Introduction
Sexual Socialism for the Twenty First Century
An Exploration of Proposals for the Achievement of Greater Human Equity
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The twentieth century has seen a great deal of change in attitudes amongst the population of the so called "free world". Foremost among these is increased tolerance for state pre-emption of individual decisions. Despite the lackluster resurgence of "conservatism" of late, the majority prefer some variant of socialism.
Consider the province of Ontario, which just re-elected a "conservative" government... a government which continues nevertheless to consume and direct massive amounts of the creative energy of it's subjects. There has been a great hue and cry over some of the reductions in spending and taxation that have occured under this regime but the fact remains that the government still plays a very large role in people's lives.
And it is likely always to remain so. Socialism, in one guise or another, is apparently here to stay. Future governments will be elected by pointing out that human existence is plagued by troubles, and they will claim it is because the "free market" has failed.
Liberals and socialists have made great progress throughout the twentieth century... and will continue to do so because capitalism never could deliver Utopia and it never will. Liberals and socialists think they can achieve Utopia even though they never will either.... but the people tend to believe them. The twenty-first century will see a continuation of the trends established previously and the process of coercive equalization will continue on it's inexorable journey.
Socialists of all stripes must therefore prepare for the future. A future full of
activity for not only does the issue of full economic equality beckon but
equality on other fronts must be addressed as well. This essay takes a look at
another important area of human existence which has, so far, resisted
significant egalitarian attention.
A serious social problem exists in the world which has not, to date,
been referred to as a 'crisis' by government or the mass media. Yet this
problem has consequences which at least equal and probably surpass the
severity of, for example, homelessness, high medical insurance premiums
and traffic congestion. Indeed, billions of people in the world currently
engage in an activity which has no official oversight or guidelines, no
regulation and perhaps worst of all for liberals and socialists, provides pleasure but isn't taxed.
Everyone, at one time or another becomes involved in the pursuit of
romance. Due to the lack of government intervention in this area the
romance marketplace is, more or less, governed entirely by the outdated
principle of Laissez Faire. The law of the jungle prevails. The
distribution of satisfaction is unequal. It's a dog eat dog world.
Over one hundred million acts of sexual intercourse occur daily. Too many
individuals engage in this activity with little or no training and as many
more are ill equipped to deal with it's possible consequences (910,000
conceptions and 350,000 cases of sexually transmitted disease daily).
So far, governments have taken a hands off approach to the problem of
unregulated sex. The number of people who fall in love
without official consent or guidance is also high. The consequences
of this neglect are devastating.
Parental Competence
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Some people who have intercourse end up having children. Many, perhaps a
majority, lack the qualifications to become good parents. At present there
are no regulations governing this crucial aspect of life.
Some have suggested that licensing parents would go a long way towards
solving the problem of parental incompetence. Unfortunately
philoprogenitive behaviour has consequences that go far beyond
successful engineering of children. Licensing parents therefore
constitutes only a bandaid solution to one small part of a very large problem. The
regulation and licensing of sex and romance would have positive effects in
many other areas of government policy, including health, welfare,
redistributive justice, discrimination and, of course, revenue enhancement.
It is almost universally agreed that compulsory education of children serves
the public interest. The pubic interest might also be well served by a
mandatory regime of sex and romance education for everyone who intends to
become romantically involved at some time in their lives. Those who
successfully complete the program might be issued an S&R (Sex and Romance)
card. The card might come with a magnetic stripe and photo ID to facilitate
easy identification of conjugating couples. The license could be
renewable annually at which time retesting might also take place.
A potential problem that exists with respect to state indoctrination of children in the
public school system is that some misguided parents may have very different
opinions respecting morality and politics. Such parents would, no
doubt, attempt to inflict upon their children ideas and beliefs which are
at odds to those officially sanctioned by the public school system.
Children exposed to such contradictory influences shall become confused and efforts
by the state to inculcate correct values shall be frustrated. The regulation
and licensing of sex could ensure that applicants display the politically
correct attitude before being issued permits for the activity under
consideration. This would help weed out those deluded potential parents who
exhibit any tendency for harmful or mistaken beliefs and opinions which
undercut the best efforts of the state to achieve the opposite.
