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Prostitutes and Politics Why is it still illegal to pay for sex?
Reason Online ^ | May 7, 2007 | Cathy Young

Posted on 05/09/2007 6:51:49 AM PDT by Lusis

The resignation of Randall Tobias, the chief of the Bush administration's foreign aid programs, for "personal reasons" following the revelation that he had engaged the services of two escort-service workers has provided rich grist for amusement on the punditry circuit. There was indeed plenty of material for humor in the situation, from Tobias's strong stand in favor of abstinence teaching in AIDS prevention programs to his "I didn't inhale"-style assertion that he never had sex with the women. But the predictable laughs have obscured a much larger issue than hypocrisy in the ranks of social conservatives. The reason Tobias's call-girl adventures became public is that the owner of the Washington, DC-based service, Pamela Martin, is facing prosecution and has turned her records over to news organizations to help pay for her legal defense.

Even those who feel a certain schadenfreude at Tobias's downfall should be asking the question: should there have been a criminal case in the first place?

(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: amoral; bowtothepeepee; butgodsaysnoooooo; consentingadults; ilovebiggubmint; inprivate; itsjustsex; lawrencevtexas; libertines; othersdonotpay; prostitution; repentsinnerz; somehavetopay; thepeepeeandstate; thepeepeeasgod
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To: investigateworld

I don’t think you get the point.

“legalization” only increases the problem.

By “legitimizing” the industry all you do is increase the demand, lower standards of decency in the surrounding community and invite the “illegal” participants to find ways to operate just outside the “legal” perimeter.

Result?
more human trafficing - more prostitution - degradation of the community.


401 posted on 05/14/2007 8:16:04 AM PDT by Scotswife
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To: JamesP81; taxed2death
Man has always paid for sex. One way or another. ~ taxed2death

Sometimes dearly. ~ JamesP81

See how much it cost Adam?

402 posted on 05/14/2007 8:21:31 AM PDT by null and void (The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.)
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To: Paulus Invictus
Oh, and how do you explain Billy Priapus Clinton?

He's paying. Imagine marrying the Hildabeast for/because of sex...

403 posted on 05/14/2007 8:26:33 AM PDT by null and void (The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.)
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To: Scotswife
It is my belief that mankind (particularly men folks) are loaded with hormones and such which cause them to make bad decisions. Some believe it's our sinful nature, based on Adam and Eve.

But in all my years of dealing with humans, often engaged in activities which injure others, I have come to believe that it's impossible to stop and make everyone 'behave' to a standard imposed by another.

Moi is saintly of course, but that's cause I'm older and have grandkids who would quickly hear of any shenanigans.

Some folks have a very strong desire to literally control others, prolly having to do with improper toilet training when they were young.

One cannot regulate the behavior of others without a totalitarian state.

It's just a matter of degree. Look at the anti-smoking and gun control crowd, same people as the political correctness crowd, and we know what's good for you-and-the-earth-is-warming-only-Algore-can-save-us crowd.

Of course we want some assurance that we are not going to be harmed by others, so therein lays the basis for government

Do we not regulate doctors? In my state even hairdressers are regulated with a huge bureaucracy.

Jesus of Nazareth has a number of comments about those who seek to regulate others.

(and I did get a kick out of your link. Any jpeg with "Lesbian" is automatically suspect unless it's from the late & great Sam Kinnison ;^)

404 posted on 05/14/2007 8:42:46 AM PDT by investigateworld (The BP guys will do more Prison Time than the Worst Jap POW camp commander,thanks W)
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To: investigateworld

wow....where to start?

Certainly it is impossible to always stop people from making bad decisions, and yet we do outlaw many behaviors that harm society....drugs, organized crime, etc....

“I have come to believe that it’s impossible to stop and make everyone ‘behave’ to a standard imposed by another.”

So...you believe in anarchy?

“It’s just a matter of degree. Look at the anti-smoking and gun control crowd, same people as the political correctness crowd, and we know what’s good for you-and-the-earth-is-warming-only-Algore-can-save-us crowd.”

hmmm....I DO think it is rather nice that I can go into a restaurant and not get a choked feeling from the smoker next to me...not to mention I’m able to taste the food I pay for now.
My asthmatic husband is grateful too.

Likewise, I’m glad when I drive through our town and state, my children don’t have to view billboards advertising prostitution as a good thing.

I’m glad that if my sons ever consider paying for a hooker the chance of facing arrest will discourage them.

“Of course we want some assurance that we are not going to be harmed by others, so therein lays the basis for government:”

And as the article stated from the previous post...”government” has determined that human trafficking is a major problem, with children as young as 11 being pimped out, and Nevada has only made the problem worse.

“Do we not regulate doctors? In my state even hairdressers are regulated with a huge bureaucracy.”

Comparing pimps/prostitutes to doctors is beyond ridiculous.
Shall we start issuing certificates to the local drug dealer as well?

“Jesus of Nazareth has a number of comments about those who seek to regulate others.”

Jesus said many things, trying to use Him to justify prostitution really shows I’m wasting my time here.

