Either I'm the only one that has voted or everyone agrees with me.

I voted for Brothels only because it would be much easier to control for health and safety reasons.

I still think it is immoral, but I don't think the government has a right to ban it ...just regulate it in the public interest.

Interesting and fun poll! ;)

Only for Poolboys.

Morally, its a "No, It's Immoral." Economically, its a "Yes, brothels only."

Come on guys, I thought Americans were free marketeers, but you sound like you belong to the government of the place where I live (China)!! The politically/amorally correct "it's ok regulated, because at least we can control it" idea adds nothing to the business or the safety aspect. You will just pay more tax for the inefficient civil servants who will only then end up in a corrupt administration.

Anyway, if you check out Singapore where licensed prostitution DOES exist, it is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the amount of business going on there.

The only real issue is health, and that can only be addressed through the relentless sex education of the masses.

prostitution is immoral

It is amazing that there is a true lack of knowledge and understanding about the truth about the sex industry as a whole, but most especially prostitution...I am against legalizing it for many reasons...yes it is immoral, etc, etc, but most importantly, I do believe there is a direct connection between the sex industry and the sex trafficking problem, of which about half of the victims of trafficking around the world are children. It is estimated there about about 14 million children trapped in the global sex trade (fact from ASHA forum). All the stats I have read indicate that the AVERAGE age a girl/women ENTERS prostitution is about 14 now (meaning they may be older or YOUNGER), and getting YOUNGER. Some countries will have girls as young as 5 years old "prostituting" herself; which really is allowing adult men to pay to rape her. PIMPS and TRAFFICKERS/RECRUITERS are looking for young girls--virgins and young are more money, a heck of a lot more money; there is simply more demand...also becuz they are "clean"--NO STD'S. What pimp or trafficker is going to turn down more money? They are providing a "service" after all. Second most important reason, the violence and abuse and regular raping that occurs to these girls/women. Legal or not legal, nothing will change this dynamic of treating those "hos" like crap. It is their job, and it comes with the territory, becuz they are perceived a certain way, there are certain expectations of them, and certain types of men are drawn towards them...abusive, demanding, demeaning, hurtful, sadistic... True, not all men necessarily will treat the women badly. Some men do appear to just want a certain sex act that their wives don't want to do, etc. But on the whole, the women and girls experience violence on a regular basis. Our media has done a superb job of spreading the propaganda of women who are "sexually free" and "sexually empowered", which is all a lie.The sex industry is like any business, with people in charge of public relations to make sure the public perception of them is good. The few women who may actually feel this way are overwhelmingly outnumbered by those who are mistreated, abused, and frankly traumatized, and terrorized by all who participate -- the pimps, traffickers, madams, customers..this aspect of the "business" of course must be silenced, withheld from the public.
The best thing for these women and children is for more and more organizations and churches to reach out to them and help them financially and with every need they have, and for us to start prosecuting the pimps (who are truly pedophiles as well as abusive rapists), traffickers, madams, and the abusive customers.
Please, for heaven's sake, don't vote for something until you have educated yourself from EVERY perspective, and most especially, from those that have true intimate knowledge of the industry; in other words, the info. from the media is extremely biased!
Sincerely,
Tonya

I think prositution should be legalized. They should make the people in this business go and get checked every 6 months so they are not spreading disease. I think whatever happens behind closed doors is that persons business. I think of course the legal age for this is important, and I think children should not have nothing to do with this industry, and they should be protected. Rhode Island seems to be legal as long as its behind closed doors, unless it has changed recently. This is America, we should be allowed to do what we want, but it should be regulated, in regards to check ups, and that the only people working should be adults of legal age. Its happening anyway all over everywhre, they might as well make them pay taxes, and keep it safe. Maria

I have Asperger syndrome. I am nearly 30 years of age and have never been able to date or seduce women. I feel extremely uncomfortable and awkward around them. For me, prostitution is the only means I have of taking care of a very strong and natural need. Because of this I frequently travel to Nevada, the only place where I can solicit prostitutes, and therefore the only place I can get laid. So while people can argue about it being immoral and demeaning all they want, I say to you, what about all the guys out there who have no other ways of getting laid??? It's just not fair. There are more than you might think. And most people who criticize this point of view have no idea what it's like to go without sex for 4 or 5 years like I have. It's very very unhealthy. And I believe that in some people it can lead to violent behavior. If for no other reason, prostitution should be legalized and heavily regulated in some states to prevent sexual violence against women by men who are extremely sexually frustrated and are misfits when it comes to having "normal" relationships. Because that's just the way it is for me.

One more comment regarding legalized prostitution. There was a post recently on the forum of one bordello where one man expressed his gratitude to one of the workers for being with him. He has it even worse off than me: he has cerebral palsy. So what are people with these afflictions supposed to do? Go to the solicitors on the streets and get AIDS? Become priests? Even legal prostitution has a lot of exploitation involved, and there is nothing glamorous about it, but it is still an act between two consenting adults and considering the fact that our government makes a killing (literally) off of the cigarette and alcohol taxes, which is far more immoral than "exploiting" this inherently victimless act, there is simply no reason why prostitution cannot be legalized, regulated, and taxed in every state.

I completly agree with just about everyone on here. I have to write a paper for school on whether I believe it is right or not, so I've been doing some research myself, I.E. reading all of your comments above. I find myself agreeing with the people who think that only Brothels should be legalized because then at least they can be regulated and taxed. I believe that street prostitution is far more dangerous and by decriminalizing prostitution then we are only making the prostitutes sneak around and maybe get themselves into even more trouble. Whether or not it is leagalized anywhere, it is still going to go on and never stop, it's easy to hide. So why not regulate what we can? Yes, it's immoral, but like someone else mentioned, the tabacco and alcohol industry esentially KILL people and make BILLIONS off of doing it. There are always going to be immoral things out in the world and nobody will ever put an end to that, because there are way too many religions and mixed ideas of what is wrong and right and with the first amendment, everyone can believe in whatever they'de like, and we all have a freedom of speach as well. Hmmm, very complex subject huh?!

Yes, it's immoral,

Well, that is your opinion. I'm sure there are many out there who do not see it as immoral.

I agree pretty much with the rest you state above though.

I think prostitution should be legalized and taken off of the streets. Men will always pay for sex wherever they can find it.There is no such thing as free sex because marriage is the most expensive form of prostitution.

Whenever any sort of consentual activity is banned, the only thing that happens is that the activity goes underground. This not only goes for prostitution, but for gun ownership, drugs, sexual acts of any and all kinds made illicit, gambling and so forth. Moreover to enforce these laws, you need money and resources to do this. This involves doing one of the following: overburdening the citizens with additional taxes and/or deviating law enforcement away form solving real crimes!

yes