03-22-2012, 05:01 PM
$tevie wrote:
IF it isn't illegal and isn't in the shadows, that is going to begin to change things right there.
I would be the first to take a open-minded approach on that if there were evidence anywhere in the world that legalized prostitution lessens exploitation, but there just isn't. Holland, which has legal, regulated prostitution, is a good example. They have been shutting down brothels due to high numbers of underage illegal immigrants (many of whom are sex slaves) and drug traffickers involved in the brothel business, and violent, abusive pimps. Holland became a center for international sex tourism, a growing cause of exploitation.
Again I don't think this should be a big deal between consenting, non-exploited adults. It's just that male customers (and that's most of the customers for prostitution) want very young females (or males) and there are enough vulnerable people to meet that demand. I think legality actually promotes the exploitation instead of fighting it.
It won't help anything, I don't think, to turn the country into Clark county Nevada, where sad older ladies (for that business anyway) sit in run down houses waiting for customers to show up. That's not what most of the customers want, and they are the ones who make this business happen.