I’ve come to believe guys like you live in a fantasy world where you really want to believe no one is getting hurt.
But legitimizing such a damaging and degrading industry will only bring on more human suffering and degradation to society.


405 posted on 05/14/2007 9:08:26 AM PDT by Scotswife
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
Let's go. Why should prostitution be illegal? Can you make an argument for your side without using the concept of "sin," or relying on metaphysics to make your argument?

There are plenty of reasons, some material and others not. They are obvious and very expressible. But, again, I will not honor the Randist-style (inadvertant or not) blinders you place upon the question. I do not accept your wilfully ignorant conditions. I won't play your silly game.

End of transmission.

406 posted on 05/14/2007 9:28:15 AM PDT by unspun (What do you think? Please think, before you answer.)
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To: Scotswife
hmmm....I DO think it is rather nice that I can go into a restaurant and not get a choked feeling from the smoker next to me...not to mention I’m able to taste the food I pay for now. My asthmatic husband is grateful too.

LOL ... you left out "it's for the children".

Actually the funds from placing an excise tax on brothels would fund chasing down the child prostitute purveyors. And there is no such thing as a child prostitute, they would be considered a victim of kidnap and sexual assault.

The reality in the LE biz is 'keep it down to a dull roar'.

No agency I know of makes an serious effort to stop the biz, just enough to encourage the purveyors to make a few bribes.

Okay, you have an agenda ... and to some point so do I. But I believe the restaurant owner is the one who should make that decision as to allowing smoking.

You're forgetting that it was Christ himself who stopped the violence against the woman who was 'taken in adultery'.

407 posted on 05/14/2007 9:36:01 AM PDT by investigateworld (The BP guys will do more Prison Time than the Worst Jap POW camp commander,thanks W)
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To: unspun
There are plenty of reasons, some material and others not. They are obvious and very expressible. But, again, I will not honor the Randist-style (inadvertant or not) blinders you place upon the question. I do not accept your wilfully ignorant conditions. I won't play your silly game.

. . . because you can't. So instead, you bluster up in an effort to dismiss and deflect.

However, from where I sit, the effect is the same. If there were a rational argument for prostitution's illegality---one that wasn't based on religion---you would have made it by now.

408 posted on 05/14/2007 9:46:37 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost

Tired, silly debater’s ploy.

A number of the reasons have already been expressed in this thread, but I’ll sum it up for you: it would be bad.

Don’t ping me again. I don’t have time to play silly games.


409 posted on 05/14/2007 10:11:02 AM PDT by unspun (What do you think? Please think, before you answer.)
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To: investigateworld

“LOL ... you left out “it’s for the children”.”

Why is that funny?
My hubby really does have asthma and it’s nice to be able to eat out now without a smoker feeling he has the right to blow smoke in everyone’s air.

“Actually the funds from placing an excise tax on brothels would fund chasing down the child prostitute purveyors”

sure they will...in your dreamworld.

“And there is no such thing as a child prostitute, they would be considered a victim of kidnap and sexual assault.”

Tell that to child prostitutes.

“You’re forgetting that it was Christ himself who stopped the violence against the woman who was ‘taken in adultery’.”

And then he told her to “go and sin no more”


410 posted on 05/14/2007 10:11:13 AM PDT by Scotswife
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To: Scotswife
Tell that to child prostitutes.

The term 'child prostitute' implies the child is a willing and consensual party. Obviously they are not at the age of consenting. Thus referring to them as the victims of kidnap and sexual assault is more accurate.

And yes, those are the words of Christ, but if He was really concerned that that His words would be ignored, then would He have not have allowed the stoning to go forward?

And as to child prostitution itself.

Actually it's pretty rare. Many folks of marginal legality know they can make beau coup points with the cops by rescuing a child. I saw a guy beat a term in state prison by tipping us off to a dog fighting ring. The scumworld is always looking for a deal. And reality is in the LE biz, 'deals' are done all the time. Unpleasant fact injection.

Does it exist?

Yes, one victim is too many.

411 posted on 05/14/2007 10:48:18 AM PDT by investigateworld (The BP guys will do more Prison Time than the Worst Jap POW camp commander,thanks W)
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To: investigateworld

“The term ‘child prostitute’ implies the child is a willing and consensual party. Obviously they are not at the age of consenting. Thus referring to them as the victims of kidnap and sexual assault is more accurate.”

it isn’t “either” “or”.
They are victims of kidnap and assuault as well as being treated as human commodities by being offered as sex for sale.
There are many adult women who are not consensual in the agreement - so they are kidnap/assault victims as well as being considered prostitutes for being “for sale.”

” And yes, those are the words of Christ, but if He was really concerned that that His words would be ignored, then would He have not have allowed the stoning to go forward?”

wow....you really live in la-la land.

Maybe he didn’t think an adulteress should be stoned to death because of the cruelty of it.
Maybe he didn’t think an all male mob should carry out the sentence knowing - as He did - of their own sins.
Maybe he didn’t think one person should pay the price when two people participated.

there are all sorts of possibilities, but somehow you continue to think relying on Jesus to justify your position is going to score points? Sorry.

