The proposed new law in Ireland to arrest only men when it comes to prostitution smacks to me of political correctness gone mad.
It takes two to tango and it is unjust criminalizing the men only.
It is also wrong as it is now, making the women the only evil ones.
Prostitution is the world's oldest profession, one that has flourished in every society in every century.
It is an indelible factor in the human condition, a matter of supply and demand and the only solution is to legalize it.
Sure there would be lots of moral outrage, but the plain truth is that where it has been tried it appears to work
In Nevada where the entire business is overseen by the state, all transactions are legal and there is markedly little exploitation compared to other states and countries.
There are no pimps or people to exploit sex workers and the women are regularly examined for sexual diseases.
In addition, there are no major drug issues surrounding prostitution like there are elsewhere.
There was a heartbreaking story in The New York Times this morning about school kids forced to walk past a stretch of street known as a prostitutes hang out on their way to school in The Bronx everyday.
Heartbreaking for the kids, and also for the hookers themselves. those interviewed were clearly addled by drugs and forced to sell their bodies to keep their addiction going.
Clearly, current laws that victimize the women and let the men off scot free in most cases are not correct, neither is it correct to just flip the equation.
As I said, it takes two to tango and the best way to do it is to legalize it as far as possible and keep the pimps and drug dealers out of it.
Ireland needs to recognize that.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Springfield9 | Aug 24, 2011, 07:57 AM EDT
I suppose we might ask ourselves about the health implications. "Professionals" are responsible for approximately 3% of transmitted STDs. Last Saturday night I was in Tipperary Town and the Hooligans (with girls) looked like a greater danger.
Springfield9 | Aug 24, 2011, 07:54 AM EDT
Why is it "Us" making sweeping assumptions about prostitution? William Randolph Hearst caused a national panic in the U.S. over "White Slavers" and it was all imaginary. There are "legal" prostitutes in Nevada (US). Why don't we ask them????
jacersagain | Jan 11, 2011, 04:31 PM EST
Geoff.n.Linda – you’re off your rocker with that comment and reasoning. Prostitution is nothing less than sex abuse by both parties in the “deal”. Entertainers, taxi-drivers etc don’t do what they do to abuse themselves or their customers.
Towngate | Jan 11, 2011, 09:09 AM EST
geoff.n.Linda: You make the comparison between prostitutes and 'entertainers' - but why such a narrow comparison? Everyone who undertakes any task for financial or material gain is prostituting their talent to some extent. Street cleaner,taxi driver, surgeon, hairdresser, wife, husband (Oh, Yes!) We all prostitute ourselves. As a footnote, I am curious as to why you single out 'Writers/singers/actors as people who work ... to pay for their excesses'? They have to pay for their training and household bills the same as everyone else.
maloney | Jan 10, 2011, 04:20 PM EST
Sounds fair to me.
Geoff.n.Linda | Jan 09, 2011, 11:01 AM EST
What is the differance between a person selling their talents as a singer, or acting on stage, or writing a book, and someone who sells sex? In actual fact very little. They all entertain and get paid for it.They all start out inexperienced but learn the tricks of the trade along the way. We read of great writers/singers/actors etc who work their butts off to pay for their excesses, so why are they not demonised like the working girls who pull in punters to feed their habits? It has more to do with religious/sexual hang ups or taking the moral high ground than with the realities of life. This is not to say that most of the above are beholden to drink/drugs but the media sensationalises most stories relating to this valid way of earning a living. Why is social intercourse with strangers an integral part of life and sexual intercourse with strangers so reviled? The lawmakers should drop the veil.
JimThompson | Jan 06, 2011, 02:30 PM EST
As much as I hate to say it, I feel that legalizing prostution is the only way to go. Men are going to want sex and, for many, raping is just another way. I understand that some rapes are not committed for sexual thrills but to show hatred of women in general; making it legal will not satisfy that type but should help others do what comes naturally without fear of jail or public exposure.
Watereskhill | Jan 05, 2011, 11:04 PM EST
Legalizing prostitution has not demolished The Netherlands. If anything 'paid for sex' has migrated to the Tourist Industry there. Maybe that's what Bord Failte has in mind to bolster the economy.
MikeCampbell | Jan 05, 2011, 08:25 PM EST
I thougth that drugs sales were victimless. These girls are given drugs free at first then made to pay for them which causes them to prostitute themselves. Then the drug dealers do the same for men or boys and then they steal from homes ,businesses, the poor person who they mug on the street to get money. Then people wonder why 75% of the people are on drugs before they enter jail. Drug dealers should do big time and all their money taken from them.
Towngate | Jan 05, 2011, 10:33 AM EST
Ps: A brilliant ploy to divide opinion by posting TWICE! Is this a sophisticated form of the old joke about how to confuse an Irishman?: Offer him three shovels - and ask him to take his pick!........HNY, Btw.
Towngate | Jan 05, 2011, 09:21 AM EST
NOW LOOK what you've done, Niall - kicking the lid off the ChickenRanch! I only hope - when you were researching this blog that you didn't damage the old periscope too much!
grimchieftain | Jan 05, 2011, 06:04 AM EST
So...your answer to an illegal activity is to legalize it? How about murder? Can't stop it; might as well legalize it. Why not change the laws to punish both parties? Oh, and by the way, prostitution isn't the oldest profession...farming is.
