Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
Because the externalities are (putatively) large. Commodifying sex in that way would affect a great number of other people in a way that they don't like.
I'm not saying I necessarily agree, but I think that's the intuition.
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I understand the public interest argument, but I'm not sure that wins the day. On a coldly analytical level, the criminalizing of prostitution actually hurts a great many people. Were it to be legal, a great many otherwise unskilled and therefore unemployable people who subsist on govt benefits and lead reckless lives trading their wares on the black market would be legitimized and allowed to make a living. I believe destigmatizing the act of being a "John" may allow people who might otherwise commit sex crimes or go to black market diseased hookers to instead patronize licensed brothels which live up to rigorous health inspection standards (of course, this is easier said than done, as Thailand proves). I also think if sex was made a commodity that people would probably default to it rather than a lot of other unhealthy behaviors. I that regard, legalizing sex trade would be like legalizing marijuana - if people were satisfied with something that makes them sedate and is easily procured, chances are they won't seek more dangerous avenues of satisfaction.
S(I've always believed the chief fuel behind all untoward acts is sexual frustration - so why not remove the fuel?)D
