How about a program offering incomes to all workers in the prostitution industry?

[JackRiddler]

Jobs, or if unavailable, basic incomes enough for a person (and their live-in children) to have a roof with good food?

Wouldn't that be addressing the problems of coercion and desperation and associated criminality like human trafficking better than criminalizing prostitution, by whatever model?

I'll note that also in Sweden, which presents what's called the progressive model of criminalization, it is additionally the case that there's a real welfare system (as well as good public education and child-care), a durable safety net on which almost everyone can rely. I suggest this probably contributes more than does the criminalization policy to the better life there for those women who are engaged in the prostitution industry, whether by coercion or otherwise.

[Squinch]

1. I actually think this is a great idea. And not just for sex workers.

But with sex workers, if this were in place, there would be less vulnerability to traffickers and pimps, and most of those who stayed in it would be those who wanted to stay in it. There would need to be some draconian penalties against pimping that were vigorously enforced, though, so the incomes didn't just become more income for the pimp.

I am not holding my breath for this to happen, though.

[rustydog]

3. I'm sorry to say this won't happen in America...We're a "Christian" Nation

Christians know prostitution is against God's law! Also, helping prostitutes would take away from, oh, I don't know, Christians bombing Abortion clinics and murdering the providers...

[JackRiddler]

4. Agreed on your stipulation.

"There would need to be some draconian penalties against pimping that were vigorously enforced, though, so the incomes didn't just become more income for the pimp."

There's no magic bullet for addressing the problem.

[rustydog]

9. Too bad there isn't a simple solution or magic bullet

So many children dragged into prostitution, single mothers trying to feed their children, it goes on and on.
And our Fearless CHRISTIANS could care less.

SEVERE penalties for pimps. Outlaw pimps not prostitutes. Legalize prostitution, regular medical check-ups mandatory by law. State and or county licensed call-girls.

Where do we go from here? What other steps are necessary to make this work?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. There should be programs for men and women who want to get out of the industry.

I suspect there are those who would avail themselves of them. I also believe there are those who are content to keep doing what they are doing.

[Live and Learn]

5. Offering jobs to people in need would reduce all kinds of "criminal" behavior.

Instead, we punish them with jail time and reduce their employment options.

[Squinch]

7. The problem is that with productivity increases and mechanization, the jobs just aren't there. I

think we are going to have to come to some system like this anyway eventually, because there is more money being made than ever before, but fewer jobs for people. So at some point we are going to have to bite the bullet and provide some kind of subsistence wage to everyone. I think WalMart and Dollar General are learning this as they find that people can't even afford to buy their crap.

[Live and Learn]

10. You are right, reforms need to be made.

Fewer working hours and younger retirement would help. Of course, wages would have to increase and pensions brought back to accomplish any of it.

[A Little Weird]

6. I think a guaranteed basic income should be available to everyone

And yes, I think if it were available, that would help with the coercion problem - in both the prostitution industry and the porn industry (and probably others as well).

I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon unfortunately, but I think it's a great idea.

[JackRiddler]

8. Indubitably.

It has to start somewhere outside the U.S. But as with models of universal single-payer comprehensive health care, which through the decades have proven far superior to private-corporate systems both in health outcomes for the population as a whole and in costs, inevitably the success of the idea will serve as an example to the world, and result (thanks to the power of reason!) in its eventual adoption in the United States.

Oh. Wait.