WM: Child prostitution thrives in countries where capitalism does not. "Suppliers" are not being turned down by either wholesalers or retailers.
Peter: Child prostitution is a symptom of advanced capitalism. To respond to its victims by criminalizing them only adds to the injustice of capitalism. WM: It is one sorry cop, in the age of rampant STDs who will blackmail a street prostitute. Peter: You have a lot more faith in our police state than I do. And it's actually one sorry cop, in the age of rampant STDs who forgets to use a condom. WM: 94% of prostituted women (and you can get the citation from the Prostitution Task Force) enter prostitution through childhood rape, most often by a family member. The out call women are more often college women and suburban housewives, but they only comprise 6% of the whole, at most. Peter: Please give me the web site address for the Prostitution Task Force. Either post it on the list or off line to me along with the names of our local judges who you claim have let johns and pimps off the hook while prosecuting sex workers. WM: However, though it's hard, a year in prison can help many a prostituted woman. First, they get enough uninterrupted rest and regular food that's healthier than what they have been eating. Peter: The American prison system is no respite for anyone!!!!!!! More sex crimes happen there than anyplace else. This a shocking rationale for keeping prostitution illegal and having a hand in sending one to jail. Do you believe child prostitutes should be sent to prison as well? If not, why sent adult prostitutes to prison if you really feel they're victims of sex abuse. In case you haven't heard, our prison system emphasizes punishment over rehabilitation. WM: Legislating it away is only part of the picture. It's the attitudinal change on the preponderance of people which will change the equation. If we make the abuse of women and children legal, and that's all legalizing prostitution can do, we will never even get a toe-hold on change. But passing the ERA will get a foot up on the possibility of change. Peter: Centuries of trying to legislate it away have failed. Attitudinal changes will not occur as long as sex workers are looked upon as common criminals. Wizard, I too support the ERA, but thinking that it will gently make prostitution go away is about as naive as all of Phyllis Schaffly's assertions against the ERA.-----Peter Schmitz CARAG TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
