Pictures of war increases the likelihood of war.
Pictures of people using guns increases the likelihood of guns being used.
Pictures of people drinking beer increases the likelihood of alchoholism.
Pictures of people using drugs increases the likelihood that other people will use drugs.
Pictures of homosexual parades increases the likelihood of straight people becoming gay.
I could go on but I think my point is made. While some of the above instances could carry some truth to them in certain people's minds, nobody would argue that all of the above was either possible or likely to occur. Furthermore nobody is doing anything about putting laws on the books that would ban any of the above pictures from existance. So why single out simulated pictures of a simulated act? It just doesn't make sense to me.
I'm all for stamping out pedophilia and NAMBLA but I want laws on the books that are specific and to the point. The law that just got struck down was overly vague and overly broad in it's scope.
It's not exactly like only the liberal wing of the Court rammed this decision down our throats you know. Clarence Thomas, not exactly a bastion of moderation let alone liberalism, sided with the majority. That alone should speak volumes that this was a bad law.
Ashcroft wants to decry this as the end of the world. What a bunch of baloney. He should quit whining about a bad law and get back to work on crafting a good law that will go after those that deserve it rather than just toss out a net and reel in whatever it catches.
IT'S CALLED ADVERTISING! Companies spend billions on it, because it works.
Pictures of people drinking Pepsi increase the liklihood of people drinking....Pepsi? No? Maybe?
Gee, to think of all that ad money going to waste.