This week’s Q-Line question asked: Should prostitution be made legal, if it is regulated and workers submit to regular health inspections?
“PROSTITUTION SHOULD NOT BE MADE legal. The question should really be: Why are massage therapists not regulated more properly? If there was more of a standard we probably wouldn’t have such a big issue. You only need 150 hours of practice in this city, and anyone can do it. The question should be why isn’t there more regulation, because right now, we have an open door to prostitution.”
“IF THEY DID MAKE IT LEGAL, A LOT OF guys would cheat on their wives without fear of being arrested. So they should keep it illegal, or they will have to deal with more perverts than there already are in this city. And who wants that in their neighborhood?”
“THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER ALAN WATTS once said: ‘The real reason for organized religion was to control our sexual tendencies.’ The Puritans who settled here believed that work and all other pleasures were of the devil. That is why we have people like the President who talk about freedom all day, but what he really means is you are free to do things like him or be arrested or killed. That is why we have laws against prostitution and drugs. Even our state pot laws say you have to be sick to have pot. Pleasure and happiness are out of the question when its comes to drugs. Sex is to be for marriage and child-raising only, not for fun. We need somebody to throw out these Puritanical prudes who run our country. Democrats, Republicans and Santa Monicans for Renters Rights or whoever they are, need to vote for real freedom. The freedom to do whatever you wish when it involves your own body.”
“I DON’T THINK THAT THE OLDEST profession is ever going to go away. So, it behooves us to work with it. Decriminalizing it will take an undo burden off our legal system and free up police for more serious policing. It would be safer and healthier for the workers and clients. Tax revenue is an obvious benefit. Also, if the workers move indoors, it will also create jobs. The houses in Europe and Nevada have a bouncer, at least one or two per shift. I think those are all good reasons.”
“I AM APPALLED THAT 15 PERCENT of massage parlor workers may be prostitutes. That shock is superseded by City Hall’s grandstanding. With 57 parlors in Santa Monica, that is a lot of tax money the council has already approved. Didn’t we fight a war in Korea so their massage technicians could come to America? Prostitution is the oldest profession. I am sure the first caveman got a massage from the first cavewoman so she could get a bigger piece of mammoth meat. As long as an unobtrusive business does not disturb their neighbors with noise, drugs or used condoms, what business does City Hall have in being ‘Big Brother?’ You know the best happy ending would be to keep City Council from massaging our wallets.”
“NO ONE IS EVER GOING TO ERADICATE prostitution. It’s the world’s oldest profession. So, yes, it should be legalized, and by all means, let the pros be checked out by a good doctor.”
“WE SHOULD DEFINITELY LEGALIZE prostitution. After all, our politicians can accept money and then later screw us. So why not let the sex workers do it too? At least we’d get some pleasure from it.”
“AS USUAL, THIS CITY IS ALWAYS attacking the wrong industries. If everybody got a massage at least once a week, there would be a lot more peace and tranquility in the world, a lot less disease, better health, and just generally better feelings among the people. I think we should close down liquor stores before we close down massage institutions.”
“I THINK IT SHOULD. IT’S LEGAL in Amsterdam. It’s legal in parts of Nevada, Costa Rica, France. It’s been good, as they are usually very strict about health and there are less diseases around, and would also give people work. Also, we wouldn’t be criminalizing people for certain types of non-victim behavior. The state could tax it and we could make some money off it. They’re never going to stamp it out.”
“LEGALIZE PROSTITUTION? SURE, why not? We already have every other form of filth in Santa Monica. The city could charge a bed tax and even a 10-percent utility tax, and maybe even figure out a way to assess property owners an additional tax to treat all the cases of resulting venereal disease, as well as provide daycare for any babies born as a result of this newly legitimate business. Most important, think about all the additional tourists who would, no doubt, visit our fine city.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 3, 2007. Read the original PDF.