Prostitution should be decriminalized in the United States

When I first joined DDO, I had the same issue. The trick is to make sure you have the time before you consider accepting debates. I don't have the same level of structure that you or other debaters might have, but I will be using three main points; Firstly, it's fairly safe to say that women don't become prostitutes out of want for sex. It's usually one of two things; they need the money, or they're forced into it. The force comes from either a case of a boyfriend becoming a pimp or a kidnapping-trafficking ring. Right now, it's one of the most horrific work environments. I'll start with financial necessity. If a woman must become a prostitute out of need for money, surely, the focus should be on erasing the need for such a job, rather than making the job safer. I'm sure I don't need to diverge on a speech about the objectification or buying of women for you to know it's not a morally justifiable business. The second part, the trafficking, I will use Amsterdam as reference. Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. There are regulations there for the prostitute, a district for their business, and it would seem the chief example for the Pro side. However, Amsterdam features a large amount of sex trafficking as well, which is in essence, slavery. Amsterdam has actually been limiting prostitution now, in 2008, they halved the size of the window brothel market. It's not a nice business. It's easy to make the "legalisation leads to regulation" case, but what if you used a similar issue, like drugs? Both are dangerous and damaging occurences, even in areas where they are illegal, with lobbyers pushing for legalisation. But you might as well say; well we can't stop drug takers, might as well make them a bit safer. You don't deal with the issue, you just tolerate it. Sex abuse cases will continue. We can both pull tales that suit our side; you can talk of it empowering some women, while I can point out the slaves held in the background. The trick here is balance, and even if the majority felt empowered, slavery isn't something that should be tolerated at all. Legalisation will only serve to aid the criminal organisations that are long established internationally. We should not be looking to compromise with slavers by looking for a bit of regulation. http://www.fbi.gov... , http://news.bbc.co.uk... http://www.nytimes.com... Why is that? Because of what it says about our society. Even if it still occurs illegally, the law shows that in general, people don't approve of women being forced by either criminal or circumstantial forces into sex they do not want. If you lift that law, you send a message that at worst, you tolerate prostitution and all its consequences, at best, you welcome it. And where would it end? I mean in terms of what would follow. Legalisation could form a domino effect of other actions being decriminalised, mainly the other thing Amsterdam is well known for; Windmi- I mean, Weed. Marijuana. Drugs, Since the best known example of prostitution features weed being legal too, you can't say it's much of a stretch to say that this motion could have unforseen consequences. On a side note, you mention that you'll use the term Sex Worker rather than prostitution. I assume it's because the term worker implies a union, rights and protection. You see, Germany tried something like that. It didn't work. Out of around 400,000 workers, only about 100 actually applied for the union, despite the healthcare, holidays, legal aid and 5 day week it offered. Why? Many saw prostitution as a temporary solution to their current problem. They didn't want to be officially recognised even as sex workers. Those who are trafficked stand little chance of applying while held, even if not directly held and just controlled by a pimp. Pimps can use a lot of nasty methods of control, starvation, drugs and sleep deprivation, even psychological techniques leading to hyperarousal. It's not pretty, and you'll have a hard time rooting out the abusers from the legal providers. Another place for prostitution is Germany, which is mentioned in an earlier source of mine ,the BBC one, as one of the top trafficking locations. Calling a gun a teddy bear won't make it softer. Calling them sex workers won't ease the troubles they face. http://www.turnofftheredlight.ie... http://www.prostitutionresearch.com... This has been rather unfocused, so I'll conclude for now; Prostitution is a harmful occurence in the world, the most common kind of slavery today. Places where it has been legalised experience the criminal side all the same, and it only serves to encourage the everyday person to visit these brothels by legalising them. It will lead to further decriminalisation and likely with the same total lack of control. I'll see you next round. If you miss the deadline, post your argument in the comments, and I'll respond. Until then, I'll be waiting, Duncan.