And that’s besides the point this biblical incident has nothing to do with the discussion at hand.

it is a long long stretch to say that when Jesus didn’t want an adulteress to be stoned to death by an all male mob that He was advocating the legalization of prostitution.

“Actually it’s pretty rare. Many folks of marginal legality know they can make beau coup points with the cops by rescuing a child. I saw a guy beat a term in state prison by tipping us off to a dog fighting ring. The scumworld is always looking for a deal. And reality is in the LE biz, ‘deals’ are done all the time. Unpleasant fact injection.”

anectdotal evidence does not negate the fact of the rising rate of demand for child prostitutes.
When prostitution is legitimized the demand increases -for the illegal along with the legal.

The government has studied the problem and has found a link between legalized prostitution and increase in human trafficking.


412 posted on 05/14/2007 11:09:41 AM PDT by Scotswife
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To: Dr. Thorne
It is illegal to pay for sex because our very existence as a nation relies on the Judeo-Christian values that formed us. Using the letter of the Constitution to legalize destructive, immoral activities is suicide and worthy of the Clintons, Reids and Pelosis of this world. The men who wrote that Constitution would never allow legalized prostitution, but the Libertarians don’t care about that truth or the outcome of such an action, preferring the purity of their philosophy over the death and destruction it surely brings.

So why is it still legal in Nevada? With all of the fuss about polygamy in Utah, why does their neighbor get a pass on prostitution?

413 posted on 05/14/2007 11:16:35 AM PDT by DanielLongo (Don't tread on me)
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To: Scotswife
"La La land?" Really, look at every city in the various states.

Just enter, 'craigslist - erotic services' into any search engine.

Oh my!

Jails in metro areas are full and often have to release inmates to comply with the various court rulings.

So if the jails are full, and it appears that prostitutes are operating, even advertising on the Internet, then what class of criminal has be be released to make room for the working girls?

And if anyone really cared about these under aged victims of kidnap and sexual assault they would examine just who are the purveyors and customers.

But then they would find a strong Latin American and Asia connection. Nobody is going there, ma'am, it's politically incorrect

414 posted on 05/14/2007 11:33:39 AM PDT by investigateworld (The BP guys will do more Prison Time than the Worst Jap POW camp commander,thanks W)
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To: investigateworld

yes la la land.
I was referring to your very poor and illogical use of Jesus as a support for your argument.
You somehow are applying my comment to refer to your “point” that prostitution exists in many cities....I never argued against that point.

We do agree on something however.
I think all parties are breaking the law so all parties should pay the legal penalty.
Just as drug users fuel the demand for drugs and therefore are responsible for the atrocities committed in that trade, so too should the “users” in this trade pay their penalty as well.

I don’t care what we “uncover”.
You are fond of quoting Jesus - He said the truth would make us free.

I like this DC Madame - she makes excellent points, and I think every name on that list ought to be released to the public.


415 posted on 05/14/2007 7:14:48 PM PDT by Scotswife
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To: Scotswife
Yes, I do try to think how 'Jesus would handle the oldest profession'.

I just can't see him saying, "Thou shall stand on a street corner and be at risk from every cruising monster looking for blood".

Maybe we have different perceptions and/or interpretations of his teachings.

I have actually meet people, not on this forum of course, who have stated, "Well if a woman is out there doing the nasty, then she should be exposed to being tortured and murdered".

See Green River Murders as to who the victims were.

I don't believe that even for a moment you wish these ladies to be at risk for harm?

?

?

416 posted on 05/14/2007 9:51:41 PM PDT by investigateworld (The BP guys will do more Prison Time than the Worst Jap POW camp commander,thanks W)
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To: Lusis; rogernz; victim soul; Rosamond; sfm; G S Patton; Gumdrop; trustandhope; MarkBsnr; pblax8; ...
+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic Ping List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to all note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.

417 posted on 05/15/2007 5:39:00 AM PDT by narses ("Freedom is about authority." - Rudolph Giuliani)
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To: investigateworld

You still don’t get the point.

It has been shown that when “legalization” occurs, it only increases demand for both the legal and illegal.
They have established a link between “legalization” and human trafficking

Which means MORE women will wind up being violated, kidnapped, raped, robbed, and held against their will.

It means MORE pimps and human traffickers will make MORE money off the misery and suffering of others.

It is the result of typical liberal thinking....liberals often feel “compassionate” when they try to fix things and don’t seem to care their policies have the opposite effect they intended.
They feel good and take credit for “caring” - while their policies fail and more people suffer.

This is no different.


418 posted on 05/15/2007 7:34:10 AM PDT by Scotswife
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To: Lusis

Why? Because it’s wrong! The government can’t condone something that is fundamentally wrong - something that spreads disease, destabilizes and destroys the family unit and the many other destructive forces it has.


419 posted on 05/15/2007 11:29:52 PM PDT by Princip. Conservative
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To: Lurker

ROTFLMAO...

Touche’


420 posted on 05/15/2007 11:36:10 PM PDT by Lord_Baltar
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