Why don't we legalize and regulate prostitution?

Question

Men aren't going to stop going and women aren't going to stop selling, so why not legalize it and regulate it and tax it.

An open market can provide a lot more protection for both the provider and the customer.

Answer 1

I agree. Whether we like it or not, it's a part of most societies - and it's important that postitutes are protected. It's legal in New Zealand.

New Zealand Prostitution Reform Act 2003
On 25 June 2003, a bill was passed in Parliament that legalised prostitution and brothel-keeping. Brothel keepers must apply for an operator's license although this is formality unless the person has a serious criminal conviction.

This bill passed narrowly; of 120 MPs, 60 voted for it, 59 against, and one politician, Labour's Ashraf Choudhary, the country's only Muslim MP, abstained. The result was a surprise as most commentators had expected the bill to narrowly fail. An impassioned speech to parliament by Georgina Beyer, the world's first transsexual member of parliament, was believed by many observers to have persuaded several wavering MP's, possibly including Mr. Choudhary, to change their votes at the last minute. The vote was a conscience vote, meaning that MPs voted according to their personal beliefs rather than following a party policy.

After the passage of the Prostitution Reform Act, the Maxim Institute and other conservative Christian organisations tried to gain an appropriate number of signatures for a citizens initiated referendum under New Zealand's Citizens Initiated Referendum Act 1993. Although it was allowed an extension, anti-bill groups fell well short of gaining the number of authenticated signatures required. In the current 48th New Zealand Parliament, the Prostitution Law Reform (Manukau City Council) Amendment Bill led to hearings before a select committee, but failed to pass its second parliamentary reading. In addition, it must be said that court challenges have usually failed to uphold restrictive council bylaws that try to obstruct the purposes of the legislation: decriminalisation, health and occupational safety for sex workers.

Answer 2

Two reasons:

1. What Barking Lunchbox mentioned. That is, the government profits from crime. How else could they continue to receive funding to fight the "horrific" act of prostitution via Joe Idiot's taxes?

2. The sex cartel. It exists, though not in any official sense. Why do women always denigrate a woman who "gives it away" too freely? Why do they shame her and call her a slut, a whore, and all kinds of insults? Because she's bringing down the price of sex for every other woman. Women all trade something for sex; this has been the practice since as far back as history has been recorded. Several decades ago it was for marriage; now it's for dinner, gifts, or whatever it takes for a guy to get "lucky."

If prostitution were legal, all of a sudden guys might decide it's cheaper than all that garbage. Thus the price of sex is brought down, and women lose their bargaining chip. Would you pay for 3 or 4 dates with a woman just for the CHANCE of sex, or would you rather than just give an honest whore the money up front?

And that's why I don't see prostitution ever being legalized in the U.S. Women know it's not in their best interests, and the guys in power know it's not either.

Answer 3

We do depending on where you live. In colonge is the pasha a top notch brothel and the biggest in Europe, although iam not so sure about that. As for America it is legal in Vegas isnt it ? Maybe its legal elsewhere too. However the mob has a pretty strong hand in America and it sure would nto like it to see prostitution becoming regulated.
Some girls here were like how would you feel if your mom was a prostitute bla bla. Well how would you girls feel if your father was a garbagemen or something ? Probably not good but we all want them to pick up our thrash.

Answer 4

It sounds like a great idea - except that if I have been in places where it was regulated and legalised, and those cities/towns were really depressing places.

As prostiution was a valid and accepted career choice, any woman who was temporarily unemployed tended to become a prostitute. Because of this, men treated ALL women as prostitutes or potential prostitutes. It made for a horrible atmosphere. Men's respect for women was definitely lowered - which sounds old-fashioned, but it's true.

It also led to situations where any young girl with limited options, even one that was severely intellectually disabled, tended to slide into prostitution. As a result, girl's self-esteem tended to be lower.

Sometimes ideas sound great, but in practice lead to situations that have just as many problems as the (very imperfect) way they are done now.

Answer 5

It should be legal. it's a victimless crime. Army girl, I'm afraid it's your argument that doesn't make sense. The difference between prostitution and murder/child abuse is that prostitution, when it happens between 2 consenting parties, is a victimless crime. I know, I know, it's a sin accroding to your religion. But that's a religious argument, and it has no place in our laws. A woman should be allowed to do whatever she wants with her body. It's not something I would personally do, but I don't see why I have the right to tell someone else what they can and cannot do with their body.

Answer 6

I agree that it should be made legal. It would protect both the prostitutes and their customers. The women would probably be required to have regular medical checkups. They would have some protection from their customers, too. As it stands now, if a man decides to beat a prostitute or not to pay her, she can't exactly go to the police about it.

Answer 7

The only problem I see with it is if we tax and regulate it then the government will probably have it categorized as a min. wage job and women would be servicing men for $5.75 an hour! That would only hurt us. As long as there is one last way way to keep women under the thumbs of a man...it will stay illegal unfortunately.

Answer 8

Some countries legalize and some do not on prostitution. This is a sinful and immoral act but yet it is legalized in some countries. Lonely men need it when they have the urge to release their sexual tension. Desperate women for whatever reasons are sometimes force into this industry. In conclusion, I believe this is to control men from attacking and raping innocent women.

Answer 9

What, and keep Officer Downe and Captain Crump from getting their on-the-house blow j*obs and the payoffs they take to look the other way?

Same reason we don't legalize drugs.

Too many people in the government would lose too much income.

Answer 10

it would be a great idea. some countries have it and nevada does. but religion, moral groups, and some feminists won't allow it.

but then again your generalization is kinda sexist- men prostitute themselves also. and brothels have reported that women do come there for service. and a lot of couples use prostitutes for 3-ways