Yep. Like in Canada, those guys have a good attitude.

It appears majority is in favor. Result of today's criminalization is exactly the opposite of what is intended. This is been going on for thousands of years and it will continue for thousands more.

Absolutely. It is interesting that societies like Australia and New Zealand who have had the same moral hangups as the U.S have done versions of legalizing. These of course have created a new set of problems. But overall the situation is much better.

what I really want is for "indoor" prostitution to be decriminalized

Else the future of the hobby will look like the "bunny ranch" in all 50 states.

Because people always abuse their freedoms. If you want an economic arguement what are the costs of doing something illegally.

for example, even in European nations which Americans think of as "nanny states", personal conduct is far less regulated. And the level of litigation is much lower.

The US has a penchant for codifying moralizations of the puritanical variety.

And for empowering people to make decisions for the rest of us, who have no first hand experience with the activities which they are legislating or regulating.

If the US ever "Legalizes" prostitution, there will be pressure to *regulate* it out of existence.....

Finally, the costs of doing something "illegally" can be very low depending on how much trouble you have to go to to prevent being caught....  it looks to me like the "indoor" hobby, just as it is, is doing quite well on the averages.

I encourage you to visit "legalized" prostitution in Nevada, and tell me which variety you prefer lol.....

Decriminalization is the answer.

And as soon as I say that I realize that there is slim chance of it happening in the US.  Too much urge to control and regulate.

In general, people don't abuse their freedoms. They use them when it benefits them. The problem isn't the ABUSE of the freedom, it's more the lack of taking responsibility for the consequences (good or bad) for using freedom.

We all have freedom of choice; that's really the only freedom we all have 24/7. We can choose this or we can choose that; doing nothing is also a choice by default. However, if we don't accept that what we do is our responsibility, then whatever we did will bite us if it turned out badly and it will reward us if it turned out good.

Then, of course, there are those who (because they can't enjoy the same freedoms due to some constraint, whether personal, religious, political or what-have-you), insist that NO ONE can have "that freedom," whatever "that freedom" is.

In our case, it's this hobby. We exercise our freedom of choice every time we providers put up an ad and you hobbyists call us to spend time with us. Due to an overwhelming and long-lasting Puritan hatred for the human body, many Americans think this hobby is detrimental to women and men (and in that order). Those of us who understand this hobby know better. It's persuading the rest of the country that it's okay to exercise our freedom of choice in this matter (as in everything else) that makes it feel like "people abuse their freedoms."

Whew! This is a day for my soapbox. I'll get off it again.

certain East Asian and European "nanny states" may require more proper public decorum but private personal conduct is far freer! i don't think it's "give the foreigner some slack" either. the US has a very ingrained bad habit of intruding on private behavior, personal beliefs and "purity" of thought. i've observed that eccentric locals get cut way more slack than an equivalent American in the US would get.

as "Socialist" nations. And even in Asian cultures, where *public* behavior is often highly formalized, private behavior has largely free expression....

and I could not have said it better anyway, even if I felt like taking the time

Cheers

GTM

Prostitution - consentual exchange of one's erotic services for other people's money.

Sex slavery - horrible crime that has to be eradicated.

Seems so simple yet so complex for some

Lina

The oldest profession won't go away just because it's illegal.

If there are bad things associated with prostitution (such as human trafficking), legalizing it and regulating it would be the right step towards mitigating those problems.

Sadly, we live in a 'soundbite' world. Critical thinking skills have been on rapid decline, and not just with the young. In ALL age groups, expression and communication continue to grow in generalization and personalization. Subjectives become absolutes in one's view

If something is not to one's liking, "it sucks!" If is is pleasing "it rocks!"

Whether you are reading or listening, speaking or writing, clear communication is difficut enough as it is. Add to that the dumbing down of America, where learning a few facts and finding a way to connect them in one's mind becomes "proof!" it is a wonder that people can simply distinguish feces from brown show polish.

Why do my shoes smell? LOL!

HalfHour

First, you already do have to pay taxes.  Earned income from any source, whether legal or not, is taxable.  Failure to pay such taxes is what finally put Al Capone in jail.  Also, why shouldn't you pay taxes?  I do.  Do you not use the services of government as much as any of us?  Also consider this:  If you do get caught, you are in for a world of hurt.  Failure to file and pay taxes is a serious felony.  Compare that to prostitution which is only a misdeameanor.

Second, I don't think that very many more gals will take up the practice of sex for pay if the hobby is decriminalized.  I think that those who want to be escort already are, and those that would never consider it won't care.  In countries where the hobby was legalized, there was no great increase in the supply of escorts as far as I've ever heard tell.  Rates for escorts in those countries is not far from what we see here in the US.

No. 1 - I will have to pay taxes.

