Americans love sex. We also love capitalism. But when we combine the two it becomes an illegal activity. So why not make it legal if these people want to have sex for money. Then why not let them?
I'm surprised it isn't legal everywhere in this country yet, but you can take care of that sleezy business in Nevada. Consistency in laws are important because of how they influence and protect society but then this is something that falls in the realm of personal choices so control and consistency isn't possible absolutely and then sometimes personal choices are to victimize someone else. Laws and enforcement of these laws are supposed to be there to deter and protect. Your love for money and sex can be legally expressed in other ways. Maybe some people would be better protected if prostitution was legal. In some ways but then by promoting desensitizing people from being as close as possible and to strangers - for money, you introduce, in my opinion, much worse problems for humanity and an increased need for protection which also means less happiness and then more violence. I feel sorry for every possible kind of prostitute and for the communities where this is the main choice they have to survive.
You may feel bad for people who have to stoop to this to survive. But they chose to do it there are other ways to survive like government aid programs and maybe actually looking for an actual job. Everybody has choices and they chose to be a prostitute. If they are unhappy about they need to do something in order to change it not keep doing it.
I think the important element is chose. There are a lot of girls, for a variety of reasons, who get no choice whether to be prostitutes or not. It is one of the reasons I support legalization, because then the government can set standards and check how various establishments are performing.
Give me at least one example where a prostitute had no choice in the say of whether or not to be a prostitute. IF they legalize it then they can set up establishments that run prostitution (not pimps) and then you can tax it and create revenue for this already broke a** country.
Women pay to immigrate to the US, a sponsor covers their costs with the promise of a good job when they arrive so they can pay off the debt. When they arrive they are isolated held and used as prostitutes by the original sponsor
Two thing. 1) how often does this happen and just because you see it in TV shows doesn't mean it is a common thing that happens in this country. 2) there are ways around it like turning the sponsor in to the FED's if they are not happy with it. 3) they can flee to another state or refugee center if they wanted to also.
You say they have choices for government aid or a getting a real job and then you also say that legalizing it would help this broke country. What's the economy like in Nevada? If you believe in individual choice then how can you argue what should choices someone has or can recognize, but refuses, or say that they all choose one thing for one reason. What I am feeling sorry for is a person who doesn't believe there is any other choice and the many reasons that could have brought him or her to that conclusion as well as their self image As far as choosing prostitution, they make immediate money lots and they make it on their own schedule. They also don't have to pass drug or background tests or fill out an application, create a resume. Usually someone that is desperate. Is that going to change when legalized? What sort of background checks and drug tests will customers demand? Ew and whats that interview going to be like? Prostitution is already a business and the sales pitch for prostitution is some people just like sex and money and this is a choice that some people make for those reasons. Its not good for business for 'customers' to think anything else. But there is more to the story. Also just because it becomes legal doesn't mean that there wouldn't be a market for what falls into the illegal category. There's always desperate as well as creepy people out there.
I think, actually, it's that Americans hate sex. They want it, because it feels good, and they hate because it's wrong and bad. There is a deep streak of puritanism left in most Americans, and thus the mix of commerce and sex is still considered dirty, wrong, and immoral.
And, as prostitutes, they fear law enforcement which should protect them and does not, because, if they are caught, they will be incarcerated, held in some cage for an indefinite period, and eventually deported.
If there was a deep streak of puritanism left then why are there so many extra marital affairs and why dont we punish them like weo would back during the puritanism period then?
That's like suggesting that since American still hold to some of superstitions, why don't we still burn witches? Attitudes have changed greatly in the last 300 years, and that doesn't mean that the culture of seeing sex as sinful has completely gone. I could reverse your question and ask "If Americans no longer have some puritanical views around sex, why isn't prostitution legal?" The second post in this thread proves my point. Dorkay calls prostitution "sleazy." And, yet, it's sex, which is not always sleazy, right? And it's commerce, which is rarely sleazy unless there's fraud. So why is the exchange of sex and money automatically sleazy?
If we had a simple market characterised by mutually beneficial exchange then job's a good'un. However, we don't. Rationality, the basic requirement for the market to do its wonders, doesn't necessarily operate. Indeed, prostitution will often be characterised by mental illness and drug abuse. Legalisation would therefore represent support for coercion.
You do realise that poverty is the main reason for prostitution don't you? I don't know where "this country" is, but where you have a poorer country neighbouring a more affluent country you will always get people jumping borders seeking work. Women are the most susceptible for exploitation. Women who have all intentions working in the garment or hospitality industry end up in prostitution. The scenario is always the same. The women is met at a bus station by another woman offering her a job. She is taken to a residence (often a bar or hotel), her ID taken off her and she is made to service a number of clients to get her ID back. Being an illegal, she has no recourse from the authorities because she is frightened she has broken the law. Often the authorities like the police are involved also. I did some work for an NGO that repatriates trafficked women. Their stories are all the same.
