Should We Tolerate Legalized Prostitution?

We could all take a page out of the Swiss' book on handling prostitution. In Switzerland, those paying for sex (the "Johns") are prosectuted and the sex workers' rights are protected. In most cases these sex workers are victims themselves and it's not right to make them the brunt of the problem. These laws see those who take advantage of these victims prosecuted. This has, in many instances seen many a brothel close due to fear of prosecution and many victimised workers set free from this way of life. STDs and drug use has also declined.

I would think this would be one of the few issues that everyone in this forum would agree on. From the most liberal of liberals, to the most fundamental of fundamentalists nobody should be willing to tolerate the injustice that is prostitution.

Now sisterM... what are you doing, and what am I doing in opposition to it? Shamefully I have done nothing in direct opposition, other than educating youth to the reality of the situation.

We should be working toward finding common ground on this issue and respect differences of opinion. Too often, those who oppose legalized prostitution seek a simplistic and flawed solution to this problem. Women are going to be prostitutes; we might as well try to make it safe for them, and in order to keep it safe we need to make it legal so they're not forced to practice their trade in alleys. We should set up and fund with taxpayer dollars prostitution centers where women who want to be prostitutes can get the proper training. They can meet their clients there instead of in back alleys.

And let's not forget that many of the women who need to engage in prostitution are frightened and scared and have no where else to turn. We shouldn't be condemning their behavior by making what they need to do against the law. Let's support these women in their choice. After all, they can do what they want with their bodies.

My opposition is based primarily on the instances in which girls are forced into prostitution against their wills. The libertarian side of me would cause me to oppose enforcing moral codes against consenting adults, but unfortunately, that is not the case for much of what goes on in prostitution.

This is off-topic, but the libertarian approach to drug abuse does make sense. Legalizing drugs would actually bring the price down to the point where those who are making millions of dollars would be forced out of business and much of the incidental crime that accompanies drug abuse (burglary to support the habit) would also be reduced. I fully support drug testing as a condition for employment, harsh penalties for anyone engaging in any potentially dangerous activity (driving) while under the influence of drugs, etc. I believe that once drug abuse is recognized for the sickness that it is, that the incidence will be reduced.

Back to your question. I have done little in opposition. I strongly believe that our culture has trivialized sex - especially during the past 50 years. We raised our children without cable TV and restricted the programs that were aired on the major networks. Today's families have a TV in every bedroom with a wide range of offensive programming. (Fox is no better than any other network.) We have no one to blame but ourselves.

"I believe is a very responsible action."

Some of my more libertarian thinkers I know would agree with you if the people involved handled the full consequences . But the example you gave is of a socialistic state , thus you see the increase in women in that occupation . The state is helping in regards to supplying enough supports for the women to ENABLE them . But the government has no means to what God has given to us in regards to the beauty , jou and FUN of sex. But that is the religious side that is not given too much consideration in secualrized cultures.

I wonder if you know how the socila status say of a women in prostituion is in the legalized countries ? Just curious if the stigma that is attached to it where it is illegal also fades away in areas where it becomes legal . I am hearing more about this , but i think we will be legalizing drugs in thei country before prostituion.

Good debate , Thanks ...

Okay what I meant by responsible action is that if countries aren't going to have any alternatives for people who are low income and becoming a sex worker is the only option, then why not make it safe for them and the rest of the public. From a very personal and conservative/religious side I would agree that prostitution is wrong, however because the way the world works and the governments are set up it would seem to me that a better option all around would either to make a safer environment all around or to have some other alternative for people arrest for prostitution or other vice crimes...a special facility or something I guess. Something has to be better than what is already in place, that's what I meant by responsible action.

"countries where it is practiced their crime and diseases spread is significantly lower."

That is an excellent point . Often ends up winning the day in secularized cultures. . But consider say in Amstradam 30 out of every women is a prostitute . worse offense is against the very people who are "stuck" in it .
It increases the numbers who get stuck also by making it "healthier "and legal.

Should We Tolerate Legalized Prostitution?

No.

Ummm....why not?

The entire premise behind the abortion rights movement is that women have the right to do as they wish with their bodies. Gay marriage is the same...they're consenting adults. I see no logical difference.

My opposition is based primarily on the instances in which girls are forced into prostitution against their wills. The libertarian side of me would cause me to oppose enforcing moral codes against consenting adults, but unfortunately, that is not the case for much of what goes on in prostitution.

This is off-topic, but the libertarian approach to drug abuse does make sense. Legalizing drugs would actually bring the price down to the point where those who are making millions of dollars would be forced out of business and much of the incidental crime that accompanies drug abuse (burglary to support the habit) would also be reduced. I fully support drug testing as a condition for employment, harsh penalties for anyone engaging in any potentially dangerous activity (driving) while under the influence of drugs, etc. I believe that once drug abuse is recognized for the sickness that it is, that the incidence will be reduced.

