San Fran's next step: Legalized prostitution?

[TXplt]

^ Works for me--I think this'd fall under the category of a "sporting" activity !

[Brother Bob]

Originally Posted by troy2000

And that would cost more than what it costs to keep it illegal and deal with it as a crime? I don't think so...

Not that they've gotten anywhere close to that yet...they've just 'decriminalized' it so far.

All right you silver-tonged devil! Let's just legalize everything! Where do you draw the line in the sand? Why draw it there? Why have a line in the sand at all? Who decides where the line is drawn? Sex is a natural act, let's just strip down and have sex at the nearest mall with whoever we want, right out there in front of Dillard's or Sears! It's a natural act, why pay for it? Just take it! Legalize rape! Come on California, teach the rest of us how to live!

[9mmfan]

Originally Posted by nathangdad

It used to be a wonderful city. Now it is a symbol of decay.
Sad for all the good people who once lived and still live there.

This will be a message to young people that this type lifestyle is
sanctioned therefore inviting new people into the ranks. So,
there will be more of it licensed or not. Despite the verbal plans
of whores, how many actually save money for college or their
own mainstream business? How many people have come out of
whoredom or pimpdom to make a contribution to society?
How many people in prison for non-whoring crimes have been
involved in prostitution?

I believe the Bible is correct in its denounciation of whoredom.

+1,

It's just another Sodom & Gamora anyway, what do you expect? Maybe we should just legalize all drug dealers, drive by killings (as long as the person has done something wrong to the gang). Then the government could just tax all of their income (I'm sure their going to turn in their income, aren't you?), then open free health clinics for all the whores and drug users. Legalize all crimes ! Just tax and spend, that would justify it all wouldn't it? lol

[TXplt]

Actually, legalizing and regulating drugs isn't a bad idea--AND it would decrease crime by taking away the incentive and profit for illegal drug dealers. Lord knows we've lost the "war on drugs" going the other way--only made criminals out of people. You'd have thought prohibition would have taught us something.

And, yes, if someone does something bad under the influence or to support their habit the book should be thrown at them. If a druggie breaks into a house for $ and gets shot, he had it coming. Full stop.

The Pure Food and Drug act of 1906 was a good law, and had no intention of banning drugs; only in eliminating asymmetric information and externalities (which was an accurate assessment of the problem). We've largely created our own problems by being control freaks and trying to legislate morality (which doesn't work--this comes from within-- not from government).

[TexasT]

Ok, legalizing drugs would decrease the amount of people we call criminals, but what would be the impact on healthcare? All these drugs DO have side effects, and I don't think people would agree to be on whatever now illegal drug under the care of a physician or someone similar. Not really how those drugs work.

[TXplt]

I don't believe our health care system would see a greater burden than it currently does through the legal use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription medication (both used and "legally" abused -- Rush and Elvis come to mind). Or by diets which excessively consume fat, sodium, and cholesterol (leading to heart disease or diabetes). Or by any other "high risk" activities.

I'm not sure anyone knows exactly how asprin works, either (or many other herbal remedies across the world for that matter).

[Brother Bob]

Originally Posted by TXplt

Actually, legalizing and regulating drugs isn't a bad idea--AND it would decrease crime by taking away the incentive and profit for illegal drug dealers. Lord knows we've lost the "war on drugs" going the other way--only made criminals out of people. You'd have thought prohibition would have taught us something.

And, yes, if someone does something bad under the influence or to support their habit the book should be thrown at them. If a druggie breaks into a house for $ and gets shot, he had it coming. Full stop.

The Pure Food and Drug act of 1906 was a good law, and had no intention of banning drugs; only in eliminating asymmetric information and externalities (which was an accurate assessment of the problem). We've largely created our own problems by being control freaks and trying to legislate morality (which doesn't work--this comes from within-- not from government).

The Islamic's already hate us because of our perceived immoral way of life! So let's pour some more gas on the fire so they can hate us even more????????? Not my first concern, but we sure as Hell are turning into something other than the shining star of the world! I've never understood paying for sex when you can get it for free, at home, with your wife! Well, maybe not free, but ........... er .......... say, do you think it will pass? I might just get a divorce and move there! This woman of mine is costing me $70,000 a year and has been going through menopause for 12 years!

