NationStates Jolt Archive

Should prostitution be legalized?

No. Not until abortion is legalized and free for everyone, AIDS is cured, and every other STD is cured.

No. Not until abortion is legalized and free for everyone, AIDS is cured, and every other STD is cured.

So... never?

As long as it is regualted for epidemiological reasons, then certainly.

So... never?
I think we'll find a cure for AIDS before our nation (U.S.A.) can agree on the issue of abortion.

Well, what I think is if we are going to legalize it, that we confine it brothels first and then legalize it completely.

It already is legal. At least where I live.

It already is here.

hell yes

It should be legal, but regulated. Prostitutes should be required to register themselves and get some sort of license, and to undergo STD testing on a regular basis. Should an STD be detected, the license should be revoked until the disease is cured.

The licensing accomplishes several things. For one, it makes it much harder to force someone into prostitution. The person themselves would have to be over the age of consent, and woul dhave to sign for the license. We may even require some sort of mental evaluation to make sure they were not being coerced, etc. And, much like any other service, most customers would wish to find a "licensed" (and thus, tested) prostitute, rather than taking one which may be more dangerous.

Personally I think it should be. A person is already allowed to sleep with pretty much anyone they want. (As long as their consenting adults of course) I see no reason that a person shouldn't be able to charge a price for it.

Now if they don't want to use protection- well that's their own stupidity. I'm sure those people will end up causing unwanted pregnancies without money being involved. At least if prostitution was legalized, there could be manditory health screenings if it's a matter of licensing. Personally, I don't think it should only be legal in brothels- so many are practically slave camps where the house takes most of the cash.

While it's not something I'd ever do- I do think it should be an option, especially when many of the people who turn to it are desprate and almost starving on the street. At least if it was legalized, they'd have codes and laws in place to protect them a little better.

Should prostitution be legalized?
yes. my body belongs to me, and i should be allowed to do whatever i wish with it (so long as i am not directly interfering with the equal right of other people). if i wished to enter into a mutual exchange contract with another consenting adult then that is my business and theirs, and nobody else's. indeed, it is insulting for the government to presume that it has any say over what consenting adults choose to do with their own bodies, and only people with no moral fiber of their own would want or need such parenting from The Man.

"I don't understand why prostitution is illegal. Why should prostitution be illegal? Selling is legal. Fucking is legal. Why isn't selling fucking legal? Why should it be illegal to sell something that's perfectly legal to give away?" -George Carlin

"I don't understand why prostitution is illegal. Why should prostitution be illegal? Selling is legal. Fucking is legal. Why isn't selling fucking legal? Why should it be illegal to sell something that's perfectly legal to give away?" -George Carlin
bingo. i cannot think of any other situation in which it is illegal to sell an otherwise legal "commodity."

I can think of two reasons offhand to illegalize prostitution completely:

--Moral reasons: Right then and there, the argument should be invalid. Morality beyond "don't hurt anyone else if you can help it" has no business in legislation. Who exactly does the act of prostitution hurt? Someone getting an STD? Well, the STD hurts them, not the act of prostitution, and therefore mandatory testing and licensing for prostitutes AND customers is a good idea, but illegalizing it entirely is overkill. It's like banning cars because some people get into accidents while they drive drunk.

--Power reasons: Who becomes a prostitute? Is it wealthy, upper-class people? Is it sons and daughters of members of Congress? Uhh, that's what I thought. It's the poor. This is a means of hampering the ability of the poor to make a decent living for themselves or to keep them in check, by enforcing laws against this. This is the same reason many recreational drugs are illegal, and this is the same reason there are 'sin taxes.' The illegalization of prostitution in the name of 'moral values' is one of many things keeping the caste system in America intact.

"I don't understand why prostitution is illegal. Why should prostitution be illegal? Selling is legal. Fucking is legal. Why isn't selling fucking legal? Why should it be illegal to sell something that's perfectly legal to give away?" -George Carlin

George Carlin is king.

Only in the brothels. Where the prostitutes are protected, and are screen checked often. Also, the brothels have to be strict and fair.

Especially with so many prostitution killings going on. And prostitute rapes.

only in licensed brothels with licensed prostitutes.this takes the abuse system out of it,cuts the strain on the police,and cuts the pimps out of the money.generally i can only see good.

George Carlin is king.

