The Worlds Oldest Profession
The World's Oldest Profession
Prostitution causes crime, I would like to submit that most of the criminal activity surrounding prostitution is the direct result of forcing it into the underworld of illegal activities right along side of those unsavory types who inhabit that world.
Countries where prostitution is completely legal don't have the crime problems associated with it that we do.
Yet, in the United States prostitution is a real problem.
But there's a real solution.
Legalize it.*
It already is legal in many parts of the world.
Even in at least one Nevada county in the good ol' U-S-of-A.
If prostitution were legal we could
reduce or eliminate the rampant victimization of prostitutes by pimps, johns, and the whole unsavory raft of criminal elements now associated with it
control disease by requiring regular checkups and health certificates
get many prostitutes off the street and into a controlled environment
put more of our limited law enforcement resources into fighting major crimes
take away the impetus to get young women (and men) hooked on drugs in order to turn them into prostitutes (and profit)
eliminate a significant source of income for organized crime, and
put prostitution officially on the tax rolls.
Right now, instead of deriving income from prostitution, we are spending large sums of money trying to wipe out "an evil" which has largely been created in a muddled effort to legislate morality.
By legalizing prostitution, we would not be condoning it.
Strangely, this is exactly the same conclusion the Catholic Church came to many years ago before the anti-sex factions got control.
But, legalizing prostitution hasn't a chance in hell.
It makes too much sense.
And it would be politically unpopular.
And politicians depend too much on inflating issues like this to get elected.
Prostitution causes crime, I would like to submit that most of the criminal activity surrounding prostitution is the direct result of forcing it into the underworld of illegal activities right along side of those unsavory types who inhabit that world.
Countries where prostitution is completely legal don't have the crime problems associated with it that we do.
Yet, in the United States prostitution is a real problem.
But there's a real solution.
Legalize it.*
It already is legal in many parts of the world.
Even in at least one Nevada county in the good ol' U-S-of-A.
If prostitution were legal we could
reduce or eliminate the rampant victimization of prostitutes by pimps, johns, and the whole unsavory raft of criminal elements now associated with it
control disease by requiring regular checkups and health certificates
get many prostitutes off the street and into a controlled environment
put more of our limited law enforcement resources into fighting major crimes
take away the impetus to get young women (and men) hooked on drugs in order to turn them into prostitutes (and profit)
eliminate a significant source of income for organized crime, and
put prostitution officially on the tax rolls.
Right now, instead of deriving income from prostitution, we are spending large sums of money trying to wipe out "an evil" which has largely been created in a muddled effort to legislate morality.
By legalizing prostitution, we would not be condoning it.
Strangely, this is exactly the same conclusion the Catholic Church came to many years ago before the anti-sex factions got control.
But, legalizing prostitution hasn't a chance in hell.
It makes too much sense.
And it would be politically unpopular.
And politicians depend too much on inflating issues like this to get elected.
posted by Bob at Monday, September 11, 2006
13 Comments:
The only thing though that it would still be illegal to light up afterwards if it's going to be a legalized public store front.
Which brings us to why they don't shut down the big tobacco companies and make it illegal 100%. They have to play games with businesses where smoking has been established for decades. Think of watching a western where the crusty old cowboy downing a whiskey couldn't light up. Even though I don't smoke and gave it up 17 years ago, I would either leave or not go into a place if it's too smokey for me. A bar and restaurant that serves drinks and food, come on, they are really stretching this thing.
And what about the council persons (Benav) who vote on these things to protect people's rights to clean air and remaining healthy, but can go out and have affairs which would prove a more deadly act.
I do just the same thing, I leave a bar or restaurant if I can't enjoy myself, relax and have a cigarette while I spend my money. Maybe some of the bars and restaurants could become private clubs with no or low membership fee's, I would think in a private establishment thats not open to the public would give smokers the same rights you do in a private home, oh shit, I forgot we no longer have rights in our private homes either. I guess I will have to think of another solution, spend my money in a different county where smokers do have rights; Washington Co. Anoka Co. Dakota Co.......Looks like Ramsey Co. loses some revenue again! Business is booming in the burbs, so is property sales and rentals.