Aleeyne | Jan 04, 2011, 11:59 PM EST
It is time men learned SELF-CONTROL, self-respect and to change their behaviour and show respect for all other people. Now as in years past, men show only selfishness and greed for gratification of their own body's desires and their desire to own all property, money and everything of value and to control all people around them. Men like the above appear in world newspapers daily.
jamieLM | Jan 04, 2011, 09:29 PM EST
Legalizing prostitution isn't going to make all the problems go away. There are complicated issues to consider. Do the pros outweigh the cons? Possibly. It would get sex off the street, eliminate the street pimps, and could be regulated. There can still be problems between "consenting adults." Niall, you and all the previous posters make valid points. How's prostitution being illegal in the U.S., except Nevada, working for us? Not all that well. As long as there are desperate women who feel they have no other choice but to engage in prostitution and men who see that as an opportunity to exploit them and make a fast buck, and "clients" who see women as only objects to be used, there's misery all around - not to mention disease, beatings, drugs, murder, etc. If it's legalized, it should be well-thought out and well-regulated, with a total crackdown on human trafficking and underage girls.
Pittsburghkid | Jan 04, 2011, 08:51 PM EST
There is an Irish-American adage. The strong left Ireland and the weak stayed behind. This is a stupid idea. You can not build a society pimping off your woman. The Irish woman are the strongest part of Ireland. They raise the most intelligent college graduates. Prostitution and good motherhood do not go hand in hand.
SingleDonald | Jan 04, 2011, 07:58 PM EST
Niall, your article has some good points. Yet, there are good opposing arguments, such as the State acting as a "pimp", and the lives of the sex workers themselves. Last year, an attractive New York Post reporter visited a legal brothel in Las Vegas. You probably read about this. She had a session with a male prostitute, for purposes of an undercover interview. She took a shower with him, but did not engage in any sex. She learned that he had issues with his mother. No, she hadn't abused him as a young boy, just neglected him. The point I wish to make is that even men who get paid to have sex with woman often have issues. Is it right for the State to sanction this? On the other hand, the protection offered to both sex workers and their clients is commendable. No robberies, no beatings, no drug addictions, and no venereal diseases. This is really a tough call!
AoifeNicSeáin | Jan 04, 2011, 06:23 PM EST
Social darwinism? Women as merchandise? That are valuable points of critique. But - what have they to do with sellig sex in special? They pertain to each and every exchange of service for money. So they can't be a logical argument against sex work, they are arguments against capitalism. And to deny women with no better (or even no at all) other options the chance to make a living by selling sexual services is the real immoral thing. No difference whether this denial comes through criminalising the women themselves, or their clients.
seagreen | Jan 04, 2011, 05:17 PM EST
Director of a school system with thousands of students, administrator of a whorehouse! pretty impressive resume.. He should have a bright political future!!
Searlit | Jan 04, 2011, 04:00 PM EST
Niall, do you think that women are merchandise? You talk about this as an economic "supply and demand". What about an article on human trafficking? Do you want to sweep that under the carpet? I've seen plenty of documentaries about this problem. Do you care about what happens to these young women or is it only that the growing demand for younger and younger women is kept available to be served up for the insatiable demand? I was one of the heartbroken kids living in an inner city who saw prostitutes and drug addicts being arrested, the poor souls, and that was back in the late fifties, early sixties. It's only gotten worse for the most vulnersble in society, children from abusive homes.
forflann | Jan 04, 2011, 12:18 PM EST
The Netherlands has a much more realistic point of view on drugs, A registered addict must also undergo counseling, Must are drug-free in about 2 years. Also less potent substances, like weed are easily availabe in shops,to consume in a coffee-house setting, all quite legal.
AoifeNicSeáin | Jan 04, 2011, 11:59 AM EST
@cillowen: decriminalisation allows taxing income, same as it is the case with any other kind of income. Special taxes/fees on prostitution (as in some legalised systems) mean the state party behaves as a pimp - we reject that proposal.
mhichil | Jan 04, 2011, 11:51 AM EST
social darwinism at its finest!
cillowen | Jan 04, 2011, 11:39 AM EST
a great source for gov revenue - whadda youse tink.
AoifeNicSeáin | Jan 03, 2011, 11:49 PM EST
Thank you, Niall! The Swedish very clearly state they aren't interested in harm reduction, their business is the enforcement of feministic morals. Wish we can save the rest of the world from this nonsense. Just one little remark: Legalisation might be fine, total decriminalisation (as in New Zealand) is better. I'm not sure whether it's allowed here to post links, but anybody interested just google my name (best in connection with OHCHR) to find out that I know what I speak about.
Monsoonman | Jan 03, 2011, 06:46 PM EST
The director of our public school district overseeing tens of thousands of school children, quit his job and went to work as the administrator of the Chicken Ranch, a legal brothel on the outskirts of Las Vegas. It did create quite a stir with the parents, but life went on. Niall I agree with you on this subject and I would go even further and call for the legalization of most drugs too. It would take the criminality out of it and free up the prisons, they can become rehab clinics instead., since a many of the inmates are in there for some kind of drug related offense.