I live in the only US State, Nevada, to have some form of legal prostitution. It's not legal in Vegas or Reno, only in some rural counties. There's every reason for legalizing, taxing, and regulating it.
An example of a legal Nevada brothel.
The taxing part is self explanitory.
If it were legal then the prostitutes would have to be subject to being tested for STDs.
There's the safety factor, for both the hooker, and the trick.
It would probably cut down, though admittedly not eliminate, trafficking in women. Costa Rica is a good example of this. Prostitution is legal but pimping is not.
I don't see it ever being legalized in the rest of the US, in fact I see the day when Nevada shuts it's legal houses down.
It has nothing to do with religion, morality etc.
It has everything to do with women wanting it to be illegal, they don't want men to have a candy store on every corner.
Well, I've just read through this entire thread and am not surprised about how ignorant people, on both sides of the argument, are of this subject.
Two very good books I can recommend that will shed a little light on the matter.
"Brothel, The Mustang Ranch and its Women" by clinical Psychologist Alexa Albert
and
"Madam" By Laura Shaner.
Both are cheap and can be had on either Amazon or Ebay.
Originally posted by shaber
Possible - do you know what the effect of legalising it in Australia was? That might prove more illuminating...
in Victoria there are still many legal brothels, theres crime but its not bedlam with people burning buildings and lynching people. infact, i've talked to some prostitutes who are able to verbalise themselves better than half the people arguing here