Oops, sorry forgot to post my name;
Nancy (fromerly of St.Paul)
I double dare someone to post this at SPIF. YEEEKS! AAAAH! OOOH! OH NO!
I actually think we should post it over at SPIF and have some fun with them for a while, I think they miss us! lol
If it were to be legalized the cops would lose there benefits of the freebies(sexual favors). That would be a major cause of officer "Burnout" and added officer "Stress" to the department giving them another excuse for the drug and acohol abuse in the department.
I just looked in over there at SPIF, and I saw a new topic that said "join us". I thought for sure it was Bob's invitation, but it wasn't. So I can't go there, anyone else want to do some posting and the racketeering law suit thread here looks like it could use some traveling too.
From: "William Kahn" wjkahn@aol.com
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 15:39:36 -0500
To: "SPIF" stpaul-issues@forums.e-democracy.org
Subject: Re: SPIF Invitation to Ademocracy; Bob's prostitution thread
Okay, I'll take a stab at Mike's questions.
On Sep 12, 2006, at 1:10 PM, Mike Schoenberg wrote:
> 1) Can the City of St. Paul regulate prostitution? Health issues?
> Paying taxes or fees? Working conditions?
> 2) Will this lead to economic development and where will that occur?
> 3) Will legalization reanimate night life in downtown St. Paul?
1) I think it would make more sense for the counties to regulate
prostitution from the public health angle; state law regarding
prostitution is extensive and would have to be modified. The City of
St. Paul should/would certainly deal with it through zoning and
perhaps permitting, but I think that it would wind up being a state
based system of regulation with the counties administrating it. If
the state went the way of Nevada, legal prostitution would be limited
to counties below a certain population density; indeed, it might be
seen as a way to bolster outstate economies just as legalized
gambling was, but this remains to be seen. Given the money going out
of the suburbs into the inner city areas of prostitution, perhaps
fringe counties of the Metro would fight for brothel income, so
perhaps Minnesota would do something different than Nevada. I don't
believe working conditions would require as much legislation with the
exception of requirements for regular medical exams. If it were me,
I'd require both parties to register with the state: a license for
prostitutes and/or brothels and perhaps a drivers license endorsement
for their customers, or not (given that many Johns are married). You
should be able to track one side or the other should a health concern
warrant it.
2) I don't believe it would foster much economic development unless
St. Paul wanted to market the city as Sodom and Gomorrah on the
Mississippi, but it would recoup money lost to illegal prostitution
both in excessive use of law enforcement resources and in collection
of income taxes and fees for the once illegal business. The main
economic and societal benefits are in bettering public health and
reducing demand for police action on this front (not realistic to
think that illegal prostitution would disappear even with legal
avenues).
3) I don't think it would affect the downtown St. Paul night life
much unless the city somehow went for legal prostitution in a big
way, say establishing a red light district as in Amsterdam and other
European cities; I'd put it on the 'Bridges' site next to Comcast.
Prohibitions are not good ways to deal with activities that some
people will engage in regardless of laws and good common sense; the
best alternative is providing areas where those engaging in these
activities don't hurt or cost anyone else by their behavior. To
criminalize these activities is to condemn everyone to incalculable
costs to society in law enforcement and dealing with the health
problems associated with them. Some super moral folks are willing to
throw their money away--I am not. Sex between consenting adults is
something that happens everyday and if one party or the other pays
for it, that income should be taxed as anyone else's; one is a
business person providing a service that could affect other people
outside the business transaction, so the business should be regulated.
Bill Kahn
in Prospect Park, Minneapolis
More info: http://forums.e-democracy.org/stpaul/contacts/billkahn
I guess Bill and I agree on something.
It's to bad he couldn't comment on the subject here. That's OK we have his statements anyway.
It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to see that Bill is an advocate of the legalization of Marijuana.
BOOZE, POT, SEX, PROSTITUTION, I hope none you people live near me.
We have a neighborhood organazation to watch out for these disorderly homes.
This Bill Kahn guy sounds like some kind of pervert too
Sounds like you live a very boring life! Maybe this is what your life needs!
Bill Kahn, your welcome HERE!
Post a Comment
<< Home