Okay, that may be a little extreme, but the freedoms here seem to be slipping away. I just heard a report on the news on the radio while driving in to work today. Apparently, the El Cajon City Council is poised to pass a law that would allow the police to impound a "john's" car if arrested for solicitation of prostitution. In order to get the car back, the "john" would have to pay the city [up to] the value of the vehicle. Somewhere back in time on a thread I read where someone suggested buying a an old beater barely able to run in order to use it when the mongering urge strikes. It's making more sense every day.

Now, I know the illegality of the activity and all. And, the city is only trying to clean up its image and control tangential crime related to prostitution, but it seems that the punishment doesn't fit the crime when we are talking about only a misdemeanor anyway. It certainly isn't applied equitably if one person has a 1964 Ford Galaxie impounded and another one has a 2003 Corvette Z06 confiscated. If we don't get active with our own city councils and try to impress upon them the enormous waste of resources for these sting operations versus "real" crime (i.e, assault, murder, rape, etc.), then we've just given up our rights to monger. Have you ever noticed how many officers are involved in a prostitution sting? Hmmm, wonder how many officers that leaves to patrol the rest of the city or investigate more serious crimes?  

Everywhere I turn, it seems that the various cities are cracking down on our constitutional rights to procreate (okay, weak argument. Even if we wear a condom, it could break, you know). Inglewood, City of Industry, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, to name a few places, have really started cracking down on prostitution and massage parlors. San Diego appears next on the "hit" list. Before long, I'll have to give up my hobbying ways and go back to making love to my wife. Now, that really is a crime! Sorry, honey, I know I'm going to pay for that crack.

According to the San Diego UT story, it is important to note that cars can be seized on the basis of a simple "arrest" for either drug dealing or prostitution. The clear implication is that we are moving closer to a police state, in which our local, friendly LE gets to be judge, jury and executioner. What's to stop LE from simply seizing a hot car, because they don't like the looks of the driver, or because they're "sure" that he was committing a crime?

Fogy's reference to Iraq is appropriate. Jay Leno recently noted the struggle that the Iraqis are having over drafting a new constitution, and suggested that we just give them ours. After all, it's not like we're still using it.

I suppose we could just ride bikes to our appointments? City transit?
Ok, it's 1:30 am and I'm goofy..