Rates have always been lower in Europe, and it has very little to do with it being legal. I don't think it would impact the US the same way, because legal or not, the US has always been a bit more conservative on its views about sex...especially sex for money. I know prostitutes in Europe who hire a nanny to tag along to the same hotel mommy is turning tricks at...that's not the norm here.  

Employers would still paint with the same stigma they do now. Making slavery illegal did not wipe out racism. Making same sex marriages legal in certain areas did not make certain people more accepting. Decriminalization is always the better option. The government has interfered with my life enough, already. I don't need them in my bedroom.

and just like LR stated, there is still a stigma attached.

The problems it does solve are the virtual elimination of pimps, it also makes it much safer for both man and woman alike. Women are not scared of reporting hobby related violence or even "theft of service" by Johns that don't want to pay. "Trick rolling is curtailed immensely, guys are not afraid to report that a hooker rolled them. Many hotels in fact keep the ID's of sex workers at the front desk until the guest has informed them that "all is well" and that they are satisfied and conscious before the front desk will return the ladies documents.

All in all it works much, much better than it does here.


As for prices, that is more a factor of the economics of the country than whether or not the hobby is legal. Even in countries like Ecuador or The Philippines where rates are dirt cheap by American standards, hookers still make a lot more money than they could by any other job that might be available to them, a lot more in most instances.

For example, opinion polls in places where prostitution is legal and not as stigmatized as here consistently come back with the message that people have no issues with it for the most part, but they sure would not want their mother, wife, sister or daughter to do it, so the stigma remains on some level.

The term pimp is applied in all sorts of ways, but if we take the broadest definition, which is that it is someone who acts as a middleman between a client and a prostitute, there is no reason to think that goes away. There still would be a role for individuals and companies who help ladies to get started, market their services and manage the business end of things for the "talent," like agents do in any form of performance or personal service. There would be very professional ones, and sleazy ones. Personally, I think the stereotypical, shady, violent pimp is, like most stereotypes, pretty rare, if not non-existent, but since I have no direct experience to base that on, I cannot pretend to be an expert.

In most countries where prostitution is legal, solicitation and being an agent for prostitutes remain illegal, so being a "pimp" would likely still be against the law. In my experience, that has not eliminated the role or need for agencies, they just tend to operate (or appear to operate) offshore and as UTR as practical so they will be prosecuted.

If we assume that laws against prostitution deter both providers and clients, it seems safe to assume that there would be an increase in both supply and demand if the laws were to change or go away. Lots of folks seem to assume that supply would increase faster than demand, but I am not sure why that would be the case. I suppose there might be a greater supply of inexpensive, newbie girls who try it out briefly and then quit, but my guess is that the number of ladies who make it past a couple of months, turning this into a full time job or at least a long term part time job, would not change that much. And the demand for them would go up a little, so pricing seems unlikely to change much. Purely speculation, though.

The thing that always surprises me about these conversations is how many people around here think legalization would be bad for the business one way or another. I understand that people tend to be afraid of change, but removing LE from the equation seems like a good thing, even though the adjustment process would undoubtedly be less than perfect. Most likely there would be some form of onerous regulation to appease the more straight-laced, backlash against sex workers as they came out more publicly, local regulations to try to drive them out, etc. So I am under no illusion that it would solve all problems, and it surely would create new ones, but it would remove a major risk, a major stigma, and be another step in the process to treating sex workers with the respect they deserve, allowing them to lead more normal, integrated lives, and reduce the likelihood that they would be permanently marginalized by a criminal record.

zig

I am in favor of decriminalizing providing.  I am afraid of "legalizing it."  
What limits might be placed?  
No role playing that insults religion (ie no Nun's outfits.) No Dato because the majority leader of the state house finds this disgusting..  Imagine trying to oppose that:  "State Rep so and so is in favor of people sticking their tongues up each others ass".   etc
 I am also worried because I know three ladies who provide occasionally and under the radar.  If they had to register and get licenses not one would do it.
Finally, I have a special friend and two friends with benefits.  The many years special friend got in to some financial difficulties and I gave her a considerable mount of money.  Would we have been disobeying the law because we have sex and now I have given her money without a license.
There should be no crime in providing but I am afraid of Law-ifying things.

there is to hang out at a singles' bar.  In fact, there's probably better reason to regulate the latter, not that I'm saying it should be.

Not going to happen in either of our life time.

...on any topic like this one:  Prostitution, drug legalization, forms of gambling that have previously been "illegal" in any given jurisdiction, etc.

Y'know, you're like 14 years old, you get turned on to Ayn Rand or something, and you declare yourself to be a "libertarian".  You start telling all your friends how great it would be if all these "black market"-type goods and service were brought out into the open--"legalize it, regulate it, and tax the s--- out of it!  People are going to do it anyway--this way, it'll be safer, and it'll provide revenue to the government".  Wow, it all sounds wonderful.  The truth is, Yeah, I'd probably take that deal in a heartbeat myself--if my only alternative were the "system" as it exists now.  However, if you step back and think about it, you're winning a battle and losing the war.

Drugs, prostitution, gambling, etc, are all activities which people ought to be allowed to engage in, simply because it is their right to do so (y'know, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.."; or if you don't believe in a Creator, that these rights come from our humanity).

As soon as you buy into that "legalize it, regulate it, and tax the s--- out of it" line of thinking, you've already conceded that you DO NOT have the right to freely associate and engage in commerce with others, or ingest whatever you like, etc.  You've affirmed the right of a government to grant you those rights; and if the government can grant you those rights, they can take them away just as easily.

There ain't nothing in the US Constitution that says I can't engage in any of these "sinful" activities--and no truly enlightened citizenry should allow laws to be passed restricting those activities.

Health checks for providers?  Sure.  Private companies provide health checks, providers who have seals of approval from the most highly regarded health check companies command the highest rates--as well they should.  "Pimps" as such would be gone--providers might choose to retain some kind of security--but again, all private agreements between consenting individuals.  No need for government involvement--unless someone breaches contract or uses force to compel another to do something against his/her will.

ok, I'm done. end rant...