Like probably everyone here, I think it should be legalized nationwide and perhaps regulated by the govt. It would help mitigate violent crime and rape by providing an outlet for would be rapists, and and unsavory elements (involvement of organized crime, corruption of youth, etc.) usually cited would decrease if the profession was legitimized. LE would also be freed up to deal with crimes that actually have victims.
Legitimizing it would also let rates be freely determined by supply and demand, which would make the hobby much more affordable. I'm not complaining about current rates and no doubt the ladies are worth it, but the average guy need to get laid on a regular basis and most could not afford to see providers several times a month at $300-500 a pop.
If this were to happen, I wonder where average rates would end up. Probably under $100.
Unfortunately, it'll never happen.
but it is not a pretty picture, exactly because the government does regulate it, much to the hindrence of the providers.
A much better model would be Canada and to an extent, the UK, where it is mostly decriminalized, much to the relief of their (enlightened) citizentry.
Prices in Canada are not much lower than the US because for a woman to do what she has to inorder to be successful, she needs to put in two hours for every hour she is with you, then there are countless expenses of staying beautiful, supplies, clothing, etc. It adds up and the goddesses are worth every dollar they charge.
I am guessing that the social dynamic underlying the hobby is largely set and that legalization would not affect (for example) the way my SO would feel about it. If the supply and demand balance was not disturbed too much, the prices would probably remain about where they are.
This is a often the information that is out there. However Clark County, which is in reality Las Vegas, prosititution is illegal in any form or fashing. Just so we're clear on the info.
Reno's county is also off limits!!!
mrfisher is correct. I live in a small town near Reno, there are at least 5 cathouses er....brothels (as they're called) within 50 miles. My worst times ever were in these regulated businesses. By state law, you can't kiss, you can't touch the pussy, you can't do just about anything. They're also every bit as expensive as any of the providers listed on TER. It is indeed legal here, the state has no law against it, it is up to the individual counties to outlaw it. It's not legal in Clark county (Vegas), or Washoe county (Reno). I don't know about Vegas, but the Reno city cops regularly bust the streetwalkers. Guys and gals both.
as I read the last part of the post I felt compelled to respond.
I would disagree with the idea that legalization might cause the rates to go down although at the same time I don't think they would go up either.
The provider pool might enlarge some but like every profession, the person involved needs the drive to continue in it and I think those with the greatest drive and motivation are probably already in the profession and should and would continue to receive the donations they deserve.
TOMC
-- Modified on 6/13/2006 1:08:34 PM
Legalize? No. Decriminalize? Yes. Big difference, by the way. Legalized a la Vegas is, in my opinion, simply state sanctioned pimping - a way to tell us who we can see, when we can see them, and still ensure that state and the state approved mack daddies get their cut of the pie. Brothel owners are just pimps with better suits and cars, in my opinion.
Escorts in Canada charge basically the same rates as our US counterparts do, give or take the exchange rate. The main difference is that if I'm assaulted, or ripped off, I have no hesitations about calling Wendy Leaver at the Toronto Police Departments sex crimes unit and telling her all about - without worrying that, down the road, she'll use it against me.
It also means I don't have to play the idiotic, tap dancing, euphamism two-step when talking to potential clients. I - and he - are free to openly discuss what will or won't take place, leaving both of us more confident that we have the same things in mind for our time together. I can't count the number of times I've had to coach a US client who's visiting Toronto to just open up and tell me what he wants. We usually end up laughing about it when we finally meet face to face.
I have the greatest respect for my US counterparts. Every day, they face the possibility that the person emailing them or meeting them isn't there for just a good time. That they manage to still operate with panache and style in spite of all of that is mind boggling to me. I can't imagine that a lessening of the things they have to worry about, or fear, should eqaul a lessening of what they deserve to be paid.
Morgan
"I have the greatest respect for my US counterparts. Every day, they face the possibility that the person emailing them or meeting them isn't there for just a good time. That they manage to still operate with panache and style in spite of all of that is mind boggling to me. I can't imagine that a lessening of the things they have to worry about, or fear, should eqaul a lessening of what they deserve to be paid."
I agree with that. US providers face the risks of LE entanglements being mistreated by bad customers without any means of recourse, and deserve to be compensated a bit more for these things.
I doubt rates would change much, at least for independent providers. There is a difference between legalization and social exceptence. For example porn is legal, but porn actors for the most part are not held in high esteem by the general public. I'm not so sure legalizing prostitution would be much different. Provider's would still use psuedonyms, blur faces in their ads, etc. I really doubt much would change.
-- Modified on 6/13/2006 6:26:37 PM
First, our friggin government is going to want to regulate consensual sex anyway. I could just see the expensive out-of-pocket licensing requirements, probably administered by either an evangelistic Christians, or someone who extorts free sessions for granting licenses (or both).
