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For many years before the 20th century brothels were licensed and taxed. We are one of the last 1st world nations that it is still illegal. The only debatable reason it is still illegal here is a religious one and that should not be a deciding factor.
The problem is that legalization essentially gives the "middle man" a cut, and the cut comes from what the girl can make and what the guy can pay. Also, i would imagine plenty of "working girls" would rather not give their name, ss number and other info so they can be "taxed" on their work as well as customers would rather not enter brothels with surveillance cameras capturing their faces.
Not sure how much business these "legal" places would do, i guess there would be some business, but probably not as much as they would be expecting.
To put this in perspective brothels primarily got shut down in the United States due to the spread of venereal diseases back in the late 19th century to early 20th century. Nowadays this has been a non issue for decades due to safe sex practices in the few legal brothels in the United States. The average sex worker in a brothel in Nevada makes about 150K a year. The brothel industry which can only operate in rural counties in Nevada makes about $50,000,000.00 a year.
So with all of that said yes we should've made prostitution legal a long time ago. It's not like we are inventing the wheel here since we have a working model of it already out in Nevada that works. We can tax it, regulate it, and earn a profit off it while also making prostitution safe for both the sex worker and the customer.
As far as what is holding prostitution back from being legalized it's combination of religious groups and women's rights groups. Since feminist tend to view prostitution as exploitation and slavery. It doesn't matter to them if it's legal prostitution where a woman can make 300k a year and do so in a safe environment of her own free will...feminist still view it as exploitation and slavery of women. That is why you won't have democrats and republicans making it legal. Even though if you talk to your state rep about this issue behind close doors most of them will say "it should be legal".
It's politically toxic to endorse legalization. Older people vote more. Religious institutions get a full hour session to endorse their views and I've lost track of how many times I've seen churches handing out "voting guides" with "just the facts" that were completely political BS and frequently highly inaccurate.
It should be legal, the real challenge is that as a first world society we don't want to be telling unemployed women (or men) that since they can't find a job they need to go be a hooker and get off welfare so the rich can support them by paying after literally [expletive-ing] them instead of having them receive tax benefits after being only figuratively [expletived] by the economy.
I believe people should have more choices, but there is a very major line that would have to be addressed to ensure no people were being pushed into the industry. To be fair, some people already are pushed into the industry even though it is illegal. Regardless, it is politically toxic. Look at politicians grappling with gay marriage. They won't come out with a view until they have all the polling numbers on the district. Politicians don't want to tackle difficult issues, they want to get paid, have power, and inflate their egos.
The problem is that legalization essentially gives the "middle man" a cut, and the cut comes from what the girl can make and what the guy can pay. Also, i would imagine plenty of "working girls" would rather not give their name, ss number and other info so they can be "taxed" on their work as well as customers would rather not enter brothels with surveillance cameras capturing their faces.
Not sure how much business these "legal" places would do, i guess there would be some business, but probably not as much as they would be expecting.
The middle man is known today as a pimp, and the pimp already gets a cut, but the worker has no protection because there is no legalization, regulation or oversight. The pimp also can treat the worker extremely poorly and get away with it most times.
For many years before the 20th century brothels were licensed and taxed. We are one of the last 1st world nations that it is still illegal. The only debatable reason it is still illegal here is a religious one and that should not be a deciding factor.
Look, religion is not the only deciding factor for prohibiting activities considered to be vices.
That said, the libertarian in me does wonder why some body parts (wombs) are allowed to be "rented" while others are not.
In any event, whatever you proponents of legalized prostitution do, please don't parrot the apparently obligatory "...and tax the hell out of it." No legal activity should have the hell taxed out of it.
Last edited by Oldhag1; 01-15-2015 at 08:10 AM..
Reason: In Great Debates you are encouraged to use words not icons
The average street prostitute would not be the ones getting a job in a high class brothel. They will still exist but their prices would probably drop. It would be a quick way for more tax dollars to come in.
It would be more like gambling. Highly regulated and heavily taxed. The street prostitute could still get arrested, the john arrested, and the pimp arrested. The same as we cannot open our own casino where gambling is legal we will not be able to just open a brothel where prostitution is legal. With all of the permits, licenses, inspections, health checks, and everything else I am sure it would be quite expensive and not what the average person could afford with much regularity. I am sure they would have their own lobbyists to push for more law enforcement of the illegal prostitutes.
I still think we should make it legal. I really doubt I would be a customer.
Yes I think they should be legal. Sex workers should be licensed and forced to have frequent medical exams. The penalties for unlicensed sex workers and their clients should be raised. This would keep the girls safe from the violent clients and the johns safer from disease.
Sure why not the once evil marijuana is becoming legal.
Legal prostitution would be a great way to protect women, the johns and boost taxes but there would always be the seedy under bottom to the business. That would never go away.
I still think we should make it legal. I really doubt I would be a customer.
One of the more outspoken proponents for legalizing Cannabis in Colorado was a married mother of two teenage boys who, after delivering a highly technical and fact laden report outlining all the revenue that Colorado stood to make if weed were legalized totally lost my support when she said, "personally, I am against it. I don't intend to use it myself and I intend to make sure that my own two sons are made well aware of how harmful the stuff is.... but...and here I put words in her mouth "but I hope other mothers sons will smoke plenty of the stuff and kill their minds and their chances for quality lives because every joint purchased is going to mean tax dollars in the state coffers... ... how awful.
You as much have said that you won't be a customer of a legal brothel, but women you don't know or care about, and men you don't know or care about should feel free to partake, so you can have nice roads and schools, etc. without your being asked for any more tax revenue than you presently pay. If something is bad. It is bad. Period. If you wouldn't do it. You shouldn't want anyone else doing it. And if, your attitude is really "live and let live", fine. I can support that... I think the tax rate on weed in Colorado is 25%??? That's disgusting. The lawmakers wanted as much as 40% but IMO 25% is still ridiculously extortionate and if prostitution were legalized, the only way most legislative boards would let it happen is if they could tax it at rates well in excess of 20%. That is just wrong. Period.
Let people do what they want under prevailing rates of taxation that govern other things people use like alcohol or cigarettes or keep them illegal. Anything less is unfair and unChristian. I don't claim to be a Christian but others do. And they appear to be completely willing to turn a blind eye to Sin if they can tax it at 25% and pick up some free money for nothing.
H
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