Prostitution

[TexasWife25]

Why is prostitution illegal? Its always baffled me .. 2 consenting adults, exchanging a service for a preset monetary value. .. Why is it illegal... and why is no one really upset or outraged over it?

[LadyFairfax]

For many reasons, but health and taxation are two that are valid.

Unless you can prevent a prostitute from "freelancing" you cannot monitor health concerns or adequately calculate income for purposes of taxation.

The other reasons are mostly morality related and have no particular validity.

But if you're looking for work, nobody is really stopping you.

[RobDownSouth]

Originally Posted by TexasWife25

Why is prostitution illegal? Its always baffled me .. 2 consenting adults, exchanging a service for a preset monetary value. .. Why is it illegal... and why is no one really upset or outraged over it?

Because sex is for makin' babbies. Period. End of story.

Just ask Rick Santorum.

[TexasWife25]

Originally Posted by LadyFairfax

For many reasons, but health and taxation are two that are valid.

Unless you can prevent a prostitute from "freelancing" you cannot monitor health concerns or adequately calculate income for purposes of taxation.

The other reasons are mostly morality related and have no particular validity.

But if you're looking for work, nobody is really stopping you.

While I think disease control and taxation are valid concerns, I dont see them as insurmountable obstacles. Lots of people work freelance, yes, its possible they dont report all the money they earn, but we dont ban them from working because of it. I see the illegality of prostitution as similar to prohibition. Even though its illegal, it doesnt stop people from engaging, it simply creates an underground, unregulated industry, as well as income that I highly doubt most people are declaring on their taxes.

As for health, I dont see why we couldnt simply require sex workers to have regular screenings and to carry up to date health papers.

[semen4her]

The real question is, why do you constantly ask stupid fucking questions?

[KRCummings]

Who is there to get outraged over it? The hookers? There are only so many and most aren't into politics and certainly don't want to go around telling everyone they're hookers.
The johns? Yeah, that's gonna happen.
That leaves nobody.
Plus, it's so minor it's difficult for anyone to get upset about it. Not to mention that most are pretty happy with how things are. It would be difficult to go after prostitution from a civil rights angle because of all the side issues so it comes down to a majority and the majority is going to leave things alone.

[TexasWife25]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

Who is there to get outraged over it? The hookers? There are only so many and most aren't into politics and certainly don't want to go around telling everyone they're hookers.
The johns? Yeah, that's gonna happen.
That leaves nobody.
Plus, it's so minor it's difficult for anyone to get upset about it. Not to mention that most are pretty happy with how things are. It would be difficult to go after prostitution from a civil rights angle because of all the side issues so it comes down to a majority and the majority is going to leave things alone.

True, hookers are not liable to announce their profession and risk imprisonment, and johns are not going to be hiring lawyers and fighting the constitutionality of buying and selling sex.

I just find it odd, that so many people get up in arms over big government grabbing power and overreaching, in things like taxation and health reform, but in something I consider a HUGE leap of government power, trying to regulate what someone does with their own body, no one really cares.

[semen4her]

You're either trying too hard or you're a nimrod.

*sees where you're from*

Oh, right.

[TexasWife25]

Originally Posted by Nipples Mcgee

You're either trying too hard or you're a nimrod.

*sees where you're from*

Oh, right.

you don't like Texas?

[bronzeage]

Originally Posted by TexasWife25

Why is prostitution illegal? Its always baffled me .. 2 consenting adults, exchanging a service for a preset monetary value. .. Why is it illegal... and why is no one really upset or outraged over it?

It's the number one occupation where women have a natural advantage over men. When this is combined with the fact that 99.99% of the customers are men, it is a one way economic exchange. If prostitution was legal, it would only be a matter of time before all the wealth on the planet was controlled by prostitutes.

Imagine a world where every man's landlord was a whore, every man's boss was a whore and every man's wife or girlfriend was a whore.

[Anjasa]

Originally Posted by LadyFairfax

For many reasons, but health and taxation are two that are valid.

Unless you can prevent a prostitute from "freelancing" you cannot monitor health concerns or adequately calculate income for purposes of taxation.

Making it legal doesn't change either of these things. Prostitutes already have health concerns and have issues with the IRS.


