Human Trafficking and the Food We Buy

If some substitute away from oppressed sex workers toward legal and voluntary sex workers then there must be some benefit to the oppressed. I don't say that we can have a perfect world. I ask which is most likely to produce a better world. I'm being realistic, not so much as moral. If Christians really want to help oppressed sex workers and forced migrants they will advocate open borders and then volunteer to buy the oppressed out of slavery. Indeed, there are many who have put their money where there mouth is and are engaged in this sort of action. However, it all too often is accompanied by appeals for legislation which works counter to their objectives, though it may seem to be consistent in spirit.
the key is that legislation and enforcement is tricky, and needs to be considered realistically, in terms of what it can effectively do, not what we want it to do.

And why should gambling be illegal, or prostitution, or drugs for that matter? Why should any victimless crime be prosecuted? What do you imagine the benefit to you is from me not sinning?

I'd be for the legalization of drugs as well. Except for antibiotics.

This one didn't even cross my mind...since all I was thinking of was those used recreationally...such as marijuana...ecstasy and even heroin.

In terms of antibiotics...your fear has all ready come true. It happens whenever anyone takes them for any sniffle or they feel like coming down sick. Don't get me started in the use of these in animals. Together with hormones...society is paying and will continue paying a terrible price for legal pushers giving them what they ask for.

As for protecting people from themselves...I find they are usually pretty good at doing themselves in with little help from others. For instance...before 1906 when you could order any drug you wanted from a catalog...people all ready were killing themselves. Myself...I've had morphine once in the hospital. What I discovered was a class of drugs (opiates) that I would enjoy too much if allowed to use. No other drug ever did that...so I know to never take any opiate ever again...under any circumstance.

She believes in making abortion illegal, which she doesn't see as a private issue. She's my sis and was raised like me and has stayed pretty much uninformed or informed solely by one very narrow viewpoint. Fundamental Right!
When I first started questioning how I was raised I was extremely scared to question because of the manipulation tactics used and the threat of being kicked out of the body I was part of. It was a long process to undo the brainwashing part of my thought processes.

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I am concerned that efforts to reduce trafficking per se will have serious unintended negative consequences if not combined with two important other reforms. First, trafficking victims ought to be granted amnesty. Second, prostitution should be legalized.
What further evidence is required to demonstrate the oppressive conditions in a person's home country beyond that fact that that person has been abducted from there and enslaved. Each application for amnesty among these individuals ought to be granted. The migrant workers imported for harvest season would have the opportunity to save and become partial shareholders in the produce they assist in sending to market if they were granted legal status. This would end exploitation.
Second, prostitution must be legalized. The existing trafficking rewards pimps who sell minors at high prices. If prostitution were legalized the market for these victims would face competition from voluntary providers with good reputations, sanitary conditions, and discrete services. Pimps would be put out of business.
The key in both cases is to strip the oppressor of the profitable elements of their trade, discouraging them from practicing it, while dignifying the victims and practicing hospitality.
The question of the morality of prostitution or amnesty should not be placed in front of the realities of oppression these victims are facing.

I wonder how much of a "private issue" it would be for her if she were working against her will in a brothel/farm/hard labor? Chances are she would be screaming at those of us trying to help those held captive.

Legalizing prostitution doesn't necessarily improve the situation. The Netherlands has the same problems with underage prostitution as other industrialized nations despite the legalization of adult prostitution. In that case, the legal prostitution helped provide a safe haven for child panderers as well as a built-in market (similar to how legalized gambling served as a front for criminal organizations for decades).Also the assumption of a market solution to child trafficking is that the consumers will substitute a legal service for an illicit one given the chance. I suspect that in this case, as in very few others, no real substitute would be acceptable. Pedophiles want children, not adults. And the thrill of the illicit is a powerful motivator in sexuality.

And bear in mind that the farm owners in Florida were operating in an entirely legal market, but still choose to take the cheap shortcut of slave/forced labor.

The most effective strategy for dealing with sex trafficking is a concerted effort to go after the consumers, who have the most to lose and the least to gain (the victims have little to lose and absent the protections Juris mentioned, little to gain). Incidentally this can be done even with the legalization of adult prostitution, but as Greg alluded to, the government would need to regulate the adult sex industry fiercely to truly prevent trafficking.

