Should prostitution be legalized?
I personally don’t DO think so. Honestly, if a grown woman or man wants to sell their goods for some cash I say go for it. As long as they’re healthy and willing. Nevada has it right. Legalize it and tax it. Shoot, there’s plenty of, um, people that wouldn’t mind paying a little for that kind of fun. Especially the kinks that want to take their online fantasies off. So, I say go for it.
Note: I’m writing this on the cusp of a brain fog. So, I don’t have a whole lot of good argument to put here. I’m sure some of my wonderfully bright regulars can help me out. Right?:)
Your turn.
P.S.
Don’t mind the typo, folks. Just keep on keepin’ on and all that jazz.:)
You respond either at your own spot or here in the comments. If you respond on your home turf, please leave a linkback so I know you’re doing it.
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19 Comments
Do you mean “I do think so?”
I blogged about this once. I think it should be legal too. And regulated and taxed. That’ll take all the fun & glamor out of it!
I was confused by that first sentence also. I agree with he rest of it, though!
I do think it should be legalized and taxed. Adults only, of course, for the prossies and the customers. Take it out of the control of pimps and organized crime.
Rack another one up for legalising it. It would make it a safer environment for the girls and allow regular medical checks.
Oops! Typo. Hey, I warned you that I had some brain fog. I probably should’ve waited until it was clear to post the question. I did it last night when I thought I was safe.:) Guess I was wrong.
Anyway, I think it could be a boom for the economy as far as taxes are concerned. And I agree with you, Lucy, the prostitutes would need to be regulated by the health department and that’s beneficial to so many. There’d be a lot less folks taking nasties home to their spouses.
I shall be the voice of dissent. In my younger days, I really did believe you should legalize it. And tax it and all that. I’m a very firm believer that you cannot legislate morality. There’s a strong arguement that legalizing prostitution would “clean up the industry” so to speak.
But there is the moral side of it. I can’t in good conscience as a Christian, support prostitution. Forget for a moment that I think it’s really lame to pay for sex (especially at the prices they charge in Nevada). Having sex for the sake of having sex just satisfies a physical urge. Not the deeper psychological and emotional needs behind sex. Because to be truly satisfied when making love to a member of the opposite sex (or same sex if that’s your leaning), it has to have all those other components. If it’s missing one element, say your partner isn’t really in the mood and has sex just to make you happy, it leaves you kind of empty afterwards. Ignoring the spiritual side to sex is not healthy.
I’ll relate a quick story. I visited Germany in my Navy days where prostitution is legal. We ended up in the red light district (a sordid tale for another day). When we got underway again, one of my shipmates was bragging about how he’d slept with this beautiful hooker. He was really proud of himself. Howver, it was extra money for her to actually get undressed, so she literally moved her panty aside so he could fuck her. AND HE WAS PROUD OF THAT! He kept insisting how he’d made love to a beautifu woman when what he’d really done was fucked a warm blow up doll and had to leave a tip to boot.
You can make a case that it’s a personal choice, but I still say legalizing it is a bad idea.
BTW, this comment it being a big pain to post!
I personally think this depends on the individual. Some people look at sex as a purely physical act of tension relief. They consider emotional connection to be more fulfilling than the sexual aspect of a relationship. That’s not to say that they don’t find sex enjoyable, but that they don’t have to attach emotional significance to it. They can have participate then get up and leave, happy to be done and going home. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, as long as the participants are honest with each other that there’s nothing more than sex involved.
I personally believe that the need for emotional intimacy attached to the sex act is ingrained into people because of religious mores. People who aren’t taught that sex outside of a long meaningful relationship (read: marriage) is a SIN aren’t going to look at sex for play/pay/some other reason is a bad thing. I think those people should be able to enjoy sex with whomever is willing, even if they have to pay for it.
“I personally believe that the need for emotional intimacy attached to the sex act is ingrained into people because of religious mores.”
I’m not sure I agree with that. Speaking personally, now, I can’t seperate the emotional part of sex from the physical. Perhaps it’s something I’ve learned as I grow older, since I probably would have slept with anyone willing when I was 19. But now I find that having sex just to have sex (or a sympathy fuck) is just soooo not satisfying. Perhaps it’s how my brain is wired, but if I ever had sex with a woman other than my wife, it would be a sure sign our relationship was over because I can’t sleep with a woman I don’t love and loves me in return. And truthfully, that has nothing to do with my religious beliefs. It’s just how I am.
