Prostitution to Become Legalized in San Francisco?

[Z]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93V4U0O0&show_article=1
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - In this live-and-let-live town, where medical marijuana clubs do business next to grocery stores and an annual fair celebrates sadomasochism, prostitutes could soon walk the streets without fear of arrest.

San Francisco would become the first major U.S. city to decriminalize prostitution if voters next month approve Proposition K?a measure that forbids local authorities from investigating, arresting or prosecuting anyone for selling sex.

The ballot question technically would not legalize prostitution since state law still prohibits it, but the measure would eliminate the power of local law enforcement officials to go after prostitutes.

Proponents say the measure will free up $11 million the police spend each year arresting prostitutes and allow them to form collectives.

"It will allow workers to organize for our rights and for our safety," said Patricia West, 22, who said she has been selling sex for about a year by placing ads on the Internet. She moved to San Francisco in May from Texas to work on Proposition K.

Even in tolerant San Francisco?where the sadomasochism fair draws thousands of tourists and a pornographic video company is housed in a former armory?the measure faces an uphill battle, with much of the political establishment opposing it. [Full story @ link]

What do you think about legalizing prostitution?

Much like the Pro-Choice argument, many advocates of prostitution legalization say that if it's your body, you should be able to do what you want with it.

How do you feel about it?

[Bloodcinder]

I have an aside...

Even in tolerant San Francisco—where the sadomasochism fair draws thousands of tourists and a pornographic video company is housed in a former armory—the measure faces an uphill battle, with much of the political establishment opposing it.

One of my friends works there.

Now... I'm a libertarian. I don't think prostitution should be illegal.

[Seegtease]

It's very ignorant to even compare this to abortion arguments. They're nothing alike.

While I think it's terrible and extremely immoral, I have to admit that I'm with Ron in that the government has no business regulating this.

[Z]

I think you got confused because I certainly don't consider myself ignorant.

If you meant that comparing prostitution to abortion is a faulty comparison, I would agree. However, the "self-governing of one's own body" is a common point used in both arguments and that was the only point I was highlighting.

[Killer_Man_]

To quote George Carlin.

"Selling is legal. Fucking is legal. So why isn't sell fucking legal?"

[Seegtease]

I was referring to the advocates that you claim hold that argument, I wasn't directing that at you. However, while one should govern their own body, the abortion debate is hotter because one side is claiming that it's not just your body. In this case, obviously, it IS just your body.

But I have to say, though I don't think people should pay for sex... a professional and legal brothel at least is set up in such a way that STDs will not run rampant, unlike picking up a prostitute of the street. So there's at least that advantage, if people are going to do it anyway. Still, it seems like it being legal would encourage people to use it... but again, it's not the government's duty.

[deathofcheese]

I kinda feel uneasy about saying something about this, but I guess it's a good thing. However, I get the feeling that if the prostitutes and a "prostitute guild" ever got in trouble, they would receive no legal or governmental help whatsoever (i.e. police assistance in response to crimes committed against them, taking other parties to court for crimes against the guild, etc.), which isn't right.

[Z]

Ah, I see where you're coming from now. Yeah, I didn't mean to imply that conceding to the self-governing point means that you must also concede to pro-choice, though I do see how it can be taken as such.

Personally, I think prostitution should be legal.

Obviously there are downsides, though. Proliferation of STDs was an immediate thought that crossed my mind. However, if you legalize it then you can also regulate it and give it proper funding (which, in turn, would lead to better health protection and treatment) and, maybe most of all, you can tax it. Instead of tax payers coughing up massive amounts of dough to keep people incarcerating for exchanging money for a lay, the prostitution industry, itself, would be able to be taxed and the tax payers would, ideally, get a bit of a break.

This is, however, pretty much my same argument for legalizing marijuana, too.

[Seegtease]

Well look at Nevada. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Nevada)

Since 1986, when mandatory testing began, not a single brothel prostitute has ever tested positive for HIV. The mandatory condom law was passed in 1988. A study conducted in 1995 in two brothels found that condom use in the brothels was consistent and sexually transmitted diseases were accordingly absent. The study also found that few of the prostitutes used condoms in their private lives.STDs are not an issue. If anything, it would reduce STDs, since there would be less street-working, with un-tested prostitutes and clients.

[Arainach]

Damn, Zeit beat me to the point. As Nevada shows, legalization actually makes the whole thing safer and less dangerous to the workers involved.

Legalize it, regulate it, tax it.

[Bloodcinder]

Damn, Zeit beat me to the point. As Nevada shows, legalization actually makes the whole thing safer and less dangerous to the workers involved.

Legalize it, regulate it, tax it.
And since everybody beat me to the point, all I can say is... QFT. Food is legal, and food is regulated, and food is (in some places and situations) taxed. And sex is a human biological requirement. By substitution, I agree.

[Seegtease]

Well, it's not a requirement to have sex for pleasure. Just the making of babies is the requirement (and that's not even for you, it's for the human race). But I still have to agree with your analogy nevertheless.

[Bloodcinder]

Well, it's not a requirement to have sex for pleasure. Just the making of babies is the requirement...
Sexual relief is a biological requirement. If that forces it to be a commodity, so be it. Human organisms in general don't live happily without sex.

[Seegtease]

no ur rong nuns and monks

[Bloodcinder]

no ur rong nuns and monks
Since you answered in all lowercase letters, I won't bother pointing out that [series of reasons why that is entirely irrelevant goes here].