I'm sort of on the fence on those two. Prostitution is as old as society. But even aside from the moral issues, it creates a host of other problems. A few examples are that it creates a revenue stream for drug addicts that prevents them from seeking help to overcome their addictions, the spread of STD's, the effects it has on marriages, promulgation of child (and adult) slavery... So to legailize it for the sake of tax revenue seems a bit short sighted to me. As to weed, it seems to me if people can drink booze weed isn't any worse. And in some cases, better. But it also dredges up all the arguments about driving while impaired, another full avenue for kids/adults to start on addictions unchecked, the studies (disputed, but there nonetheless) that indicate weed leads to stronger and more dangerous drugs... again, legalizing it for the sake of tax revenue is iffy to me. One last thought. It is both undisputed and inarguable that societies are like dominoes that are lined up and then fall over as they crash into the next one. Allow one thing and it leads to something else, that leads to something else... until the society essentially collapses on itself or implodes. It's the basic nature of pregressiveness. I often wonder as we continue down the road of a moraless society just how far it'll go and the harm it does to innocent people by legalizing drugs & prostitution as we head down the progrssive road.
Am I crazy in thinking that legalizing them could help alot of those problems. With prostitution, if it became legal it would be presumably be done through anencies or brothels who would be required, like any other business, to verify the ages of employees. If legalized, it would surely have regulations in place that require STD testing. It would also take pimps, who get girls addicted to drugs and force them into prostitution, out of the equation because who would use a pimp when they do not have to. I also don't think that it would be a revenue stream for drug addicted girls, just the opposite. I would imagine that women would have to apply to work at these agencies and some strung out looking girl simply won't get any work. As for marriages, if you are using a prostitute, legal or otherwise, your marriage is doomed anyway so I don't think there will be any difference there. For weed, don't you think that it is a "gateway drug" becuase it is illegal and you have to go to "drug dealers" to get it. If you could buy a joint at safeway, buying cocaine or whatever else wouldn't be an option. Driving while impaired should certainly be illegal, just like with alcohol.
With respect to prostitution, a legalized brothel does all those things you say. But compartmentalizing prostitution only means there are legal brothels. There are still non legal brothels as well as other prostitutes. Both Nevada and Amsterdam are full of them. And they have done nothing to stem the flow of child abductions for the global sex trade. So the issues with illicit prostitution will still be here. I wonder if legalizing it really does anything more than create a small tax revenue stream and also make it harder to police the matter. As to weed, that’s an interesting point about it being a ‘gateway’ drug simply because it’s illegal. And I think there may be some validity to it. But let me say this. The first time I had nitrous administered in a dental office I realized right away why people take drugs. I felt like I was floating and I felt free and warm. Loved that stuff. I was high. So, as weed gets one ‘high’ and that leads many to wanting a better ‘high’. That doesn’t lead to booze, but to more powerful drugs to get that better ‘high’. So there’s doubt that weed is a gateway drug for some simply due to its effect on them.
Not to hijack this thread any further, but I was reviewing the history of John Canzano's wikipedia page and found it fairly entertaining
