NationStates Jolt Archive

#1 Reason prostitution will never become legal all over the US: Vegas loves being the monopoly.

Beyond that, I wonder: What would you all say should be the legal age? Especially considering how many vastly underage prostitutes there are.

I say eighteen. There is not way it should be lowered and though you are still young at 18 you are technically an adult and should be able to make that decision on your own. I'd probably recommend that if the government did do license for this that they require and evaluation of the persons life and possibly a physiatrist evaluation as well. If they feel forced into it financially we could deny them and help them get back on their feet.

Are same people that are against legal prostitution the same people that are against welfare? Just curious, because the desperate are desperate for a reason, it would be better to try and stop that then to punish people after the fact.

They tried licences, along with health checks in Germany. It didn't work.
I dont know what you are trying to sell me here, but believe me just stating things i know to be untrue isnt helping your point. I am from Germany and the reports show that legalisation, licensing and taxation has worked wonders in cracking down on white slavery, brought better overall health conditions and additional revenue.


As for your other question... well if prostitution is illegal where you live (assuming you can somehow define it), then there's your crime.
You do know what the definition of a victimless crime is, do you?

There is a way to practice prostitution legally. Many women do this all the time, its called dating. The thing is you have to barter, and trade sex for meals and clothes, and not straight up cash.

There is a way to practice prostitution legally. Many women do this all the time, its called dating. The thing is you have to barter, and trade sex for meals and clothes, and not straight up cash.
Funny, that. Sounds nothing like my experiences of dating at all! I don't trade sex for anything - I have sex because my partner and I both feel like having sex at the given time - and don't expect anything in return. In the majority of my earlier relationships, there wasn't any sex anyway.

I say eighteen. There is not way it should be lowered and though you are still young at 18 you are technically an adult and should be able to make that decision on your own. I'd probably recommend that if the government did do license for this that they require and evaluation of the persons life and possibly a physiatrist evaluation as well. If they feel forced into it financially we could deny them and help them get back on their feet.
I dunno the problem is that in some states the age of consent is under 18 (http://www.ageofconsent.com/ageofconsent.htm). I guess like other jobs anyone under 18 would need parental consent forms to work.

Well, prostitution is legal (or is it decriminalised? I'm pretty sure it's legal) here in New Zealand. And it's probably nicer for the prostitutes, but I can't say that it's really affected me all that much.

Erm, the fact that approximately half prostitutes are believes to be unlicenced or that they dropped the mandatory health checks as unworkable?
Yes, clearly it would be better for society if they were ALL unlicensed and untested! Besides, this is the only industry where unlicensed workers exist!

Yes, clearly it would be better for society if they were ALL unlicensed and untested! Besides, this is the only industry where unlicensed workers exist!
Selling drugs ... that seems to be an unlicensed industry

I dunno the problem is that in some states the age of consent is under 18 (http://www.ageofconsent.com/ageofconsent.htm). I guess like other jobs anyone under 18 would need parental consent forms to work.

I would see parental concent forms as a way for parents to sell their children's bodies again. I think it has to be completely up to the individual and if we start it when a child legally becomes an adult it would keep that decision up to the individual. But there are probably other ways to determine this.

I would legalize prostitution, though possibly as an industry under direct state and/or Federal control (speaking as one under the gov't of USA) if only b/c
A.) It's easier for the gov't to keep things orderly if it is in direct control, as opposed to supervising 3rd party suppliers, and
B.) Governemnt jobs have some damn good perks, or so I'm told. Imagine being a Hooker for Uncle Sam!
In addition to previously given arguments, I would like to add;
There still would be an underground section of prostitution, as some go for jollies thought "perverse" and "wicked" even to an enlightened liberal, trying out child prostitution, girls sent to violent Johns, etc..
BUT after being isolated, this element will no longer be able to bleed into what has long been considered basic or "mainstream" prostitution. Also, while one might be able to buy off law enforcement as a pimp seeling some nice 20-something girls to a lonely/horny John, a pimp selling 5 year olds and sending teens to get cut, beaten, and burned by some wanker will find little sympathy from most. Thus, the sickos are backed into a corner, getting very little in the way of mercy or cooperation.

