Should prostitution be legalized and regulated?

Contributor: callsignhusker callsignhusker
I saw an episode concerning this question on Penn and Teller's Showtime show recently. I wonder if A) it does any real good to make prostitution illegal since if it's illegal those who practice it can't be protected by regulations or the law and B) if in a 'free' country it is even ethical to make it illegal it in the first place
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Yes
97  (83%)
No
14  (12%)
Other
6  (5%)
Total votes: 117
Poll is closed
04/22/2011
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Contributor: Ansley Ansley
If a man or a woman wants to pay a man or a woman to leave after sex, so be it. It's his/her money and his/her body. The government, outside of requiring testing and other safety measures needs to step the hell out of it.

It's extremely hypocritical for politicians in Washington to decry prostitution as a valid service when they themselves use our tax money via their salary for the same services.
04/22/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
Quote:
Originally posted by callsignhusker
I saw an episode concerning this question on Penn and Teller's Showtime show recently. I wonder if A) it does any real good to make prostitution illegal since if it's illegal those who practice it can't be protected by regulations or the ... more
why not? as long as consensual adults are involved
04/22/2011
Contributor: extrafun extrafun
Sure legelize it. Really what is the difference between paying for hands on sex and pay a web cam girl to help you get off.
04/22/2011
Contributor: amandaco2011 amandaco2011
I'm sure if the government wanted to legalize and regulate it they would want a cut of the profits.
04/22/2011
Contributor: RonLee RonLee
Quote:
Originally posted by amandaco2011
I'm sure if the government wanted to legalize and regulate it they would want a cut of the profits.
For every legal business there are always taxes to be paid.
Capone was convicted for Tax Evasion, rather than any of his other activities.
04/22/2011
Contributor: Lithaewyn Lithaewyn
I honestly don't like the idea that people are able to buy sex for my own personal reasons. However, legalizing prostitution can bring a whole lot of good to those already involved with it and not just with money. Legalizing prostitution could mean regulation on sexual health and safety as well!
04/22/2011
Contributor: Cedarlooman Cedarlooman
Legalize it and allow the women to be able to promote themselves in a legal fashion. I think it would only help the industry by increasing testing and decrease a lot of the power that pimps have. If it is legal, even if regulated, I think the pimps lose the majority of their power base. I have had conversations with several women who are escorts and they are for the most part very articulate women that all have different reasons for doing it. Their biggest fears are getting arrested, getting stiffed by a client, or getting attacked by a client. All those concerns are greatly lessened if it is a legal industry.
04/23/2011
Contributor: Eden C. Eden C.
I'd rather have it legal and regulated than illegal.
04/23/2011
Contributor: markeagleone markeagleone
I honestly don't see where legalizing it would do anything. I think you would have just as many problems, if not more, then there are now. You would still have most that would make regulation a joke. I don't believe that people who have been doing it for some time would want the government having a cut or any say in the business. Honestly, if you helped a neighbor mow the yard and he gave you $20, do you report it on your taxes? Do you think people out there would quit their livelyhood if the government said they had to because they tested positive for something? It would only work if all people had morals and were honest. That's too much to ask for at this time!
04/23/2011
Contributor: Howells Howells
Yeah why not. Not that they can do much about it currently. In my country girls are advertising as thai massage very openly. Hell I'd even go for one if I was single.
04/23/2011
Contributor: Curves Curves
Quote:
Originally posted by Lithaewyn
I honestly don't like the idea that people are able to buy sex for my own personal reasons. However, legalizing prostitution can bring a whole lot of good to those already involved with it and not just with money. Legalizing prostitution could ... more
I agree!
05/02/2011
Contributor: newfoundlust newfoundlust
Quote:
Originally posted by callsignhusker
I saw an episode concerning this question on Penn and Teller's Showtime show recently. I wonder if A) it does any real good to make prostitution illegal since if it's illegal those who practice it can't be protected by regulations or the ... more
The world's oldest profession is not going away. I say legalize it, regulate it and tax it. Better for society and better for those who practice it, as then we can regulate health, etc and we aren't hiding it in the back where the women primarily are not subject to as much abuse.
05/03/2011
Contributor: sexygoddess sexygoddess
If it were regulated it could be taxed and it would be much safer for everyone. They could get tested and what not and there wouldnt be a need for shady pimps. It's gonna happen.. they may as well legalize it and treat it like any other buisness
05/06/2011
Contributor: Lady Marmelade Lady Marmelade
Totally.
05/06/2011
Contributor: LostBoy988 LostBoy988
In some cases prostitutes / escorts offer valuable information and social help to some clients. As in examples, clients can learn more about themselves, explore their sexuality in a safe environment, and even learn new tricks. However, I do think it should be regulated for the safety of both the prostitutes and clients.
05/19/2011
Contributor: lexical lexical
I actually wrote multiple term papers on this topic this past semester

