Prostitution should be legalized, taxed, and regulated (illegal, drug, parties)

[slackjaw]

Recently saw a news blurb about police department went undercover for big investigation into a massage parlor that was giving happy endings. Can someone explain to me why anyone cares? With a business like that one can't even make the argument that is commonly heard where prostitution brings blight to an area because of the criminal element, this seems quite victimless to me.

Legalize it, tax the income, implement safety standards and medical testing.

It's no more devaluing of women than boxing or UFC is devaluing men.

[tinynot]

Can you be more specific on what the safety standard and the medical testing would be? From the information you have given, I am going to say no to legalizing prostitution. I don't believe it is a necessary evil, and other people can be adversely affected by prostitution. I also believe there would still be blackmarket prostitution going on as well.

[Memphis1979]

As far as I can tell, HIV has at least a couple of days after infection before someone becomes contagious. So, perhaps Prostitutes could work for a week a month, then wait 4 weeks, take a STD test, and then be cleared to work again.

Then again, really as long as safe sex is being practiced, I think a once every three month test would be sufficient.

Prostitution has been around since the beginning of time. One could argue that a woman who is a house wife, is not much more than a cleaning prostitute. Women have long used sex as a means in which to earn a living. That has never, and will likely never change.

As with other moral choices, the thing to do isn't to make them illegal, its to make them legal, and to regulate them to make them as safe as can be humanly possible.

I've known prostitutes in the past, one girl I was friends with did it for extra cash. These ladies don't treat their body badly, they take care of themselves, and take ALL precautions they possibly can. Many are drug addicts, or have pimps, because its an illegal practice.

Lets get prostitution off the street, behind closed doors, where women are protected. Today, its not the sex thats abuse, its the other treatment they receive by law enforcement, and the stigma they face by society that is the worst abuse of all.

[lentzr]

I agree with all of this, but you know what? That may never happen in the US. The US is still very social conservative in many areas and a nation-wide legalization would meet a lot of opposition. Perhaps, a few more cities will legalize it. But that's about it. I hate to sound pessimistic but I am.

[joey2000]

Originally Posted by slackjaw

It's no more devaluing of women than boxing or UFC is devaluing men.

Frankly that's one of the most blatantly weak and absurd analogies I've heard in a long long time. And I'm no fan of boxing.

Why stop there? Legalize child porn too. It doesn't hurt the kids if done in a "safe" way. It's the stigma society has about it.

Originally Posted by Memphis1979

Prostitution has been around since the beginning of time.

So has rape and murder. So?

One could argue that a woman who is a house wife, is not much more than a cleaning prostitute.

You could, but it'd be as weak as the devaluing crack above.

and the stigma they face by society that is the worst abuse of all.

No, actually, selling their body for money and the damage done debasing one's self in that way is the worst abuse of all.

Good grief

[Memphis1979]

Originally Posted by joey2000

No, actually, selling their body for money and the damage done debasing one's self in that way is the worst abuse of all.

Good grief

Um, have you been a prostitute?

If not, then you're no better than the guy standing on the corner, watching someone climb a 500 foot tower.

You don't know anything about what anyone faces, until you face it yourself.

I know what my friend, and her friends told me. They all seem like happy, balanced, and healthy young ladies.

And besides, its not your place to tell them or me what we can do with our bodies, if it doesn't hurt you or anyone else.

[filihok]

Originally Posted by joey2000

Frankly that's one of the most blatantly weak and absurd analogies I've heard in a long long time. And I'm no fan of boxing.

How so? I think it is somewhat apt.

Why stop there? Legalize child porn too. It doesn't hurt the kids if done in a "safe" way. It's the stigma society has about it.



So has rape and murder. So?

The key difference is that an adult can CHOOSE to engage in prostitution. Rape and Murder, by definition, don't involve choice.

[hilgi]

Originally Posted by tinynot

Can you be more specific on what the safety standard and the medical testing would be? From the information you have given, I am going to say no to legalizing prostitution. I don't believe it is a necessary evil, and other people can be adversely affected by prostitution. I also believe there would still be blackmarket prostitution going on as well.

I guess I need to be more PC.

How does some guy receiving manual stimulation in a massage parlor in any way cause you or your family harm?

[slackjaw]

You can be a producer of pornography and pay both parties to have sex, but you can't have one party paying the other in a massage parlor to give pleasure by putting their hand here instead of there. That is absurd.

[tinynot]

Originally Posted by hilgi

I guess I need to be more PC.

How does some guy receiving manual stimulation in a massage parlor in any way cause you or your family harm?

The post does not say anything about me and my family.