The USA should just legalize Pot and Prostitution and Tax the earnings

[QUOTE="ROFLCOPTER603"]No, prostitution is when person A pays person B for sex.

Porn is when person C pays person B and person A to have sex.m0zart

"No sir officer! My dad paid her the money. I just had sex with her. I'M INNOCENT!"

If your dad also pays you for having sex, then it's fine. Side note, why would you think of your dad paying you to have sex?

Alright, then it's entity C pays person B and A to have sex.ROFLCOPTER603

"... and then he paid me fifty bucks. Really officer, there was no prostitution involved!"

There wasn't though. If both actors are paid then it's legal.

If your dad also pays you for having sex, then it's fine. Side note, why would you think of your dad paying you to have sex?ROFLCOPTER603

Why... to help me get away with it, of course.

Anyway, my point is just that this is a pretty damned arbitrary distinction. Not the most arbitrary I've heard encoded into that product of propaganda and infighting we call "law", or in action "justice", but certainly arbitrary enough for me to smell bull**** all the way to the pitt of Antarctica's ass.

When you legalize it you put control of it in the hands of businessmen who have a vested interest in making sure there's a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for all involved. When you criminalize it you put control of it in the hands of thugs and pushers.

worlock77

Exactly. This goes for both weed and prostitutes.

[QUOTE="m0zart"]

[QUOTE="ROFLCOPTER603"]

"No sir officer! My dad paid her the money. I just had sex with her. I'M INNOCENT!"

If your dad also pays you for having sex, then it's fine. Side note, why would you think of your dad paying you to have sex?

[QUOTE="ROFLCOPTER603"]Alright, then it's entity C pays person B and A to have sex.ROFLCOPTER603

"... and then he paid me fifty bucks. Really officer, there was no prostitution involved!"

There wasn't though. If both actors are paid then it's legal.

Or, I'll just get the pimp in on this action. Forget my friend. I will pay the pimp some money for him to give me a high-five. Then the pimp will turn around and pay the girl to have sex with me. Everybody wins, and it's not prostitution..... right?

Legalizing pot? Yes, i agree 100%. We waste lots of money and resources trying to ban the stuff, when we could be making some serious bank on all the uses for marijuana.

Legalizing prostitution? no, i think it should stay illegal, considering how it could be considered a form of slavery.

Neo-ganon

What? How is it a form of slavery? The woman is CHOOSING to do what she wants with here body...no one's forcing her...

[QUOTE="ROFLCOPTER603"]

[QUOTE="m0zart"]

"... and then he paid me fifty bucks. Really officer, there was no prostitution involved!"

There wasn't though. If both actors are paid then it's legal.

BMD004

Or, I'll just get the pimp in on this action. Forget my friend. I will pay the pimp some money for him to give me a high-five. Then the pimp will turn around and pay the girl to have sex with me. Everybody wins, and it's not prostitution..... right?

No that is prostitution, as you're still paying for sex.

Hell yea! I could go buy some pot then pick up a prosti.

[QUOTE="BMD004"]

[QUOTE="ROFLCOPTER603"]

worlock77

Or, I'll just get the pimp in on this action. Forget my friend. I will pay the pimp some money for him to give me a high-five. Then the pimp will turn around and pay the girl to have sex with me. Everybody wins, and it's not prostitution..... right?

No that is prostitution, as you're still paying for sex.

Prostitution or porn? Legal or illegal?

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="BMD004"]So it seems to me there only needs to be 3 people in this conundrum. So me and a friend can solicit a prostitute. He will pay her to have sex with me, and I will pay her to have sex with him.

Or, I'll just get the pimp in on this action. Forget my friend. I will pay the pimp some money for him to give me a high-five. Then the pimp will turn around and pay the girl to have sex with me. Everybody wins, and it's not prostitution..... right?

BMD004

No that is prostitution, as you're still paying for sex.

Prostitution or porn? Legal or illegal?

Somebody is still being paid to have sex, as per your own words. Thus it is still prostitution, and still illegal. Not trying to be insulting, but you really don't seem to grasp this too well. It's a fairly simple concept and it's all how things are spoken and worded. Porn companies get around prostitution laws because they don't explicitly pay people to have sex. They pay people to appear on film. Those people then choose to follow the director's instructions and have sex. Sure it's all legalese and technicalities, but that's how it works.

I don't think pot should be legal, it's bad for you.ArmoredCore55

The legalization of pot and prostitution will not even make a dent into our massive deficit.DroidPhysX

[QUOTE="ArmoredCore55"]I don't think pot should be legal, it's bad for you.Netherscourge

Driving kills more people a day than Pot ever would.

