Radical Ideas (Part III)....

Radical Ideas for the Philippines (A continuing series)

Part I of this series.
Part II of this series.

III. Legalize Prostitution

Prostitution is not referred to as the "oldest profession in the world" without good reason. It has been practiced since ancient times...in primitive societies, and at times even given religious connotations (during the time of the ancient Greeks, for example). There will always be men (or women) willing to provide compensation for sexual favors, the same way there will always be women (or men) willing to provide the service.

Despite being a taboo subject at times, it has always been a part of our society that we have opted to sweep under the rug. Unfortunately, ignoring it only creates more problems. Similar to gambling, prostitution should be legalized, not only to provide additional revenue to the government by way of taxation, but also to provide a means of regulating it and affording protection not only to commercial sex workers but to their patrons as well.

By legalizing it, we can be sure that additional funds work their way to government coffers by means of the tax it generates. By regulating it, we not only empower commercial sex workers by recognizing them as a class, but also by giving them rights (thereby preventing white slavery and exploitation), setting standards (to protect certain groups, minors or the illiterate for instance), and affording them medical examinations, assistance and protection (to curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS). Regulation also provides for the framework for which prostitution can be practiced. We can situate it in "red-light" districts in areas far from religious and educational institutions, and residential areas. Some countries even "license" their sex workers. That may not actually be a bad idea.

It is virtually impossible to curb this trade. We cannot afford to allow our sense of morals to make us narrow minded, so we cannot pretend that people who ply this trade do not exist. A certain group of people in our society need the protection of the government, whether they realize it or not, whether the rest of society frowns on them or not. It is only right that we do so.

More radical ideas next week....

Comments

Brad said…
I haven't read part I or II yet, but I do want to agree that legalizing prostitution would have many positive effects on public health and society as a whole.

Unfortunately, we seem to be moving in the opposite direction lately.

-Brad
Anonymous said…
why not make a law REQUIRING ALL WHO WANT THE OF SERVICES OF EXPLOITED FEMALE "ESCORTS" TO view medical books with detailed pictures of vaginas festering with chancre sores, dripping with gonorrhea, disfigured by syphillis?

Or a perfectly normal looking Vagina... of a prostitute with HIV or HEPA B?

These pictures should be viewed right AFTER PAYING THE BARFINE!
Anonymous said…
PART DEUX

THose who require the services of the prostitute MUST BE ABLE TO GIVE MULTIPLE ORGASMS TO THE EXPLOITED SEX WORKER. IF NOT, She is required to disclose the name of her client. her client shall then be declared a PREMATURE EJACULATOR. Announcement should be done on PRIME TIME TV complete with the picture of the PE... patient.
Anonymous said…
PART TROIS

Those found guilty of raping commercial sex workers, or pimping them out to premature ejaculating jerk offs, or exploiting child prostitutes (below 18 years old) must, by law, be sodomized by the most depraved inmates of the iwahig prison colony. He shall then be injected with HIV VIRUS and his body will be donated to science.

darn, as you can see I'm courting the feminist vote here.

Vote Me for congress!!! philhealth.tk
Anonymous said…
Being a father of 2 beautiful daughters has really changed an EX-male chauvinist pig like moi. I apologize to you guys. Pasensya na hane.
www.philhealth.tk
Ronald Allan said…
The horrors of sexually transmitted diseases have been known for ages. Never seemed to be an effective deterrent though....
Ronald Allan said…
Yo Brad, my "Radical Ideas" series is actually aimed at the problems facing my country, the Philippines. But if you think about it, most of our problems are not experienced here, but also are experienced in other countries as well. The issue of prostitution is an issue as old as civilization itself.

We can do a lot, especially in the fight against STDs, and more so in the case of HIV/AIDS itself if we tackle the problem straight at its source, rather than dawdling around the issue and pretend it doesn't exist.

Posted something about HIV/AIDS earlier in my blog, about authorities here seemingly ignoring the problem. You can see it here.

Glad to hear from you.

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