Prostitutes in San Francisco
Proposition K, an upcoming ballot in the local San Francisco elections, proposes a complete end to the prosecution of sexual solicitors by local police. Failing in Berkeley to a two-third's majority, this measure is projected to fare well in San Francisco, which is well-known as an incredibly liberal and sexual city. If passed, this will be the first American territory to allow prostitution to such an extent, going beyond the closed-doors and official business sexual markets of Rhode Island and Nevada and allowing sex to be sold directly on the street, free of arrest.
Sadomasochism, homosexuality, medical marijuana, and now this. Where is this city's moral compass? Well, that question isn't so important; rather, one should ask whether or not the legalization of such an act is an intelligent decision.
Is it? Yes and no. Regardless of how repulsive the act may seem to some, the rate of sexual solicitation does not decrease simply because it is illegal; prostitution is popular across all social classes (that one's for you, Spitzer) and persecution of the salesladies and customers alike hasn't seemed to change that the slightest bit. Statistically speaking, the 11 million dollars the San Franciscan police--and the millions more the federal government spends--on prostitution have changed absolutely nothing.
Immoral, sure. Stoppable? Not really. What is stoppable, however, is the unnecessary spread of STD's that can be tested for in both patrons and employees by the management of legitimate brothels. Which isn't so relevant to this measure, since legitimate business is uninvolved in this measure, though if it passes, I'm hopeful that this is where San Fran will take it.
Regardless, the subjecting of these women to the whims of slimeball pimps, drug dealers, and sex perverts will immediately decrease upon the passing of this bill. Now, there is no fear for these women to go to the cops, and so the acts of rape, murder, and burglary which are so commonly perpetrated against prostitutes can be better defended against.
Luckily for the nosy feds, that good ole' loophole exists, which allows national government to arrest whoever the hell they'd like to in blatant disregard to the Jeffersonian state-power philosophy. They've used this to arrest AIDs and cancer patients for using marijuana, so these street madams best not celebrate too much.
Does anyone see the merit to the legalization of prostitution? What should ultimately be done to 'solve' the problem of prostitution?