I don't get it...wouldn't current clubs have to abide by these rules too? Why would these guys finance a referendum that would clearly hurt their business and place a bunch of new restrictions on themselves?

I don't get why fairly liberal cities with liberal mayors (Seattle, LA) are creating restrictive rules on strip clubs. Let the right-wing occupy the role of the cultural sex-phobe, not the left.

As a lefty, I think it's incumbent upon progressives to take a stand against the continued oppression of women. Strip clubs are not nice places for women. There is nothing redeeming about them. THe city SHOULD fight them. The state has a role in defining what a society finds ok and not ok. Racism = not ok. Sexism = not ok. Call me crazy, but I thought being a Lefty meant fighting for social justice for ALL, not protecting the rights of sleazy men to degrade women.

So are clubs featuring male strippers OK, then?

Xu-Tech>
While I applaud the spirit of your post, I must point out that the MEN that are being exploited at strip clubs just as much as the women are. And, most importantly, both parties are being expoited at threir own free will. Ask any shmo that drops $150 at a club and goes home with nothing to show for it but a big pair of blueballs.

Liberty means the freedomm to be a pole dancing ho, if you feel like making $5000 a week working 3 days. Or going to a place with $6 beers and fake tits.

Mike in Mo-
Oh yeah, I feel SOOO bad for those men. You're saying the level of their exploitation is the same as the women dancing? That's rich.
Didn't you see Showgirls? Very few women want to be strippers. THey do it, mostly, for the MONEY. IT's a fucked up society that pays woman (and men) more for stripping than most other jobs.

THe male strip club retort is kinda moot since the # of female strip clubs far and away dwarfs the # of male strip clubs. MEn are not exploited in this society in the same way as women. But, sure, for the sake of arguement, I support equally restrictive rules for numerous female strip clubs and one male stip club in Seattle.

I can't belive you quoted "showgirls" as some serious reference material for the adult strip club industry Xu. Thanks for my biggest belly-laugh of the day.

Xu-Tech>
You are missing the point. It is not a matter of quantatative comparisons. When you try to save someone from themself, you infantilize them. These are not women that are forced into this because of civil war or extreme poverty. I don't believe a 20 year old American woman stripping at a nightclub is the same as a 12 year old Malasian girl that is sold into slavery. Save your outrage for issues with actual victims.

Oh, and if you ever want to be taken seriously on any level, don't reference Showgirls. Really.

It's interesting to see the extreme left and the extreme right hook up on some of these issues, albeit for different reasons. I guess moralistic assholes make for strange bedfellows? There's more than enough irony to go around, but it always amazes me when the rabidly "pro-choice" left (full disclosure, I think of myself as leaning that way) decides it's going to tell you what's best for you...how do these guys keep a straight face?

BTW, for my money seeing someone reference "Showgirls" as an argument for their position makes this entire thread worthwhile...you can't make stuff like that up.

Mike in Mo: You, sir, are missing the point. Showgirls is brilliant and I will reference the F out of it. I have some advice for you: don't use the word 'Really' to emphasize your point, it makes you sound like a total lame-ass loser. Really. (See what I mean?).

I'm not trying to 'save them', I'm saying our society is set up to limit the choices of women (and others). You assume all these women are equal in access, privelage, education, etc as the men they are stripping for. Not true. Many are doing it b/c they are poor, or b/c they can better afford to live off of stripping than having a decent job. They don't have unlimited choices. And that is the fault of a sexist society, and we, the Left, should fight to change that.

I think that should be "privilege"?? Crappy spelling (twice in one word!) makes you look like a total lame-ass loser. Really.

"Showgirls is brilliant"

I rest my case.

Many are doing it b/c they are poor, or b/c they can better afford to live off of stripping than having a decent job. They don't have unlimited choices. And that is the fault of a sexist society, and we, the Left, should fight to change that.

Step 1, apparently, being to make the decision for them that stripping is wrong.

Also, if I may cite in my favor the documentary Dirty Dancing. Also: Flashdance. QED.

Obviously Xu-Tech is joking.

Wondering--

The ballot referendum is going to overturn the draconian strip club rules.

Get off my back, spelling nazis. In this nu blog/email world, especially on blog posts, people shouldn't be nit-picky @ spelling. I'm spouting my thoughts, not submitting a term paper.

Geez.

For the record: I'm not saying stripping is wrong, I'm saying it's wrong that women and men feel that stripping is their best option to make a decent living in this country. Furthermore, IT's wrong that degrading another human being, on a grand scale, is acceptable to too many folks, especially those on the Left who proclaim to care about social justice. Freedom doesn't mean 'anything goes.' Taking a moral stand against injustice doesn't make me an extremist. And loving Showgirls is not a crime, especially b/c the movie is a prime example of what's wrong with this society's view of women.

Just . . . wow.

Welkum2tha "nu blog/email world," evrybuddy.

I'm sure janitorial work probably feels degrading to people doing that job, too. Does that make you feel like you have a moral obligation to do away with "degrading" janitorial work?

Get real. These people make their choices...AND they make a lot of money.

That's a lot of dollar bills stuffed into panties.

Good god.

I'm not saying stripping is wrong, I'm saying it's wrong that women and men feel that stripping is their best option to make a decent living in this country.

Well okay, if you say stripping isn't wrong then. . .

Furthermore, IT's wrong that degrading another human being, on a grand scale, is acceptable to too many folks, especially those on the Left who proclaim to care about social justice.

Well now I'm just all sorts of confused. I should feel bad for accepting this thing that isn't wrong?

You say this isn't a term paper. That is good. You would fail.

Hey xu-tech,
You're correct that there are some women who strip because it's the highest paid job they're qualified for, and one that they'd rather not do. However, if strip clubs are shut down, they'll be prostitutes instead. That's how the market works. Don't lecture us about how we don't care about the plight of women until you understand this phenomenon. You'd be the ones dooming these unfortunate women to a worse life. Life is not a movie.