I had a point where I asked God to strip the old teaching and re-teach me. I had some pretty amazing ways that God did and continues to do that.

I want to be salt and light and do not back down now from using the Word to counter the nastiness that, as you say, is destroying our country, homes, schools, communities, churches, families. I just have such a "fury" over the damage that the leavening of the Pharisees can do.

It is difficult to have healthy boundaries but the Word of God is the best way to fight fire with fire.

I inspect fruit. That's the best way to know which vine a person is grafted to.

I pray God protects and keeps you in his mercy and love and grace.

I am concerned that efforts to reduce trafficking per se will have serious unintended negative consequences if not combined with two important other reforms. First, trafficking victims ought to be granted amnesty. Second, prostitution should be legalized.
What further evidence is required to demonstrate the oppressive conditions in a person's home country beyond that fact that that person has been abducted from there and enslaved. Each application for amnesty among these individuals ought to be granted. The migrant workers imported for harvest season would have the opportunity to save and become partial shareholders in the produce they assist in sending to market if they were granted legal status. This would end exploitation.
Second, prostitution must be legalized. The existing trafficking rewards pimps who sell minors at high prices. If prostitution were legalized the market for these victims would face competition from voluntary providers with good reputations, sanitary conditions, and discrete services. Pimps would be put out of business.
The key in both cases is to strip the oppressor of the profitable elements of their trade, discouraging them from practicing it, while dignifying the victims and practicing hospitality.
The question of the morality of prostitution or amnesty should not be placed in front of the realities of oppression these victims are facing.

Legalization doesn't make the problem go away. Case in point, abortion is legal in the United States. As a result, MILLIONS of innocent babies are killed each year.

Legalize prostitution and the oppressor becomes the government.

Re antibiotics - not might, they have! See a recent issue of how a particular very very resistant bug has spread though the fist world hospitals in a few months.

Legalisation does not necessarily mean uncontrolled / unregistered. Quality assurance issues (Snake oil anyone?, or note that the Brits have banned some cosmetic advertising as being too falsely presented) are need to be maintained As you rightly observe, abuse of antibiotics can lead to serious issues for our civilisation. Buying pharmaceuticals off the street in many places is a bit risky, as they may not have the correct amount of active ingredient.

Another job for an over arching relatively impartial, ie not connected to big Pharma group, working for the common good. Ditto for GMO's and Pesticides. Not the job for the Vestry as some seem to imply on this site.

Re removing war on drugs, the US employment stats are going to look bad when 3/4 of the prison population is released. What are we to do with the un needs prison, police and customs people. Re train as teachers and other health persons to assist in reducing the demand for drugs. Here is is estimated that for every $5.00 spent on infant welfare nurses checking/assisting on pre school mums, we save $25 in reduced jail time.

Likewise, we would need to ensure that the Church's are engaged. To know how to manage drug addicts better and to provide and extend an alternative scenario which is effective in reducing the perceived need for medication and as well as assistance for those trapped in it.

Legalizing prostitution doesn't necessarily improve the situation. The Netherlands has the same problems with underage prostitution as other industrialized nations despite the legalization of adult prostitution. In that case, the legal prostitution helped provide a safe haven for child panderers as well as a built-in market (similar to how legalized gambling served as a front for criminal organizations for decades).Also the assumption of a market solution to child trafficking is that the consumers will substitute a legal service for an illicit one given the chance. I suspect that in this case, as in very few others, no real substitute would be acceptable. Pedophiles want children, not adults. And the thrill of the illicit is a powerful motivator in sexuality.

And bear in mind that the farm owners in Florida were operating in an entirely legal market, but still choose to take the cheap shortcut of slave/forced labor.

The most effective strategy for dealing with sex trafficking is a concerted effort to go after the consumers, who have the most to lose and the least to gain (the victims have little to lose and absent the protections Juris mentioned, little to gain). Incidentally this can be done even with the legalization of adult prostitution, but as Greg alluded to, the government would need to regulate the adult sex industry fiercely to truly prevent trafficking.

