Should we legalize Prostitution?

[Deadshot]

After all the stuff with Spitzer, shouldn't we begin thinking about legalizing prostitution?

Listen Spitzer needs to be crucified for his hypocricy, it isn't about that. It's about supply and demand. Look at this girl from CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/13/spitzer.kristen/index.html, this is Spitzer's escort, does she look any worse then an office drone?

Go check out the web site for the Moon Light Bunny Ranch in Nevada, those girls don't look anymore abused then your average factory worker. So why not legalize it?

Do I want my daughter to be a prostitute? Of course not. But I don't want my daughter to work at a hotdog processing plant; or a dead end job; or a factory job. But they've got to do something to earn a living. Why, in our society, is it legally acceptable to be a stripper but not a prostitute? If the girl wants to go all the way, I say let her.

Legalizing prostitution allows us regulate it, tax it, make it medically safe and take the crime and violence out of it.

What'd you guys think?

[toxic]

Yes.

It pisses me off every time I watch a 'Cops' type show and see them arresting some woman who is at the bottom of the food chain and has no/few options.

[patriotsblade]

Well legalizing prostitution has not solved any human trafficking problems in Nevada.

http://www.abolishhumantrafficking.com/2007/09/las-vegas-discusses-sex-trafficking.html

What effect does Nevada's prostitution culture have on all women in the state? A Nevada rape crisis counselor explained, “Men think they can get away with rape here.” According to an FBI Uniform Crime report, women are 3 times as likely to be raped in Las Vegas as they are in New York City.

[Deadshot]

For every story of human trafficking don't you think we could find stories of workers being exploited?

If you don't have an education or you simply can't hold a job there really aren't a lot of options out there for you. I think many Conservatives and GOP members would drive themselves crazy with the following question: A poor person has only two choices either A or B, there is NO OTHER CHOICE. Do they choose A, being on welfare, or B, be a prostitute?

I hate to break it to you people out there but some people can be VERY pretty, but VERY stupid at the same time. Why don't we tax it, get the violence out of it and move forward?

[Sweet Tart]

Prostitution is violence. Very few women and men who haven't previously been abused in some way actually say "hey, I want to sell my body". Its the same for strippers and people in the porn industry (and this applies mostly to women).

Its a repetition of the abuse cycle, only it does give an illusion of power in the exchange of money.

[Sweet Tart]

Oh wait, that's a debate :para

[jim]

I don't know...In Holland, Amsterdam anyway, it had it's "upside." If that was what one "had to do," he didn't bother his neighbor etc...That is what he did. It might serve to stop the "human trafficing" - at least to an extent. I've been on Canal Street - afraid to "sample the wares," but been there.:think The mom of a high school friend did it. It was that or starve...:drevil I gathered from the military and from studies that all who do that have been abused already or had a dysfunctional home life when younger etc:mw I don't know...

[Sofa King]

I gotta agree with the opening post. I am for personal responsibility and I think often the heavy hand of Big Brother and the criminalization of certain things makes them become worse than they would be in the natural course of societal events.
I agree that prostitution is and can often be abusive and demeans the person "selling" their body, but I think criminalizing it makes it even more abusive. Now the "enemy" isn't just from the "John" but also from the government (police). It's like being double teamed.

In a true effort for sympathy to those woman (or men ) I think legalizing it and regulating the safety and monies just like any other business would better serve both the public and those involved in both aspects of prostitution.

The regulations could involve health inspections, disease control, income taxes, and more. Making it a legit business would not solve every problem...just like it doesn't solve every problem with ANYthing. But it would, imo, be MUCh better than status quo.

I don't think that looking at an isolated situation like Nevada, where the population of tourists can outnumber actual residents, isn't a good example of whether it would be beneficial or not in our American society as a whole.

I have MUCH of the same feelings about decriminalizing marijuana, to boot.

[Deadshot]

Sofa, I'm with you on Mary Jane too.

As to the violence that Tart mentioned, take the crime out of it and the violence will be out of it. The Violence is there because there is nowhere for the girl to turn to. Make it legal, with brothels and a girl can turn to the police.

I'd also like people to imagine the tax base with a govt. regulation of Prostitution. You think we get money from alcohol and tobacco products...brother you legalize prostitution and the money will come ROLLING in!:drevil

[jim]

I gotta agree with the opening post. I am for personal responsibility and I think often the heavy hand of Big Brother and the criminalization of certain things makes them become worse than they would be in the natural course of societal events.
I agree that prostitution is and can often be abusive and demeans the person "selling" their body, but I think criminalizing it makes it even more abusive. Now the "enemy" isn't just from the "John" but also from the government (police). It's like being double teamed.

In a true effort for sympathy to those woman (or men ) I think legalizing it and regulating the safety and monies just like any other business would better serve both the public and those involved in both aspects of prostitution.

The regulations could involve health inspections, disease control, income taxes, and more. Making it a legit business would not solve every problem...just like it doesn't solve every problem with ANYthing. But it would, imo, be MUCh better than status quo.

I don't think that looking at an isolated situation like Nevada, where the population of tourists can outnumber actual residents, isn't a good example of whether it would be beneficial or not in our American society as a whole.

I have MUCH of the same feelings about decriminalizing marijuana, to boot.



Agreed. There was this kind of control on Canal Street.:cool:ohyeah

[issac the dragon]

Make it legal and the pay rate will probably drop. Hookers have to charge enough to cover their expected legal costs. I don't know that that matters, but it is interesting. Would it still be illegal to be a pimp? He is after all, a manager.

[Saguaro]

Just a change in the name from pimp to manager :D

[Deadshot]

I would argue that the prices wouldn't drop but would rise.

Instead of going to some back alley or sleazy apartment room, you'd be at a clean, government inspected brothel. As such the fear of disease or getting the bum's rush, i.e. the hooker stealing your dough, would be negligable.