In VERY short summary...The economic and health benefits of legalizing prostitution are overwhelming. Required protection and contraceptives, regular testing, drug and alcohol abuse outreach, safety precautions against physical abuse or rape. (Yes, prostitutes can still be raped.) It disturbs me that legalization hasn't happened yet in this country. I hope it does soon!

If anyone is interested in reading my paper/s, feel free to shoot me a message...they're very in-depth. Complete with annotated bibliographies! LOL!
05/19/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
To be honest, I'm quite tired of it being debated in papers, even when it isn't talked about in the Commons. I say set up trials in several cities, with appropriate measures, and see what happens. If it turns out crime and STD rates go down, then adopt it country-wide. If not, don't.
10/11/2011
Contributor: KrazyKandy KrazyKandy
they need to legalize it. They are going to do what makes them happy why not protect them and tax it.
10/11/2011
Contributor: RonLee RonLee
Sadly the US isn't really a free country, even though many still think it is.
10/31/2012
Contributor: lovebites lovebites
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
If a man or a woman wants to pay a man or a woman to leave after sex, so be it. It's his/her money and his/her body. The government, outside of requiring testing and other safety measures needs to step the hell out of it.



It's ... more
i agree
10/31/2012
Contributor: spineyogurt spineyogurt
Yes def
10/31/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I think so, yes.
11/01/2012
Contributor: Timaree Timaree
Quote:
Originally posted by callsignhusker
I saw an episode concerning this question on Penn and Teller's Showtime show recently. I wonder if A) it does any real good to make prostitution illegal since if it's illegal those who practice it can't be protected by regulations or the ... more
I'm an ardent believer that sex work should be decriminalized. It makes it easier for people who want to be in the industry to do so safely and makes it easier to identify folks who are being trafficked. I learned a lot from the Prostitution Information Center in Amsterdam about their system and from this researcher who studied the Nevada brothel system: link
11/02/2012
Contributor: travelnurse travelnurse
I think it should be legal. I don't see the difference in the woman who gets all kinds of gifts and is dating someone and puts out.
11/02/2012
Contributor: TheirPet TheirPet
I'm not sure. I don't see anything wrong with legalizing it.
11/03/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
The government proved during the Civil War that legalizing prostitution promoted safer sex practices, kept the ladies and gents safer, and dropped the level of STDs contracted to near negligible levels. So many people believe that the war was both won and lost because of starvation but the sad truth is that syphilis and gonorrhea claimed many more lives than starvation...and at one point more than bullets!
When the government stepped in and forced bawdy houses to promote condom use and doctor visits for both the prostitutes AND the paying customers the STD rate plummeted. The prostitutes were no longer badly treated by their Madames and the wages they earned were regulated by the government...and medical care came out of their checks (so to speak). The prostitutes were happy with the arrangement, the Madames were happy as were local townsfolk. The Temperance Society, however, was not and after the war forced prostitution to be criminalized regardless of the lessons learned.

Things went back to the way they were before the government stepped in and regulated everything. So yeah I am all for decriminalization and regulation. Let's put the sex trade slavers out of business...make it a real career, and get some sanity. If we can't put the bastards out of business then we can hurt them really badly while protecting the people who wish to sell and those who wish to buy.
11/03/2012
Contributor: amazon amazon
I strongly support that idea, and taking the revenue from regulating it and putting it all towards combating human trafficking
11/03/2012
Contributor: minstrel69 minstrel69
Quote:
Originally posted by callsignhusker
I saw an episode concerning this question on Penn and Teller's Showtime show recently. I wonder if A) it does any real good to make prostitution illegal since if it's illegal those who practice it can't be protected by regulations or the ... more
Definitely should be legalized.
11/05/2012
Contributor: TheProfessors TheProfessors
I think it would make it a heck of a lot safer
11/06/2012