Since drugs has many links to prostitution as well...what about legalizing ANY drug someone can abuse. If the person is hooked and working for their fix in prostitution...shouldn't this be the next logical step?

You may not realize this...but before 1906...you could order many drugs/paraphernalia from the same catalogs you ordered a child's toy from. During the Nixon Administration...they were considering decriminalizing drugs due to the soldiers in Vietnam. Now...we still have the third largest front in a war which can never be won by a government which may supply/protect the producers.

Beware asking for a solution which may be something even worse than you can image. Pandora's box was enticing on the outside...but when opened...was anything less.

What would happen if labels carried, manufactured by human slaves on them? Shining a light on companies, who depend on these cheaper products may at least give the public a choice. Full page ads in large publications listing products manufactured, or obtained this way would serve to inform a consumer, unaware of the real price their cheap products were obtained with.

I'd pay for part of such ads. New products or companies could be added to each time new information comes up. Since very few people choose to look for this information or know how to go about it, I'd say informing the public at large is the best way for starting change.

Re antibiotics - not might, they have! See a recent issue of how a particular very very resistant bug has spread though the fist world hospitals in a few months.

Legalisation does not necessarily mean uncontrolled / unregistered. Quality assurance issues (Snake oil anyone?, or note that the Brits have banned some cosmetic advertising as being too falsely presented) are need to be maintained As you rightly observe, abuse of antibiotics can lead to serious issues for our civilisation. Buying pharmaceuticals off the street in many places is a bit risky, as they may not have the correct amount of active ingredient.

Another job for an over arching relatively impartial, ie not connected to big Pharma group, working for the common good. Ditto for GMO's and Pesticides. Not the job for the Vestry as some seem to imply on this site.

Re removing war on drugs, the US employment stats are going to look bad when 3/4 of the prison population is released. What are we to do with the un needs prison, police and customs people. Re train as teachers and other health persons to assist in reducing the demand for drugs. Here is is estimated that for every $5.00 spent on infant welfare nurses checking/assisting on pre school mums, we save $25 in reduced jail time.

Likewise, we would need to ensure that the Church's are engaged. To know how to manage drug addicts better and to provide and extend an alternative scenario which is effective in reducing the perceived need for medication and as well as assistance for those trapped in it.

She believes in making abortion illegal, which she doesn't see as a private issue. She's my sis and was raised like me and has stayed pretty much uninformed or informed solely by one very narrow viewpoint. Fundamental Right!
When I first started questioning how I was raised I was extremely scared to question because of the manipulation tactics used and the threat of being kicked out of the body I was part of. It was a long process to undo the brainwashing part of my thought processes.

________________________________

I'm not disagreeing with the basic idea of legalizing victimless crimes, although a full-blown unregulated legal prostitution would be a serious problem (disease, encouragement of trafficking, etc.). Unintended consequences occur when activities are legalized or deregulated too, not just because the government intervenes in a situation.
I am skeptical that the legalized prostitution that does exist in rural Nevada with minimal problems could be replicated in areas with much higher populations. Instead the legal brothels would be like anchor stores for a host of semi-legal and illegal sex trade in the same area.
One issue that I seriously take issue with is the notion of buying the oppressed out of slavery. Not for moral reasons (although those also exist) but for purely practical reasons. Slavers and traffickers throughout history have included "redeeming" slaves as part of their overall revenue stream. Yes it helps the individual (I would never tell someone whose loved one was kidnapped not to pay) but it encourages the entire system to remain intact. Transatlantic slave trading continued in vast numbers until the British Navy followed by the end of legal slavery in the Americas throttled the vile market.

We have a common background! The biggest difference was that when I allowed the Holy Spirit to teach me...I got up and left...having never looked back. Having had people telling me I would lose my salvation by leaving...looked them in the eye saying that they teach He will never leave nor forsake you. Pointing out they don't believe what Jesus said...never heard anything more.

As I mentioned in another post...I believe fundamental conservatism is destroying this country. I just pray that He allows me to live my life someplace out of the reach of these people.