Such a policy, if implemented, could be counted upon to streamline the
process by which citizens are engineered to have correct opinions. With a
successful regime of artificial selection, other programs and
government departments such as, for example, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the
corrections system and, of course, enforcement divisions of various
government revenue departments could be reduced or eliminated.
Health Issues
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Sexually transmitted diseases impose a burden on the medical care
system whether fully socialized as in Canada or only partially socialized as in the U.S.A. The smoking of cigarettes after sex, often glamourized in the movies, imposes further stress upon the costs of medicare.
Precedents have already been set for government intrusion into the
private sphere. Mandatory seat belt laws have been justified in part by the
claim that reduced automobile injuries lower the cost of our socialized
medicare system. "Rights imply responsibilities" was how one of Ontario's
officials put it when seat belt use became mandatory in that province. The government's
campaign against cigarette smoking is largely motivated by similar concerns.
The "war" against drugs also qualifies as a massive incursion into the private decisions of millions of peaceful individuals. Yet the vast majority including, apparently, a majority of it's victims accepts this negation of individual sovereignty as a legitimate prerogative of the state. This attitude is so deeply entrenched in the minds of the majority that the activities of armed thugs storming the private domains of citizens in pursuit of illegal substances are routinely broadcast to national audiences. Violent and aggressive crimes are portrayed as heroic law enforcement.
The problems being addressed by such aggresive state intrusions are not all that different from the problems that attend an unregulated romance regime.
Similarities exist between addiction to drugs and addiction to sex. Drug
addicts will lie, cheat and steal to support their habit. So will sex
addicts. Addicts will often fight over drugs. Some men fight over women.
Finally, those who engage in either activity run the risk of getting a
lethal dose.
Our government has chosen prohibition as a means of fighting the
non-approved use of drugs. Prohibition of sex is out of the question for obvious reasons. It would appear then that some regulatory apparatus be devised instead to prevent the negative consequences of romance.
Requiring citizens to have a Sex and Romance (S&R) License could be an excellent means of
reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted disease. Testing for
venereal diseases could be included as part of the annual license
renewal procedure. Those testing positive could be fined, imprisoned or
(worse?) have their licenses suspended. Applicants could be required to
provide notarized documentation detailing the frequency and variety of sexual
encounters. Failure to convince the license issuer that sufficient
precautions had been taken against disease could result in demerit points
leading to possible socialized medicare premium surcharges or the loss of some tax credits.
To placate those applicants who might consider these requirements an
abominable invasion of privacy attention should be drawn to the income tax
which long ago abolished privacy. As with taxpayers, there could be a
declaration of sexplayer rights which would include the following statement
paraphrasing that found on the back of the yearly T1 (Canadian) tax guide under the
heading "Privacy and confidentiality": "You are entitled to expect that we
will use the sexual and romantic information you provide us only for
purposes the law allows". Note that being "entitled to expect" confers no real rights upon the subject and imposes no serious obligation upon the government to limit it's use of such information. And well it should be, the alternative would be to leave such information out of the reach of state experts.
Redistributive Justice
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The distribution of sexual pleasure is unequal. The equality of
opportunity that some argue exists hardly compensates for the inequality of
OUTCOME or SUCCESS. Having sex appeal, good looks, a sense of humour, a 'great
personality', musical talent, brains and money often give the possessor
priority in mate selection over individuals not similarly endowed. In many
cases, the qualities mentioned are due entirely to the luck of the draw at
birth.
With the declining influence of some religions, with changing attitudes, and
as the welfare state sends out the signal that having children is THE road
to a comfortable middle class standard of living the old restrictions on
the number of partners one has are weakened. Some people have multiple
partners while others have none. How long can this manifestly unfair
situation be allowed to escape official notice? It's past time for
interventionist governments to take an active role in the redistribution of sex
and love. A horny man is not free.
