Legalize Prostitution?

I sign a great deal of petitions for "causes". I recently received an email from a young woman who was requesting a signature for the Village Voice to shut down or remove ALL of its prostitution ads. Although I greatly sympathized with this young woman's plight and believe whole heartedly in her cause I didn't feel comfortable telling The Village Voice to pull all of its prostitution ads. I have felt for a long time (and I'll be honest, I have no statistics to back this up) that if prostitution were legal, we wouldn't have nearly the amount of human trafficking and criminal activity which is currently associated with "underground" prostitution. What if it were merely a profession? And what if a horny single person wanted to get their rocks off in a contractual agreement? What if the person offering their services had a menu, and what if they were insured and supported by a network of co-workers (a union? dear God, I'm so LIBERAL!!). Is it possible that part of the pervasive shame that we experience around sex might diminish just a smidgeon if this is how it was? I've a mild curiousity about hiring a prostitute. It's an ego thing. If I hired a prostitute I'd be somehow a "loser" because I had to pay for it. The point is mute at this point in my life but speaking theoretically, I want to feel attractive, not pay someone to tell me I am. But I digress. Can we at least have an intelligent, adult discussion about this? I don't want to prostitute myself (I was a waiter for quite a while in my life--you have to be a bit of a prostitute to be a good waiter), I don't want to hire a prostitute. HOWEVER, I don't have a problem with it. I DO have a problem with child porn and children being trafficked into a world of rape and abuse but I feel like this issue would be resolved if it were completely legal. Standards would be required and it would be EASIER to see if illegal activity were occurring because everything would have to be on the up and up (so to speak). "Pleasure Houses" would pay taxes (as would clients). Prostitutes would have to go by a set of standards or they wouldn't get jobs--there would be no legal mandate for condom wearing, etc., but word of mouth, as in any business, would let clients know right away if the prostitute were doing anything unethical. But right now, how do you take action on an activity which is already illegal? Make it legal and then ENFORCE laws around child endangerment, etc. So often I feel people are attacking the messengers.

so, I'm a Dj!

Maya

BTW, these are photos of our daughter Maya.  An amazing story that involves adoption and the power of The Infinite.

My first post

Well,
I've been talking about this.  Writing and all that.  I'm not even sure if I can navigate my way back to this place!