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Bob Herbert argues against prostitution, again
The columnist rails against the "empowerment fantasies" of "prostitution proponents."
Tracy Clark-Flory [2007-09-12]

  • Point three is ridiculous

    I am assuming that, given the hypothetically legal context in which he puts it, Herbert intends "illegal prostution" to mean underage prostitution and forced prostitution. Given that, how does he figure that legalization would encourage "illegal prostution?" Isn't the whole point of legalization (other than the inherent value of freedom over one's own body) that it will reduce such incidents of "illegal prostitution" by bringing the whole industry into the public sphere, subjecting its practices and practitioners to public scrutiny, and drawing distinctions between the legal and illegal practices within it? Isn't it self evident that if you criminalize the whole industry, you thereby equalize all forms of prostitution in the eyes of the law, and therefore can neither encourage nor discourage such "illegal prostitution?"

    I haven't read the article - I assume that it is off limits to me, as a non Times Select subscriber. Am I missing something here?

    -- Aaron Bonn
    [Read Aaron Bonn's other letters]
    Wednesday, September 12, 2007 06:20 PM
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