Should prostitution be legalized and taxed?

[Anthony 78]

The German city of Bonn has installed a meter to tax prostitutes for soliciting on its streets at a rate of six euros (£5.30; $8.70) per night. Those who fail to pay face fines or even a ban, and 264 euros were found in the meter when it was first emptied, according to AFP news agency. Tax has been levied on prostitutes elsewhere but Bonn is the first city to use a meter, a spokeswoman said. But a prostitutes' rights activist said the scheme amounted to double taxation. Prostitutes are expected to pay the flat rate, regardless of earnings.

 

Source: BBC

 

So what do you think? Should States make money off of prostitution, since it's obvious that it isn't going to go away?

[BLUE 1,026]

It will never happen because we're too uptight with regard to prostitution and sexuality in general, but I don't really see any major negatives in legalizing prostitution in the U.S., as long as it's regulated, IMO....

Edited September 1, 2011 by BLUE

[Packers Dynasty 2010 116]

May as well, no way it goes away so may as well make some bank off it. Same thing with the whole should weed be legalized debate. There should be restrictions in both cases if they did become legal.

[KiLaSix9+ 398]

Throw this into the same suggestion box as 'should weed be legalized'. In theory they sound like a good idea to at least regulate and get some government money out of an illegal activity that will never go away.

[BoneKrusher+ 1,276]

Legalize Prostitution and Weed and put the Government's share toward paying off it's Debt.

[Patriots2994 43]

Prostitution is going to happen whether the government wants it to happen or not. The best thing they can do is legalize it but put special regulations in place that keep it safer, cleaner, and private. Prostitution should be legalized, but there needs to be some sort of "Red Light District", just as Amsterdam has, so that it isn't all over cities. Big cities could have a few specialized blocks dedicated to it. This will put the prostitution in one secure area so that it isn't scattered through the city, which will make it look better and help families and children steer clear. This is much more efficient than having it scattered and people having to worry about what's around every corner. There should be laws that ban people from these institutions, both as workers and as clients, if they have any STD's or contageous diseases. There need to also be confidentiality papers so that neither person can speak of it afterwards unless one becomes sick or injured and has evidence the other caused it. This can help prevent bad situations from happening, such as a guy having a prostitute come after him for money so that his friends and family aren't informed of what he did. There could also be famous people who would come to these institutions, and it could protect their privacy as well. As long as the government keeps the prostitution in an organized, safe area with regulations on safety, cleanliness, and privacy, while making some good tax money off of it, I see no reason why it shouldn't be legalized.

[Krawnka 282]

If they did, I probably wouldn't have gotten married, prostitutes are probably cheaper, and less of headache in the long run.

 

 

edit: But, since I'm married I'm just gonna be a hater and say NO!

 

But yeah, might as well make some money off of the world's oldest profession.

Edited September 1, 2011 by Krawnka

[CARDINAL 205]

Prostitution is going to happen whether the government wants it to happen or not. The best thing they can do is legalize it but put special regulations in place that keep it safer, cleaner, and private. Prostitution should be legalized, but there needs to be some sort of "Red Light District", just as Amsterdam has, so that it isn't all over cities. Big cities could have a few specialized blocks dedicated to it. This will put the prostitution in one secure area so that it isn't scattered through the city, which will make it look better and help families and children steer clear. This is much more efficient than having it scattered and people having to worry about what's around every corner. There should be laws that ban people from these institutions, both as workers and as clients, if they have any STD's or contageous diseases. There need to also be confidentiality papers so that neither person can speak of it afterwards unless one becomes sick or injured and has evidence the other caused it. This can help prevent bad situations from happening, such as a guy having a prostitute come after him for money so that his friends and family aren't informed of what he did. There could also be famous people who would come to these institutions, and it could protect their privacy as well. As long as the government keeps the prostitution in an organized, safe area with regulations on safety, cleanliness, and privacy, while making some good tax money off of it, I see no reason why it shouldn't be legalized.

 

I agree with everything that you said but the part about banning people (workers or clients) that have STD's or other contageous diseases. I think that if they legalize, regulate, and tax (federal or state tax should both be included IMO) prostitution, then they should require that they setup specific zones where establishments can be founded and operated legally. In regard to the point that I disagree with, they can just test the "workers" for any diseases, and if they have any, then they have to be treated (because I believe most diseases of this nature can be treated effectively) and then be tested again when the treatment is done to make sure that the "workers" didn't do some jobs on the side while they were getting treatment. I also think that they should make it illegal to do prostituion business activity outside of the special zones where they would have to allow and regulate this. It is already illegal to have sex with someone in public, which would be the same case if this happened outside of the destined special zones.

