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Home › Entertainment

Question of the Day | 03/14/2008 8:08 am

Should prostitution be legal? Why? Why not?

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142 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Deb K
I happen to think that it should be legalized. I do agree there should be some safeguards in place like health screenings. If the person/establishment does not comply then we shut them down like any other business that doesnt comply with licensing standards. I do not want the government regulating what I can or cant do with my body - whether its abortion, prostitution, smoking, religion or whatever. The choice should be left with the individual.
By Deb K on 03/14/2008 11:59 am
Cynthia Beers
Sex and money have been around since the dawn of time. I say legalize it.
By Cynthia Beers on 03/14/2008 12:07 pm
Susie Ruth
Yes, For most of the reasons mentioned above. As for family morals they should be taught and discussed at home when your children are very young. Government can regulate laws, but morals they can’t. If it were legal perhaps these issues would become a private issue as they should be rather then a scandal.
By Susie Ruth on 03/14/2008 12:17 pm
Rhonda Hollis
Let’s have robots for sex!! Safer, more private!! If you watch “I robot”, there was robots made just for sex, think of the fun!! And controls the population of the human race, less babies!!
By Rhonda Hollis on 03/14/2008 12:24 pm
Lorraine Bates
Ginger, I read the article you posted, and while it didn’t really make me change my position, it did give me another question for the gallery here. The article said that prostitution draws in women that, by and large, have been abused and/or neglected, and have drug issues. I’d be interested to see if the same could be said for exotic dancers and porn actors. My opinion is yes, it can, and those are legal. So - and I don’t know how to say this without having it sound totally crass - what’s the difference, really?
By Lorraine Bates on 03/14/2008 12:26 pm
Donna W.
If we keep leaglizing all that is illegal and imoral in this world, what else will it include and where will it stop?
By Donna W. on 03/14/2008 12:31 pm
angie miller
I THINK IT SHOULD BE LEGAL, AND ALSO BE TAVED HA GOT MONEY FOR HEALTH CARE AND SCHOOLS
By angie miller on 03/14/2008 12:32 pm
Bree W.
No, it should not be legalized. First, involving the government does not always make something better. Nicholas Kristoff’s op-ed piece in the NY Times offered examples of countries that have legalized prostitution and the results of legalization are unimpressive. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/opinion/13kristof.html?em&ex=120564000 Second, what’s wrong with us, that we as women, would approve legalization of an activity where a human being is degraded and used as a semen depository for a fee?
By Bree W. on 03/14/2008 12:41 pm
MW C
I had to think long and hard (pun, teehee) about this … but I think yes, it should be legalized. When it’s illegal, too much of our collective tax dollars go toward enforcement, investigation and entrapment. I agree with those who look upon it as a potential source for tax revenue. Why should should customers of tobacco companies and liquor companies be levied with “sin taxes”, and not sex customers?
By MW C on 03/14/2008 12:43 pm
S C
Come on, ladies! do you truly believe what you are saying about legalizing prostitution? please let’s not even consider making it easier for americans with low moral standards and shoddy values to engage in this most demeaning activity…how disappointing to read this from obviously intelligent women!
By S C on 03/14/2008 12:44 pm
Lady Gator
I TEND TO AGREE WITH MAMACITA..SO FAR HER ANSWER IS THE BEST. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS “WHY DO WE NEED PROSTITUTES” AND “WHY DO MEN PAY?” —THERE IS SO MUCH “FREE” STUFF FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE TODAY! ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS PERHAPS IF IT WAS LEGAL THEN THE DARLING MEN WOULDN’T FEEL SO “SNEAKY” ABOUT IT AND IT WOULDN’T BE FUN ANYMORE. SIMPLY PUT — IF A GUY WANTS SEX, HE’LL GET SEX WHETHER ITS FREE OR PAID FOR —— LEGAL OR NOT!
By Lady Gator on 03/14/2008 12:46 pm
Julia Reed
It is questions like these that make me glad I am not in charge of making our laws. And my answer is full of cliches, I’m afraid. Like: You can’t change human nature. Women are always going to turn to the “world’s oldest profession,” and, without question, men are always going to turn to them.

So yes, legalize it. I don’t think it’s possible to keep people from exploiting each other, but you can, with laws, set an acceptable baseline, a bar, so to speak, so that resources can then be devoted to going after the real bad guys, the slave traders and bottom feeders in the profession.
By Julia Reed on 03/14/2008 12:54 pm
LA R
Legalize prostitution. Outlaw pimps. Let the hooker keep all his/her money. Require current liscence documenting regular medical check-ups, drug testing and Taxpayer Identification Number — just like a manicurist. Require warning label to be included in ads: Warning: Unprotected contact can cause serious side effects such as warts, kooties, and death.
By LA R on 03/14/2008 1:02 pm
Diana Marrero
I don’t think prostitution should be legal. I agree in that there are some moral issues in legalizing and promoting such bahaviour. Is it done every day, sure is, but so is the sale of crack to middle school kids, and I personally wouldn’t want want my son to come home from school with a rock of crack he bought because it’s legal. I also wouldn’t want my daughter to come home on career day @ school saying she met a great pimp & beautiful whores & that’s what she wants to do for a living. Sorry, I guess I too am old fashion!
By Diana Marrero on 03/14/2008 1:11 pm
Marie McConnell
I say NO! Our value system is bad enough in the world and don’t forget about all the diseases and such. There would be no way to assure that everyone is checked out to be safe and I really don’t think it would protect women. There would still be that man that wants to get rough and hurt the women he is involved with. We have a hard enough time trying to enforce the rules and laws we have now.WEBSITE: http://mkmac4.tripod.com/ FORUM: http://doodlebug4.proboards47.com/index.cgi/ RECIPES: http://mkmac4.tripod.com/marieskrazykitchen/
By Marie McConnell on 03/14/2008 1:26 pm
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