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| Image credit: Freeimages.com/Rybson |
There has been a lot backlash against the porn resolution that was passed in Utah, and I'm having a really difficult time understanding why. I think there must be a bunch of misunderstandings about this resolution, so I'm going to explain why it's okay.
First, it's important to understand that this is a resolution, not a bill or law. Resolutions are usually a legislatures way of celebrating something or someone, or complaining about something. In this case, the legislators and governor are telling everyone that porn is a health crisis, explaining why, and suggesting that society takes action to address the issue. They're not saying that it's the only health crisis or even the biggest health crisis. They're not spending any money or changing any laws. All they're doing is saying that porn is a problem.
And make no mistake about it, porn is a public health problem in Utah. Is it the biggest problem? No. Off the top of my head, I would say that air pollution, prescription drug abuse, the high suicide rate, and thousands of uninsured Utahns are bigger issues than pornography. But saying that porn is a problem does not at all diminish the significance of the other problems.
Keep in mind that these public health crises are difficult issues to solve. Take air pollution, for instance. For starters, the geography of the Wasatch Front is working against us. No matter what we do, we might always have inversions during the winter. Also, part of the solution is for Utahns to drive less often and for shorter distances, and use public transportation and carpool more. How many of us are willing to take this steps? Not many of us. Should the government step in and somehow force us to take action? That's a hard argument to sell.
Also, the legislature took action on all of these issues. They passed a few bills addressing pollution (granted, these bills have a very small impact), three bills to address opiate overdoses, a bill addressing suicide prevention, and a bill to expand Medicaid coverage. These are small steps in the right direction, and I can understand wanting much larger steps, but I fail to understand how passing the porn resolution is to blame in any way.
Here's the thing: the Utah State Legislature passed 474 bills this session on a variety of topics. Would it be better to pass fewer bills and spend more time on the biggest issues? It's very possible. I'm okay if anyone argues that the legislature passes too many frivolous bills, but to focus on the porn resolution seems silly.
How about H.C.R. 12 Concurrent Resolution Honoring Lin-manuel Miranda, Composer of the Musical Hamilton? Is this a great musical? I'm sure it is. Is passing that resolution the best use of the legislature's time? Probably not. The composer and the play have nothing to do with Utah.
How about H.B. 134 State Work of Art? Is the Spiral Jetty a great sculpture? It sure is. Is passing this bill the best use of the legislature's time? Probably not.
How about H.J.R. 22 Joint Resolution Honoring Utah Valley University's 75th Anniversary? Is this a great university? I sure think so. Is passing this resolution the best use of the legislature's time? Probably not.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a student at UVU, I'm an employee at UVU, I love UVU. Having it honored publicly is pretty cool. But honoring the university doesn't help anyone or solve any problem. Creating awareness about the dangers of pornography, on the other hand, has the potential to help people.
The bottom line is that I'm okay with people complaining about the Utah State Legislature. It's completely reasonable to be unhappy with some of the things they've done and haven't done. But blaming the porn resolution for issues that remain unresolved seems like a red herring.