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

No...

 

EDIT: I don't want to just give a straight 'no' so i'll go more in depth. lol.

 

I believe that this shouldn't be touched, leave it the way it is. It's immoral in my eyes, and really there's no place for it, and the US making it into a business where they make a profit out of it would be even more immoral.

 

Color me a conservative on this one...

Edited September 1, 2011 by DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F

[CARDINAL 205]

No...

 

EDIT: I don't want to just give a straight 'no' so i'll go more in depth. lol.

 

I believe that this shouldn't be touched, leave it the way it is. It's immoral in my eyes, and really there's no place for it, and the US making it into a business where they make a profit out of it would be even more immoral.

 

Color me a conservative on this one...

 

I agree with you on this one actually Dmac. My post was just in the case where they happened to leaglize, regulate, and tax it. I to think that it's immoral in my eyes, because having sexual intercourse (or sex for those with a smaller vocabulary) should be done in marriage preferably, or with someone that you know there is a very good or 1005 likely chance that you will get married one day. Otherwise you are just basicly treating a woman (which is meant by workers in this industry) like a product that you can buy and use and then get rid of, which is for other countries to do but not western countries.

[Patriots2994 43]

If they have a disease/STD, they should be treated and found to be cured before being hired or accepted as a client. If they're already a worker, they should be regularly tested and should be suspended until they test negative again. If they retest positive, they should have some sort of punishment put in place. Clients would be negative, so they would have had to pick it up on the outside. It's their job to stay clean, so use protection and only have sex with clean people. Too many failed tests should result in a banning from prostitution. I agree that it isn't morally right, but since it will happen regardless, we should be able to make money off of it and also make it cleaner/safer/more private. It benefits everyone that way.

[Anthony 78]

When it comes to legalizing and taxing, I don't think it's a moral issue if other immoral industries are already legal and taxed. The Porn industry generates more revenue worldwide than Microsoft, Google, Netflix, and others combined. It's all taxed. A large chunk of California's state revenue comes from the porn industry. California may be broke, but it's not because people are fucking on film.

 

Hollywood can make a blockbuster movie about a prostitute (Pretty Woman) and the ticket sales are taxed, DVD sales are taxed, earnings for actors, actresses, producers, directors, etc are taxed. A former prostitute can write a book about her past life and those book sales are taxed, yet the actual act of prostituting, which has existed for as long as there was something to exchange for sex, is still illegal and not taxed.

 

There are two mega cash cows in America that pay no taxes, and each is on opposing sides of the spectrum. That is prostitution and the church.

Edited September 1, 2011 by Anthony

[Krawnka 282]

There are two mega cash cows in America that pay no taxes, and each is on opposing sides of the spectrum. That is prostitution and the church.

 

Agree on all accounts...adding narcotics to the equation as well.

 

VAT Tax could resolve that issue...but our corrupt government would just add the VAT tax, and not abolish the income tax.

[Turry 755]

Like or not but prostitution is going to be around forever, why not make it better and have brothels that are run by women so that men can go and get off but at the same time it's more safer for the working girls.

[Phins4life 271]

I absolutely think that it should be legal with heavy regulation, for a few reasons. One, it would make it's contribution toward the reduction of crime and the needless population of already overpopulated prison systems. Second, as already mentioned before, the regulation and taxing of the profession would contribute to moving the economy in the right direction....regardless of the measurable impact, progress is progress, in my opinion. Third, I have a sneaky suspicion that poverty would go down as well, because now some women (or men) too afraid of legal action could pursue this opportunity as a way out.

 

My last reason is actually a little more speculative, since I don't know for sure what the impact would be, but I believe that legalizing prostitution could also put more of a stranglehold on human trafficking. Many women being trafficked allow themselves to be treated poorly because they are intimidated into believing that their pimp (who usually fronts as a legitimate businessman) will expose them as a prostitute, thus endangering their freedom and the freedom of their children if they have any. Regulating it would force crooks to go through channels they could have otherwise avoided if prostitution were illegal.

 

I have a sincere problem with taking a moral stance on issues like this, because painting it black and white and calling it done does the subject no justice, and it feels like a cop out from having to give a controversial issue some real critical thought.

 

Example: Prostitution is wrong because sex is an intimate act that should only be conducted between a married man and woman, and this profession ruins the sanctity of the act. Problem: As far as I can tell, humans are the only species on earth who view sex as a special or intimate act. All other animals view it as what it is....just sex, regardless of purpose. There is nothing special about it. It's what you BELIEVE that determines the value of the act itself.

