Why is Prostitution Illegal?

[wolven7]

http://www.slate.com/default.aspx?id=2186243

Read this article, please.

One of the few topics where I not only agree with but am not annoyed by Martha Nussbaum's presentation of her position.

Should go get dressed.

Comments

[razelore.livejournal.com]

I always thought regulation of vices would be a sure way to raise taxes. 5% surcharge on blowjobs, I fail to see who would mind paying.

How many people say they're going to quit smoking when the prices go up again? How many actually do?

The government already regulates alcohol, cigarettes, gambling (lottery), why not regulate prostitution so people have a better work environment, I'm sure healthcare for prostitutes would help a lot of people in a lot of ways.

And who wouldn't want to be the first person to write off condoms on their taxes?

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Precisely. Yes, there may be an increase in the slave trade, which is terrible, but these are things that can be monitored, regulated, and corrected, to a large extent.

Diamond sales fund horrible wars and genocides. Liquor sales contribute to diabetes, and drunk driving fatalities. Tobacco sales kill hundreds of thousands of people, at an obscene rate.

And Yet...

Freedom of choice. The ability to damage ourselves, and engage in vices, as long as we don't do direct harm to someone else, without their explicit permission.

Brothels and workers' unions. Protection for those who may be "victimized," and allow them to protect themselves.

[razelore.livejournal.com]

We should be able to do what ever we want as long as it doesn't damage someone else. Anything.

The downside to this is the people that we'd get to regulate it. The people in these professions won't make enough money to even be of passing interest to the people in charge. They don't care about the average person, there's no way they'll give a damn about someone they've been trained to publicly look down on by their religions and ancestors.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Which is precisely why we need to get people who hadn't.

This would all be so much easier if people still worshiped Ishtar. :\

[moonandserpent.livejournal.com]

She's always done right by me.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

See? Spread the Gospel, Sister! Well. That and the other things.

Swing on a spiral, out

[jerem-morrow.livejournal.com]

Forgive me for being off topic, but clicked on ye over at COILHOUSE, und found we've much in common. Added, hope ye don't mind.

Re: Swing on a spiral, out

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Not at all. And I thank you, much, for commenting to let me know.

[salrushdy.livejournal.com]

I never found a good reasons "why not?", but it looks that US government with theirs crappy explanations not more creative than I am

[wolven.livejournal.com]

yeah.