Comments on: But Whatever You Do, Don’t Legalize It

By: Graham

Graham — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:59:45 +0000

Great arguments for legalization, but the most important one is - it’s not the proper business of government to regulate what’s legal between consenting adults. Not to imply that anyone didn’t know that, just wanted it written down.

Elroy - “The problem I have with legalizing prostitution that I do not have with legalizing drugs is that many woman are coerced or forced into it…”

I take your point regarding incentivizing forced prostitution, but I don’t think it’s strong enough to support banning the institution altogether. For one thing, Nevada doesn’t seem to have a significant problem (correct me if you know otherwise). For another, I just heard a radio interview the other day with a guy from Project Meridian (www.projectmeridianfoundation.org) who was talking about the national and global problem with exactly the sort of coercion you mentioned, and it did not seem apparent from the interview that banning prostitution helped. If anything I would think that the reduced access resulting from a ban makes human trafficking more profitable.

By: Sydney Carton

Sydney Carton — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:48:34 +0000

“Legalizing it provide a legal channel for the bulk of paid sex and allow vice cops to focus their efforts on illegal things, such as condom-free paid sex or involuntary/minor prostitutes.”

Sheesh, and I thought you people were libertarians. Why would condom-free paid sex remain illegal? Because of the health risks? Would needle exchange drug use be illegal too, then? Someone please explain that one to me.

By: pris

pris — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:03:04 +0000

I thought cops liked donuts!

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:59:29 +0000

“1 in 20 tricks goes for protection? That means they keep 95% of what they earn, minus their pimp’s “agent” fee? Sounds like a better deal than us taxpaying slobs get!”

Um, that’s in addition to the money the pimps take.

““How would this change as a result of legalization?”

Prostitutes could choose between a better pool of clients, them being able to refuse clients that doesn´t want to use condoms. And it would be easier to do educative campaigns.”

I disagree. Legalizing it provide a legal channel for the bulk of paid sex and allow vice cops to focus their efforts on illegal things, such as condom-free paid sex or involuntary/minor prostitutes.

Radley, I think a better comparison would be to Australia, where you have a larger populace and a lot more unregulated paid sex. Comparing a legalized situation to heavily regulated brothels is not particularly illuminating.

By: Sydney Carton

Sydney Carton — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:21:03 +0000

“Prostitutes could choose between a better pool of clients, them being able to refuse clients that doesn´t want to use condoms. And it would be easier to do educative campaigns.”

Could. Right? It sounds that if the market permits, condoms won’t be used in certain circumstances. I see nothing about legalization that would change the use of condoms or not. For the right price, it’s not used. That’s the market for you.

By: CK

CK — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:55:54 +0000

Yes I know the above joke was hoary when Hamilton was trying to remake the articles of confederation.

By: CK

CK — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:54:43 +0000

Lawyer: Will you sleep with me for a diamond ring?
Young lady : Yes.
Lawyer: will you sleep with me for $25?
Young lady: What do you think I am????
Lawyer: We have already decided that; now we are just dickering over price.

By: Elroy

Elroy — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:19:42 +0000

The problem I have with legalizing prostitution that I do not have with legalizing drugs is that many woman are coerced or forced into it whereas drugs are largely the free choice of the person using them. Legalizing drugs would make them unprofitable for criminal enterprises but I think with prostitution, given the small percentage of women who would willingly engage in the activity, the incentive would still be there to force women into this activity against their will.

By: André Kenji

André Kenji — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:29:36 +0000

“How would this change as a result of legalization?”

Prostitutes could choose between a better pool of clients, them being able to refuse clients that doesn´t want to use condoms. And it would be easier to do educative campaigns.

By: Jimi G

Jimi G — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 05:37:03 +0000

1 in 20 tricks goes for protection? That means they keep 95% of what they earn, minus their pimp’s “agent” fee? Sounds like a better deal than us taxpaying slobs get!

By: Sydney Carton

Sydney Carton — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:27:19 +0000

“payments go up substantially when condoms aren’t used. And plenty of johns are apparently happy to pay the premium”

How would this change as a result of legalization?

By: Persona non grata

Persona non grata — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:53:41 +0000

There is no such thing as 100%, that said the state can piss-off.

Every damn politican in office is a prostitute.

No harm no foul and no free-ones.

By: André Kenji

André Kenji — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:15:10 +0000

Here in Brazil all prostitutes uses condoms.

By: Scott Morgan

Scott Morgan — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:35:57 +0000

When I did a ride-along here in D.C., I learned that prostitution is a very low law-enforcement priority in the nation’s capitol. There are some sophisticated operations that no one’s made much effort to take down.

But I didn’t witness any police having prostitute sex and my request for an in depth look at the local prostitution industry was not honored.

By: Mikestermike

Mikestermike — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:47:21 +0000

By legalizing it, we’d be taking away the freebies the law enforcement folks are getting. Why, that is tantamount to taking away pay! No wonder vice squads exist: “Protect thy….”

By: William Chandler

William Chandler — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:35:50 +0000

So ………….. with ANY luck ………….. the Cops and Gang Members will get AIDS. Poetic Justice.

By: Travis McDermott

Travis McDermott — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:10:15 +0000

I’m shocked to find gambling going on in this establishment!