Government is infamous for attempts to legislate morality for everyone but politicians.

Tom Foley is a perfect example.

Foley introduced the Child Internet Protection Act, which was passed and signed into law, which made it illegal to proposition minors over the Internet. And what was Foley doing that got him into trouble?

That should have been Mark Foley, not Tom.

Dusty, ever since several more boys came forward early this year with new allegations against him, the FBI has expanded the investigation. Last I heard, they weren't supposed to report back until this summer.

I knew you meant Marky

That was for the Repugs who don't know the difference between Tom Foley  (a Democrat) and Mark Foley (a Repug).

If they watch Faux News, they already think Mark Foley is a Democrat because of the number of times they identified Mark Foley as a Democrat and not a Repug.

I hope they tar and feather that perv

Throw him in prison and let's see if he likes men as much as he likes boys.

Prostitution is a victimless crime

Is it, really?  The prostitutes themselves are the victims, allowing themselves to be beaten and treated like trash by their pimps, and allowing themselves to be used by men as cheap objects that can be bought and sold like slaves of yore. 

Most profits earned from prostitution are used to support other criminal activities.  Furthermore, many of the victims who become prostitutes are underaged runaways.

Now, please don't Imus me for this, but you'll find plenty in this song to challenge the notion of the "victimless" nature of this crime:

You're Not the Kind of Ho

(That Santa Had in MInd)

Dr BLT (c) 2007

http://www.drblt.net/music/...

"The prostitutes themselves are the victims, allowing themselves to be beaten and treated like trash by their pimps, and allowing themselves to be used by men as objects to be used, abused and excused"

Not necessarily, Doc.  You're thinking of the paradigm of the Union Avenue whore.  Prostitution can assume more dignified forms, too.  "Call girl" and "escort service" connote these more dignified forms of prostitution.

And marijuana's side-effects include getting beaten by cops and tossed in jail.

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Most of prostitution's evils, like those of illegal drugs, stem from the illegality, not the act itself.

I don't know, Doc; if you want to debate degradation, I can argue equally well that it's degrading to men.  Men willing to pay for what women have an effortless time getting, if they so choose.

But your argument seems intended to parry the "victimless crime" argument, and I think you know what we're getting at.  You're creating a sort of virtual victimhood to take the place of actual, physical, unwilling victimhood that we have in mind -- and which justifies our more sensible laws.

"Unwilling victim of crime" is what we're referring to.

Hardliner, I believe the punchline (regarding phallic envy) is "I've got one of *THESE* and I can get all of *THOSE* that I want.

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Besides, I usually have to pay extra for degradation.

As Thoreau said of economics, while sex admits to much levity it cannot so easily be disposed. These two are inextricable facts of the human condition. Economics is given the gravest attention and impacts heavily upon all of us, and poverty is no joking matter. Our passions are aroused by corruption in government and elsewhere, our compassion is aroused by so many suffering want. But some years ago I began to question why, since sex is such a serious matter and only second to economics it does not get the serious attention it deserves? That would seem a foolish observation until the subject of legalizing prostitution comes up. At that point, the failure to address the issue of sex with the deserved seriousness for consideration makes itself plain. Many are the poignant and tragic causes of illegal prostitution, but the continued refusal to deal with the issue as pragmatically as one would be expected to do with economics is to avoid the practical sense of such a thing. And it is this practical side of legal prostitution those opposed are unwilling to admit.

Thank you Dusty, and I know what you mean by my own experience in listening to so many different women on the subject in many different environments. Some of their stories are told in my book including one chapter entitled "I love a prostitute." But women are not allowed a respectable forum for advancing this empowering view while men will encourage things like pornography. The hypocrisy abounds whenever the subject of legalization is even mentioned.

But Doc (BLT), in your example, the crime is molestation, and yes, there is indeed a victim.  And I'll agree that there is a fairly strong correlation between being a victim of molestation and pursuing professions like this.

But in the cases where this is true -- that molestation gave rise to a prostitute -- the victimization has already taken place.  You're not preventing any new victims by outlawing prostitution -- you're punishing women who have already become victims of crimes during their youth.

In other words, the victimhood that you describe may predispose someone to prostitution -- but they are not victims of prostitution.  They are victims of whatever predisposed them to it.

Remember: we're taking about victimless crime, not  "acts often undertaken by victims of earlier crimes."

Proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution

An adult convicted of the molestation of a child will be sentenced to prison for a term of not less than ten years.

If the child dies as a result of the molestation the person(s) convicted of the crime will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A child as defined by this article shall be one who has not attained their sixteenth birthday.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

This was something I proposed eight years ago and continue to work for. Copies were sent to then President Clinton, every U. S. Senator and state governor, many media pundits and celebrities like Oprah and Montel. The resulting archive of responses over the years has been interesting, but largely show men would like to keep their historical place of dominance over women. But until the innocence of childhood becomes a national priority emphasizing the equal value of girls to boys, there is no hope of preventing the promiscuity that comes with a society encouraging sexual license and one that encourages violence against girls and women.

Hardliner, I think the legalization of prostitution that is being discussed would be similar to that of Nevada.  In this sense, it would accomplish the same thing as the legalization of abortion.  The process would be overseen in such a way as to eliminate the abusive, back-alley, transactions that cause so much physical harm to those involved.  The women, or men, would be screened for, and treated, for any diseases and everything would be above board.  It would empower those who chose the profession, as they would have access to better facilities, health care, insurance, etc. 

I do not argue the fact that many, if not most, that involve themselves in this ancient profession have been sexually abused at some time in their lives.  At least by legalizing it, they will be cared for, instead of staying on the streets and at the mercy of thier jons.  It would be a kind way to help those who otherwise may slip through the cracks.

I agree.  When something is illegal, that guarantees that anyone who profits from it is likely to be unethical -- simply because ethical, responsible people aren't interested in taking the risks that come with breaking the law. 

Make something legal, and you'll increase the number of ethical people willing to operate in that business.  As random likes to say, quite correctly, the harm associated with prostitution is the by-product of its being illegal.