 

So I ask objectively, who or what is being harmed by legalizing an already existent profession? I believe the best argument here would be sexual health and safety, which is where regulation would come into play. Since I am not a legislator, I have no ideas what kind of particulars there should be or even if it's possible, but it seems to me that setting up some kind of STD registry system would help to mitigate the issue of getting a disease. Also, if a prostitute wishes, she could have the option to request a client be tested, and decline business deals if the client refuses. Pregnancy could be an issue for those too stubborn to use protection, so there could be some kind of deal where the guilty client would have to pay for abortion expenses(only bringing it up because it is legal...I don't want to hijack this topic).

 

Basically, prostitution is a transaction between two consenting adults who know what they are getting into (as a rule). I don't see a real good reason to keep a consensual act illegal on the basis of subjective moral principle. Sorry for the lengthy post.

[Anthony 78]

I absolutely think that it should be legal with heavy regulation, for a few reasons. One, it would make it's contribution toward the reduction of crime and the needless population of already overpopulated prison systems. Second, as already mentioned before, the regulation and taxing of the profession would contribute to moving the economy in the right direction....regardless of the measurable impact, progress is progress, in my opinion. Third, I have a sneaky suspicion that poverty would go down as well, because now some women (or men) too afraid of legal action could pursue this opportunity as a way out.

 

My last reason is actually a little more speculative, since I don't know for sure what the impact would be, but I believe that legalizing prostitution could also put more of a stranglehold on human trafficking. Many women being trafficked allow themselves to be treated poorly because they are intimidated into believing that their pimp (who usually fronts as a legitimate businessman) will expose them as a prostitute, thus endangering their freedom and the freedom of their children if they have any. Regulating it would force crooks to go through channels they could have otherwise avoided if prostitution were illegal.

 

I have a sincere problem with taking a moral stance on issues like this, because painting it black and white and calling it done does the subject no justice, and it feels like a cop out from having to give a controversial issue some real critical thought.

 

Example: Prostitution is wrong because sex is an intimate act that should only be conducted between a married man and woman, and this profession ruins the sanctity of the act. Problem: As far as I can tell, humans are the only species on earth who view sex as a special or intimate act. All other animals view it as what it is....just sex, regardless of purpose. There is nothing special about it. It's what you BELIEVE that determines the value of the act itself.

 

So I ask objectively, who or what is being harmed by legalizing an already existent profession? I believe the best argument here would be sexual health and safety, which is where regulation would come into play. Since I am not a legislator, I have no ideas what kind of particulars there should be or even if it's possible, but it seems to me that setting up some kind of STD registry system would help to mitigate the issue of getting a disease. Also, if a prostitute wishes, she could have the option to request a client be tested, and decline business deals if the client refuses. Pregnancy could be an issue for those too stubborn to use protection, so there could be some kind of deal where the guilty client would have to pay for abortion expenses(only bringing it up because it is legal...I don't want to hijack this topic).

 

Basically, prostitution is a transaction between two consenting adults who know what they are getting into (as a rule). I don't see a real good reason to keep a consensual act illegal on the basis of subjective moral principle. Sorry for the lengthy post.

 

Lengthy, but a damn good post. Well done, sir.

[Barracuda 629]

Ahhh...the classic Morals vs. Money

 

I'll just say that I'm rooting for morals.

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

 

 

I have a sincere problem with taking a moral stance on issues like this, because painting it black and white and calling it done does the subject no justice, and it feels like a cop out from having to give a controversial issue some real critical thought.

 

 

It can't be a cop out if it's truly what you believe.

 

While I agree with COW that sex is something 'intimate' and shouldn't be legaly allowed becase it destroys it, that isn't the only reason why I think it's imorral.

 

Bottom line for me is that the human body is a sacred thing, humans are not just another animal species, were different, and our bodies are special. They should be treated as such. And that's where I draw the line, once you ask me whether or not someone should be allowed to use there bodies as a way of making a prophet through sex, my answer will be no, it should NEVER come to that.

 

When you start doing that you no longer look at yourself as a human, you are a thing, a piece of meat. It's disgusting to me.

 

For me, NOBODY, whether forced, or voluntarily should ever use themselves and there body as sex tools to make money. To me it's just sick that anyone would think like that. It completely degrades the person using the prostitute and the prostitute himself/herself.

 

But then to take an industry where the 'workers' use there own bodies as sex instruments and not only make it legal, but tax them for doing it is just that, imo, Immoral. It's bad enough when one man, or a group of people are making a prophet out of stuff like that, but when a whole nation is willfully making a prophet out of something like that... To me it's wrong in too many ways. And i'm totally against it.