Even so... the way the nation is going, I fear this will be a long time in coming. A pic is worth 1,000 words...
Sadly, I live in the Green (http://nathan.buzznet.com/user/?id=629914)

I'm against it. I don't want to see a situation like in Germany where unemployed women are effectively blackmailed to take a job in prostitution, through threat of their benefits being stopped.
That happens when prostitution is illegal. That does not happen in ANY legal industry. I don't see people being "blackmailed" into doing porn, working at McDonald's or ANY legal profession.

I would see parental concent forms as a way for parents to sell their children's bodies again. I think it has to be completely up to the individual and if we start it when a child legally becomes an adult it would keep that decision up to the individual. But there are probably other ways to determine this.It could be argued that we should prohibit all underage working since parents will steal money from the kids. Whether they work in a McDonalds or a brothel this problem will exist.

Stopping prostitution is like stopping drugs. Neither can be totally "stopped," but that still doesn't mean they should be legalized.
Making them illegal doesn't stop or even slow them down at all. Usually, it has the opposite effect, as well as introducing a criminal element to the industry. I would rather do business with regular well meaning people then criminals. I'm FAR less likely to get screwed over in the deal, as well as any employee. Products are also cleaner and safer in a legal market. Finally, money that is sent underground is not taxed, so it removes money from the taxable economy, which forces government to raise taxes else where to cover their shortages.

Um, the woman who has caught an untreatable and terminal sexually transmitted infection and unknowingly passed it on to hundreds of 'clients'?
Risks of the job that are WELL known and established. In construction, there is a very high likelihood of becoming disabled in an accident. In policing, there is a very high likelihood of being injured, disabled or killed on the job. So much so that they can't get regular medical and life insurance. They have to get special medical and life insurance through the government. The same is true with the military. Should we make those jobs illegal because they're dangerous?

They tried licences, along with health checks in Germany. It didn't work.
Please substantiate that naked assertion with evidence.

Erm, the fact that approximately half prostitutes are believes to be unlicenced or that they dropped the mandatory health checks as unworkable?
Provide facts, not rhetoric.

I dunno the problem is that in some states the age of consent is under 18 (http://www.ageofconsent.com/ageofconsent.htm). I guess like other jobs anyone under 18 would need parental consent forms to work.
No problem. You can consent to sex with another individual under 18, so long as you're both over a certain age. In most states that certain age is 16. However, you can't buy a porno mag or movie in ANY state unless you're 18. Why not just keep it at that age? Anything less then that and you have to work around child labor laws and if nothing else, that's just a pain in the ass.

It could be argued that we should prohibit all underage working since parents will steal money from the kids. Whether they work in a McDonalds or a brothel this problem will exist.

You can't work as a bartender or sell any booze until your 18, this isn't so different in regulations. There are plenty of jobs that you have to be 18 to have. I beleive trucking is one of them and that is a huge industry. You can look around and find multiple jobs that you have to be considered a legal adult to work at, I don't see a big difference here.

Well, prostitution is legal (or is it decriminalised? I'm pretty sure it's legal) here in New Zealand. And it's probably nicer for the prostitutes, but I can't say that it's really affected me all that much.
What?! You mean to say that the entire country hasn't turned into a brothel of STD infected 13 year olds?! [/sarcasm] ;)

either way, if you did legalize it, there should be mandatory checking on the prostitute's health.

I would assume that one of the negatives associated with "legalization" would be that any "job-related hazards" (a previous poster referred to dangers in the police force, for example) are liable to be multiplicative in nature.

If it were a case of "girl plus guy and whatever happens is between them", then fine - but if said situation induces infections transmitted sexually, then there's a whole wider range of people in danger - perhaps the man's wife, or if he likes to shop around the quote-unquote "business", other (previously uninfected) "professionals" - at which point, the exponential factors come into play.

This, compared to a policeman who gets shot - aye. That sucks badly, but he knew the risks. At least his family/circle of friends are not in danger.

Just for consideration.

I say sure. How else are all those acne infested 17 year olds going to get laid? Poor kids. Honestly, I've never even had to consider picking up a hooker. Where I live, it's a different girl every night during the summer. Nice advantage of living in the vacation center of the East Coast. And during the winter, everyone settles down with a maximum of 3 or 4 different girls (not at the same time), so all in all the only people who would need to pay for it are those who cant buy, or can't afford beer.

of course it should. each individual is sole owner of their own body, and as owner of that body they have the right to sell or rent it to whomever they choose.
Can I lease with an option to buy? Timeshare? Bulk discounts?

Can I lease with an option to buy? Timeshare? Bulk discounts?
that's between you and the person/people in question.