According to one page on the Sex Work Cyber Resource Support Center For Sex Workers And Customers web site, some Danish cities have moved towards sex equity by arranging for social workers to escort disabled individuals to see prostitutes. The use of public money to enable barrier free access to sexual gratification is certainly a step in the right direction.
In Maastricht, according to the same source Cecile aan de Stegge, chairwoman of the Netherlands Association of Psychiatric Nursing for patients of the Vijverdal psychiatric hospital, has made special arrangements with a local brothel to provide a hefty discount to accomodate the needs of mental patients. Thus even private industry has moved in the desired direction.
More is needed. Governments everywhere should implement various measures to ensure equality in this very important area of human life. Sex and romance are simply too important to be left to the private and personal sectors. A good start for local governments would be to ensure that there are adequate handicapped parking spots and wheelchair ramps available in districts known to be frequented by prostitutes and their clients.
14. Justice and Equality. Justice means the end of all discrimination against individuals, and the equality of rights and opportunities. It demands compensation for physical, mental and social inequalities, and freedom from dependence on either the owners of the means of production or the holders of political power. Declaration of Principles of the Socialist International |
Since the distribution of romantic satisfaction is unfair the government has to do something. One of the
key functions of government, implicit in the overwhelming majority of
discussions of government policy, is that it should make life fair.
Numerous
policies are adopted with the aim of achieving fair taxation, fair employment
practices, fair housing policy, fair competition, fair prices, fair trade
etc. Clearly, given the importance of satisfactory romantic affairs,
prevailing attitudes should lead to a willing acceptance of a much
greater government presence in the romantic lives of it's citizens.
The government should set up a new ministry. In Canada they could call it
"Togetherness Canada". Like some private dating services it could use
computers to match up it's members. Unlike private dating services, which
attempt to match up compatible couples, a procedure which relies too
strongly upon the anarchy of the marketplace, Togetherness Canada would have
fairness as it's prime objective although compatibility should remain a
part of its mandate. Also, unlike private services, membership would be
mandatory.
No government oversight or regulations exist to ensure that couples who marry
or co-habit are actually compatible. The costs to society as a result of
individuals making the wrong choices appear in the form of family violence
and the emotional trauma suffered by children whose parents are going
through expensive divorce proceedings, chasing down deadbeat ex-husbands who
refuse to make support payments, psychological counseling of couples having
difficulties and more.
Obviously, many of these problems result from people forming emotional relationships without
really knowing or examining all of the implications.
Some deluded fools might think that individuals can make their own
decisions in these matters; that freedom carries with it the possibility that
the wrong choice might be made and the responsibility to accept the
consequences of failure as well as the rewards of success. This might be OK in
a world where everyone is omniscient but such is, of course, not the case on
this planet. Clearly then, there is an important role for knowledgeable
experts, chosen by politicians and endowed with special coercive powers,
to ensure that no individual be permitted to make serious personal decisions without
appropriate oversight.
Anti-discrimination
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Discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, mental or physical
handicap, income, receipt of social assistance, age, personal hygiene, the
type of car one drives, whether or not one can play a guitar and, of course,
gender are known to be rampant. Sexual orientation is unique in that it leads
to numerous instances of reverse discrimination.
Such widespread discrimination is scandalous in a society which demands that
all groups be proportionately represented in the statistics which measure
success. On the grounds that discrimination can severely damage the self
esteem of members of certain designated groups, such discrimination
is prohibited by law in the areas of, for example, employment and
housing. Should it not also be prohibited in the vital area of romantic
happiness?
Some people report emotional devastation when rejected by present or
potential lovers almost as severe as that which accompanies having a lease
application rejected in a rent controlled city.
The emotional impact of the competition for sex and love can be
overpowering for some people. Failure to achieve one's desires can, in some
cases, lead to drug addiction, drunkenness, financial problems and even
murder and/or suicide. The housing and medicare crises are exacerbated
by the existence of this sociosexual injustice.
