Letters to the Editor
healthyskeptic
Published Letters: 671 Editor's Choice: 14
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-- Valhalla
[Read the article: Bob Herbert argues against prostitution, again ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]They'll be in a better position to bring charges against pimps or johns for assault, to not be exploited by police, they will be protected by employment law, OSHA laws, antidiscrimination law, etc. In the Netherlands, where prostitution is legal, they are unionized and go on strike occasionally. They'd be able to get health care coverage from their workplaces, workers comp, disability, life insurance... the list goes on and on, hell, they'd even get maternity leave and who knows...at a really progressive establishment they might even get childcare.
Those are all good points, and why I'm generally in favor of legalization, but with a lot of oversight.
The only real arguments against legalization are morality-based ones (Herbert's 3rd point is really just a moral argument), that sex for money is inherently bad.
I doubt very much he'd argue every sex act ever performed for money was immoral on an individual basis. Also, I don't know why you're so dismissive of merely moral/ethical arguments. Not all morality is pompous religious zealots and such you know.
Herbert is making a slippery slope argument. And he's right, it is a very slippery slope. He believes it's so slippery we're sure to fall down it, which leads him to the conclusion that legalized prostitution is immoral.
If we conclude the optimal place to be is a few steps along it, into legalized but tightly regulated prostitution, for the practical arguments you gave above, then we still need to take great precautions not to slide.
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-- Cleopatera
[Read the article: Plus size, minus a few years]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sorry, but from what you've just said not a very well educated parent on this matter.
For one thing, there is the implicit assumption both obese people and lean/muscular people are equally healthy. That is clearly wrong. Obesity is the #1 killer in America. All the top causes of death, from heart disease to diabetes, are weight related.
Second is the issue of genetics, and your implicit presumption all genetics are created equally for all environments. Also, clearly wrong.
Some people are genetically disposed to high resting metabolism, low fat storage, etc. Especially people from tropical to temperate climes with abundant food. Some people are genetically disposed to low resting metabolism and high fat storage, especially people from cold climes prone to famine.
All people are evolved to get way more exercise and labor physically more than we typically do. And the living conditions in the developed world also have moderate temperatures, air conditioning, and warm clothing, with an abundance of food.
The fact is, we all need to exercise more and eat more healthily. Some people are genetically better suited for the modern world than others. Those less well suited have to try harder to be healthy.
If your short and stocky daughter (which I suspect means she's actually overweight) plans a life as an eskimo, then great. She'll need the thick layers of fat to insulate herself and get through periods of famine. She'll also burn 3000+ calories a day doing lots of heavy physical labor just to stay warm. And her diet will consist almost entirely of the healthy fats, from fish oils and such.
However, if she's living in a developed country in a temperate climate with air conditioners, probably heading for a sedentary lifestyle, and eating lots of unhealthy fats, she's heading for a life of health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
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-- Allie_
[Read the article: Bouncy breasts seek better bras]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Read anony 05:28 PM, and get a clue.
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btw, I think a lot of this bra complaint stuff is basically baloney.
[Read the article: Bouncy breasts seek better bras]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Just a basic perusal of bras is enough to tell they come in many shapes and sizes with about a zillion models on the market. There are varying degrees of support, under wire, cross support, sport models, high tech fabrics, padded, nipple-less, and that's barely the tip of it.
For another thing, people always complain about things they can't actually make themselves, and insist somebody somewhere should be making the magically perfect one only they can imagine. A "perfect" design which is actually impossible and only exists int their imagination.
Guys have various subjects they kvetch about, like car engines. And most guys don't actually know shit about cars, besides they go vroom. But because culture supposes they do, they feel the need to babble nonsensically on the subject. Bras seem to be an equivalent for women.
And every year a company announces a new product, whether it's the new turbocharger or motor oil or something, or the new bra, or whatever, which is supposed to finally address the needs of all those perfect designers. The fools read the marketing copy and exclaim "finally!" A year later, they're usually repeating the same complaints and buying the next wonder product.
Lastly, there seems to be no shortage of women who love to "complain" how big their breasts are and how horrible it is to be objectified, and what trouble they are, etc. A lot of them tend to be overweight too, so it makes sense to work with what ya got. Just recently I was hit on by a gal I'd have no interest in, even if I was single, who drunkenly felt the need to tell me what trouble her breasts are, how early they developed, and how she even lactates sometimes, etc.