[TexasT]

Originally Posted by TXplt

I don't believe our health care system would see a greater burden than it currently does through the legal use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription medication (both used and "legally" abused -- Rush and Elvis come to mind). Or by diets which excessively consume fat, sodium, and cholesterol (leading to heart disease or diabetes). Or by any other "high risk" activities.

I'm not sure anyone knows exactly how asprin works, either (or many other herbal remedies across the world for that matter).

You can be fat and not a ward of the system. Soon as you hit a mental hospital with a diagnosis of psychosis you're "disabled" and all your health care is free. The bread and butter psychiatry is substance abuse.

[GDawg]

In Uruguay (South America) where prostitution is legal, there is almost zero instance of rape. Legal prostitution and the fact that rape is punishable like murder, the problem seems to be controlled.

Btw, I don't think states are trying to legalize "drugs" as much as they are trying to legalize pot. Nevada continually puts it on the ballot. When I first moved there in 1990, even a pot seed was considered a felony. How stupid is that? Now it's decriminalized. Why waste tax payers money on someone caught with a joint?

[roadie]

I say, why not...it's not like you have to visit the ladies. It's a nice fun way to bring a few more tax dollars to the city, heck I imagine Nevada brings in a bunch of revenue from the brothels.

[9mmfan]

Legalize illegal drugs.........Oh yeah, that's a real smart idea.

And just who is going to pay for regulating it? Who is going to pay for all the extra policemen that will be needed for all the people driving while under the influence? Who is going to pay for the extra jails that will be needed across the country? Oh thats right....more tax and spend right? That's how we could pay for it.

Then the next time we take a airline flight somewhere on vacation maybe the flight attendant could just bring by a plate with lines of cocaine that we could all snort up our nose instead of just taking a drink. When they get finished with the passengers then they could take a few lines for the pilots to have, after all, it would be legal right? Everyone on board the jet would be having a great time then wouldn't they? All up until the time the jet crashes into the side of some mountain. It gives a whole new meaning to flying the friendly skies now doesn't it?

No need to worry though......even if it might take a little longer for the rescue workers to get to the plane crash. Because unfortunately they are working a accident the highway below that you daughter was just involved in. It seems that one of our law abiding citizens decided to snort a few lines of coke before he got on the highway tonight and ran into your daughter who driving on the highway........she is now dead.

Legalize illegal drugs, yeah, that's a real smart idea

[TXplt]

Originally Posted by TexasT

You can be fat and not a ward of the system. Soon as you hit a mental hospital with a diagnosis of psychosis you're "disabled" and all your health care is free. The bread and butter psychiatry is substance abuse.

The problem statement is then we need to change this definition of "disabled" and also not provide "free" health care to people who are uninsured and plight is of their own making. It's wrong to allow people to become wards of the system due to choices in life, no matter what the cause. Whether this is being grossly overweight resulting in health problems, risky sex (I wonder if getting caught and shot by a spouse qualifies as this )not wearing helmets/seatbelts, or other poor choices (including excessive alcohol/drug use). This doesn't mean we don't allow individuals to buy insurance to cover this (or voluntary organizations to provide help for people so seeking help); it does mean it's not ever at taxpayer expense.

[TXplt]

Originally Posted by 9mmfan

Legalize illegal drugs.........Oh yeah, that's a real smart idea.

And just who is going to pay for regulating it? Who is going to pay for all the extra policemen that will be needed for all the people driving while under the influence? Who is going to pay for the extra jails that will be needed across the country? Oh thats right....more tax and spend right? That's how we could pay for it.

Then the next time we take a airline flight somewhere on vacation maybe the flight attendant could just bring by a plate with lines of cocaine that we could all snort up our nose instead of just taking a drink. When they get finished with the passengers then they could take a few lines for the pilots to have, after all, it would be legal right? Everyone on board the jet would be having a great time then wouldn't they? All up until the time the jet crashes into the side of some mountain. It gives a whole new meaning to flying the friendly skies now doesn't it?

