Reply #69: History points in another direction. [View All]

[johnroshan]

"Legalization would provide some level of protection from "being abused, threatened, beat up," etc. that isn't there now."

Actually, this was the party line that partially legalized sex work in Calcutta, India. Apart from a few namesake improvements in living conditions, absolutely nothing has changed. Some reports listed by Nicholas Kristof in his book "Half the sky" suggests that the legalization has only given protection for the people running these brothels and those who profit massively by it. Trafficking, slavery and underage exploitation are rampant and since the legalization of the trade, those operating the brothels have less to fear. They hide the children when authorities come to check.

As for the US, things might turn out to be a little better. However I believe that the basic human instinct for greed will always push people to go for maximum return investments like slavery and underage girls. Legitimizing even a part of the trade is giving them a break to stop worrying about the newly legalized parts and go for the really profitable ones.