What do you think about prostitution?

[Revoltingest]

Libertarians are pro-murder?

There are some exceptions.......ya tea sip'n mischievous wag!

 

[dust1n]

In general, I support the legalization of prostitution, but not the legalization of third party vendors, including pimps, brothels, essentially taking any cut from the original transaction.

 

[Revoltingest]

In general, I support the legalization of prostitution, but not the legalization of third party vendors, including pimps, brothels, essentially taking any cut from the original transaction.

You would prohibit sex workers from forming associations for mutual profit?
There is usefulness here. If a prostitute wants to be part of an organization
which provides contacts, security, facilities & client vetting, that would be the
worker's right IMO.

 

[dust1n]

You would prohibit sex workers from forming associations for mutual profit?
There is usefulness here. If a prostitute wants to be part of an organization
which provides contacts, security, facilities & client vetting, that would be the
worker's right IMO.

I would be open to the idea of a cooperative. That's good thinking. Or if non-profit. This would be a way to sidestep the issue with third parties.

 

[Revoltingest]

I would be open to the idea of a cooperative. That's good thinking.

If some want to be employees instead of independent contractors, I wouldn't deny them this option.

 

[dust1n]

If some want to be employees instead of independent contractors, I wouldn't deny them this option.

As long as all who benefit from the money generated are, in fact, sex workers, I don't see a problem.

 

[Revoltingest]

As long as all who benefit from the money generated are, in fact, sex workers, I don't see a problem.

They wouldn't work there unless they thought it worthwhile.

 

[dust1n]

They wouldn't work there unless they thought it worthwhile.

Hmm.. questionable. I don't deny a private establishment could be fine conditions for prostitutes. This isn't really my main concern, though.

When giving rights to sex workers to do what they do, given a truly consensual agreement, I in no way mean, or am necessarily obliged, to support the right of anyone to make money off a sex worker.

 

[Revoltingest]

Hmm.. questionable. I don't deny a private establishment could be fine conditions for prostitutes. This isn't really my main concern, though.

When giving rights to sex workers to do what they do, given a truly consensual agreement, I in no way mean, or am necessarily obliged, to support the right of anyone to make money off a sex worker.

If businesses can make money by hiring engineers, doctors, dancers, roofers, lawyers, barbers, & honey dippers, then why not sex workers?

 

[dust1n]

If businesses can make money by hiring engineers, doctors, dancers, roofers, lawyers, barbers, & honey dippers, then why not sex workers?

Well, technically, they could via pornography. I find the risks associated with businesses that profit off of sex work simply too risky, including the crime inevitability associated with it, the increased possibilities for concealing sex trafficking, recruitment, advertising. The amount of regulation needed for these sorts of institutions would be need to be so incredibly pervasive as to impractical.

However, the ability for any purchaser or seller of sex to acquire a license and follow a mandated 30-day HIV test, seems like a much simpler thing to administer, requires less government oversight, makes it incredibly difficult as opposed to simple for those conducting sex immigration, sex trafficking, sex slavery, etc.

It seems to me to be a reasonable compromise.

 

[Levite]

I'm just asking because i want to reintroduce temple prostitution in my new religion. Here in Germany it is widely accepted.

Personally, I think prostitution is probably detrimental to the emotional health of both the prostitute and the client. But lots of things which are bad for you are-- and should be-- legal, so I favor legalized prostitution. At least if it is legal, it can be regulated and taxed, both raising revenues for the government and ensuring better health and safer working conditions for the prostitutes.

I am a big believer in governments not outlawing vices, but instead, keeping them legal and providing educational opportunities, employment training and assistance, and better social services, to provide women with better alternatives than being prostitutes.

As for temple prostitution, I find it difficult to imagine the merits of a theology of a god or gods who would advocate or demand prostitution of any kind. Better to simply have free and voluntary sex rituals, if that's the aesthetic of worship you're after.

 

[Revoltingest]

Well, technically, they could via pornography. I find the risks associated with businesses that profit off of sex work simply too risky, including the crime inevitability associated with it, the increased possibilities for concealing sex trafficking, recruitment, advertising. The amount of regulation needed for these sorts of institutions would be need to be so incredibly pervasive as to impractical.

By keeping many aspects of it illegal, it might make illegal trafficing worse than total legalization.
I see no need to treat sex workers differently from other professions, eg, dentists, lawyers, hair dressers, masseuses.