He is my muse. :)

In Canada Abortion is covered under our health care system and unfortunately used as a form of birth control. But I stray from the point, The legalization and licensing of prostitution would solve alot of the present problems including the slave brothels that presently exsist. A legal brothel would have records, regular medical exams and security for both prostitutes and johns. The SIN tax levied on the prostitution would more than make up the taxes from the declining tobacoo sales. All in all it is a win-win solution since no matter what we do prostitution will continue considering it is called the worlds oldest profession.

It's legal in the US Congress, isn't it? ;)

I can think of two reasons offhand to illegalize prostitution completely:

--Moral reasons: Right then and there, the argument should be invalid. Morality beyond "don't hurt anyone else if you can help it" has no business in legislation. Who exactly does the act of prostitution hurt? Someone getting an STD? Well, the STD hurts them, not the act of prostitution, and therefore mandatory testing and licensing for prostitutes AND customers is a good idea, but illegalizing it entirely is overkill. It's like banning cars because some people get into accidents while they drive drunk.

--Power reasons: Who becomes a prostitute? Is it wealthy, upper-class people? Is it sons and daughters of members of Congress? Uhh, that's what I thought. It's the poor. This is a means of hampering the ability of the poor to make a decent living for themselves or to keep them in check, by enforcing laws against this. This is the same reason many recreational drugs are illegal, and this is the same reason there are 'sin taxes.' The illegalization of prostitution in the name of 'moral values' is one of many things keeping the caste system in America intact.

:sniper: I find your logic severly flawed! first off yeah many poor women end up doing prostitution but it is usually a means of supporting their drug habits. The drug habits are quite often forced on these young women as a means of controlling them and keeping them poor. Secondly the "recreational" drugs are kept illegal because of all the extremly negative and harmful side effects. Third prostitution does hurt people, just talk to any woman who has gotten free of the trade and she will tell you that it killed her a little more each time. Then of course there is the damage it does to marriages and other relationships. And don't forget both the States and Canada have been founded on the Christian value system so whether you are a believer or not it is part of our heritage. And lastly SIN taxes have nothing to do with controlling anyone. They are a way of recouping some of the losses sustained through the health care systems and loss of production due to health problems related to these items on the SIN lists.

It's legal in the US Congress, isn't it? ;)

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Indeed, and it was recently legalised here as well

Completely legal, with issues such as public health and forced prostitution dealt
through appropriate laws (public endangerment for disease, kidnapping and rape for forced).

It is semi-legal here:
1. The only sex act actually covered by prostitution laws is coitus.
2. The 1956 Anti-Prostitution law outlaws pimping, running a brothel, and soliciting, but not the actual exchange of sex for money.
3. Callgirl services are a grey area - as it stands now, if you call in a girl, as long as the original stated purpose is not coitus, she can offer coitus for a large tipo, and it is ignored.

Secondly the "recreational" drugs are kept illegal because of all the extremly negative and harmful side effects.

The side effects of marijuana are no worse, and most likely better than, the side effects of cigarettes or alcohol. So why's it illegal? And since when should the government be able to dictate that something is wrong because it could be harmful?

Third prostitution does hurt people, just talk to any woman who has gotten free of the trade and she will tell you that it killed her a little more each time.

Umm, huh? This is talking people being employed by choice as prostitutes.

Then of course there is the damage it does to marriages and other relationships. And don't forget both the States and Canada have been founded on the Christian value system so whether you are a believer or not it is part of our heritage.

There's this little thing called 'separation of church and state'. Ever heard of it?

No. Not until abortion is legalized and free for everyone, AIDS is cured, and every other STD is cured.
Don't all hookers use condoms?

:sniper: I find your logic severly flawed! first off yeah many poor women end up doing prostitution but it is usually a means of supporting their drug habits. The drug habits are quite often forced on these young women as a means of controlling them and keeping them poor.
You have some evidence of this beyond your conjecture?

Secondly the "recreational" drugs are kept illegal because of all the extremly negative and harmful side effects.
Eating too much salt has extrememely negative and harmful side effects, (such as death) as does over consumption of legal drugs like alcohol, and even regular dosage consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products can and does kill (and not just the smoker either).
Third prostitution does hurt people, just talk to any woman who has gotten free of the trade and she will tell you that it killed her a little more each time.
You mean talk to many women who have left the trade...there are women who have worked as prostitutes and they dont claim that it killed them a little each time. I've known many prostitutes who claimed that the profession was hurtful due to the illegality (and the consequential lack of protection/recourse when things go wrong, and the societal stigma that is perpetuated by the illegality of their profession).
Then of course there is the damage it does to marriages and other relationships.
Prostitution does not damage marraiges or relationships.
And don't forget both the States and Canada have been founded on the Christian value system so whether you are a believer or not it is part of our heritage.
Er witch burning and slave trading are part of the heritage of many of us, do you somehow seek a return to such barbaric practises? If all other things are equal, if there are no good reasons for doing otherwise, and the cost of doing so is equalled or bettered by the gains of doing so, then carrying on tradition/s and catering to continuity of heritage are all good and well, however in all other circumstances, it's not traditional, it's just plain backwards.

