Prostitution is an issue that has caused controversy cross-culturally and historically and which has many individuals reexamining the logistics of it. If prostitution is decriminalized it will become economically profitable and feasible for not only the prostitutes, but also western society as a whole. Without the 20th century western laws, which force prostitution underground, the profession of prostitution could become a clean and safe occupation. Prostitution laws are unconstitutional and deny the prostitutes what the American constitution allows them.
Prostitution is an illegal act in Canada and large portions of the United States which, if legalized, would protect and benefit 20thcentury western society. If sanctioned, prostitution will become economically lucrative for the governments involved. The colossal amount of money spent each year on prostitute prevention could be spent on more urgent issues, which is exactly what the San Francisco Task Force on Prostitution found. The total costs accounted for in this report amounts to $7,634,750. 00. Given the many areas in which we found that information is not available, or there are hidden costs, the over all expense to the taxpayer exceeds $7.
6 million annually. 1The San Francisco Task Force is a group of researchers, police officers,members of the San Francisco community, government officials and prostitutes, who frequently meet to discuss the issues of prostitution and to try to come to some solution. Although they may not always agree, two issues they are in agreement about are that the $7. 6 million dollars would be better spent elsewhere and that prostitution should be legalized.
Robert Noce of Manitoba city council wants reform of the Canadian Justice System and he would like to see prostitution become worthwhile to Canadian taxpayers. Quite frankly, for anyone to suggest to me a dating or escort agency is just offering companionship is being quite naive. Let’s not try to bury our heads in the sand and pretend nothing else is going on. Instead of pretending these establishments don’t exist let’s instead be logical about this and try to use the profits that we could be making, in a wise and useful manner.
I think that the highest paying customers for prostitution is us Canadians, in the money we put into fighting this futile cause. 2Instead of putting millions of dollars into stopping this consensual act, the money saved and made from the legalization of prostitution can be spent on fighting child prostitution and coerced prostitution.
These two crimes are becoming rampant across North America, but lack of funds prevents a serious effort from being made to fight against them. If brothels and prostitutes were to be taxed like any other place of business, millions of extra revenue dollars would become available to the Canadian government, for it to spend as it sees fit. Although the monetary concerns are overwhelming one of the most debated issues is the health and safety of prostitution.
If prostitution were to be decriminalized, the profession of prostitution could become a healthy, publicly sanctioned place of business. Throughout history and throughout European cultures, prostitution has been legalized to decrease the spread of disease as historian Jennifer James reports. Beginning with Prussia in 1700, most continental European governments shifted their tactics from suppression of prostitution and sexually transmitted disease to control through a system of compulsory registration, licensed brothels, and medical inspection of prostitutes.
Although medical techniques were primitive there was a noticeable decline in sexual diseases among prostitutes and their clients. 3European governments hundreds of years ago realized that since they could not fight prostitution, it was best to make it as safe and healthy as they could. Their efforts saved hundreds of lives and provided treatment to the prostitutes who previously could not seek medical attention without being arrested. A recent episode of 20/20interviewed Joe McNamara, former police chief of Kansas and San Jose, and vice squad officers as they discussed the physical harm that anti-prostitution laws inflict
JOE MCNAMARA: What we’re doing now is worse than prostitution.
JOHN STOSSEL: The law makes it worse?JOE MCNAMARA: The law makes it a lot worse. It drives up the profits. It drives up the potential for corruption. It invites violence.
JOHN STOSSEL: It is true that when the vice cops talk about the terriblethings they see.
2ND VICE SQUAD OFFICER: You see homicides. You see the narcotics. Yousee the assaults.
JOHN STOSSEL: They’re talking about things caused not by prostitution itself, .