As for nobody fighting, there are many people fighting.

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story...kers-scoc.html

[semen4her]

Originally Posted by TexasWife25

you don't like Texas?

It seems to breed imbeciles.

No offence.

[TexasWife25]

Originally Posted by Nipples Mcgee

It seems to breed imbeciles.

No offence.

No worries, I wont go on the defensive.
Texas has its fair share of half wits

[CHNOPS]

Originally Posted by bronzeage

It's the number one occupation where women have a natural advantage over men. When this is combined with the fact that 99.99% of the customers are men, it is a one way economic exchange. If prostitution was legal, it would only be a matter of time before all the wealth on the planet was controlled by prostitutes.

Imagine a world where every man's landlord was a whore, every man's boss was a whore and every man's wife or girlfriend was a whore.

You leave New Orleans out of this. I love that city.

[NCGuy85]

Originally Posted by TexasWife25

Why is prostitution illegal? Its always baffled me .. 2 consenting adults, exchanging a service for a preset monetary value. .. Why is it illegal... and why is no one really upset or outraged over it?

Health reasons, trying to keep youth from being scandalized, etc.

The people that complain about laws regulating sexual conduct rooted in morality are too often the ones that want to regulate economic activity and claim it's rooted in morality. Not saying that's you.

[garbage can]

Prostitution should be left between a man and his wife.......

[mercury14]

Originally Posted by TexasWife25

Why is prostitution illegal? Its always baffled me .. 2 consenting adults, exchanging a service for a preset monetary value. .. Why is it illegal... and why is no one really upset or outraged over it?

Because our leaders legislate their subjective morality.

[TexasWife25]

Originally Posted by NCGuy85

Health reasons, trying to keep youth from being scandalized, etc.

The people that complain about laws regulating sexual conduct rooted in morality are too often the ones that want to regulate economic activity and claim it's rooted in morality. Not saying that's you.

I assume you're talking about someone somewhere saying we should spread the wealth or some such nonsense.

Although, Ive personally never heard anyone suggest economic regulations, based on morality.

[rosco rathbone]

Originally Posted by TexasWife25

True, hookers are not liable to announce their profession and risk imprisonment, and johns are not going to be hiring lawyers and fighting the constitutionality of buying and selling sex.

I just find it odd, that so many people get up in arms over big government grabbing power and overreaching, in things like taxation and health reform, but in something I consider a HUGE leap of government power, trying to regulate what someone does with their own body, no one really cares.

Read Corey RObin's "The Reactionary Mind", it sorts that seeming paradox out.

[RightField]

I am indifferent to it. Amsterdam seems to function perfectly well with it and so does Nevada. Those are both places where it's well-managed and every effort is made to keep it a safe endeavor.

But the question is, why is it illegal?

I'm not sure, but I can guess. First, as mentioned above, the morality is an issue for many, but beyond that there are a couple other motivating factors too. I think some consideration is given the fact that it usually is started with a young lady in adolescence so there's some concern about age and the ability to make a serious life-changing decision at a young age. Another is that that lifestyle can have serious long term negative effects on the prostitutes (I'm sure there are a lot of stories that refute that too though). Another angle is that I think there are a lot of wives who wouldn't want the single lady down the street (or even in a restricted part of town) putting out a shingle advertising quickies and putting lots of temptation in plain sight for their husbands (lol...but there are probably some who would tell their husbands to stop bothering them and go visit the lady with the shingle).

[palemoon2035]

Originally Posted by TexasWife25

Why is prostitution illegal? Its always baffled me .. 2 consenting adults, exchanging a service for a preset monetary value. .. Why is it illegal... and why is no one really upset or outraged over it?

I have often wondered the same thing myself.

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Its a big payday for lotsa people...pols, lawyers, judges, cops, probation officers, pimps.

[boredVAwife]

One type of prostitution has been around for ages and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Just ask most any married woman and she will tell you there are some things that are guaranteed to get us what we want from our hubs.

[BossMan62]

One way or another, married or single, a mans gonna pay for it.

[Daehreppoc]

Why is prostitution illegal? Ask Eliot Spitzer. He has been on both sides of the issue.