Prostitution: It’s legal in a lot of countries including much of Europe, Australia, and even Canada. But in the United States, it is legal only in Nevada. The federal government can’t regulate or tax the industry – despite the fact that Americans spend billions on it every year.
Tracy Quan, author of “Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl" and Janice Crouse, a senior fellow of the Lahaye Institute of Concerned Women for America, join msnbc’s David Shuster to debate the subject. Should the rest of the country follow Nevada?
Msnbc discusses 'Is America ready for...' issues every day this week with David Shuster, 3 p.m. ET on MSNBC.
Monday: Is America ready to legalize marijuana?
Wednesday: Is America ready to legalize gambling?
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NO, America is not ready and it should not be considered progress to be so. I would encourage your journalists to look at the trends of the growth of child prostitution (which is actually rape since it is not legal to prostitute a child) in areas where legal adult sex industry thrives. Organized criminal networks run prostitution all over the world, including the United States, and where legal markets of the commercial sex trade thrive other illict and exploitative activities thrive. It is not safe for for "player" in this so called profession. America can create an economy and culture that provides more women with more real options and with men who respect them. This is worthy of us.
I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but children are being prostituted as I type this, right here in America. Legalization makes it easier for law enforcement to use their resources on child prostitution, instead of using them to arrest consenting adults.
Which do you think deserves more police attention?
You seem to know,and inject, an awful lot more information about this subject than the rest of us care, or want to know!Leave your personal lives out of this discussion! You sound like Rachel Madow without the heavy burden of intellect,interesting topics,talent or charisma!
It clearly should be legalized. The vast majority of the crime associated with prostitution would be eliminanted by legalizing it. Think of the resources that will be freed up by our police departments.
But is America ready? Not a chance. It is still illegal to sell sex toys in 8 states. The Christian right will fight it fiercely and win.
NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I cannot believe anyone would advocate for the legalization of such a disgusting profession... Can't these girls get any other job?? They could work in any other profession but they choose that as if they are helpless. Give me a break. The girl in the interview who had been a prostitute when she was a teen should know better than to legalize it.. she said she faced so many dangerous situations and yet she put herself into those situations. She should know it's not a desirable profession to be in and yet still she is asking for legalization? Unbelievable... If it is legalized then it's basically giving the green light to girls to go ahead and become prostitutes as if they will somehow be protected now. That's their misconception. The day that prostitution becomes legalized in the US I will be moving out of this country. Already the values are so corrupt here it makes me sick... we don't need to add this to the list.
Where are you from.. the bible belt and a staunch dumb conserative right? It's a profession, a job.. and yes it is a needed profession and by making it legal we would be making it safer for everybody . just because you are a prude doesn't mean other people are and a little x-tra sex wouldn't hurt anybody, IF the women had to have medical exams every 3 months and paid taxes.. Everybody would be better off.
I'm not at all a Christian. I'm Hindu and a proud Democrat. And I actually happen to have good values and care about women's welfare unlike you. These women can get any other respectable job and not be in danger AT ALL. Crime would still happen if it was legalized... you think that it would go away so easily? Don't be so naive. Criminals might be punished for their crimes but it would not go away. I'm sure you want it to be legalized just so you can avail of their services right? Don't be so selfish.. think of these poor girls also. Not just horny men like yourself. =P
You don't get it do you??? If it was legalized she wouldn't have been in those situations. If you don't agree with prostitution, DON"T BE A PROSTITUTE!!! However, wasn't this country founded on the belief of LIFE, LIBERITY, and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS??? Yes, Crime will still happen, so will prostitution... However, If it is legalized, then the prostitutes won't be afraid to report these crimes. RAPE is still illegal isn't it??? I mean we didn't make that legal did we??? Yet, every year men and women are raped... why are some of the cases not reported??? FEAR!!! I am not being naive. However, perhaps you are... You are Hindu??? Well, do you think the abuse of hindu women in other countries is ok because it is legal??? Because the MAN says it is his house??? A woman should be able to do WHATEVER she chooses. I'll say again... If you disagree with prositution DON"T BE A PROSTITUTE!!! However, don't look down on those who chose their profession. SUPPLY AND DEMAND. If you want to think negatively of someone, think so of the man who pays for it. Not the woman who takes the money. Maybe if she wasn't there, HE WOULD RAPE someone!!!
Well at least one Senator should be able to get behind legalizing prostitution 100%. That would be Sen. Vitter
Of course we should legalize prostitution. It will get most of the underworld out of the business (as did the repeal of prohibition) and keep sex workers healthy and safe. Sandy Rapp - feminist author and musician
Live and let live. If a woman or man wants to sell their body then they ought to be free to do so. After all it's THEIR body. Those who disagree should not be allowed to dictate to other people. However, those in the sex industry should be required to get regular STD check ups, just as is done in Nevada.
