Rather than post on Geraldine Ferraro's original comments and reply, or Senator Obams's response and Senator Clinton's response (you can read about it from Slate, Slate, Politico, or The New Republic), or talk about the wisdom of two Clinton Super Delegates (hah, "that's a joke son" in a Foghorn Leghorn voice), I thought I would discuss Mr. Governor himself, Client #9. Well, actually, I do not care about the personal life of Client #9, I would rather focus on whether or not prostitution should be legal.
Full Disclosure: Today I went to get an oil change and ended up staying at the garage for four hours since my car needed more work. During that time, I read John Rawls and watched the same four stories on CNN: Eliot Spitzer, the Mississippi Primary, Ferraro-Gtae (A-HA, a gate of my own), and a story about a family adopting an orphaned deer, much to the dismay of some people in a small town somewhere. It is good to know nothing important is going on in the world, like Adm. William Fallon resigning over a disagreement or non-disagreement over the policy toward Iran..
But, while watching CNN, Super Lawyer and Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz, argued that Gov. Spitzer's actions constituted a victimless crime and in twenty years people will look back on this and laugh because prostitution would no longer be a crime, as it is in some areas of Western Europe.
Here is an article from Slate on why prostitution is illegal.
So I ask you, dear readers:
(1) Is prostitution a victimless crime?
(2) Should prostitution be legal?
(3) Is prostitution different than pornography in the sense that people are getting paid to have sex?
(4) Why did Gov. Spitzer not go to the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, which would have guaranteed his privacy?
Also, if you want to see more information about the Empire's Club, you can see more from Slate.
And I cannot wait to see the comments from this post.
8 comments:
I don't have lots of time to elaborate as Wild Man is currently in the process of destroying the house, but my immediate thoughts are
1. Prostitution is not a victimless crime, at least not in most cases. I do believe there are instances when a woman can choose to work as a prostitute. These cases are few and far between. I believe most women become prostitutes because they feel like they have no other options open to them; thus, they do become victims.
2. I think there is some benefit to legalizing prostitution--women can receive insurance, benefits, and protection under the law.
But there is no simple answer to this problem. I think making prostitution legal does imply that it is a victimless crime (and if it is a crime without a victim, it is not really a crime). Too many women (and men, especially young men who have runaway from home for various reasons) turn to prostitution because their circumstances limit what they are able to do to improve their lives.
Pretty much seconding m's comment, only to add that as with almost all "vice crimes", prostitution would likely be safer, more equitable, etc., were it legal.
Also, Harrogate too saw Dershowitz on CNN. Harrogate sympathizes with his general premise, but the 'twenty years' prediction is still pretty ludicrous.
Here, here, M. I would like to add that stories like Spitzer and other politicians having sex with prostitutes shed light on the fraction of prostitutes who seem to have it pretty good in terms of safety, choices, etc. But those cases are few and far between.
In terms of legalizing prostitution, it may help in some cases, but street prostitutes are probably not going to be paying taxes, etc. It's like guns. Technically, they're legal (too legal, in fact), but there are still shady, shady things happening on the street involving gun sales. Legalizing prostitution may only help women who work for high end businesses like those politicians frequent. And while it's important to help those women, it doesn't solve the larger problem.
that sums up my position on legalizing prostitution exactly, megsg-h
Feeling as though I had no other options, I once worked as a bill collector.
Client #10: Our very own Reverend Todd
In the end, only the prostitutes would know best if legalization/decriminalization would help them. Would there be any safety, income, or emotional benefit?? It would shift the power in the transaction to the john (drops his criminal burden), so I think not.
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