[Vanders9]

Absolutely. It looks really bad this, but its no different from any other "illegal" object, device or activity. Prostitution is not illegal, per se, because it is after all people's own choice what they do with their bodies. How can you legislate on that? Soliciting is illegal, because at that point you are affecting other people.

Similarly its not actually illegal to take drugs, even hefty class A major addictive substances. Its illegal to trade in them, to own them, to distribute them and make them, but not actually to take them.

[Chode]

because it is after all people's own choice what they do with their bodies.

except these are children that are being exploited and are under the age of consent...

[metmom]

Prostitution is not illegal, per se, because it is after all people's own choice what they do with their bodies. How can you legislate on that? Soliciting is illegal, because at that point you are affecting other people.

Do you not see the hypocrisy of that position?????

How can you say that prostitution, which is essentially solicitation for sex, doesn't affect others but generic solicitation does?

They're both solicitation. That is simply making one kind of solicitation, for sex, not illegal while other types are.

And yes, prostitution DOES affect others. What about the wife of the man who hires out a prostitute? Her health? Her(their) marriage? Their money? The affect on the kids when the marriage falls apart?

Prostitution is NOT a victimless crime, especially in light of the number of prostitutes who are under the control of pimps.