I believe prostitution should be legalized but I don't know if America is ready for it to happen. A large cross section of the U.S. seems often to be behind the curve on social issues when compared to other advanced nations.
YES, finally. Legalize Prostitution. Save billions, release the police for more important crimes , make the women get medical checkups and put the pimps out of business..... It's about time, and it would decrease crime, make it safer for the girls.. and who cares if so and so gets sex and pays for it. Make it legal and force the girls to pay taxes like any other legal business
Although I am outraged that prostitution exists and wish that making the practice illegal would stop the practice wholesale, I'd rather have women safe via legal protections than unsafe under the current system. Make prositution legal.
I should have been legal years ago. A man can pick up a woman in a bar and have sex and the Gov has no problem with it. When money is involed then people have a problem with it. Why not make it legal and the Gov can get there taxes from it.
They might not be completely protected buy at least they won't go to prison!! It's the same thing with pot, our prisons are full of drug offenders who should never have to set foot in jail. Legalize it and stop the oppression by the Right!!
Prohibition of alcohol didn't work cause humans like to drink. The drug war is a complete failure that costs billions of dollars, imprisons millions of citizens for committing crimes without victims, and affects minorities more so than whites (see crack cocaine minimum sentences vs. powdered cocaine sentences). Prostitution is no different. It's considered one of the world's oldest professions, and the U.S. government thinks it can somehow eradicate it through illegalization and incarceration. It doesn't work and never will. This is the land of the free. The government shouldn't legislate my tastes.
Prostitution should be lealized, with Health monitoring for communicable diseases, mental ilnesses etc.. Obvious benefits..... increased income tax revenue, perhaps licensing fees, safety conditions for "working girls" etc.etc.
PS. Love your shows, but David Shuster still owes Hillary and Chelsea Clinton a public apology for his "pimping" comment.
The world's oldest profession will always be with us. It might as well be legal to protect the women. If law enforcement did not have to concentrate resources on adult prostitution they would be able to do more to prevent and rescue children from being enslaved.
no its not ready how ever it needs 2 get ready because if done it would make it safer less stds women would be tested have 2 use protection also think a bout the tax money last i checkrd this country is broke nevada is example have there crime rates jumped as result no if u dont like it dont do it or take part also marijuana needs to be leagle i have smoked that and i have drank drinking is way more harmful makes peopke go nuts weed is mellow mat make you hungry or sleepy thats it come on america gtet off your high horse just because u dont like it or agree dont tell others they cant also tax money we are broke
We should arrest all those penguins that bring rocks to their lady friends for a little bowe chick a bowe bowe.
I fear that this nation will never be ready to accept true freedom as long as we legislate from the pulpit. In this country, it has been long accepted that one segment of society will try and impose it moral values onto other segments. Of course I don’t have the answer, but it was my understanding that the constitution allowed for the pursuit of happiness, and I contend that victimless activities conducted between consenting adults is an act of perusing happiness.
Our understanding of freedom has been reduced to; “you are free to do whatever I feel is OK.” I always thought that your freedom to swing your arm ended at my nose, but it seems that my desires now only serve to hurt others. Should Prostitution be legal? I say yes and taxed just as many of the other excepted vices of this country.
Very well put Harold. What you speak of is rampant in the Southeast part of the country.
America is not ready for legalized prostitution, the divorce rate is high enough without adding fuel to the fire. Not to mention increase cases to STD, aids, etc. What kind of example are we setting for our young daughters, our future leaders of this country. That's ok to forgo college and a obtaining a respectable career and obtaining the american dream through hard, respectable and dignifying way or the easy, dangerous and demeaning way. Where have our morals gone?
I cannot even believe that the question is even being asked! My vote is ABSOLUTELY NOT! Prostitution makes men cheat on their wives, spreads disease and demoralizes women. We not me to be bought and sold by the hour. Some of these women are beaten and/or made to do horrible things by men. What would change if it were legalized. The government could make them pay taxes on the money that they earn. That is the bottom line. "Excuse me. Before you leave would you please sign this paper for my income tax?"
It is about time that prostitution be legalized for several reasons:
1) Women should be able to decide what to do and how to use their bodies.
2) Would give legal protection to women who decide to work in this profession.
3) Would decrease sex oriented crimes.
4) Would increase the income tax that the government collect and reduce the deficit.
5) Could be medically controlled as to reduce HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
6) And more
The argument that legalizing prostitution would increase crime rate does not really hold. That what happen with the alcohol prohibition. It did not work and had to be repealed. Yes, there are some crimes related to alcohol but the police are handling the situation. The same could be with prostitution. Actually, due the illegality of the profession, a lot of crimes go unreported. Legalizing it, would reduce the real crime rate.