Should prostitution be legal?

[BJean 16]

I do not justify it. I recognize it as something that has always been a apart of mankind and always will be.

We were speaking to the issues here in the U.S. and if there are people who are forced into prostitution here, legalizing it and being able to control it would be a giant step toward busting up those groups who are guilty of forcing girls and women to do it.

If it were legal and women had some protection and society had some protection in this trade, it could be cleaned up to a great extent. There will always be crooks and bad people in every profession. That's why we have laws to keep those things under control in every business.

Just keeping prostitution illegal promotes the extremely bad parts of it, keeps it physically unchecked, keeps women and girls being taken advantage of, keeps a war atmosphere between pimps' turf, keeps women exposed to the brutality of man and so much more.

There are women who choose prostitution as a profession for miriad reasons. They are the ones I am concerned for. They're the ones who need protection. They and the men who have a need to use the services of a prostitute.

Like it is now - illegal - all the other bad folks prey on the women who need to make it their profession and the men who need to visit prostitutes.

Christians say that we need to abolish prostitution because it is bad and goes against God's will. Well, it will never be abolished and becoming smart about it and protecting the public is what the government should be all about. Just as with illegal drugs, rounding them up and putting everybody in jail from time to time will never solve the problem.

[KartMan 58]

Did you ever see the series Firefly? It was later made into a movie called Serenity. It was a great show/movie on many levels. It was extremely interesting how they handled the issue of prostitution. Those with an interest in this topic (or if you just want to see a great program) should check it out.

[BJean 16]

Hey Kartboy (you've lost so much weight, you're probably more like a boy now) - CONGRATULATIONS!) thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

[KartMan 58]

That would take losing some years too. I whish there were a band to take off years the way this one takes of pounds. To make matters worse, with the fat gone from my face, the wrinkles look a little more prominent. Oh well, at least they are skinny wrinkles:lol:.

Edited September 6, 2009 by KartMan

[BJean 16]

Wow! And why wouldn't you post your after photos!!! You look awesome, dude. I am very, very proud of you. What an excellent job you've done. Very impressive. Congratulations, big time!

and a tiny bit of jealousy oozes from my pores

[pattygreen 5]

I hear that Rhode Island lawmakers are pushing to criminalize indoor prostitution, saying it damages the states reputation. If it weren't a sinful thing to do, (prostitute oneself), then why would they believe their reputaion was being tarnished by allowing it to be lawful there? This country shouldn't make laws that go along with what the God of the bible teaches to be wrong. (rolling my eyes)

Did you know that Nevada is the only other state that permits prostitution, and even there it's not legal in the 3 most populous counties.

[BJean 16]

You mean there are adults who don't know that Nevada is the only state where prostitution is legal in certain counties? Wonder what rock they've been living under.

[KartMan 58]

This country shouldn't make laws that go along with what the God of the bible teaches to be wrong. (rolling my eyes)

Ok, time for another Secular Democracy rant…

This country should make laws that are constitutional and supported by a majority of voters. If voters don’t like a law, they can change out their legislators (or in some states have a referendum on the ballot). God, religion, the bible, your preacher, etc, etc, etc - none of those things have any significance to our laws. It is a mere coincidence that some things that are illegal are also considered sins, but it is only a coincidence. Your (or anyone else’s) idea of sin has absolutely no relevance to me nor does it have any bearing on the law.

[Kat817 19]

I agree, and I also feel like if RI as a state has been benefitting financially from revenue gained by taxing prostitution, they will not give up the $$$$ no matter how tarnished it makes them look. Not in this economy at any rate!

[pattygreen 5]

I agree, and I also feel like if RI as a state has been benefitting financially from revenue gained by taxing prostitution, they will not give up the $$$$ no matter how tarnished it makes them look. Not in this economy at any rate!

That sounds like our government system. Not willing to give up $taxing$ the people by eliminating waste and cutting spending no matter how financially indebted we become to to the rest of the world.

[BJean 16]

In a discussion that included a post by kat that says that RI will not give up the $$$ that they make on prostitution no matter how tarnished it makes them look.

patty responded: "That sounds like our government system. Not willing to give up $taxing$ the people by eliminating waste and cutting spending no matter how financially indebted we become to to the rest of the world."

