The Case for a Government Monopoly on Prostitution

[Revoltingest]

I'm surprised that no one is supporting government prostitution yet.
3 votes for "Other" so far.
Are the forum socialists at odds with their inner radical anti-boinking feminist?

If I'm making even less sense than usual, I just had a shot of Amaretto (Di Saronno).
Don't nobody take advantage of me!

 

[freethinker44]

I'm surprised that no one is supporting government prostitution yet.
3 votes for "Other" so far.
Are the forum socialists at odds with their inner radical anti-boinking feminist?

If I'm making even less sense than usual, I just had a shot of Amaretto (Di Saronno).

I don't think government should own and operate businesses, they should regulate them. They regulate the crap out of them to the point of crippling them, but they shouldn't own them.

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't think government should own and operate businesses, they should regulate them. They regulate the crap out of them to the point of crippling them, but they shouldn't own them.

Crippling?
That gets you back to illegal prostitution.
Gotta think that thru a little better.

 

[Sunstone]

I'm surprised that no one is supporting government prostitution yet.

The night is still young.

 

[Revoltingest]

The night is still young.

But even you haven't voted for it yet!
And Freethinker has this thing for Janet Reno.
I'd expect him to vote for it just to get'm some'o that.

 

[Sunstone]

But even you haven't voted for it yet!

Well, I'm still on the fence about some of the details. You see, I'm on the wrong forum because I like sometimes to explore ideas rather than merely promote them. But it's not entirely my fault. I've looked for a better forum now and then, but never have found one that doesn't do the same things this forum does.

 

[freethinker44]

Crippling?
That gets you back to illegal prostitution.
Gotta think that thru a little better.

No, I mean business in general, not just prostitution. I dislike business about as much as you dislike government.

What can I say? You asked where the socialists were.

 

[freethinker44]

And Freethinker has this thing for Janet Reno.
I'd expect him to vote for it just to get'm some'o that.

See, now you got me craving raisins.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I think the workers themselves should probably run it, with free regular health checkups from clinics like Planned Parenthood.

 

[bobhikes]

For me a privately run business heavily regulated and heavily taxed and of course a license or passport check to meet age requirements and any laws broken as a regulation.

Taxes should be enough to pay for all the regulations and medical testing.

 

[LuisDantas]

I'm surprised that no one is supporting government prostitution yet.

No reasonable person would want to be that vulnerable to government blackmail. Or to have it exert that much control over the masses.

Also, as noted, it may be seen as futile. The government can't truly contain drug use, how could it possibly contain prostitution?

Or, perhaps, it is not seen as a an innovation at all?

 

[Revoltingest]

No reasonable person would want to be that vulnerable to government blackmail.
Or, perhaps, it is not seen as a an innovation?

You wouldn't be accusing our dear leaders of being pimps, panderers, & bimbos, would you?

 

[LuisDantas]

You wouldn't be accusing our dear leaders of being pimps, panderers, & bimbos, would you?

Why could I possibly want to do that about the leaders of any government?

Can you think of any reason? Or any thousand reasons?

I'm fairly certain that you will agree that government breeds abuse of power. I suppose I am something of a leftie when compared to you, but I can hardly be accused of having anything close to that degree of trust in any government.

 

[Revoltingest]

Why could I possibly want to do that about the leaders of any government?

Can you think of any reason? Or any thousand reasons?

I'm fairly certain that you will agree that government breeds abuse of power. I suppose I am something of a leftie when compared to you, but I can hardly be accused of having anything close to that degree of trust in any government.

Detente again?
Next thing you know, we'll be sharing warm showers together!
(I hope the image doesn't cause you to lose yer breakfast.)

 

[Revoltingest]

The idea of licensing customers of unlicensed professionals is indeed novel.
Consider broadening this concept:
- Home buyers would have to get the equivalent of a broker's license, with several years of study & apprenticing under an experienced home owner. Real estate agents would be unlicensed government employees.
- Defendants would have to get a pass the bar exam to get a law license.
- Patients would have to.....you get the picture.
It's a recipe for a thriving illegal underground prostitution industry.

 

[Alceste]

Why not? The government here already sells booze, and will inevitably get into the pot racket if we can ever get rid of the conservatives and legalize it. The government booze stores are superior to the private ones and much less expensive, very profitable, and their employees are better paid.

I don't see any need to outlaw private bordellos though, as long as they are regulated to the same standards. We have private booze stores too that people will go to if the government shop is closed or too far away. They suffer massive fines and shaming for violations like selling to minors, so they do their best to stay honest.

I expect the government bordellos would attract all the best prostitutes and the private sector would soon become known not only as a seedy place where you can find trafficked women and children, but also where a hooker ends up when she fails a mandatory STD check.

I don't think licensing johns is necessary, but they should be required to produce a criminal background check that is clear of assault or sexual assault charges. That's standard practice for dealing with vulnerable people in the workplace.

 

[Revoltingest]

After giving more thought to government taking over private enterprise,
I wondered what a federal gov designed computer would look like.

And the smart cel phone....

 

[Revoltingest]

Government fashion show.....
(provided by the Wendy's News Network)
[youtube]jEGQrRp6nCU[/youtube]
Banned Commercial - Wendy's (Soviet Fashion Show 80s) - YouTube

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

And they'd likely manage to lose money,
& need taxpayer subsidies to boot. (Think Fannie Mae, Amtrak, USPS.)

Plenty of crown corporations make money. Canada Post made $95 million in 2012. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (which is probably the closest comparator we have to what Sunstone is suggesting) makes nearly $2 billion per year for the Ontario government.

 

[Revoltingest]

Plenty of crown corporations make money. Canada Post made $95 million in 2012. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (which is probably the closest comparator we have to what Sunstone is suggesting) makes nearly $2 billion per year for the Ontario government.

Perhaps the US should outsource prostitution to the Canuckistanians, eh?

I've noticed some accounting sleight of hand here in Americastan when arms of gov
claim they're profitable:
- They get exemption from or favorable treatment regarding building & housing codes.
- They sometimes get exemption from signage ordinances.
- They exempt themselves from zoning regulations.
- They pay no property taxes on their facilities.
- They need no financing for their facilities.
- They pay no licensing fees.
- They receive gov subsidies when encountering rough patches.
- They sometimes use free labor from people sentenced to community service for brushes with the law.
- They sometimes have legal barriers erected against private competition.
- They pay no income taxes.

With such heavy subsidies & protections, how could they not make money?
And yet somehow, many still manage to lose.