Prostitution Solution?

In the Toronto Star, an article was posted stating that the way to 'deal with prostitution' is not to criminalize those selling their bodies, but the buyers.

This article is truly thought provoking. Yes, prostitution may be frowned upon by many but should that make it illegal? Most societal laws are built around the common beliefs of the people in that country. Is this truly a good idea? To base our laws on how the majority of people feel? Yes it makes sense in most cases; if people are opposed to something like animal cruelty then it can be made illegal. But with the beliefs of something that is not specifically illegal in our charter and does not go against it, should it be the popular vote that determines a law against it. Of course not. If in the eyes of the law, that profession is doing nothing wrong, then we have no right to make it illegal. Prostitution may be frowned upon, but then so is same-sex marriage. Neither go against a persons’ rights or freedoms and therefore should not be made illegal.

This article raises a valid point of being able to make it illegal to pick up a prostitute; thus taking the blame off the person selling themselves, who are doing nothing wrong, and putting it onto those buying the sex.

Still one has to wonder why not simply legalize everything and stop this whole issue? The mayor of Amsterdam raises an excellent point though, when you legalize prostitution, the government basically becomes a pimp, no unions are made and the ways of escape from the trade are never implemented as they should. This becomes a backwards society, taking the role of a pimp, who is a despised person because of how they use and abuse the prostitutes, but when prostitution is legalized, that role is taken over by the government.

I think it is a losing cycle, no matter what, someone will be harmed, money will be taken and sex will be had.