4 ms·

Freedom and liberty is one argument for legalization, but I don't think there are enough hard core Libertarians to be a major force in this debate.

roenxi 7y ago
It isn't a particularly hard-core position. They aren't a major force in the debate but there will be a very substantial demographic who don't care one way or the other but are in principle happy to leave well enough alone. They'd probably have a mild preference for not arresting people for no reason. Prostitution has been legal in Australia since around the 90s. Nobody particularly cares^. The only people who it has implications for are people who choose to be involved. ^ Ie, it doesn't crop up in politics as an issue. Lots of people care. Nobody is making a big deal about it.
- istjohn 7y ago
  I agree it's not a hard core libertarian position. I guess I just meant I don't think there are that many people who consult their libertarian principles to decide their views on an issue.
  - jessaustin 7y ago
    One might speculate that libertarian principles are only held by a small number of people, but why would such principles not play just as important role in decision-making as other principles, like e.g. judgmental moralism? Do freedom lovers feel less deeply than freedom haters?
    - istjohn 7y ago
      As a rule? Yes. The religious right is a far more powerful force in American politics than Libertarianism.
- bitwize 7y ago
  They will be outnumbered and shouted down by conservative Christians on one side and radical feminists on the other, who will raise a panic that legalizing prostitution will lead to sin and debauchery/women being exploited, respectively. This is a MUCH bigger problem in the US than in Australia.
imtringued 7y ago
Usually women are fighting for more or the same rights. Why would they fight to restrict their own rights?
- tumetab1 7y ago
  Maybe you can check the feminist movement history. For example, many were against abortion for various reasons, one of them was that it allowed men to pressure them to get one. You can read prostitution legalization as a right to choose to use your own body for profit or you can read prostitution banning as the right for not being used for profit from your body. Many imagine is a simple thing but all the other values come into play. Some people think a embryon is more important that a women choice. Some think that right to sell your body is more important than to legally allow women oppression through sex work.

roenxi 7y ago

It isn't a particularly hard-core position. They aren't a major force in the debate but there will be a very substantial demographic who don't care one way or the other but are in principle happy to leave well enough alone. They'd probably have a mild preference for not arresting people for no reason. Prostitution has been legal in Australia since around the 90s. Nobody particularly cares^. The only people who it has implications for are people who choose to be involved. ^ Ie, it doesn't crop up in politics as an issue. Lots of people care. Nobody is making a big deal about it.

istjohn 7y ago
I agree it's not a hard core libertarian position. I guess I just meant I don't think there are that many people who consult their libertarian principles to decide their views on an issue.
- jessaustin 7y ago
  One might speculate that libertarian principles are only held by a small number of people, but why would such principles not play just as important role in decision-making as other principles, like e.g. judgmental moralism? Do freedom lovers feel less deeply than freedom haters?
  - istjohn 7y ago
    As a rule? Yes. The religious right is a far more powerful force in American politics than Libertarianism.
bitwize 7y ago
They will be outnumbered and shouted down by conservative Christians on one side and radical feminists on the other, who will raise a panic that legalizing prostitution will lead to sin and debauchery/women being exploited, respectively. This is a MUCH bigger problem in the US than in Australia.

imtringued 7y ago

Usually women are fighting for more or the same rights. Why would they fight to restrict their own rights?

tumetab1 7y ago
Maybe you can check the feminist movement history. For example, many were against abortion for various reasons, one of them was that it allowed men to pressure them to get one. You can read prostitution legalization as a right to choose to use your own body for profit or you can read prostitution banning as the right for not being used for profit from your body. Many imagine is a simple thing but all the other values come into play. Some people think a embryon is more important that a women choice. Some think that right to sell your body is more important than to legally allow women oppression through sex work.