Systemic discrimination is also a serious problem. Often, the
opportunities for satisfying romantic relationships are not
properly advertised. Instead, contact is made orally, through family and
friends, through social clubs or church affiliations, and through bars,
street corners, alleyways and public restrooms. Seldom do prospective
lovers advertise in minority publications. Bad breath or extreme body odour
may frustrate the ambitions of a potential suitor if the suit(ee) has not
taken reasonable measures to provide mouthwash or soap.
Part of the mandate of Togetherness Canada should include a mandate for the
achievement of Love Equity.
All members having received the benefits of compulsory education should have
the basic skill necessary to write reports. Thus there should be no problem
with the additional requirement, modeled along the lines of the (former)
Ontario NDP government's Employment Equity Act (Bill 79), that all members
submit a Love Equity plan that sets goals and timetables and describes what
the individual will do to break down the barriers and give all suitors equal
opportunity in the sex market place.
An overview of Bill 79 published by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship
indicated that Employment Equity plans should include "positive measures to
help members of designated groups secure equitable treatment in the workplace
-- for example, mentoring or bridging programs". Sex equity plans would
have to include similar measures to assist members in meeting, dating,
marrying and satisfying members of designated groups.
Sections of the EEA also required "supportive measures that benefit all
employees -- for
instance, flexible working hours".
Of course, no Love Equity program would be complete without borrowing from
another part of Bill 79, "accommodation measures -- for example, providing
a work related technical device that would enable a person with a
disability to do the job." Technical devices with love equity applications
which enable a person with a disability to do the job are already on the
market.
The question arises as to who should pay for the accomodation measures. Borrowing again from the spirit of Bill 79, the one who does not require the aid is the one who should pay for it. I.E., since it is the proposed employee who requires accomodation measures, liberal/socialist logic mandates that someone else (the employer) should pay for it. The same should apply to sex equity. For example, if the male partner (assuming a heterosexual assignment) requires Viagra, the woman should pay. The argument could be raised that the woman too requires Viagra, in which case the cost should be split, unless a committee appointed by the state can determine which of the parties has the stronger desire, in which case, again in accordance with liberal/socialist logic, the other (I.E. the party with the lesser desire) should pay.
Popular gathering spots where individuals in pursuit of romance are known to assemble should also be required to implement certain accomodation measures. For example, parking spaces closest to the entrance ways should be reserved for those who are commonly recognized as lacking physical appeal. If the proportion of people lacking physical appeal (overweight, bad skin, big noses, messy hair, body odour etc.) should be so large as to consume all available parking spaces more attractive people should be required to park on adjacent side streets or use public transportation. Extremely sexy and good looking people should be prohibited from driving altogether. (Driving is a privilege, not a right.)
Love Equity could create jobs as well. From California, always at the
forefront, it seems, in the battle for social justice, we can get an idea
of what this might mean in practice. From
Reason Magazine
Brickbats section (July, 1994):
" The city of Los Angeles has ordered a nude dancing club to take down or
modify a shower enclosure where it's ladies perform. The reason: The
shower isn't handicapped accessible. If the owners want to keep the
shower, they'll have to redesign it so that a woman in a wheelchair
can perform in it."
Regulations would have to be devised to ensure that the bedding industry conform to similar regulations. Makers of the Kraftmatic bed and other equivalents should have their profits carefully scrutinized and any windfalls should be clawed back by the state.
Finally, to make the new legislation truly progressive the concerns of animal
rights activists must be addressed. Question 23 on Togetherness Canada's
compatibility form, "are you a leg man or a breast man?" Question 24,
"are you allergic to wool?"
Bilingualism (Canada)
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In recognition of the fact that Canada is a nation with two founding
peoples Canadians have become accustomed to having French imposed upon them
by law. While some might feel that French is really being forced down their
throats, French kissing should, nevertheless, be made mandatory.
Prostitution
Certainly all forms of prostitution should be legalized since
prostitution has great egalitarian value. Other benefits of legalization would
be government regulation, oversight and taxation. Bringing prostitution
into the realm of legitimate business would make it easier to prosecute
prostitutes who refuse to service members of designated groups under existing
human rights statutes as well as any new laws attending sex equity.