Back to your question. I have done little in opposition. I strongly believe that our culture has trivialized sex - especially during the past 50 years. We raised our children without cable TV and restricted the programs that were aired on the major networks. Today's families have a TV in every bedroom with a wide range of offensive programming. (Fox is no better than any other network.) We have no one to blame but ourselves.

"I believe is a very responsible action."

Some of my more libertarian thinkers I know would agree with you if the people involved handled the full consequences . But the example you gave is of a socialistic state , thus you see the increase in women in that occupation . The state is helping in regards to supplying enough supports for the women to ENABLE them . But the government has no means to what God has given to us in regards to the beauty , jou and FUN of sex. But that is the religious side that is not given too much consideration in secualrized cultures.

I wonder if you know how the socila status say of a women in prostituion is in the legalized countries ? Just curious if the stigma that is attached to it where it is illegal also fades away in areas where it becomes legal . I am hearing more about this , but i think we will be legalizing drugs in thei country before prostituion.

Good debate , Thanks ...

"Something has to be better than what is already in place"

Oh yes I see what your saying . I would agree with changing how the situatruion is handled legally myself .
Same with drugs , just not in the legalizatiion camp .

Hello,
My name is Trisha Baptie and I am from Canada and felt I needed to respond to your post.
Prostitution in Canada is not "legalized' what we have right now is some sloppy, half hearted laws that make it illegal to live of the avails and to communicate for prostitution.
What I do in Canada is try to lobby for our government to change our laws that are pro-women and pro-equality which is why here in Canada we are loudly saying our Government needs to adopt the Swedish model of law.
I have to also say, I have never understood why people think being a certain age somehow makes it OK for a women to be raped for money. If at 17 we would call it child sexual exploitation how does that change just because they are now 18?
Do we really think women wake up one day at 18 years old and say the most positive thing I can do today is go become a hooker? Probably not, so perhaps instead we need to fight the systemic issues that got her there not, legalize and legislate her oppression and inequality.
Health Checks, let's really look at this why do women have to undergo health checks to make sure they are safe for men to consume, why don't we also make the men undergo health checks to keep the women safe?
I am sure we all know men would NEVER do that.

I am also getting a little tired of the fact that we always only talk about the hookers, why are we never ever asking the real question.
'Do we as a society men should be able to pay to sexually access women's bodies?"
I think the most sex positive thing we can do is to make sure people CANNOT pay for sex to make sure it stays between consenting persons.

The mayor of Amsterdam which was once touted as the jewel of legalized prostitution is now shutting down the red light district as fast as he can and calling legalization an "abysmal failure".
Sweden where buying sex, traffiking, pimping are all illegal and the women decriminalized has seen a hige reduction is street level prostitution and other forms and is NOT a destination for human traffickers because of it.

Hello,
My name is Trisha Baptie and I am from Canada and felt I needed to respond to your post.
Prostitution in Canada is not "legalized' what we have right now is some sloppy, half hearted laws that make it illegal to live of the avails and to communicate for prostitution.
What I do in Canada is try to lobby for our government to change our laws that are pro-women and pro-equality which is why here in Canada we are loudly saying our Government needs to adopt the Swedish model of law.
I have to also say, I have never understood why people think being a certain age somehow makes it OK for a women to be raped for money. If at 17 we would call it child sexual exploitation how does that change just because they are now 18?
Do we really think women wake up one day at 18 years old and say the most positive thing I can do today is go become a hooker? Probably not, so perhaps instead we need to fight the systemic issues that got her there not, legalize and legislate her oppression and inequality.
Health Checks, let's really look at this why do women have to undergo health checks to make sure they are safe for men to consume, why don't we also make the men undergo health checks to keep the women safe?
I am sure we all know men would NEVER do that.

I am also getting a little tired of the fact that we always only talk about the hookers, why are we never ever asking the real question.
'Do we as a society men should be able to pay to sexually access women's bodies?"
I think the most sex positive thing we can do is to make sure people CANNOT pay for sex to make sure it stays between consenting persons.

The mayor of Amsterdam which was once touted as the jewel of legalized prostitution is now shutting down the red light district as fast as he can and calling legalization an "abysmal failure".
Sweden where buying sex, traffiking, pimping are all illegal and the women decriminalized has seen a hige reduction is street level prostitution and other forms and is NOT a destination for human traffickers because of it.

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We could all take a page out of the Swiss' book on handling prostitution. In Switzerland, those paying for sex (the "Johns") are prosectuted and the sex workers' rights are protected. In most cases these sex workers are victims themselves and it's not right to make them the brunt of the problem. These laws see those who take advantage of these victims prosecuted. This has, in many instances seen many a brothel close due to fear of prosecution and many victimised workers set free from this way of life. STDs and drug use has also declined.