5 ms·

What it really shows is that prostitution should be legal. That's not going to happen easily. And that's partly because it will take away an avenue for filling

by finid 10y ago

What it really shows is that prostitution should be legal. That's not going to happen easily. And that's partly because it will take away an avenue for filling up prisons. And undercover cops doing the prostitution beat are not going to like it. But I'm sure if politicians see a tax benefit from legalizing it, they will show some interest.

ska 10y ago
Are prostitution related convictions actually representing a significant fraction of prison population? That would surprise me, at least.
BurningFrog 10y ago
The undercover cop lobby is not actually that powerful. Prostitution is kept illegal mostly because that's what the majority of voters strongly prefer.
- thephyber 10y ago
  I would argue it's more a case of concentrated benefits and diffuse costs. I doubt most people strongly want to outlaw adult, consenting prostitution. But the religious (socially conservative, etc) lobby is loud and participates when the law is challenged. The majority if people don't, so they tend to get what the anti-protitution lobby wants.
  - BurningFrog 10y ago
    Checking the facts, we're both a bit off. From https://today.yougov.com/news/2015/09/01/country-split-legalizing-prostitution/ https://today.yougov.com/news/2015/09/01/country-split-legal... : "44% of Americans think that prostitution should be legal while 46% think that it should be illegal. Democrats tend to support rather than oppose legalization (50% to 40%) while most Republicans oppose rather than support legalization (54% to 34%). Independents are evenly split, 45% to 45%." As I expected, men are more pro legalization (59%) than women (30%). I think you underestimate the left's anti prostitution fervor. Their stated arguments are around exploitation and trafficking.
    - thephyber 10y ago
      Numbers are great! I did overestimate support for my opinion (I live in the Silicon Valley bubble), but the poll numbers show there would not be enough affirmative votes to outlaw prostitution if it were voted on today and were not already the default. I think polls usually undervalue how motivated people are to act politically on their stance. In the presidential race, this is related to how "energized" people are to go to the voting booth. Either way, I think Americans have tended to outlaw borderline issues, but I suspect in the coming 1-2 decades, there will be a significant pushback against over-criminialization of non-violent crimes. There is a book called "Three Felonies a Day" which explains how ridiculous our laws have already become.
    - tropo 10y ago
      And there you go, 59% to 30%, showing who fears a loss of power if a scarce service suddenly becomes less scare, dropping in value. With greater availability of alternatives, power relationships change.

by finid 10y ago

ska 10y ago

Are prostitution related convictions actually representing a significant fraction of prison population? That would surprise me, at least.

BurningFrog 10y ago

The undercover cop lobby is not actually that powerful. Prostitution is kept illegal mostly because that's what the majority of voters strongly prefer.

thephyber 10y ago
I would argue it's more a case of concentrated benefits and diffuse costs. I doubt most people strongly want to outlaw adult, consenting prostitution. But the religious (socially conservative, etc) lobby is loud and participates when the law is challenged. The majority if people don't, so they tend to get what the anti-protitution lobby wants.
- BurningFrog 10y ago
  Checking the facts, we're both a bit off. From https://today.yougov.com/news/2015/09/01/country-split-legalizing-prostitution/ https://today.yougov.com/news/2015/09/01/country-split-legal... : "44% of Americans think that prostitution should be legal while 46% think that it should be illegal. Democrats tend to support rather than oppose legalization (50% to 40%) while most Republicans oppose rather than support legalization (54% to 34%). Independents are evenly split, 45% to 45%." As I expected, men are more pro legalization (59%) than women (30%). I think you underestimate the left's anti prostitution fervor. Their stated arguments are around exploitation and trafficking.
  - thephyber 10y ago
    Numbers are great! I did overestimate support for my opinion (I live in the Silicon Valley bubble), but the poll numbers show there would not be enough affirmative votes to outlaw prostitution if it were voted on today and were not already the default. I think polls usually undervalue how motivated people are to act politically on their stance. In the presidential race, this is related to how "energized" people are to go to the voting booth. Either way, I think Americans have tended to outlaw borderline issues, but I suspect in the coming 1-2 decades, there will be a significant pushback against over-criminialization of non-violent crimes. There is a book called "Three Felonies a Day" which explains how ridiculous our laws have already become.
  - tropo 10y ago
    And there you go, 59% to 30%, showing who fears a loss of power if a scarce service suddenly becomes less scare, dropping in value. With greater availability of alternatives, power relationships change.