No need to worry though......even if it might take a little longer for the rescue workers to get to the plane crash. Because unfortunately they are working a accident the highway below that you daughter was just involved in. It seems that one of our law abiding citizens decided to snort a few lines of coke before he got on the highway tonight and ran into your daughter who driving on the highway........she is now dead.

Legalize illegal drugs, yeah, that's a real smart idea

Believe it or not, things usually function just fine without people protecting us from ourselves; we are usually the ones screwing this up on our own. We'll need LESS jails, not more; we'll not have self-defined criminals judged under an arbitrary standard of which substances are "good" and which are "bad." We already tax booze and cigarettes (excessively) -- what kind of return do we get on THIS investment ? !!! The funding you mention should come from these taxes (whether it's brothels or booze). The taxes are "justified" because people believe there to be externalities (bad things) associated with cigarettes, booze, etc. If this is really the case (which is somewhat debatable), all the tax $ should be devoted to dealing with these externalities and go no where else.

So, what's the difference between a line of coke and 3 martinis ? I'd submit absolutely nothing except one is legal and the other not.

Please don't try to use the "protect us from ourselves--the sky is falling" approach. This is usually little more than an excuse to overregulate and increase the power of an already way overintrusive government. The "mothers of river city--heed that warning before it's too late--watch for the tell-tale signs of corruption--protect your children" is cute coming from the lovable con-man Harold Hill, but it's no less of a con when it comes from our legislators. It just takes away our freedom and costs us $$$.

And the plane won't be hitting a mountain. For all this hype (and the completely knee jerk, warrantless, waste of money, absolutely-wrong-in-the-grand-scheme-of-life drug testing we now require as an often paranoid nation, thinking this might be "tough" and "useful"), there's been exactly ONE accident (a commuter in Colorado) where drug use was a factor--even then, (when studied with any degree of objectivity) it wasn't really a factor. The captain had done cocaine with his girlfriend the night before (and, yes, I do believe this to be wrong, but it's not a causal factor of the accident); the extent this would have affected his performance would have been no different than if he had had a few beers, had trouble sleeping, or had been up with romantic endeavors (or a thousand other causes of fatigue, all of which are completely legal). It was a Controlled Flight into Terrain accident where the Captain (who was the pilot monitoring, not flying) inadequately supervised a first officer with a history of poor instrument flying skills. After rushing to attempt to put the plane back on schedule, an unstabilized approach, and an excessive desent gradient, they went through a step down fix on a non-precision approach. This isn't and wasn't a new or creative way to crash an airplane, and has been done by people alert, sober, and never taking anything stronger than asprin in their lives as well.

Believe it or not, it's possible to have the government NOT constantly busting and searching our citizens, and also NOT become a country of mindless dopers. This is also known as personal responsibility and liberty.

Anyway, I'm digressing. I think we should get LEO's away from so-called morality and vice crimes.

There's an interesting book--"Good Time Girls" -- which describes the Prostitution trade in developing western Canada/Alaska (and the relative success of regulated prostitution vice under the table and corruption/graft). Many of the ladies were quite well paid.

[SwedeSteve]

Legalized prostitution has worked all over the world. Germany runs it in a typical "German" fashion. It has been well regulated, the pros have medical cards and like here you can pay from next to nothing, to as much as you want to spend. I whored around Nurnberg for a year, until I got married. As for muslims and their malcontent, go to Cairo and check it out.

[stalebiscuit]

gee their morals are high and mighty

no wonder they are so smug

[stalebiscuit]

Originally Posted by roadie

I say, why not...it's not like you have to visit the ladies. It's a nice fun way to bring a few more tax dollars to the city, heck I imagine Nevada brings in a bunch of revenue from the brothels.

this is decriminalizing it, not legalizing it

it means that the pimps and prostitutes have more lee ways as do the johns

[troy2000]

Like we should write our laws based on what the Muslim countries might think of us? They're the biggest hypocrites in the world; their cities are full of prostitutes, because too many women have no honest way to make a living if they lose a husband or father. They just treat them like crap. And believe me, they have their share of drugs and booze, too...