Or...
The whole prostitution industry could be nationalized. With prostitutes
joining the public payroll their services could be distributed for free like
other social services. Of course they would want to be represented by the
usual public sector unions which would probably result in an orgy of collective
bargaining.
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Unlike other forms of amusement, governments receive almost no revenues from
sexual activity.
My estimate of the frequency of intercourse in Canada represents a
potentially huge source of revenue for governments at all levels. It is
perhaps a little odd that governments have not yet tapped into this
activity as a potential source of revenue. At ten bucks a crack, the
government could raise 5 million dollars daily from this activity.
That's a respectable 1.825
BILLION
dollars a year!
The determination of which party should be liable for the tax should be done in accordance with the liberal/socilist logic described under "Anti-discrimination" above.
A survey of the rates charged in sex markets where vendors prefer to be
compensated in cash would give the revenue minister some idea of how high
this tax could go before the tax base goes flaccid. The tax might be initially
set to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate, ie. it could be set at 7% of the
going street rate.
These tax rates could be adjusted to influence birth rates in Keynesian
fashion. No more baby booms.
Enforcement
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The question of enforcement of government regulations in the romance
marketplace must be addressed. Many will consider enforcement to be an
impossible task due to the difficulty of detection and the tendency of most
participants to avoid complaining. Detection of a couple falling in love would
be extremely difficult as it is often difficult or impossible, even
for the individuals concerned, to know when this is happening.
Unlike falling in love, which occurs on a continuum,
lovemaking is discrete. Having instituted a licensing regime for all
eligible citizens, enforcement would consist largely of routing out and
exposing citizens who are engaged in illicit sex... a fun job for some..
no doubt it would add variety to the jobs of those police officers
currently assigned to monitoring the comings and goings in public
restrooms.
Police enforcement could be augmented by the requirement that licensed
individuals fill out annual sex returns. This could be made part of the annual
retesting procedure. If everyone were required to complete and file an
official form, say a T4-2 specifying date, time and partner, every time
they had sex a paper trail would exist which would aid in catching offenders
by finding unmatched forms. It would be a serious offense to make a false
statement.
The frequency of sheet laundering can be affected by the level of sexual
activity. The U.S. has taken measures against the crime of money
laundering such as those under the Bank Secrecy Act which require
Currency Transaction Reports for transactions involving $10,000 or more.
Similar measures might be employed to help zero in on lawbreakers by, for
example, requiring that all retailers submit Spray'n Wash Transaction
Reports. These measures could be coupled with random spot checks.
The police could then break into homes of unlicensed individuals,
suspected of breaking the law, in the same way that those drug warriors do on
the TV show COPS. These special officers would have to be equipped
with bullet proof vests since it would often be impossible to quickly
determine whether the suspect has a gun or is just having a good time.
Sex audits could be combined with tax audits. "So Mr. Smith, according to
your cost-of-living statement for last year you purchased a new mattress.
Something wrong with the old one was there? Hmmmm?"
Conclusion
For the majority of Canadians, the standard refrain in response to any
conceivable problem that exists is 'There ought to be a law.' The notion that
legislators, through the use of police, judges and jailers, can achieve all
sorts of wonderful things, from housing to job creation to education to curing
appendicitis, has been almost completely accepted by the bulk of the
population. Disagreements that do exist focus on details rather than upon
the basic principle. Moves by the government to ensure fairness in the
romantic affairs of the citizenry should be welcomed with little dissent.
We have looked at several social policy areas which would be positively
affected by a strict regime of sexual regulation. We have seen that such
regulation would carry with it benefits pertaining to family values,
health, redistibutive justice and anti-discrimination.
We have also seen that cash strapped governments have an excellent source
of revenue to tap. For the first time in history the taxpayer won't mind
getting screwed.
The time to act is now. Canadians are ready. The current, so called, right
wing trend will be quickly reversed when Canadians finally realize just how
much they love their socialism. That will be the time to swiftly
implement the recommended regime.
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