[narses]

But wait, selling yourself for sex is LEGAL in the UK! Don't our "Libertarian" friends claim that it is prohibition that makes the illegal sex trade thrive? Isn't the solution legalization of this horrific crime?

[MarkL]

But wait, selling yourself for sex is LEGAL in the UK!

There's a minor difference between selling yourself, and selling someone else. More importantly, if that someone else is a child. Just out of curiosity, why is it legal to give it away, but illegal to "sell it?" Is it because the government isn't getting their cut?

Don't our "Libertarian" friends claim that it is prohibition that makes the illegal sex trade thrive? Isn't the solution legalization of this horrific crime?

No, the prohibition is what drives the price up to the point where criminals feel that a cost/benefit analysis makes it a good deal. The solution to the slave trade, as well as selling children into slavery (of any sort) is skewing that cost/benefit analysis way over to the cost side, so the benefit simply can't be enough. Summary execution would be a good starting point.

Mark

[monday]

"But wait, selling yourself for sex is LEGAL in the UK! Don't our "Libertarian" friends claim that it is prohibition that makes the illegal sex trade thrive? Isn't the solution legalization of this horrific crime?"

You have confused "prostitution" with "slavery". Libertarians do not wish to legalize slavery.

Prostitution is legal in the UK, however it is driven underground by the prohibitions against advertising and brothels. Because of these prohibitions there are no "safe" or "respectable" establishments that offer prostitution. This means that only organized crime can effectively run prostitution in the UK despite it's technical legality.

Whenever criminals run a trade or industry, be it drugs or prostitution or gambling, it becomes dangerous for everyone involved. If you want an example of what happens when those running these enterprises are not criminals, but businessmen, see Las Vegas. Not exactly respectable perhaps, but certainly not dangerous.

[Canard]

"But wait, selling yourself for sex is LEGAL in the UK!"

Hmm, well it's technically not illegal. But soliciting, advertising and running a brothel are all illegal which means that, if the police want to arrest someone engaged in prostitution, they pretty much can do.