The biggest problems with prostitution are not the choices adults make and consent to without duress of their own accord, but rather issues of non-consent and violence. The next priorty is spread of disease. I believe that these issues can be far more effectively addressed through regulation than through a blackmarket inducing prohibition policy. I prefer the policy of least harm, and I believe regulation (taking responsibility for mitigating possible harms) is more effective in achieving 'least harm' than a blackmarket inducing prohibition policy (washing hands of it by pretending we can stop it).

I picked number 4.

No. Not until abortion is legalized and free for everyone, AIDS is cured, and every other STD is cured.
If we legalize prostitution, that will be a huge step towards reducing the incidences of STD.

You mean you can get AIDS from hookers? :eek:

Prostitution would have a much better arguement of legality if AIDS were out of the picture. Right now there's just too great a risk. On principle it should be, but in reality it just can't be...not now at least.

In Canada Abortion is covered under our health care system and unfortunately used as a form of birth control. But I stray from the point, The legalization and licensing of prostitution would solve alot of the present problems including the slave brothels that presently exsist. A legal brothel would have records, regular medical exams and security for both prostitutes and johns. The SIN tax levied on the prostitution would more than make up the taxes from the declining tobacoo sales. All in all it is a win-win solution since no matter what we do prostitution will continue considering it is called the worlds oldest profession.
Abortion is Canada is not used as any form of birth control. The term "birth control" applies to the use of contraceptives.

Otherwise, I agree 100%. Legalizing prostitution would make it suceptable to regulations about health, safety and employment safety.

You mean you can get AIDS from hookers? :eek:

LMAO...you feeling worried now Jay?

Prostitution would have a much better arguement of legality if AIDS were out of the picture. Right now there's just too great a risk. On principle it should be, but in reality it just can't be...not now at least.

Actually, regulation would decrease the spread of AIDs due to prostitution.

See, prostitution has always been around. It will always be around. Since it is illegal, men and women in the trade have no legal recourse. They are often forced into it (since there is no regulation to ensure that practitioners are voluntary) and they do not feel that they can force their customers to use protection.

In a regulated prostitution field, prostitutes would be regularly tested and removed from the profession if they were diseased. They would also be more empowered and thus able to refuse service to anyone unwilling to use a condom.

Should prostitution be legalized?
It's already legal in Reno.
How about subsidized by the state?

Subsidized by the State? How about owned by the state. State brothels can be used to suppliment and subsudize state welfare systems. There are countless unwed mothers who need state assistance to make ends meet despite working 80 hours a week on two minimum wage jobs. With state brothels, these welfare mothers could make thousands of dollars a week while working less than 4 hours a day, even after the state takes its sustantial cut. At the same time, the state could require drug screening and job training in a more reputable field.
Of course, to be fair, they should also employ gigolos.

Yes, i think it should be legalized, for all the reasons other people have already mentioned. I think it should be done they way they do it in Amsterdam, or at least the way i have heard of it being done. Only women over the age of 18 can legally be prostitutes, they have to pay taxes on their income like anyone else, and in return for that they get medical coverage, a retirement plan, and police protection. Most of them use protection. I worked at a needle exchange for 7 years, one of our clients was a prostitute and she always used protection. She would come in and take a huge pile of condoms. We shouldn't assume that just because a woman is a prostitute she doesn't protect herself. Some don't, but that can also be said of some women and men not in that profession.

Subsidized by the State? How about owned by the state. State brothels can be used to suppliment and subsudize state welfare systems. There are countless unwed mothers who need state assistance to make ends meet despite working 80 hours a week on two minimum wage jobs. With state brothels, these welfare mothers could make thousands of dollars a week while working less than 4 hours a day, even after the state takes its sustantial cut. At the same time, the state could require drug screening and job training in a more reputable field.
Of course, to be fair, they should also employ gigolos.
I like it; the Government's going to screw you one way or another.