Martha Nussbaum, a professor at the University of Chicago, is one of the towering intellectuals of our time. I thought people might enjoy this comment on the legalization of prostitution that was recently printed in the Chronicle of Higher Education. She certainly doesn't mince words:

"Eliot Spitzer, one of the nation's most gifted and dedicated politicians, was hounded into resignation by a Puritanism and mean-spiritedness that are quintessentially American. My European colleagues (I write from an academic conference in Belgium) have a hard time understanding what happened, but they know that it is one of those things that could only happen in America, where the topic of sex drives otherwise reasonable people insane. …

"The difference between the sex worker and the professor, who takes money for the use of a particularly intimate part of her body, namely her mind, is not the difference between a "good woman" and a "bad woman." It is, usually, the difference between a prosperous well-educated woman and a poor woman with few employment options."

Her last point could be seen as a put down, but it's not. It's really a defense of sex workers who are no better or worse than women in other professions.

I'd hit it!!   If she wants me to fuck her mind, we can start like that.   But I like doggie, yippie-ti-yi-yo, git along lil doggies!!

the legalization of prostitution either "Nevada style" or (preferred) as in England:  the escort model we enjoy.   NO street walkers, pimps, sex slaves, etc.

Then I'd make the penalty for rape to be life imprisonment.  Anyone running sex slave organizations, etc....I'd consider them the same as rape.

She is for legalization but only because it fits her  liberal high-brow agenda. As is the case with most educators who base their presumptive logic on the research that is available-mainly on street walkers-she has no idea who the vast majority of women that exchange sex for money are.  All of my last four regulars have had college degrees and have worked real world jobs. They are not victims.

While I applaud anyone in favor of legalization or decriminalization on one level I would just like to see one educator approach the topic in a way that doesn't include turning providers into pitiful social outcasts.

Sadly - I have met MANY providers who were insufficiently counseled during college about their job prospects after obtaining a particular degree in a specific discipline.  They graduate, some with honors, and cannot get a job.  plain and simple.... so, they do what they can.  and some enjoy the work.  To condemn them is wrong.

Privilege - so few are privileged and when anyone takes advantage of a particular blessing (looks or sexual ability) some who are less endowed are always there to criticize...

doing a little recreational providing on the side?
What else could account for that shit-eating grin of hers?  She sure doesn't look very hard up or unhappy to me.

Besides, all liberal high-brows have puckered lips, like the typical liberal high-brow pictured here.

What my opinion is of what I read? Simple, It's my opinion, nothing more and nothing less. As far as the possibility of her providing? I doubt it. If she had ever accepted money for sex she wouldn't be classifying a provider as "a poor woman with few employment options". At least I would hope not...

Of course, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if a few of her colleagues hadn't supplemented their income while getting their education by escorting. Who knows!

"Eliot Spitzer, one of the nation's most gifted and dedicated politicians"

I find it difficult to take seriously anything else she has to say after such an inauspicious beginning.

INHO Spitzer was a hypcritical piece of pond scum who is now getting everything he so richly deserves.

Obviously, and not to be too crude, she needs a cock in her mouth

to keep the BS from coming out of it.  IMHO, Spitzer isn't having enough bad things happen to him for the lives he ruined for doing the same thing he was doing.



-- Modified on 3/26/2008 6:32:29 PM

Re: Obviously, and not to be too crude, she needs a cock in her mouth

I can't get over Why they all, most of society that is, can't believe how any woman would willingly get involved in this business.
It makes them feel better to look down on both the men and woman in this profession. It's just stupid.  How is it so hard to believe there are woman out there who really Enjoy this and it is a choice they are making.  I try not to put too much thought into it, it's enough to make you crazy...but it just burns my ass when I hear people expressing their uneducated ignorant opinions of what they clearly have no clue about what so ever.  I know...don't let it bother me, it's not so easy these days it's become a hot topic lately. Maybe they will find Poor Stacys body in Chicago and then Drew will become the latest hot topic for a while. I'm sick of listening to the bs.

escorting and teaching - are equally valuable and intimate professional activities...

perhaps her eggheaded way of wording it looses the message - but at least she recognizes the work value of each.

Next thing you know youse guys... and gals will think that I - the great GREEN one - is silly and has no value in his posts... and why am I now referring to myself in the 3 rd person...

I don't know but hey... I like it - I too can be like Jack0 only I don't have to post endless responses to myself I can do it all right here with one big long runon sentence without having you all click on more than the one subject header see isn't that easier....



-- Modified on 3/27/2008 4:41:13 AM

I don't know if I'd go along with life imprisonment for rape, too many vagueries in the definition of rape. An example might be, not paying for a session and the provider claims rape. Definitely a crime, deserving of life in prison? NO

I do agree, sexual predators should be put away for a long, long time, in a place where they can't hurt anyone else but each other.

Most of the world has legalized prostitution without all the overregulation that Nevada has. I am all for SPs paying their fair share of taxes, I am a proponent of some type of health card, but aside from that let the ladies just go about their business of making horny old guys like me happy.

but they often get treated very differently, for example, chemical or surgical castration, or lifetime public identification.

Now, what is worse, rape, or beating a victim's head  until they lose half their senses?

I think most people here would agree on the 2nd being worse.   But that could be because they're more used to using both organs - brain and genitalia - routinely.

How do we feel about lifetime public identification of wives who won't put out?  You know, make them wear a nun's habit decorated with plastic icicles or something.  

Or make them donate their organs to people who WILL use them.   You know, "since you're not using your pussy, do you mind if I borrow it a few minutes?"