Actually, Vince, you make some really interesting points and I’d like to address them. However, I’m in the middle of a brain fog, which is exactly what it sounds. I can’t find the right words and really don’t make much sense when I’m like this. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be my usually sharp self.:)
Also, I fixed your comment. The first one got sucked into the spam hole, but the second made it through.:) For a second there you had a double comment. Damned spaminator…lol.
” I can’t in good conscience as a Christian, support prostitution.”
Well, you wouldn’t have to. Just because it would be legal doesn’t mean YOU are supporting it. You’re not Jimmy Swaggart, after all. While I agree with you about sex and about your shipmate, I find that many times, when people thing something is immoral, they seek not just to avoid it themselves, but make sure others don’t do it, either.
Sometimes that makes sense, like with murder. That deprives a person of their rights, though (notably the right to live) and I don’t see how legalized prostitution as JJ describes it does that.
While I agree with a lot of what you say, Vince, I feel that the biggest responsibility related to living in a free society is that of putting up with things you don’t necessarily approve of. If the main objection is only on grounds of sexual morality, then people have the right to abstain, and I think they should leave it at that.
New Zealand legalised prostitution in 2003 and the (unpoliticised) consensus seems to be that this has been an effective policy in stopping transmission of STDs, protecting the health of sex workers, and preventing people under the age 18 from getting involved in the industy. It hasn’t been 100% effective in attaining these goals of course, but the trend has been a positive one. The new Act was careful to not condone prostitution, but it did recognise that the important objectives described above could not be achieved with a continuation of the old prohibition policy, which simply drove everything underground and out of the purview of the state.
I agree with that. There’s a whole dirty underbelly surrounding prostitution, including the pimps who exploit these women/men in their attempt to “protect” them. Legalizing prostitution would make their “job” unnecessary and, actually, rescue their employees from a very violent and ugly life. I don’t see that as a bad thing.
No, I don’t think it should be legalized. For me, I see it taking civilized society down more than a few pegs. Having red light districts in the midst of a city does not, in my opinion, enhance the class and attraction of said city.
But like most emotion-charged issues with beliefs that are all over the board, there’s probably no way two people with different thoughts on this topic could ever come to terms with their differences. It’s based more on highly personal beliefs, morals, values, faith, etc., all of which are nebulous things to argue about.
I disagree that there’s no way that people can come to a consensus about an issue such as this. There are good arguments for and against legalizing prostitution and I think that people can discuss those in civil terms. As long as someone isn’t beating someone else over the head with their own religious reasons and demanding that the other people involved adhere to their rules, there can be compromise. And if all parties are willing to discuss the actual issues, without telling each other to fuck off or drop dead, then progress can be made.
I think this is why we’re not all still living like the Amish. Compromise, progress, and civility. It’s hard to find online, but it’s most definitely possible.
Oh, I totally agree that people can discuss this issue, or any issue, in a civil manner. No argument there. When I said there’s no way two people with different thoughts on this topic could ever come to terms with their differences, I meant neither will likely change the other’s mind. Not that they have to fight about it, they may just end up agreeing that they won’t ever agree, and shake hands while saying it.
Joe,
All valid points. It’s a struggle for someone such as myself that is a I’m a political liberal and yet need to balance some of these moral issues as a Christian. In this case, I agree from a libertarian point of view that people are going to continue with these behaviors whether they’re legal or not, and that prostitution as a crime does little physical harm (as in loss of life or property). But as a Christian, I feel it is immoral. I accept that this is my opinion and morality, and that in a free society I have no right to force my morality on others and am indeed loath to do so. However, it is my duty as a Christian to voice my objections and through persuation and lifestyle try to convince others of the validity of my position. Isn’t that what our society is really about? To agree to disagree?
On a personal note, I find it refreshing to be able to have an exchange of ideas and viewpoints on a friendly basis. There’s way too many people willing to personally attack those that disagree with them.
A-Men! It is nice to have a conversation about pros and cons without that conversation devolving into a shit storm. I truly appreciate that. That’s what I meant about quality vs. quantity.:)
It’s amazing how many civil discussions can take place when certain people aren’t around. Must be coinkydink.
“On a personal note, I find it refreshing to be able to have an exchange of ideas and viewpoints on a friendly basis. There’s way too many people willing to personally attack those that disagree with them.”
Amen, bro.