[QUOTE="BMD004"]

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

No that is prostitution, as you're still paying for sex.

worlock77

Prostitution or porn? Legal or illegal?

Somebody is still being paid to have sex, as per your own words. Thus it is still prostitution, and still illegal. Not trying to be insulting, but you really don't seem to grasp this too well. It's a fairly simple concept and it's all how things are spoken and worded. Porn companies get around prostitution laws because they don't explicitly pay people to have sex. They pay people to appear on film. Those people then choose to follow the director's instructions and have sex. Sure it's all legalese and technicalities, but that's how it works.

Look, I grasp what you are saying... it's just BS. The only difference between porn and prostitution is that there is a camera and the "actors" have sex with the intention of making money by selling their material, whereas with prostitutes the prostitute has sex with the intention of making money while the other person does it for pleasure.

When it comes down to it, money is being exchanged for sex. And that is a fact. Which is why it is completely stupid that porn is legal and escorts are legal, yet prostitution isn't legal. The logic behind it is stupid. I was coming up with these goofy scenarios to make a point about how stupid it is.

Like my scenario earlier: I can go directly to a pimp and pay him $100 for a handshake. At that point, he introduces me to Tanya. That way, I didn't pay for sex, I'm paying a man $100 to shake his hand. So you're telling me if that was done right in front of the police, it would be legal?

It would probably result in a new Crusade.

Seriously.

Not only will legalization of these things bring in tax revenue, but a lot of money will be saved for law enforcement with these things legalized. It's not a coincidence that the US incarceration rate has shot up ever since Nixon declared the war on drugs. And now we're at a point where our prisons have become so overpopulated that we have to release criminals onto the streets to make room for all these possessors and third time offenders.

As for prostitution specifically - prostitution is going to happen regardless - it'd be much preferable that prostitutes are in a safe, regulated work environment where they can have actual rights rather than be owned by some scumbag pimp.

-Sun_Tzu-

Well said, completely agree.
Prostitution will happen whether you like it or not, it's better these girls get a safe work environment in brothels backed by the government instead of working in some alley.

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"]

Not only will legalization of these things bring in tax revenue, but a lot of money will be saved for law enforcement with these things legalized. It's not a coincidence that the US incarceration rate has shot up ever since Nixon declared the war on drugs. And now we're at a point where our prisons have become so overpopulated that we have to release criminals onto the streets to make room for all these possessors and third time offenders.

As for prostitution specifically - prostitution is going to happen regardless - it'd be much preferable that prostitutes are in a safe, regulated work environment where they can have actual rights rather than be owned by some scumbag pimp.

Sagem28

Well said, completely agree.
Prostitution will happen whether you like it or not, it's better these girls get a safe work environment in brothels backed by the government instead of working in some alley.

The earnings would help, but it would require time to properly put laws in effect stating the specifics of what is and isn't legal around those two and such. It also wouldn't bring back that much in returns, both combined would just barely make a dent in the deficit and the hassle just wouldn't be worth it.

Besides, is it too hard to just find a woman or get some incredibly easy (if illegal) to find hash? Prostitution and weed are like, the two least cared about crimes behind moderate speeding and jaywalking, so its not like we're all hankering for a bit of either. If I'm correct I also think that the act of paying for consensual sex is legal, but solicitation (and many other aspects of prostitution) are not.

The legalization of pot and prostitution will not even make a dent into our massive deficit.DroidPhysX

The earnings would help, but it would require time to properly put laws in effect stating the specifics of what is and isn't legal around those two and such. It also wouldn't bring back that much in returns, both combined would just barely make a dent in the deficit and the hassle just wouldn't be worth it.

Besides, is it too hard to just find a woman or get some incredibly easy (if illegal) to find hash? Prostitution and weed are like, the two least cared about crimes behind moderate speeding and jaywalking, so its not like we're all hankering for a bit of either. If I'm correct I also think that the act of paying for consensual sex is legal, but solicitation (and many other aspects of prostitution) are not.

SPYDER0416

Prostitution: A lot of the people who work in this industry are commonly exploited and as well as this, I don't think you would like it if there was a prostitute hanging outside your house trying to get some business.

DeX2010

Actually, legalizing prostitution will help prevent that. Look how we do things over here; prostitutes can't sell themselves on the streets - they can, however register in a brothel and sell their services there. Thus you keep them off the streets (as street prostitution is still illegal) and they can work in an environment which is controllable and taxable by the government.