So does that mean patty, that you prefer that prostitution be allowed to operate in RI without taxation, which means no oversight whatsoever? And that by governing prostitution, the state of RI is refusing to eliminate waste and spending cuts, even though the country (not the state) is financially indebted to the rest of the world?

Sorry, I'm not following your logic here.

I'm also not following the logic that kat put forth that RI will look tarnished by regulating and taxing prostitution.

Prostitution is not something that goes away depending upon whether it is taxed or not. It is here. It is everywhere, and it's here to stay. How does it tarnish the reputation of a state if they step in and clean up and regulate prostitution and enforce the payment of taxes on that business - just like my small business, for instance, is required to pay?

Seems to me that they look much more tarnished by the paintbrush of ignorance by not taxing and regulating prostitution. We all know that arrests and jail sentences do not make prostitution go away.

[Kat817 19]

I agree totally BJean! Plus, I would rather see prostitution taxed---as we know it is going to happen anyway---than be taxed myself even more on something to cover what they would lose by eliminating it.

BTW BJean, I was using Patty's words in regards to the "tarnished" comment. Here is the quote...

I hear that Rhode Island lawmakers are pushing to criminalize indoor prostitution, saying it damages the states reputation. If it weren't a sinful thing to do, (prostitute oneself), then why would they believe their reputaion was being tarnished by allowing it to be lawful there? This country shouldn't make laws that go along with what the God of the bible teaches to be wrong. (rolling my eyes)

I italicized the area I pulled it from!

I believe prostitution is going on, and I believe it could be safer for all involved with some regulation, and $$$ raised in taxes would benefit the state.

Many peope do not believe lottery should be legal, as it is a form of gambling. In NM where I live, the lottery has made it where ANY HS graduate, or GED recipient, can go to college with a lottery scholarship, it is theirs for the asking. Many kids have benefitted----regardless of those who do not approve. They are not forced to pay. If you do not believe in prostition, then you are not going to be forced to go to one, or be one. Therefore they get no more of your money in taxes!

[BJean 16]

Kat-thank you for clarifying it for me. I was really surprised that you would take that position and post something like that. I should have known better. I just got in a hurry and didn't realize that you were quoting someone. Sorry about that!

In Florida when the powers that be did all the PR and talked people into voting for the lottery, they did it by telling us that a big piece of the money made from it would be put into the schools. But guess what? Yeah, they put a piece of the lottery pie into the schools but they also took away the money that the schools had been getting from taxes before the lottery. After the lottery was started the schools had even less to work with than before. It was a dirty lousy trick and I hope that the people in Florida have fixed it by now.

New Mexico it seems, has a conscience and a concern for public education. I don't know if Bill Richardson had anything to do with getting it right there, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did.

[Kat817 19]

LOL BJean, I read through things too quickly as well, some more than others!!

I think Richardson had a big hand in the NM lottery. It is actually set up along with another program called ---oh hell, something with "a Dream", lost it (old timers kicking in!) Anyway it is a program that the parents sign their kids up for in 8th grade. Beginning in 8th grade, the parents pay $10.00 a month and when the kids graduate, their first years tuition is paid. It sends a contstant message through the years that the kid is going to college.

The lottery scholarship requires either a certain GPA---3.0 as well as a HS diploma to get it from the beginning. If you have less than a 3.0, or a GED, then it requires YOU pay for the first semester,and maintain a 2.5 GPA, then you are eligible.

Even in the economic downturn there has been no talk I have heard of with changing it. Of course my kids are all through school, and grandkids no where near college age.

There are federally funded programs for the Native Americans to go to college with, but many have found the NM lottery scholarships to be much less red tape, and easier to deal with while also trying to go to school.

Our oldest DD got several academic scholarships, but postponed college for awhile, so lost out on some.

We paid into the dream thing for all of them, and found it to be well worth it.

[GipsyGirl 6]

I would say make it legal and tax it heavily - our budget will rise really quickly then.