No. 2 - Supply and Demand - Every wanna be slut on the planet thats itching to be a hooker but has been intimidated by the legality will now swamp the market.

Juliet,

I agree with you one hundred percent.  I think that the government would take all of the fun out of it.  There are very few countries that get it right

Stay Thirsty My Friend

All very true. It is too bad why people are so uptight. One provider in Australia said to me she felt so much better paying her taxes and being like everybody else

but it's not. On balance I'm probably against the idea of legalization.

1) I think it will attract the wrong kind of girls. Young, out for a quick buck and incapable of handleing the mental game.
2) I think prices will go down and that in turn will attract the wrong kind of guy to the game. Make it harder for a smart, well presented girl to make a decent living and plan for retirement. Some do you know.
3) Bring a lot of part timers into the game.
4) Have to many novice providers who don't know what they are doing, and promote all of the bad aspects. Now for our own safty both provider and client are simi-forced to be safe, play safe and stay safe.
5) Once it's legal, you will need accounts, accountants, lawyers, business managers, plans, expence accounts, itemized deductions, depreasion schedules, working transportation, work sites.  Hey all of that would take the fun out of anything.

I think you run the above risks and it's not worth what we think we will gain.  

I think it should be a misdomenor, simular to a parking ticket. Mail in a $50 fine if you get caught. Have the option on the ticket of paying the ladies fine.

Decriminalizing is the way to go for both the men and women involved.  

I stay strong in faith that it will happen here in the states someday.  If someone doesn't fight for it (groups I'm involved with) then who will?  We can't just all assume that nothing will change without attempting to make the change.  Even if it goes awry, how much worse could it get from the current situation?

I should have said "pay even more taxes", trust me I pay plenty.

And frankly boys, when the government starts using my tax dollars to "teach people to fish" instead of giving them fish I will not be so reluctant.  Frankly their policy of encouraging learned helplessness makes me ill.

The IRS is more than happy to go after you for unpaid taxes even if your source of income is from things like prostitution and drug dealing. Income is income according to them.

Also, uh, last I checked, Canada has plenty of well-paid providers. As does Australia. And Great Britain. For that matter, prostitution is LEGAL in Nevada brothels... and from my experience, it's more expensive in Pahrump than it is in Vegas. So I don't agree that either of your scenarios follows.

it's as you suggest- prostitution is decriminalized (except for pimping and for streetwalking in residential areas).

And it's not like Canada's some libertarian paradise.

Good points.

Spending "small money" is less noticeable, but if someone stashing cash in her mattress wants to make a major investment or buy a house or something it will raise a flag with the IRS. They'll want to know how you had so many years of no or little income and suddenly came up with the cash for a house. It's one of the reasons they track all financial transactions above $10,000. (I knew some dancers in the 90's who got in trouble that way.) If you say a bunch of rich friends each gave you $9,999 the IRS could very well look into that and ask to know who those friends WERE ... 'cause they won't be your friends AFTER the IRS gets involved.

No. 1 - You will have to pay your fair share of taxes, just like I do.

No. 2 - Supply and Demand - Every wanna be slut on the planet thats itching to be a hooker but has been intimidated by the legality will now swamp the market, driving the prices down for me and my homies.

Oh yeah....

No. 3 - Fingering strippers in the club

We live in a dog eat dog world, don't we!

HalfHour

Legalization would be an improvement, but it would bring government regulation.  Decriminalization wold be much better -- the only government involvement would be protection for participants and punishment for abusers in cases of slavery, violence, or child exploitation.  

The key is this, very simply:  consensual behavior between adults is not the business of government.  Doesn't this cover every situation?

Cooperate America really got behind it maybe it could wind up on the NYSE as a new industry. Let see, the plus are:

Like to see Corporate America  try an off shore the providers industry.  Pretty hard to call India for a blow job. After all you can't get laid over the phone.

It might take some training for technical analysis and chart reading. After all this would be a unique business cycle. No shipping cost or restocking of inventory, just local transportation.  They couldn't have a return policy, but everyone would have lay-a-way. But I'm sure that Maria Bartiromo could explain the cyclical aspects of the business. Provider business down this week due to the full moon, industrial production up.

Not sure yet how dividends would work. Could we elect to take them in trade, automatic reinvestment.

Of course the new Consumer Protection Agency would have to handle complaints. The call center would answer: Hello this is the U.S. Provider Consumer Protection Agency, press 1 if you are a Provider, 2 for Client.  Welcome to the Client Protection Division. Press 1 for Russian, 2 for Greek, 69 for 69 and 3 for around the world. Otherwise if you feel you have been unfairly fucked your probably right , after all this is the government. Please stay on the line while someone making $65,000 answers your call.

Disclaimer:  It's a joke, no offence intended. My ATF is not available today, plan B is on vacation, probably Hawaii and plan C still has cramps, damn moon.  Anybody got a number in India?