the dancers. It is a victimless crime and LE has better things to do. The civilized countries of Europe have recognized this and have legalized prostitution and pot smoking. Why do these zealots have to fuck with everybody elses way of living? There otta be a law...

cyn...if you read the Utah reviews, IMHO, they are the strictest yet they manage to get some decent reports for Utah. Perhaps someone you know with an entrepreneurs spirit would consider a private members only club. Kind of like a swingers club with swinging on the poles :)

I prefer the police go after real crime such as the real criminals such as thieves, killers, muggers, rapists, etc. instead of worrying about how far apart a guy and a girl are located while in a club. I see Ohio elected someone who knows how to waste taxpayer money. If this is approved the police will spend their time enforcing this instead of fighting real crime.

Sorry to hear the news evilcyn. Your always welcome to come visit here in the south. I once lived in Ohio too. I guess strip clubs must be viewed as something perverted in the state of Ohio. It doesn't seem fair to attack an entertainment industry tailored to male customers while many guys are away fighting to defend the chance to vote in a democracy. That just seems immoral to do that at this time.

When I visited Baby Dolls tonight in Medway, Ohio, the club had 4"X6" pieces of paper on each table explaining the STOPTHEHOUSE.COM, hoping to get clubbers to cast their votes. I hope ALL clubs do this!!!

To me, I feel either it won't fully pass, and or won't be to enforced if it does, now though because it is spearheaded by a group that feels they have the right to chose for us. Now it is personal to me.. To tell me you morals are better then mine. That as an adult I can't chose to show my tits.. UGH!!!!!!!!! Thanks for all the support.

I will also try to phone my state rep, & let him know how I feel about this(besides emailing boilerplate letter from link). Better to nip this stuff in the bud. I would also suggest checking out B.A.C.E & A.C.E. sites(OH & National org, resp) Some other localities "problem" can eventually become YOUR areas problem.

I talked to almost every customer I could last night.. Nothing will change about losing freedoms if we don't use freedom of expression in the first place..

I think the best way to stop this kind of shit is to argue against busy-bodies telling others how to live in general. Whether it's smoking bans or what, let the market place decide, not the busy-bodies.

So far, I've received 2 "positive" responses, and 6 boilerplate acknowledgements to my email. 1 response touched on personal liberty angle, 1 on small govt aspect. An earlier bill passed, but 92-5 removed most restrictive provisions. Just goesto show that you can't get too complacent with busybodies.

You have to remember that the stand legislators take on bills like this has little to do with whether the individual legislator thinks it's a good bill or not and everything to do with the image he wants to project. Legislators regularly vote for or against things to make political points regardless of what they think of the bill's merits. The recent effort to set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq is a perfect example. The people voting for it know that it has no chance of surviving a veto, but the vote allows them to make points with a certain group of voters without having to worry about any consequences. It's all about image. Few legislators have the courage to vote in favor of strip clubs, they are perfecxtly happy to vote for restrictions and let the courts sort it out. It's called passing the buck.

Few legislators oppose these measures because few among us who like our strip clubs have the courage to stick our own necks out. Until large numbers of us show our faces and and speak out in public meetings, you can't blame a politician for siding with groups that actually do organize and push their own agenda. Signing an online petition or sending a form email probably won't carry as much weight as what the other side is doing. Complaining anonymously on a strip club board about busybodies, of course, accomplishes nothing.

Chandler, I'm not trying to accomplish anything, merely making observations and voicing opinions now and then. Just like you do. And frankly I don't care if laws such as this one pass because they are unenforceable. There already many such restraints on strip clubs and, as we've all observed many times, most places (and dancers) routinely ignore them. Otherwide we couldn't dnjoy the dark side.

FONDL, some people here evidently are hoping to accomplish things. My observation is to contradict your observation that citizens are at the mercy of cowardly legislators. When we don't take a stand publicly, we get the legislators we deserve. We're the ones passing the buck.

Chandler, your comments indicate a total lack of how our legislative process works. It's a total waste of time to contact a legislator in regard to pending legislation without first doing your homework. For example, does this bill have legs? Where does it's support come from? Who is pushing it and why? Which legislators remain uncommitted? What are the key points pro and con? Contacting a legislator without knowing that information just makes you look silly. In some states it could even be illegal. I don't know anything about the Ohio legislature, do you?

Chandler, I have been intimately involved with my congressmen and senators at both the state and federal level. I've been on a first name basis with many of them. I've worked with them on many bills. I've worked with their staffs. I've contributed money to their campaigns. run fundraisers for them. when you've done that too then feel free to cricizize me for not being willing to get involved. When it comes to politics, you have no idea what the hell you're talking about. I do.

FONDL, you might have had a point if any of that was what I was talking about. If what I'm actually saying is so ignorant, somebody should call the NRA and tell them they might as well close up shop. Nothing they do can ever have any effect on gun control legislation. They'd be better off hiding in the shadows and complaining on gun owners' discussion boards about busybodies and politicians with no courage.

Chandler, I was under the impression that you were talking about having some impact on pending legislation in Ohio. The fact of the matter is that you and I have no juice in Ohio - unless we either live in the state or represent an organization that has employees who do, nobody cares what we think about OH SB 16. For you or I to send emails or write letters is a complete waste of time. And frankly it's likely to piss of any legislators we contact.

The point I was trying to make is that if you do wish to get involved politically, and if you haven't I urge you to do so, the way to do it is to get to know your elected officials, both federal and state. Make appointments to go see them (I've met all of mine.) And if you're going to talk about a specific issue, do your homework first - get online and study the legislative history, then develop a position paper that outlines your key points. And be prepared to be invited to their next fund raiser.

I've done all of that, many times. I've gotten very involved at times, which I think gives me the right to bitch about the things I don't like. Especially since I've seen how things work up close and personal. And I believe that if more people understood how things really work, things would change quickly.

Feel free to get involved. But please stop accusing me of not being willing to put my money where my mouth is. I've donated lots of time and money to things I believe in. And I'm very concerned about what's happening to this country - I think we're in a state of decline and are heading for disaster. And I don't know what to do about it. Except to keep raising the issue wherever I encounter intelligent people. Like here.

FONDL: I wasn't talking just about Ohio any more than you were. Beats me where you got that impression.

I took issue with the opinions you posted on this thread about the responsibility for bills like this and what could or couldn't be done about them, not with whatever you may have done politically yourself. Sorry if I appeared to be accusing you personally.

I get a little annoyed when I read posts on strip club boards that bitch to the already converted about others trying to take away our so-called rights. We can't expect anybody else to defend what we aren't willing to stand up for ourselves. Not politicians and not the courts. I don't know whether the best tack is to try to develop a personal relationship with your congressman, to organize a pressure group, or just to attend civic meetings and speak out. I know it's going to take more than clicking a few buttons on our computers from the comfort of home.

Maybe the answer is to let them pass any bills they want and to trust that there will always be an outlet for erotic entertainment in one form or another, cause you can't nail jello to a wall. Call it wack-a-mole fatalism. That's my usual attitude, which is why you'll never see me bitch about oppressive do-gooders.