 

And then this whole idea that just because someone says it's immoral, they are just coping out because they don't want to really think about the pros and cons to me isn't a logical one. Because the other side to this argument is that people do it already, it's already a thriving industry and it's not even legal, we could make a lot of money with it if we were to make it legal. Whereas my problem isn't just the idea of legalizing it, no, my problem is that people acknowledge it (prostitution) as an 'ok' thing to do. if the idea of prostitution in itself in my eyes is bad, why would there be any need to think about the possible pros of making it legal?

 

Again, I am a Christian, and was raised one so my belief differ. I'm never gonna look down on someone for being a prostitute nor would I condemn them for it, if someone makes that choice, it's there choice and i'll never talk them down for it nor would I talk down a person for using a prostitute. I'll never force anyone by any means to see things my way, and I probably never should of commented on this subject to begin with. lol. But at the same time, I absolutely hate the idea, and imo it would make the USA look bad if they were to legalize something like this.

[KiLaSix9+ 398]

It can't be a cop out if it's truly what you believe.

 

While I agree with COW that sex is something 'intimate' and shouldn't be legaly allowed becase it destroys it, that isn't the only reason why I think it's imorral.

 

Bottom line for me is that the human body is a sacred thing, humans are not just another animal species, were different, and our bodies are special. They should be treated as such. And that's where I draw the line, once you ask me whether or not someone should be allowed to use there bodies as a way of making a prophet through sex, my answer will be no, it should NEVER come to that.

 

When you start doing that you no longer look at yourself as a human, you are a thing, a piece of meat. It's disgusting to me.

 

For me, NOBODY, whether forced, or voluntarily should ever use themselves and there body as sex tools to make money. To me it's just sick that anyone would think like that. It completely degrades the person using the prostitute and the prostitute himself/herself.

 

But then to take an industry where the 'workers' use there own bodies as sex instruments and not only make it legal, but tax them for doing it is just that, imo, Immoral. It's bad enough when one man, or a group of people are making a prophet out of stuff like that, but when a whole nation is willfully making a prophet out of something like that... To me it's wrong in too many ways. And i'm totally against it.

 

And then this whole idea that just because someone says it's immoral, they are just coping out because they don't want to really think about the pros and cons to me isn't a logical one. Because the other side to this argument is that people do it already, it's already a thriving industry and it's not even legal, we could make a lot of money with it if we were to make it legal. Whereas my problem isn't just the idea of legalizing it, no, my problem is that people acknowledge it (prostitution) as an 'ok' thing to do. if the idea of prostitution in itself in my eyes is bad, why would there be any need to think about the possible pros of making it legal?

 

Again, I am a Christian, and was raised one so my belief differ. I'm never gonna look down on someone for being a prostitute nor would I condemn them for it, if someone makes that choice, it's there choice and i'll never talk them down for it nor would I talk down a person for using a prostitute. I'll never force anyone by any means to see things my way, and I probably never should of commented on this subject to begin with. lol. But at the same time, I absolutely hate the idea, and imo it would make the USA look bad if they were to legalize something like this.

I gotta say Dmac, I respect that you are willing to stand by your beliefs and back them up, regardless of whether most people agree with you. Mad props homie.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Perhaps, for the sake of regulating it. We're eventually going to have to, anyway, for the purpose of disease control.

[GA_Eagle 595]

add gambling to the mix along with drugs. Vice crimes are stupid in theory and poorly enforced in practice

[Phins4life 271]

It can't be a cop out if it's truly what you believe.

 

While I agree with COW that sex is something 'intimate' and shouldn't be legaly allowed becase it destroys it, that isn't the only reason why I think it's imorral.

 

Bottom line for me is that the human body is a sacred thing, humans are not just another animal species, were different, and our bodies are special. They should be treated as such. And that's where I draw the line, once you ask me whether or not someone should be allowed to use there bodies as a way of making a prophet through sex, my answer will be no, it should NEVER come to that.

 

When you start doing that you no longer look at yourself as a human, you are a thing, a piece of meat. It's disgusting to me.

 

For me, NOBODY, whether forced, or voluntarily should ever use themselves and there body as sex tools to make money. To me it's just sick that anyone would think like that. It completely degrades the person using the prostitute and the prostitute himself/herself.

 

But then to take an industry where the 'workers' use there own bodies as sex instruments and not only make it legal, but tax them for doing it is just that, imo, Immoral. It's bad enough when one man, or a group of people are making a prophet out of stuff like that, but when a whole nation is willfully making a prophet out of something like that... To me it's wrong in too many ways. And i'm totally against it.