However, the ability for any purchaser or seller of sex to acquire a license and follow a mandated 30-day HIV test, seems like a much simpler thing to administer, requires less government oversight, makes it incredibly difficult as opposed to simple for those conducting sex immigration, sex trafficking, sex slavery, etc.
It seems to me to be a reasonable compromise.

It strikes me as too much restriction.

 

[dust1n]

By keeping many aspects of it illegal, it might make illegal trafficing worse than total legalization.
I see no need to treat sex workers differently from other professions, eg, dentists, lawyers, hair dressers, masseuses.

Illegal trafficking is already worse with any legalization. The reason is obvious. Poor women in many countries are willing to cohort with criminals to get access to these countries.

"An estimated 400,000 prostitutes work in Germany, and 1.2 million customers are said to use their services daily. Revenues are estimated at 6 billion euros every year - equivalent to those of companies like Porsche and Adidas.

It was mainly to offer prostitutes protection from violence and exploitation that two years ago - against the opposition of conservative politicians - the German government legalized prostitution.

Now, legal contracts between prostitutes and clients can be established. The government withholds a portion of their earnings to pay social benefits like pensions and health insurance and to guarantee a regular 40-hour-workweek. Sex workers can now even unionize.

When it comes to taxation and regulation of the industry, legalization has been beneficial in some places, advocates say.

In Stuttgart, where 2,700 prostitutes are registered, brothels now pay 15 euros or 25 euros per day, per prostitute, to financial authorities. The city of Cologne receives roughly 700,000 euros per month from the business. In Dortmund, owners of sex establishments have been creating contracts with prostitutes that offer benefits.

Legalization has also - in some cases - allowed the government to offer prostitutes incentives to leave the trade. In the town of Esslingen, for example, officials from the unemployment department have been offering those willing to exit the profession double welfare - 600 euros instead of 300 euros.

But when it comes to the goal of improving conditions for prostitutes and containing the sex trade, most experts agree that legalizing prostitution has not succeeded.

"When it was set up there was much talk of securing proper contracts, proper health insurance, but a lot of this hasn't materialized because of big holes in the legislation," says Marion Detlefs of the Hydra prostitute advice center in Berlin.

Across the country, no more than a dozen contracts have been signed. Prostitutes, who often have to share their income with brothel owners and other parties, are reluctant to pay taxes."

Rethinking a legal sex trade - CSMonitor.com

It strikes me as too much restriction.

Considering what's at stake, and considering the rampant amount of problems that persist regardless what structure you use, it seems reasonable to me.

 

[psychoslice]

No it doesn't. And they aren't!

The girlfriends and wives of these men disserve disease free sex with their partners.

They also disserve exclusive sex - unless they have agreed to other.

It is not going to be a happy wife that learns she is going to die from HIV/AIDS, - because her no good cheating husband was sneaking around and dipping into skank.

If you want other sex - make that plain at the beginning of a relationship - so the other person can say - I PASS.

*

I see, sorry I am talking about the service of prostitution, I am against not being faithful to each other partner also, but that's another story, that's up to the individual, but for those who don't have a partner, there is nothing wrong in it.

 

[Riverwolf]

I'm just asking because i want to reintroduce temple prostitution in my new religion. Here in Germany it is widely accepted.

I'm perfectly fine with prostitution, and I'd welcome a return of Temple Prostitution in certain contexts.

But when I say that, I mean to say that I'm fine with people choosing to go into that profession, with full ability to leave at any time without fear. IOW, I support it in the context of being treated like any other job. I wholly oppose the sex trafficking industry, and await the day it can be taken down.

 

[dgirl1986]

As long as the women are safe (treated appropriately), voluntary and clean... its all good.

 

[Revoltingest]

Illegal trafficking is already worse with any legalization. The reason is obvious. Poor women in many countries are willing to cohort with criminals to get access to these countries.

"An estimated 400,000 prostitutes work in Germany, and 1.2 million customers are said to use their services daily. Revenues are estimated at 6 billion euros every year - equivalent to those of companies like Porsche and Adidas.

It was mainly to offer prostitutes protection from violence and exploitation that two years ago - against the opposition of conservative politicians - the German government legalized prostitution.

Now, legal contracts between prostitutes and clients can be established. The government withholds a portion of their earnings to pay social benefits like pensions and health insurance and to guarantee a regular 40-hour-workweek. Sex workers can now even unionize.

When it comes to taxation and regulation of the industry, legalization has been beneficial in some places, advocates say.

