What's so wrong about prositution?

[lucy]

I've just heard a feature in the radio about investment bankers. It was mentioned that a survey in Germany showed that investment bankers are third last on the list of persons the questioned people would have as a friend. Only prostitutes and criminals ranked lower.

Which led me to the following question: Why are sexworkers so low rated? What's wrong with selling sex for money?

(Now i could also be the advocatus diaboli and ask: Is it better to kill for money, like soldiers do?)

[Ragoczy]

I don't think there's anything wrong with prostitution -- it should be legal, regulated and taxed like any other personal service from massage to manicure.

It being illegal is what makes it so sordid and undesirable, because forcing something underground brings in the criminal element to run things.

As to whether it's better or worse than being a soldier, I'll simply say that I hope you never have to live in a country whose soldiers are unwilling to fight and die for your safety and freedom when some neighbor-state decides they want what you have.

[Ozme52]

Maybe it was hyperbole... or maybe it was in the translation...

It hasn't been all that long since Germany legalized brothels. Maybe investment bankers were 2nd on the list and when prostitution became legal, they just split the criminal catefory in two.

[Thorne]

(Now i could also be the advocatus diaboli and ask: Is it better to kill for money, like soldiers do?)

A nation's soldiers don't fight for money. Sure, they get paid, but it is generally not nearly as much as they could make in business or industry. Most soldiers kill (and die) for patriotism. Mercenaries kill for money, and can be notoriously fickle because of it.

As for prostitution, I feel it is the religious viewpoints which have cast it in such a diabolical light. In many cultures throughout history, prostitution was a legal, profitable and respected profession. To my mind it's no worse than a musician who plays his music for money, or the athlete who plays games for money.

I'm with Ragoczy: legalize it, regulate it and tax it. One more industry for the governments to collect on. And one less industry for organized crime to exploit.