 

And then this whole idea that just because someone says it's immoral, they are just coping out because they don't want to really think about the pros and cons to me isn't a logical one. Because the other side to this argument is that people do it already, it's already a thriving industry and it's not even legal, we could make a lot of money with it if we were to make it legal. Whereas my problem isn't just the idea of legalizing it, no, my problem is that people acknowledge it (prostitution) as an 'ok' thing to do. if the idea of prostitution in itself in my eyes is bad, why would there be any need to think about the possible pros of making it legal?

 

Again, I am a Christian, and was raised one so my belief differ. I'm never gonna look down on someone for being a prostitute nor would I condemn them for it, if someone makes that choice, it's there choice and i'll never talk them down for it nor would I talk down a person for using a prostitute. I'll never force anyone by any means to see things my way, and I probably never should of commented on this subject to begin with. lol. But at the same time, I absolutely hate the idea, and imo it would make the USA look bad if they were to legalize something like this.

 

I respect you, D-Mac, and I respect your belief in the Christian faith. Funny thing is, not 2 years ago I would completely agree with you (I was raised Southern Baptist, and believed it whole-heartedly). So believe me when I say I know both sides of the moral argument and the way both sides think about issues like this. I also understand that because of that you and I may never agree on the finer points in this discussion. But I do have to ask you this: if you truly believe that people have the right to be free to do as they choose, as I assume you do, isn't it contradictory to turn around and basically impose the views you were raised to believe onto other individuals who don't believe in the same religious or spiritual code? What I am gathering is that you would tell them they can't do something they are perfectly willing to do (that wouldn't really be hurting anybody), simply because you don't believe it's right, because you BELIEVE that the human body is a special temple not to be smeared by extramarital sexual acts. That isn't an objective stance and it isn't a fair way to make rules.

[blotsfan 2,112]

Yes. Why should women who would otherwise be on the streets have a perfectly reasonable source of income denied to them?

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

I respect you, D-Mac, and I respect your belief in the Christian faith. Funny thing is, not 2 years ago I would completely agree with you (I was raised Southern Baptist, and believed it whole-heartedly). So believe me when I say I know both sides of the moral argument and the way both sides think about issues like this. I also understand that because of that you and I may never agree on the finer points in this discussion. But I do have to ask you this: if you truly believe that people have the right to be free to do as they choose, as I assume you do, isn't it contradictory to turn around and basically impose the views you were raised to believe onto other individuals who don't believe in the same religious or spiritual code? What I am gathering is that you would tell them they can't do something they are perfectly willing to do (that wouldn't really be hurting anybody), simply because you don't believe it's right, because you BELIEVE that the human body is a special temple not to be smeared by extramarital sexual acts. That isn't an objective stance and it isn't a fair way to make rules.

 

That's why i'd never run for power, yea, it's wrong for me to force what i've been taught unto others, which is why I wouldn't do it. Because while I'm apposed to 'forcing' my beliefs on others, I am also apposed to prostitution, and if the law doesn't allow it, I feel like it shouldn't change, which is why on my first post I said it's be best to leave it the way it is. IDK why America decided to make prostitution illegal, but I do know that it was the right move.

 

If you ask me:

Should we legalize prostitution?

 

I'll say no, because I'm apposed to it, and so were whoever who put the laws against them into place, so why change that?

 

If you ask me, "SHOULD I be a prostitute?"

 

I'll tell you no, and give you my reason, and let you make your own decision.

 

If you ask me, "Would you make laws against prostitution?"

 

I'll tell you no I wouldn't, because you already know where I stand on the subject, and why I believe what I believe. But it's your body, you make your own decisions and should live with them whether good or bad.

 

Now if prostitution was legal, and the question was bought up, should it be illegal, if I had no other reasoning besides "it's morally wrong", I would leave it legal. Because it isn't fair for everyone for me to make decisions based on how I may or may not feel towards them if the person truly wants it for themselves.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

No...

 

EDIT: I don't want to just give a straight 'no' so i'll go more in depth. lol.

 

I believe that this shouldn't be touched, leave it the way it is. It's immoral in my eyes, and really there's no place for it, and the US making it into a business where they make a profit out of it would be even more immoral.

 

Color me a conservative on this one...

 

You sound a little naive. Just because the Feds don't publicly announce their support of prostitution, you better believe they love it behind closed doors.

 

The US Gov is probably the biggest whore house in the country. They make too much money off it as it stands, there is no way they legalize it and charge a fee that would end up being MUCH less than what they are making now.

 

This system is exactly the way the Government wants it. Illegal and frowned upon by society as they make bank by night.

 

It's the same reason weed will never be legalized. They just make too much damn money off of it right now to ever think about letting it become an acceptable part of society.

Edited September 2, 2011 by Favre4Ever