I feel sorry for anyone who feels this is the only way to support themselves.It has to be degrading.Many of them may be addicted to drugs.I don't think it should be illegal,this just makes money for criminals and fills up the jails costing taxpayers a fortune.Legalize it,tax it,and try to control the spread of related diseases.We've got bigger fish to fry,and maybe it can help get us out of the huge national debt Tush,er,Bush has shoved us into.

Prostitution should be legal. Any adult should have the right to do what they want with their own assets, and I believe that a lot of good could happen to this industry with some government safety regulation. This is a line of work that has been around since the dawn of man - for governments to pretend that it doesn't exist is irresponsible.

I'm all for free market transactions between consenting and competent adult parties, but I'd prefer to see it remain illegal activity. And the main reason for my position is that if it gets legalized the sex-workers will getting truly f-ed. This time by the government that will leap upon the opportunity to tax them.

I agree, with the caveat and an extra star because underage women do need to be protected. However, we either have personal autonomy in our society or we don't. And I agree that bringing the industry, the oldest in the world as they say, above ground is good on several levels, not the least of which is the extinction of the violent pimp. The idea that criminal law statutes must enforce moral choices that affect nobody but the individuals involved is one I think that civilization is prepared to abandon. I prefer that there was no prostitution, but the fact is, it exists even in the most fundamentalist of Muslim countries. We can't seem to get along without it, for whatever reason. Besides, where are all the free market conservatives on this issue? Given the divorce rate, perhaps this is an example of the failures of socialism. Better to bring sexual relationships to the competative realm and let the market dictate the values? Marriage is after all, a pretty socialistic institution when you think about it. Updating: Well, whether it's "moral" or not is a separate question from whether it should be legal. I have problems with the impact of monetary exchange and profit motives in so many aspects of our lives, I'd like for there to exist of a few items of refuges, some things held sacred and not touched by the profit motive. It'd be nice if making love was among them. Sadly, that's pretty utopian on my part.

...the oldest profession in the world. I am amongst those who think it should be legal worldwide. This is consensual sex, like it or not. This is another thing that is looked at in a certain way by America and a lot of the western world, but does not even attach a bad name to you in a lot of the rest of the world. Get over it, regulate it, make it safe and pay attention to real criminals. You cannot outlaw loneliness and questionble judgment. Like drug addicts, this really only hurts those who choose to take part in it. If your gonna spout off with the ole "it spreads disease thing" still...dont do it! And when you are aware you are sharing company with a hooker or a whore chaser, break it off or use protection.

Yeah great. Go ahead and legalize prostitution and let it be taxed. Not like the government isn't screwing all of us already. I wonder, though...will the pimps have to wear a cheap tie and eventually retire in Florida? Can't wait to see that Congessional hearing on C-Span.

I think that prostitution is probably immoral. I think that there are problems with people who will have sex with strangers just for the pleasure of purpose. However, I know that there are other people who disagree with me on this issue, and I think for those people who want to paricipate in this behavior, that they should be allowed to do so. A person willingly having sex with another person who is willing to pay for it is an exchange of services, just like any other exchange in our economy. I don't think many people like to think of sex as just a service, but for some people it is. People who want to pay for sex should be allowed to do so, as long as their behavior is in check with other appropriate sexual behavior according to our laws.