In Stuttgart, where 2,700 prostitutes are registered, brothels now pay 15 euros or 25 euros per day, per prostitute, to financial authorities. The city of Cologne receives roughly 700,000 euros per month from the business. In Dortmund, owners of sex establishments have been creating contracts with prostitutes that offer benefits.

Legalization has also - in some cases - allowed the government to offer prostitutes incentives to leave the trade. In the town of Esslingen, for example, officials from the unemployment department have been offering those willing to exit the profession double welfare - 600 euros instead of 300 euros.

But when it comes to the goal of improving conditions for prostitutes and containing the sex trade, most experts agree that legalizing prostitution has not succeeded.

"When it was set up there was much talk of securing proper contracts, proper health insurance, but a lot of this hasn't materialized because of big holes in the legislation," says Marion Detlefs of the Hydra prostitute advice center in Berlin.

Across the country, no more than a dozen contracts have been signed. Prostitutes, who often have to share their income with brothel owners and other parties, are reluctant to pay taxes."

Rethinking a legal sex trade - CSMonitor.com



Considering what's at stake, and considering the rampant amount of problems that persist regardless what structure you use, it seems reasonable to me.

I'm not surprised that the Christian Science Monitor would take a dim view of prostitution.
Looking thru the article, I take issue with some things.....
- Germany's system really takes away unemployment benefits for people who refuse to work in brothels?
Even if this is correct, the US system doesn't work that way.
- We already have poor people from around the world coming to work here. Prostitution wouldn't change this.
- If kept illegal, there's an incentive to keep this trafficing underground & criminal. Analogous to prohibition of drugs & alcohol, legalization brings the light of day to the industries, where desired regulation can happen.
- The article cites unamed "experts" & no studies.
- Nevada has legal prostitution, & God hasn't seen fit to visit plagues upon that state.

I think this whole legalization of prostitution boils down to fundamental perspectives.
Libertarians will say that any activity between consenting people should be legal, even if society doesn't like the consequences.
Authoritarians will say that society should make illegal anything it doesn't like.
And many inhabit the continuum between these 2 extremes.
Guess which extremist I am!

 

[Selinagirl]

I'm not surprised that the Christian Science Monitor would take a dim view of prostitution.
Looking thru the article, I take issue with some things.....
- Germany's system really takes away unemployment benefits for people who refuse to work in brothels?
Even if this is correct, the US system doesn't work that way.
- We already have poor people from around the world coming to work here. Prostitution wouldn't change this.
- If kept illegal, there's an incentive to keep this trafficing underground & criminal. Analogous to prohibition of drugs & alcohol, legalization brings the light of day to the industries, where desired regulation can happen.
- The article cites unamed "experts" & no studies.
- Nevada has legal prostitution, & God hasn't seen fit to visit plagues upon that state.

I think this whole legalization of prostitution boils down to fundamental perspectives.
Libertarians will say that any activity between consenting people should be legal, even if society doesn't like the consequences.
Authoritarians will say that society should make illegal anything it doesn't like.
And many inhabit the continuum between these 2 extremes.
Guess which extremist I am!

Germanys sytem is NOT taking away unemployment benefits from people who refuse to work in brothels. There wad just one single incident, when a women refused to work for a telephone sex line, but it was passed to the media and the leader of the local unemployment authority apologised after that.

 

[Revoltingest]

Germanys sytem is NOT taking away unemployment benefits from people who refuse to work in brothels. There wad just one single incident, when a women refused to work for a telephone sex line, but it was passed to the media and the leader of the local unemployment authority apologised after that.

I suspected the CSM was grasping for a faux problem.

 

[dust1n]

I'm not surprised that the Christian Science Monitor would take a dim view of prostitution.
Looking thru the article, I take issue with some things.....
- Germany's system really takes away unemployment benefits for people who refuse to work in brothels?
Even if this is correct, the US system doesn't work that way.
- We already have poor people from around the world coming to work here. Prostitution wouldn't change this.
- If kept illegal, there's an incentive to keep this trafficing underground & criminal. Analogous to prohibition of drugs & alcohol, legalization brings the light of day to the industries, where desired regulation can happen.
- The article cites unamed "experts" & no studies.
- Nevada has legal prostitution, & God hasn't seen fit to visit plagues upon that state.

I think this whole legalization of prostitution boils down to fundamental perspectives.
Libertarians will say that any activity between consenting people should be legal, even if society doesn't like the consequences.
Authoritarians will say that society should make illegal anything it doesn't like.
And many inhabit the continuum between these 2 extremes.
Guess which extremist I am!

I'll respond when not at work.