We should legalize assault, armed robbery, rape and murder so we can save money by having less prisons/prison guards and spend less on court fees. :roll:

(In case some people are thick, the above was said sarcastically).

you really think that will make the debt go away?

lol, please stop using the debt as a catalyst to further your political agendas plox.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="slarkyslark"] Really? Do you know how much more high pot smokers there will be? Driving cars stoned isn't harmful to others? What about stds when it comes to prostitution? If it was allowed, there would be a lot more women doing it for the easy money, causing a faster spread of stds everywhere. Is that not harmful to others?sonicare

- People who want to smoke pot do so regardless. That won't change. And the same rules could be placed on it as alcohol.

- Agan, look at Nevada.

If you leglaize Prostitution, the "quality" of the prostitution would go up, just based on competition.

Like I said - the whole "Pimped out on a corner in a bad Neighborhood" atmosphere would be gone. Everything would upscaled to fancy brothels. It would no-doubt be government regulated. There would be health inspections. The men and women who are providing the services would have job protection rights. Their "bosses" would have to be competitive and provide health plans and benefits and other stuff just like every other businesses in the USA does.

There would be laws. Age limits. Restrictions. Registration. Licensing. Etc... (If only to ensure it's all kept on books and taxed)

There may eventually even be Prostitution Unions overseeing the general wealthfare of their members. (no pun intended)

Everyone equates it as a dirty business based on what they see now. It's illegal now. Of course it look bad now because it's basically a back-alley thing or a high-end "secret" type of thing.

Legalize it, and the taboo nature of it would eventually dissipate.

[QUOTE="DroidPhysX"]The legalization of pot and prostitution will not even make a dent into our massive deficit.DeX2010

- Marijuana has causal links to mental illness. Meaning than a lot of people who have mental illnesses smoke it. However, as has been said many time, correlation does not equal causation.

- And a legal, regulated industry would eliminated those problems. Again, Nevada.

We should legalize assault, armed robbery, rape and murder so we can save money by having less prisons/prison guards and spend less on court fees. :roll:

(In case some people are thick, the above was said sarcastically).

YellowOneKinobi

[QUOTE="DeX2010"][QUOTE="DroidPhysX"]The legalization of pot and prostitution will not even make a dent into our massive deficit.worlock77

- Marijuana has causal links to mental illness. Meaning than a lot of people who have mental illnesses smoke it. However, as has been said many time, correlation does not equal causation.

- And a legal, regulated industry would eliminated those problems. Again, Nevada.

Wait, what? If marijuana has causal links to mental illness, then what's the point of the "correlation does not equal causation" statement?

chessmaster1989

Ehh, poor wording on my part (hey, it's early and I'm barely awake).

[QUOTE="Sagem28"]

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"]

Not only will legalization of these things bring in tax revenue, but a lot of money will be saved for law enforcement with these things legalized. It's not a coincidence that the US incarceration rate has shot up ever since Nixon declared the war on drugs. And now we're at a point where our prisons have become so overpopulated that we have to release criminals onto the streets to make room for all these possessors and third time offenders.

As for prostitution specifically - prostitution is going to happen regardless - it'd be much preferable that prostitutes are in a safe, regulated work environment where they can have actual rights rather than be owned by some scumbag pimp.

TonyDanzig

Well said, completely agree.
Prostitution will happen whether you like it or not, it's better these girls get a safe work environment in brothels backed by the government instead of working in some alley.

How the hell is that a free market principle? Do you even know what a free market is?

the war on drugs has been a complete failure and has actually led to higher rates of abuse and addiction.

this newly released study has called for an end to ineffective policy measures.

http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/06/02/global_commission_on_drug_policy_panel_says_global_war_on_drugs_.html

"The Global Commission on Drug Policy, a 19-member panel chaired by former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, said the failure of the war on drugs has brought "devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world."

The study recommends experimentation with models of legal drug regulation, particularly cannabis. The report notes that decriminalization does not lead to significant increases in drug use.

One chart in the report shows that between 1998 and 2008 opiate consumption in the United States climbed by 34.5 percent. Cocaine use rose 27 percent during that time. The report even claims that medically prescribing heroin was found to reduce petty crime in the Netherlands, while having "positive effects on the health of people struggling with addiction."

I have always felt both should be legalized.

