Should We Legalize Prostitution
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2010
by Dixie Bull
For millennia where there have been people, there has been the offering of sex for compensation. Whether the bartered recompense is in money, goods or property, paying for the "pleasure" of sexual gratification is nothing new.
There are those that sell their bodies for their next drug fix and those that do it for financial security. It doesn't matter what term you use for the person offering the service (and it's usually not a nice one), here in the United States it is illegal to enter into agreement of sex for compensation. However, in the state of Nevada, those counties with populations of 400,000 or less can, if they so choose, have legal brothels.
Some people become appalled when the subject of prostitution comes up. Morally, this subject has been one of those "dirty" things that is just not discussed. Only low-lifes and scum sell their bodies. Proponents can say that by making it legal, it cuts down on rape and sexually transmitted diseases.
Other say why pay for it when you can get it free at any bar, club or social gathering. Are you willing to take a chance that stranger on the dance floor isn't a silent carrier of something that is going to make your life (or your health) a misery because you couldn't refrain?
This brings up the question: can legalized prostitution "ranches" like in Nevada curb the spread of STD's?
I began my search by comparing the rate of reported cases by state population.*
The majority of the states estimated between 7.5 and 8% of the population were treated for curable STD's in 2006. Nevada was 5.4%. Hmmm, not bad. Obviously not all sex was through "ranches" and illegal prostitution can still be found but being that much lower than the national average gives one pause. The states that came in lower than Nevada were: ND at 4.2%, WV at 3.9%, ID at 3.6%, ME at 3.5%, NH at 2.7% and both UT and VT at 2.3% (wow, stoic people in those places!)
Would it be worth legalizing this so called victimless crime just to possibly drop the rate a couple of percentage points? Well we haven't looked at the higher end of the percentage statistics yet.
There were some places where the numbers began to creep upwards, but those over 10% included: IL at 10.3%, MD at 11.1%, DE at 11.6%, AL at 11.7%, SC at 12.8%, LA at 14.1% and MS at 14.9%. Those numbers were bad enough until I hit the last place on the census list. Coming in at a whopping 41.9% (yes you read that right), the population in this location reported its registered inhabitants as being treated for common STD's more than 5 times the national average. Where is this hotbed of sexual freedom? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you:
Washington, DC (I'm not going to say it. I won't, I won't, I won't *whistles and walks away*)
Anyway, back to my point: if I ever had one that is. Should prostitution be legalized and become an industry with rules and regulations just like any other business, or should it be left the way it is.
Your thoughts?
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More commentsI'm not sure on this one. I'm leaning more towards saying no but if we did it could put a big crimp in the criminal element. Then again it could make the criminal element worse! ARGH!~ GraceOh come on Gracie, we know you have an answer to this. Spill it.
Great article, Dixie. I think the numbers speak for themselves. Seems kinda immoral not to legalize prostitution.Oh now there's a stance I hadn't thought of. Immoral NOT to. Hmm. That makes 2 for yes. Thanks!
Should we legalize injectable street drugs to lower the hepatitis and AIDs rates? The questions and parallels could go on and on - statistics can be misleading too because this isn't measuring the other "fall out" effects on society, families, communities etc. It is measuring only one thing STDs. Just some thoughts. Appreciate your research on the piece and it is well written.Isn't that the great thing about statistics? We can use them to skew a way of thinking however we want. Yes I used only these statistics. I could have added crime to it and maybe should have. So that would be another vote for I don't know. Thanks Marijo!No, that would be another vote for definitely not....GRINI think Teresa made some valid points and I agree with them all.Gotcha! Okay, time to change that tally then, heheBy the way, you are an intriguing moderator... know how to get comments on all sides of the issue and still maintaining the position of "moderator" rather than being heavy handed with those who might not agree with you. You seem to have a gift of facilitating dialog or even some controversial subjects - AND getting people to read by "keeping tally" - good job, lady!Oh heck Marijo I'm really not a bad person even if I do have my own opinions. I sincerely like to get to know how people think about certain subjects that pop into my head. If I only allow one view how am I ever going to learn?I am applauding you - some writers can't be as diplomatic as you or get the great number of responses you do - GO GIRL!MWAH! I will take my bow and say thank you.
Hi Dixie - good thoughts, well put together. However, I can't possibly see how legalizing prostitution will cut down on rape or std's. It's just a way to justify immorral behavior. "If it's legal, it's not wrong" or at least they will pay taxes like every one else. Wrong is wrong, whether legal or illegal, but the problem with justifying behaviors by legalizing them just paves way for all things legal as the moral values of man slowly slip away. Our country is falling and will continue to collapse as morals decline. My heart aches for woman who do this because, no matter what they say, it hurts them inside - if it didn't drugs and alcohol would not be so closely associated with them. So if we legalize what they are doing, they can temporarily feel better about themselves while the government collects their taxes, and in the mean time, let's legalize the drugs they do to get them through - where does it end then? In the end, sadness and ruin of many more lives. Just my two cents :-)
Again. Well written. Many blessings to you.Excellent reasoning behind your answer Teresa. You brought up the moral issue like Bruce did but showed it from a different angle. I like the fact that people can do that and make good points. I appreciate your 2 cents! That makes it 2 for yes, 2 don't know and 1 no so far. Thanks!Hi Dixie. I appreciate the nice response. I do hope to make good points when I answer a question or write an article :-) I am liking your style! I will definitely be reading and chating with you more I am sure!
