Saw the latimes piece today. Four ladies all with the same haircut and haircolor. Why is that? Looks like 4 of a kind in a poker game. Does anyone know Karen Matthews from the Associated Press? She is in the Union Tribune today with a piece on telling your children about scandal. Specifically “what is a prostitute”? She totally forgot to mention “what is a john” and “what is a pimp”? Where is all the outrage about these men who feel so inept or so powerful that they need to pay for sex? Reminds me of the debate on illegals. It is the payroll on this side of the border that keeps the millions coming. Just think of a prostitute without a cash flow.

Prostituion is and has been here to stay. They have legalized gambling, alchohol ,tobacco, certain drugs and sex should be ok as well. It would be better controlled with less diseases as well. The states might be able to certify it and create income from it for projects as well. One cannot stop humans from doing the deed and so the states may as well profit from it as well. Get it out of the hands of the underground and out in the sun where it belongs.

Yes it should be. People are going to do it regardless of whether it is legal or not so we might as well legalize it and collect taxes from the business side of it.

Yes! Prostitution isn’t going anywhere, so why not make tax dollars from the workers? Why not face facts so we can create mandatory health tests for the workers, which I see as similar to what happens with performers in the porn industry. The age of the buyer and seller could be restricted and then the police won’t have to worry about the consenting adults doing what they like with their bodies and would have more time to concentrate on old men wanting young children, male or female, because not all prostitutes are female. Making or keeping something illegal doesn’t stop it, it just makes it unsafe. This applies to not just prostitution, but was also seen when abortion was illegal and when alcohol was illegal. The number of people participating in an activity don’t change based on legality or illegality, only the parameters. If I had a son, would I give him a prostitute as a birthday gift for turning 21, No. But, if I had a son, I would sleep easier knowing if he did have one, that she or he be clean and healthy instead of giving my son a “gift” that keeps on giving.

Oh, please! Yet another government-run agency? In a day and age when the FDA, the motor vehicle agencies, foster care agencies and parole boards can’t even keep track of what’s going on already? And for every license issued, there are squadrons of conterfeiters and forgers just waiting in the wings. As far as I’m concerned, ya’ pays yer money and ya’ takes yer chances. And unless you’ve been living under a rock all your life, you know what the risks are.

Yes. Prostitution should be legal, licensed and taxable, like any other “profession.” Bottom line: if men are dumb enough to pay for it, there will always be ladies who will take the cash. I am a 72 year old grandma and feel strongly that the government (local, federal, state) should stay the heck out of everybody’s bedroom and spend the money catching criminals.

We should start two chains: Mommy ‘n Me Poledancing and Pimps ‘R Us, complete with the best trash costuming e-v-er. Taking serious control of the sex trade and putting our daughters right into the center of it (on stage and in bed - not in the boardroom ala Heffner) is the only way the knuckleheads’ll ever see it from a different perspective.

Absolutley, not everyone has access to a sexual partner, you shouldn’t have to go without if you need intimacy.

EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION. For both sexes.

YES, prostitution should be legalized for everyone’s reasoning!

I’m quoting this from Carolyn Z, I hope you don’t mind Carolyn: “It is 2 consenting adults with money changing hands, is it any different than a gold digger?” What is the difference? What constitutes the difference between a street corner whore, a prostitute, a brothel offering, a call girl, a gold digger, and a mistress? Why is it the “least of these” that are the most often punished? Maybe because it’s the men with the “most of the $$” that have access to the most of the upper end product. I see prostitution in all of it’s forms as just another example of men exercising what they feel as their rights of dominion over women. Why is it illegal to offer sex for money, but not to buy sex. Like the first opinion by Ms Martin said, try to make it illegal to buy, then see what happens.

Everyone has made some very valid points. I think prostitution should be legal, but I bemoan the fact that there are very few highly-paid jobs out there for women, so young women have to resort to this! Ugh! I have a friend who was a highly-paid prostitute and ended up marrying one of her “johns,” a multimillionaire. To my knowledge, she has never been beat up or mistreated by one of her “johns.” Yes, I know she is in the minority. But she was always very careful about health issues, and by being a highly-paid prostitute, she was able to provide a wonderful home for her children. And, oh yes, I do think they should be licensed and have to pay taxes like other folks. Let’s treat them like what they are: sex workers. They are WORKERS. And they need protection (pensions, disability insurance, etc.) just like all workers.

Prostitution needs to be legal. This is a free world-it exists anyway-in Germany and many other european countries these “escorts” are by law required to have medical check-ups every month-they also pay taxes etc. This way everything is being operated in a more controlled environment and it works in many countries in Europe without any problems. Plus if it was legal here it would put an end to the amazing hypocrisy surrounding this issue in the US-who cares who sleeps with who-saying it is illegal does not get rid of it, quite the opposite. The fact that prostitution is illegal in this country does not prevent men from cheating on their wives.

I believe both prostitution and drugs should be legal but don’t know how to do it to make it the proper choice. I would want to know that a woman or man who went into the field was cognizant of the many other ways they could earn money and would have had a chance to be educated to have more choices. As for drugs - would require that there be dispensaries in all zipcodes so that no one part of town would be burdened. It’s a complex issue. Having come of age in the late sixties and early seventies, I understand free loveand rampant sexuality but prostitution is not about that. It is sex for hire. I have never understood why a man would want to have sex with a woman that he knows has recently slept with other men - condom or not. It’s just something I can’t fathom.

I think this is such a juicy subject. Yes, prostitution should be legalized, the trick is explaining it to the IRS. LOL. However, does this mean that we can hire man for a night. I know, I am pulling the chain of many women in here, but when you are single and just don’t want a relationship this would be an option. Then again guys don’t need much incentive to have sex with a woman. Prostitutions should be legalized but control to insure there is no disease been past around.