I'd also argue that if oral sex cost you $25 now, in a brothel it would be higher. Why? Because supply would be finite compared to the demand. Legalizing it, legitimizes it. I listen to a radio interview with the pimp/manager of the Moonlight Bunny Ranch once. He declared that many of the brothels customers were couples, who were there to fulfill a fantasy. Why did they go to Nevada to do this? Because it's legal and the girls are disease free. Now imagine every big city having a few brothels, the supply would be small, because the grand majority of women and men won't sell themselves for money, but the demand would be high because it would be legitimate and safe, ergo prices rise - not fall.

I'd also point out, because of taxation, the prices would be negotiable, but monitored by the State wanting their cut.

Prostitution has many, many pitfalls. But it's out there right now. The Gov. of NY was just waylaided, no pun intended, by a scandal in which he paid top dollar for someone to preform a service. Both parties wanted the service to be preformed and agreed to keep it secret. Both party's were happy with the outcome (CNN reports he saw her, and she him, four times - at least). So if she's willing to sell her body and he's willing to pay for it, why not protect her legally and protect him health wise and let the practice that's happening anyway, occur under the watchful eye of Uncle Sam?

[Ringo]

I would argue that the prices wouldn't drop but would rise.

Instead of going to some back alley or sleazy apartment room, you'd be at a clean, government inspected brothel. As such the fear of disease or getting the bum's rush, i.e. the hooker stealing your dough, would be negligable.

I'd also argue that if oral sex cost you $25 now, in a brothel it would be higher. Why? Because supply would be finite compared to the demand. Legalizing it, legitimizes it. I listen to a radio interview with the pimp/manager of the Moonlight Bunny Ranch once. He declared that many of the brothels customers were couples, who were there to fulfill a fantasy. Why did they go to Nevada to do this? Because it's legal and the girls are disease free. Now imagine every big city having a few brothels, the supply would be small, because the grand majority of women and men won't sell themselves for money, but the demand would be high because it would be legitimate and safe, ergo prices rise - not fall.

I'd also point out, because of taxation, the prices would be negotiable, but monitored by the State wanting their cut.

Prostitution has many, many pitfalls. But it's out there right now. The Gov. of NY was just waylaided, no pun intended, by a scandal in which he paid top dollar for someone to preform a service. Both parties wanted the service to be preformed and agreed to keep it secret. Both party's were happy with the outcome (CNN reports he saw her, and she him, four times - at least). So if she's willing to sell her body and he's willing to pay for it, why not protect her legally and protect him health wise and let the practice that's happening anyway, occur under the watchful eye of Uncle Sam?

The same Govt that exploits these Girls to begin with, you would now trust them to be a *watchful eye*??

The Task Force code words might be..Gentleman prepare to Choke Your Chickens!!!:charge:mw:deadshot

[Sofa King]

I agree that the prices would likely go up, after all there will be more overhead (sorry for the almost pun :snicker). Taxes, locations, medical costs, etc. but I wouldn't consider the price increase a bad thing. :shrug

And yes, I assume prices would be negotiable, just as they are in a lot of businesses. Again, not a bad thing.

And for that matter, even now, it's totally legal to "give it" for free, but illegal to receive payment?

I don't think that legalizing it will make people who otherwise would never do it....now chose to. Right now, there are sex scandals whether public officials are caught having sex with inappropriate people for free, or paying for it. I find it hard to imagine that there are tons of people who find the "legal" status the only reason they aren't rushing out to find hookers.

[cassandra]

Increase of price means that there would still be prostitution that occurred outside these "clean" brothels.

I completely agree with Tart that it is violent. I disagree with Deadshot that the violence has to do with the criminalization of it.

Oddly enough, I am for legalization. It is not harming anyone and I see it as a moral thing and I don't think that the government should be involved.

[Sweet Tart]

cassandra, we must stop meeting like this :lol

[Trueblue]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/opinion/13kristof.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Please read the link, it's a great article.

[Trueblue]

I would argue that the prices wouldn't drop but would rise.

Instead of going to some back alley or sleazy apartment room, you'd be at a clean, government inspected brothel. As such the fear of disease or getting the bum's rush, i.e. the hooker stealing your dough, would be negligable.

I'd also argue that if oral sex cost you $25 now, in a brothel it would be higher. Why? Because supply would be finite compared to the demand. Legalizing it, legitimizes it. I listen to a radio interview with the pimp/manager of the Moonlight Bunny Ranch once. He declared that many of the brothels customers were couples, who were there to fulfill a fantasy. Why did they go to Nevada to do this? Because it's legal and the girls are disease free. Now imagine every big city having a few brothels, the supply would be small, because the grand majority of women and men won't sell themselves for money, but the demand would be high because it would be legitimate and safe, ergo prices rise - not fall.

I'd also point out, because of taxation, the prices would be negotiable, but monitored by the State wanting their cut.

Prostitution has many, many pitfalls. But it's out there right now. The Gov. of NY was just waylaided, no pun intended, by a scandal in which he paid top dollar for someone to preform a service. Both parties wanted the service to be preformed and agreed to keep it secret. Both party's were happy with the outcome (CNN reports he saw her, and she him, four times - at least). So if she's willing to sell her body and he's willing to pay for it, why not protect her legally and protect him health wise and let the practice that's happening anyway, occur under the watchful eye of Uncle Sam?

Read the article, what you describe is a pipe dream, I'm afraid.

This experiment has been conducted before, and it has not been a success.

NO to legalizing prostitution.

Tell Uncle Sam that he has no business overseeing such a demeaning venture.

Don't tell me that it's an option for poor people, the hell with that, let's have a society where it's not a necessary option.

Read the Swedish proposal.