Or: the French vs. the Puritans!

I still have a hard time believing we're in the 21st century and we, as the free-est country on earth, can't make various sexual choices as adults. Case in point. A newswire, the largest newswire service in the world - Agence France Presse - released an article last night about escorting and how the internet has affected that business. After the newswire was released, the writer (he interviewed me, that's how I know this...), anyway, the writer's editor called him from Washington telling him that the French newspapers hadn't picked up the article yet cuz they didn't know what a "vice squad" was. The editor explained it to them and they were absolutely astonished! Didn't know such a thing existed. Then they found out that the client can be busted for the same "crime"... same as the provider. They couldn't believe it! Imagine living in a foreign country that takes sex for granted, as being an immutable right that you have as an adult and that you're the one responsible for the choices you make regarding it. Imagine finding out that the free-est country on earth makes this kind of sexual option illegal. Puritanical as hell!

For anyone interested, the article can be found (at this very long link): http://asia.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/technology/afp/article.html?s=asia/headlines/010718/technology/afp/World_s_oldest_profession_makes_hay_in_cyberspace.html

Hopefully we'll grow up this century! Faye Desiree

Faye:
I would hope so, but I wouldn't hold my breath!
LM

Hmmmm... legalized prostitution, yeah, something else for organized crime to launder their ill gotten gains through.

Do you really think everyone is going to go out and become an independent?  Not going to happen in a legalized world.

Look at what is currently going on here in LA County.  Chinese orgainized crime behind the MP's and many Chinese providers that speak little English.  Russian organized crime behind the Russian providers.  Do you think legalization will change that?  Hell no!  There will always be indentured servitude in prostitution.  Talk about Puritanical... slavery is alive and thriving.

Oh, and France.  Such an advanced civilization they are!  You want French citizenship, you can have it!  They sell nuclear materials to Iraq, blow up Greenpeace ships, allow murderers to walk about unmolested...  ugh!  But hey, prostitution is legal!
But it's a system that works--  Give the masses what they want and they'll ignore the fact that their governement is running amok telling them how they will live other parts of their lives and taxing them to death.  You complain about taxes here, go to Europe!

I can live with prostitution being illegal in exchange for the other choices I can make in my life.

C'mon EE, is it really that different here?  The French sell nuclear materials to Iraq.  We've sold nuclear materials to lots of unfriendly and/or unstable nations.  The French blow up Greenpeace ships.  So do we (or at least shoot at them).  The French allow murderers to walk about unmolested.  Gee, what's O.J. up to these days?  But hey, prostitution is illegal.  Give the masses what they want (the French get legal prostitution.  Here, we get professional sports, infomercials, and car chases masquerading as "breaking news") and they'll ignore the fact that their government is running amok telling them how they will live other parts of their lives and taxing them to death.  That sounds like here also.  True, I would never move to France to live, but let's face it, politicians suck no matter what country they work and live in.  OCTJMO, ICBW.  Sedagive.

So does that mean I could actually get like a citation for this???
Seriously though, I don't think legalization would necessarily help incall providers.  While they wouldn't have to worry about LE, I do think that they would have to worry about their rates being cut in half.

EE, I beg to diff.

You don't rid yourself of organized crime by making any activity illegal. Case in point: by making drugs illegal this country has created a huge underground black market where orgainized crime and gangstas can flourish. Did prohibition get organized crime out of alcohol biz?

This should be enough to evidence the difference in mind set between us and the french....

Each country has its cross to bear.  Ours is the conflict between what we really want our cover story.  The Frendch are leaning in the direction of Euthenasia.

I will hike our cross up any time.

All the Best

LookyLooky

I wonder if things would change for the better if prostitution was legalized in the US?  Our "society" still looks down on it as immoral, and, of course, married guys still have to conceal it from their wives.  OK, no more harassment from LE, but providers will probably still have to get "licensed" and tested.  How many will bother getting these and will LE start harassing those who don't have them?  Look at the MPs.  How many workers have legitimate massage licenses?  Will they try to regulate what you can and can't do (e.g., must use a condom for all activities)?  If so, will they try to enforce that?  Also, will the moralists try to harass and close down establishments anyway (even though they're legal)?  Would providers support legalization even if it means less income and non-anonymity?

Hows life treating you these days?

LM

Alight LM- made some changes in my life.

My sentiments exactly!  Now, did ANYone read the article? (scratching my head...)  xo Faye Desiree

x

I've still been around- just been datin instead of hobbyin is all.

There is a book - The Sovereign Individual - that is a must read for those of us who are at least a little serious about the state of affairs politic.  Within the next generation, you may be amazed at what will become of our system of nation states..


Let's face it - government does little for us other than to distribute our income to those who don't want to do anything for themselves (by and large).  This is very sad, and it's even sadder that our governance has no clue about the real morality of its citizenry.  And even less than no clue about its own morality.  The current case in point, of course, being Mr. Condit.  Perhaps it is time to shed our burden