Ron Rosenbaum, a talk radio host in Minneapolis, wrote this. He makes great points, especially all the money wasted in the year-long investigation.

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Ron's Rants
Wednesday 06-10-2009 11:05am CT

Who's the Victim?

Sunday's Star Tribune's above-the-fold screaming headline, "Cops bust 'Nice Guys' Ring" said it all. As the story breathlessly announces, the Minneapolis Police Department's Violent Offender Task Force has apparently spent more than a year (and God knows how many tax dollars) building a federal case against the organization.


And just what is the organization they've been building a case against? Basically a group of high-end hookers brought to town by a handicapped ex-assistant Hennepin County attorney who, according to the story, made no money from the deal! And who were the johns? A group of some 30 well-to-do gentlemen who share one thing in common: "a love of expensive prostitutes."


And one more thing: They're called "Nice Guys" for a reason. According to the article they share a common bond: They have clean backgrounds and don't believe in mistreating women. The women, by the way, charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 an hour and sometimes turn four tricks a day. $2000 a day--not bad when you consider that the vast majority of Americans don't make that kind of dough in a week.


And how many of these hookers have been physically abused by the "nice guys?"  None, according to the article. My question: What's the problem?


Consenting adults having sex with other consenting adults for money. And the whole criminal enterprise masterminded by a handicapped guy who doesn't make a dime off the operation.


Is this the best use of the Violent Task Forces's time? With gang bangers, rapists and drug dealers coming out of the woodwork, wouldn't you rather the task force focus on actual violent crime? I would, but then as a libertarian at heart, I'd prefer prostitution--along with gambling and marijuana--be legalized, taxed and controlled.


I wasn't born yesterday and I understand that all prostitutes don't have it as good as this group. But I've felt for years if we legalized the world's oldest profession it would be a win-win. The women (or men) would be registered, medically examined and regulated. No more pimps and dangerous liaisons. It would all be out in the open. Likewise gambling. Since the state is already heavily involved in various gambling enterprises, why not legalize and tax the one form that has better odds than the Powerball, scratch tickets, horse racing etc.--sports betting?


Like prostitution, people will do it whether it's legal or not but with my proposal, the activities will be regulated and, equally important during a time of huge deficits, taxed.


It's time for the Ron Paul libertarian wing of the Republican Party to rise up and seize the reins. The public is ready and if the pols in the legislature aren't, then in time-honored tradition, we should throw the bums out.