I don't know if it should be legal or not I know I've paid for it before, although was along time ago.You did? I wonder how many men have at one time or another. Hmm that might make an interesting question to ask. Now the tally is up to 2 yes, 2 don't know and 2 no. Thanks!
Darn it, Dixie, if only life were black and white! The question here is how best to control human behavior for the best of all those concerned. In a perfect world, every adult would have a partner and there would be no need for any of these behaviors, everyone would be completely unselfish and never want to use or abuse another human being... since we can't have that, I don't think there is a clear answer here. Obviously, making behaviors illegal hasn't stopped abuses does legalizing them make the abuse any less abuse? I've read the there are no women voluntarily in prostitution whether legal or not. So maybe what we really need is a way to make sure no woman ever feels like this is her only choice to survive.Hehe by now Jean I have either totally confounded you or you are figuring out that I am a bur in a lots of people's backsides because I can come at you from lots of angles. I like how you really thought about this question. You and Grace seem to look at it from the same point of view. Unless you tell me otherwise I take it that you don't have a definitive yes or no which is totally cool by me. Thanks!
Tally so far 2 yes, 3 I don't know, 2 noI'm not confounded, but life is complex and in answering questions like this is I believe there are two sets of issues: what the government should do and what the community should do. The government has a responsibility to do what works best for the greatest number of it's citizens. People in the community (churches, mosques, civic organizations) should be working behind the scenes to help the poor, the disenfranchised and the abused. Too often, we look at an issue like it's only one or the other. So from a legal perspective, I think the most protection for the most people would lead to legalizing and regulating these "unseemly" behaviors while the faith community should work to make sure no one needs these to participate in these behaviors to begin with.
Greetings -
The price for prostitution goes way beyond monetary. The impact on the psyche of prostitutes can be horrendous. I have never heard prostitutes - male or female - express any measure of contentment with their lives. I have observed them on programming...looked into their eyes and seen, without fail, emptiness and hopeless resignation for their lots in life. These people are not chattel. Often they are treated as “low-lifes" and subsequently many of them come to believe that they are “low-lifes." Often, I pray for them.
Prostitution is a violation of the sanctity of the body temples. Our blessed Creator GOD in no way designed any of His creations to be defiled by perverse actions. Whether people give away their bodies or offer them for sale, the "collateral damages" can be enormous. Suicides, guilt consumption, mental illness, substance abuse, unwanted pregnancies, traumatized children, adultery, and destroyed families are just some of what can transpire.
I ask, would we be on board with legalized prostitution if our relatives chose such a “profession"? After all, it is a “good" cause – to lower the number of STD cases.
Can legalization justify the fallout? I vote not! Certainly statistics and percentages have their places but the human toll equation trumps it all.
As for the rape factor...anybody that resorts to taking it is desperate and cowardly...I pray for their pathetic souls.
Thank you for this piece. The discourse has indeed been interesting.Welcome to my little corner of SearchWarp Ms. Hicks. I'm happy you came by to give your view. There is a lot to say about the moral factor of the question. I hope you come by again and join in future discussions.
Who wants a woman who has seen more ceilings than Michaelangelo?
Not I; I have never ever yet met a virgin and am still waiting......
PaulI have NO idea who would want that but it's not my place to say, just to question. May I take it you say no to legalizing it making the tally Yes 2, I don't know 3 and No 4?
Dixie-all this is not only in US but we can see this situation all over the world. let,s assume if we legalize it in US, what will happen? a majority of prostitutes will come on the roads who, for now, are forced to not to do this openly. we can say if we r gonna legalize it, in other words we are going to make our society a SEX-FREE society where any body can come and do all this. but if we think on a point that if this matter comes on top of the Government, then i think it can be sattled down through diffrent subsidies..lets assume a figure that in US is the sexual diseases rate is 40%, legalizing this thing will bring it to 110% within a month i can bet..
Article is superb but we all should try to bring this GOOD THINKING on upper (Govt) levels, debates should be there and also seminars.. you, me and 4-5 other (respectfull) peaople can,t decide it but we can only bring our openions in front of each other..i think we should try to move the discussion on the UPPER LEVELS..as much community will involve in the case, as much we ll be having chances to take decisions on our side...
I do not have the vaguest idea what is "right" or "wrong" on this topic. I have traveled a bit in my younger days, including places where it was legal, and known some, yes, in "that" sense, and some as a friend or acquaintance. Some were happy to be what they were, and some were shamed...some a lot, some only a little Often, however, they did not profess to feel shame because of what they did for money...the same thing they would do for fun. They felt shame because of how they were viewed by the society in which they lived. I don't know if it is possible to accurately access the "damage" to a psyche because at least some of the damage is imposed by the group in which the person lives. In ancient Egypt, daughter married father. It was probably not particularly onerous if the young lady felt she was doing something blessed by the gods. Whether or not it was "good" or "bad" I leave to theologians and philosophers. It is difficult to put a bottom line on this unless you have a religious or moral issue with sex, and/or sex for money, in which case you follow the dictates of conscience or creed. One of the finest human beings I have ever known was a pure slut. She slept with a different guy almost every night, and sometimes more than one. She was also someone I would have trusted to hold my money, watch my kids, or be dependable and reliable in all thngs that mattered. She was a sergeant in the army, as I was, and I would have trusted her to watch my back in the most dangerous situations. Funny thing was, she probably would have been offended if anyone thought that she would charge money for sex. I get upset when the government puts rules on damn near anything. I don't think prostitution should be legal or not legal. It should simply be a decision between the people involved, and let's work on a world in which people are wise enough to make such decisions for themselves without the imposition of laws on personal behavior.
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