And legalizing drugs doesn't legalize driving or operating an airplane under the influence, any more than legalizing booze makes drunk driving legal. Let's not get silly here...

[9mmfan]

Have you ever thought that maybe there has only been one airline accident evolving a pilot using cocaine is because it is a illegal drug? That just proved my point, thank you.

I think that statistic might increase just little bit when it is legal and the flight attendants start handing out lines of coke don't you?

You still haven't answered my question yet.......who would pay for all of the extra policemen that would be needed because of the huge increase of D.W.I.'s? Or would we just legalize driving drunk and driving while under the influence? Yeah, that would make our roads a lot safer wouldn't it? It seems to me that legalizing illegal drugs would just cause more government control instead of less.

What about all the people who would end up getting addicted to cocaine or heroin? What if they got fired from their job because they were coming into work high? Who would be stuck with the bill with sending them to rehab. That would cause even more taxes and even more spending. "Texas T" is right, the bread and butter of psychiatry and psychiatric hospitals is substance abuse and who do you think would be stuck with the bill. The U.S. government, that's who.

And what if it was "your" daughter who was killed on the highway because some law abiding citizen decided to snort a few lines of coke before they got on the highway? It would be perfectly legal wouldn't it? Or would it be? You couldn't really have it both ways could you? If you legalize illegal drugs then more people would be driving under the influance........ which would, in turn, increase the need for more policemen.....which means even more government control and higher taxes.......unless you made driving under the influence legal.........then your car insurance would increase, not just a small increase, but a huge increase. Our health insurance would also increase a lot.

Lol, this is hilarious unless it was your daughter or loved one who was killed by someone on the road who was high.

This is a issue that is very close to my heart because about 10 years my cousin was killed by a driver who was high, she died 3 weeks before she was going to graduate from high school. The drug the person was using was pot, the so called "safe drug". His sentence for vehicular homicide was one year in jail and 3 years on probation.

[TXplt]

I have answered your question--if you believe there are externalities associated with legalized drug use requiring enforcement, it would come out of the substances being taxed just like alcohol and tobacco. I'd be willing to debate the need for enforcement, though.

The illegality of cocaine has proven no point of yours whatsoever, sir. Believe it or not, most people are able to manage their lives without going through it drunk or high, professional operators especially so. Most people have the self-discipline not to consume materials that will impair their faculties because they are professionals, whether or not any law exists. Antihistimines are completely legal, but most individuals I know would far prefer to call in sick rather than risk flying when sick (also a bad idea) as well as the faculty decrease caused by these meds. Booze has been legal since prohibition. How many commercial airplane accidents have been caused by a drunk pilot ? I can think of one accident in the 70's, but that is it (for all the billions of hours flown--and I do know a little about the subject; I've done accident investigations in the past). I understand and empathize with your situation; this doesn't make it appropriate, in my opinion, to propose solutions that don't work--it'd be no different in my case. If a friend crashes after mishandling an engine problem (when the airplane was completely capable of flying) I'm not going to go out and call for a massive redesign of the airplane because this isn't the cause or solution. Gun control makes crime worse in the United States--attempting to ban guns (drugs) doesn't fix this problem. Fatigue has killed more operators than any drug manufactured. Inattention kills people, not cell phones. It's ok to drink, it's not ok to drive drunk. It makes no difference if this is drunk or high--you're still impared.

How many people are addicted to legal prescription drugs, alcohol, nicotine, high fat foods, risky behavior (all completely legal) ? It'd be no different. I submit the "war against drug" laws if anything have exacerbated our addiction problems by driving them underground. The drug laws and enforcement have succeeded only in making criminals out of citizens, filling our jails, hurting people, and costing ME money.

[Mike Franklin]

If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.
And if a million people do an immoral thing, it's still an immoral thing.

So how many of ya'll want your daughter to grow up to be a whore?