Marijuana I agree 100% with (I'd also like to legalize some/all hard drugs including cocaine), prostitution I have mixed feelings on but tend to oppose mainly because I don't want to see women pressured or forced into prostitution to pay off debts.

chessmaster1989

if anyone took a good hard look at crime and laws in the United States of America... I am sure they would be able to come up with better solutions than this. Legalizing prostitution would only create more unnecessary laws because it would call for regulation and over sight. Drugs should be handled better, not necessarily legalized, decriminlzed, most certaintly.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="BMD004"]No, I'm paying for a high-five. Then the pimp is paying us to be in his movie (he has a camera with him). Or if I need to be paid too, I'll pay the pimp $100.01 for the high-five, and then the pimp can take his cut, then give the girl her cut, and give me the $0.01. Now we all got paid to make this "porn film" happen.

Prostitution or porn? Legal or illegal?

BMD004

Somebody is still being paid to have sex, as per your own words. Thus it is still prostitution, and still illegal. Not trying to be insulting, but you really don't seem to grasp this too well. It's a fairly simple concept and it's all how things are spoken and worded. Porn companies get around prostitution laws because they don't explicitly pay people to have sex. They pay people to appear on film. Those people then choose to follow the director's instructions and have sex. Sure it's all legalese and technicalities, but that's how it works.

Look, I grasp what you are saying... it's just BS. The only difference between porn and prostitution is that there is a camera and the "actors" have sex with the intention of making money by selling their material, whereas with prostitutes the prostitute has sex with the intention of making money while the other person does it for pleasure.

When it comes down to it, money is being exchanged for sex. And that is a fact. Which is why it is completely stupid that porn is legal and escorts are legal, yet prostitution isn't legal. The logic behind it is stupid. I was coming up with these goofy scenarios to make a point about how stupid it is.

Like my scenario earlier: I can go directly to a pimp and pay him $100 for a handshake. At that point, he introduces me to Tanya. That way, I didn't pay for sex, I'm paying a man $100 to shake his hand. So you're telling me if that was done right in front of the police, it would be legal?

I'm pretty sure for it to be legal you have to have some form of permit or license and also file certain paperwork with government folk before any filming takes place.

legalize hookers and pot, I am down with both those changes.

But I don't see that happening in the land of the not so free any time soon.

i would never be able to pay a women to sleep with me sounds kinda scary

[QUOTE="chessmaster1989"]

Marijuana I agree 100% with (I'd also like to legalize some/all hard drugs including cocaine), prostitution I have mixed feelings on but tend to oppose mainly because I don't want to see women pressured or forced into prostitution to pay off debts.

AmazonTreeBoa

Yes, I support legalizing cocaine and implementing a huge tax to keep it's market price roughly equal to the pre-legalization price. The crack epidemic during the 1980s was the major contributor to the growth in gang membership and the concurrent rise in violent crime (and homicide). It gave gangs a much more business-like structure that would be largely destroyed by drug legalization. Crack/cocaine are actually very inefficient to produce on a small scale, so legalization would shift production to large firms, which would eliminate much of the 'business' element of gangs, which would drastically reduce gang participation. The result would be a significant decline in violent crime and in the murder rate. Meanwhile, the tax keeping price relatively constant would ensure only minimal increases in quantity demanded (which would come from increases in demand due to the drug now being legal, which are not expected to be very large).

You would not see anything close to the same magnitude with legalization of prostitution.

I encourage you to read Miron and Zwiebel's 1995 paper The Economic Case Against Drug Prohibition, it's very interesting.

[QUOTE="BMD004"]

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

Somebody is still being paid to have sex, as per your own words. Thus it is still prostitution, and still illegal. Not trying to be insulting, but you really don't seem to grasp this too well. It's a fairly simple concept and it's all how things are spoken and worded. Porn companies get around prostitution laws because they don't explicitly pay people to have sex. They pay people to appear on film. Those people then choose to follow the director's instructions and have sex. Sure it's all legalese and technicalities, but that's how it works.

dagreenfish

Look, I grasp what you are saying... it's just BS. The only difference between porn and prostitution is that there is a camera and the "actors" have sex with the intention of making money by selling their material, whereas with prostitutes the prostitute has sex with the intention of making money while the other person does it for pleasure.

When it comes down to it, money is being exchanged for sex. And that is a fact. Which is why it is completely stupid that porn is legal and escorts are legal, yet prostitution isn't legal. The logic behind it is stupid. I was coming up with these goofy scenarios to make a point about how stupid it is.

Like my scenario earlier: I can go directly to a pimp and pay him $100 for a handshake. At that point, he introduces me to Tanya. That way, I didn't pay for sex, I'm paying a man $100 to shake his hand. So you're telling me if that was done right in front of the police, it would be legal?

I'm pretty sure for it to be legal you have to have some form of permit or license and also file certain paperwork with government folk before any filming takes place.