The department of health is going to need to certify a provider after she's had a complete body cavity inspection by a gynecologist, internist, a disease specialist, epidemiologist-- at once. These doctors will have to call a meeting with other doctors and consultants to agree to her fitness-- at her expense, quarterly. She will have to fill out very complex forms certifying that she did all this right, of course.
Then there will be ordinances like: can't live or conduct business within 198,000 yards of a school, a church, a graveyard, a Wal-Mart, a Walgreens, a candy store, a car dealership, a drug pusher, or a gated community. Then they have to fill out paperwork certifying that this has all been measured by licensed surveyors, at her expense, of course. Then she'll have to keep "confidential" records on all her clients, "just in case" inspected by the State every quarter, and have a lawyer draw up and approve her "privacy policy" at her expense.
She'll then have to register as sex service provider, her real name and picture on the internet-- at her expense. With that information, neighbors and fundamentalists can harass her or take pictures of her clients-- and post those on another internet site.
On top of that, the government will levy "special taxes" to cover all the "social costs" of two or more consenting adults having sex.
Given all this, you might get to see a legal lady at a bargain price of $3000 an hour. Or just go the illegal route and pay a mere $500.
Nobody knows how to deal with prostitution in a legal framework. Decriminalizaton is the only way.
I have such a crush on you all of a sudden.
and he's broke. Well 2 out of three ain't bad.
Ever since I read some of your writing on your website and blog.
Keep up the good fight with SWAG.
...in as many different ways as possible.
Let me put it this way...I'm going to agree with what Morgan Ellis says without reading it. I spend enough time in Morgan's burg of Toronto to know what she's likely to say.
The hobby absolutely rocks in Toronto (see post below) and even at US-CAN dollar parity (currently about 90c), substantially more bang for the buck.
I **am** broke. My hobby budget is down to $45 a month. That goes to board memberships.
But I'll be back!
Legalizing prostitution would have little or no affect on rape. Rape is a crime of violence, not passion. Rapists don't rape because they're 'horny'.
And there is no way rates would go below $100, except for the nastiest, bagain basement crack hoe.
Actually, across the river in Canada, in Windsor. I can be over there in 20 minutes from where I sit now in Detroit Suburbs. For what ever reason, the girls there are not very attaractive, there are not that many that seem to be serious about it, and I've only gone over there once. I don't get it. You'd think the casino and the legal would have them there in Droves!
In your shoes, Plan B would be to play with all the S Florida creamers who show up weekly, you have a nice selection of 4-5 of them usually.
BTW, ALL the S Florida ladies I've spoken to have a lot of love for Detroit guys. It's one of their favorite touring places-they make money, and the guys are generally excellent clients.
Windsor has essentially overregulated it, because they don't want the rep of being Sin City. Too late, they already have it. Why I don't know, because the place is tame and a ripoff compared to say, London, 80 mi up the 401.
Adding insult to injury, the strip clubs in Detroit absolutely rock, and they're topless. Windsor is nude and full bar, but no touching (and if you so much as touch a dancer when nude, you can get a ticket for assault).
I have partaken of the hobby in Canada and a long time ago in London... Price? roughly the same... why? because the price is set mostly by the cost of doing business in any service industry. The margin may be a little better in the "hobby" but not by much. Recently I had a provider purchase a dress for our meeting... and while she can use it again, dresses do cost. If the lady does incall, there is that expense... and of course health care and dental care.... and so on...
Her communications cost, while not sky high probably involves a couple of phones, and a high speed internet service. Then there is the cost of advertising...
So, you see, these are "fixed costs" that the lady must address.... they are there whether the hobby is legal or not...
I also agree with the decriminalization as I do not wish the regulation that would probably come with legalization (think airport security and TSA!). What I would welcome is some sort of health service geared to the hobby - screening for both hobbiests and providers - and some sort of Hobbiest safety badge.... that is a clearance card for the hobbiest who is out there... and wants to be known as safe.... (not an ax murderer) oh, I would NOT want to have on record that I have single handedly bored more ladies than any other hobbiest! lol!!!
For me, if the connection is there, and there is sincerity on the part of the provider - I am willing to pay more... but if the sincerity is not there or fake (gals - we actually CAN tell).... it is not worth it - even at $10 a pop!
Would decriminalization get rid of the worst elements of the hobby, probably not entirely, but it would do enough to permit the ladies to have some recourse if they were ripped off, stalked or harmed.... and that would be a very big plus... for the guys, it would mean that the B&S operations would have to change tactics...
all in all - a good thing... but would it cause big changes in the industry? probably not... why? because at its heart, it would still be an industry/profession that, at least in this country, is shunned by most. And that is sad, cause many wives in suburbia could learn tons from these ladies...
-- Modified on 6/14/2006 5:43:25 PM