What is the legal age limit for sex? No really? When does sex become out of the question? At 60? 70? 80? Who decides these things?
The fact of the matter is that as people get older, it becomes harder and harder to hook up. Circles of friends and acquaintances shrink because people die off and, although not impossible, finding somebody with whom to engage in a little carnal lust becomes more challenging. So, what is a octogenarian to do to scratch an itch that nobody really wants to scratch for him anymore?
In Brampton, Ontario there is a particularly bad problem related to prostitution. I didn't know this and wouldn't expect it there. I drive past it all the time and only found out from reading about it in the local paper. I guess you would have to know what to look for. To me, it wasn't obvious. Incidentally, the Brampton Guardian is an exceptional local rag.
Anyway, it turns out that Kennedy and Queen give Church Street, in Toronto, a run for its money. The reason? All the old folks homes. Older men who want sex and are not afraid to pay for it.
So, the local police force is busy slapping great grandpa wrists over patronizing a profession that is older than their own. Why?
Why is prostitution illegal, anyway? By pulling the moral high road politicians and law keepers, alike, are ignoring more serious issues, leaving the truly desperate with few alternatives, and missing out on substantial tax revenue.
As long as there is a need for sex and a willingness to pay for it, this is not an occupation that is ever going to go away? Why are we wasting so many taxpayer dollars and legal resources on attempting to quash it instead of dealing with bigger issues.
By recognizing prostitution for the valid business that it is, we as a society would all be better off. We would stop turning a blind eye to something that always has and always will exist at the same time as providing control and protection over the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and put the power in the hands of the front line staff, instead of their pimps.
Pimps, themselves, serve a powerful role as agents, managers, and protectors. Instead of targeting people who want to satisfy a perfectly human craving, and the people willing to fill that void, police and the court system should hunt down those that are unscrupulous enough to compel minors into prostitution or use drugs to secure human property.
The role of police, the courts, law makers is to serve and protect tax payers and law abiding citizens. Why should a mutually consensual exchange of service for payment exclude anybody from being considered equally entitled to their respect and protection?
Let us come back to the issue of health and taxes. How much does it cost us all in social services to finally help those that have hit rock bottom? The ones who have succumbed to the ravages of drug addiction and sexually transmitted diseases? Legalized prostitution would allow the enforcement of licenses to practice and mandatory regular testing for STDs. It would also be easier to control the spread of disease through targeted education and awareness campaigns.
As far as taxes are concerned, this is one profession where in good times, business is good, and in bad times, it is better. It probably rivals funeral parlors. So, when bankrupt municipalities are scratching their heads wondering how to stay out of bankruptcy it only makes sense to consider legalization of this most noble of professions.
Come on, people! Stop wasting money on the futility of ignoring the larger issues. Protect the downtrodden and forgotten elements of our society. Stop targeting the low hanging fruit, or more to the point, low hanging balls of "dirty old men". It's time we started using tax payer dollars more wisely and reaping the rewards of a more enlightened approach to basic human suffering.
