How Sex and Drugs Can Help Stimulate Britain's Limp Economy

prostitution should totally be decriminalized

statistically it would work out better for everyone except the military-industrial complex

 

International Business Times

If politicians and the public can put aside long-held prejudices, then they may be able to solve some of the tough economic questions Britain has to answer by unleashing the financial power of two untapped markets: drugs and prostitution.

These multi-billion pound industries lurk in the shadows of Britain, operating at every moment of every day in every part of the country.

Ending Britain's role in the War on Drugs and its criminalisation of the sex worker industry, for many, makes perfect fiscal as well as moral sense.


"It's win, win, win," Danny Kushlick of the Transform Drugs Policy Foundation tells IBTimes UK.

"The point really is that not only are there savings from not prosecuting a futile war, and not creating the vast criminal market that goes with that, there's also the tax."

The English Collective of Prostitutes (ECP), a campaigning body for the decriminalisation of prostitution, shares a similar view.

Prostitution is technically legal within British law, but it is surrounded by other rules that make it practically impossible to carry out lawfully, such as women working on the street being charged with loitering and soliciting, and that two or more women working in one property can be charged with brothel keeping.

"If prostitution was decriminalised, costs would be saved, starting with police and criminal justice resources which are currently dedicated to the surveillance, investigation, prosecution, and even imprisonment of sex workers working collectively and consensually," says Niki Adams of the ECP to IBTimes UK.

"There is no justification for squandering public money criminalising sex workers, especially at this moment in time."

Both industries are big. Given that they are off-the-books - you won't find many drug dealers or sex workers filing quarterly earnings reports - it is difficult to put any figure on how much each is worth.

A 2007 report by the Home Office gave a "very rough" estimate of between £4bn and £6.6bn for the six main illicit drugs; cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin.

At the time it was worth the equivalent value of 41 percent of the alcohol market in the UK.

In a separate 2008 report the Home Office valued the UK prostitution market at £1bn.

All the while Britain is struggling through billions of economically-crippling austerity measures for its public finances, as the government slashes spending to bring its budget deficit down.

There is no money, claims the government, and so costs must be cut, including vital public services.

Full article: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/4...y-drugs-prostitution-indsustry-costs-tdpf.htm

 

i wonder how much retaliation would come from those who depend on drugs and prostitution to be illegal.

 

Although I'm definietely in favor of decriminalization, I find it absurd and offensive for both prostitution and drugs to be touted as "economic saviors." Even when decriminalized, neither are not without their problems. It is not ethical to seek profit from these two vices whether it's done legally or illegally.

 

The fact that Great Britain says there is no money is whitewash. You're not going to solve issues of economics by legalizing drugs or prostitution.

"There is no money, claims the government, and so costs must be cut, including vital public services."

Source?

 

Although I'm definietely in favor of decriminalization, I find it absurd and offensive for both prostitution and drugs to be touted as "economic saviors." Even when decriminalized, neither are not without their problems. It is not ethical to seek profit from these two vices whether it's done legally or illegally.

Why not? Legalisation brings regulation, which makes it safer and I sure would prefer my money going to help my schools etc, than drug cartels. Also, if I was going to be a prostitute I would rather have a safe place to do so, not taken into a randoms car and butchered.
Decriminalisation, while good for sensible people, would still mean dangerous cuts with drugs, but more people would use them and therefor people would die, it doesnt really do much to solve the problem.

 

I'm in favor of legalization too, but to advertise it as "something great that will save the economy" is what I don't care for.

 

This could be especially good, if people start doing what is right because they should, rather then because it is illegal. If the economy becomes stimulated which would probably be more of a boom, there would eventually be less depression and anxiety socially, and in effect less drug use over time.

 

I'm in favor of legalization too, but to advertise it as "something great that will save the economy" is what I don't care for.

How else are you going to sell it to the right wing conservatives?

 

I don't take shit from, nor do I ask permission from right-wing conservatives to do what I think is right. They don't have to buy my ideas, because I don't play their game like phony liberals do. People like me would set the tone, not play Customer Service Representative to crude and threatening right-wingers. I have what used to be known as a "sack of balls."

 

When I say 'you' I don't mean you literally.

 

I am FOR the legalisation of softer drugs such as cannabis, coca leaf, raw opiates - the underground market is rife with conflict and corruption and I think they can be taken responsibly
I don't support prostitution, I see no beauty in it - smutty industry ...

 

I don't support prostitution, I see no beauty in it - smutty industry ...

so you support putting sex workers in jail? if that worked there would be no prostitutes any more. The sex industry is pretty 'smutty' due to the fact that its underground and illegal. Pornography is a 'smutty' industry do u feel that should also be banned?

 

i wonder how much retaliation would come from those who depend on drugs and prostitution to be illegal.

Yes...Strange pondering that one.

Also this is a good suggestion - both should be decriminalized but there are much better ways to bump up the economy than VICE. The age of vice is ending. Not the time for more emphasis on it...however I totally agree that this will save a lot of money if people involved in these tragic comedies are not turned into criminals for their impulsive decisions.

 

The age of vice is ending. QUOTE]

really? you think so?

 

I believe in personal freedom. Personal freedom includes the choice to do what you please with your own body. So to put someone in jail for choosing to sell sex is highly offensive. The government has no place in limiting personal freedom just because it doesn't like what people do.

And what kind of idiot would think that criminalising prostitutes for selling themselves will actually stop them from doing it? It only makes the situation worse since you would not have the opportunity to have clean, regulated brothels and for those in the situation because they're already disadvantaged because of drugs for example it just makes life even more difficult for them.

Just because something is smutty it does not mean you have the right to impose your own morality on other people. You wouldn't like it if someone judging you decided to make you a criminal just because they find your own actions distasteful.

Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world and it's not about to dissappear any time soon. There will always be a market for sex.

 

How Sex and Drugs Can Help Stimulate Britain's Limp Economy

nice adjective use.

 

I definitely favour the decriminalization of prostitution. But personally I think it should be subject to regulation. We do the same thing for medicine and other services so why not for sex.
Regulations should seek to minimize nuisance and maximize the protection of the sex worker.
In an ideal world a sex worker should be required to attend courses for safety awareness, counselling techniques, sexual health and stds, sex techniques, personal finance and small business administration.
The Dutch experience with the legalization of prostitution has been mixed and has resulted in organized crime playing a large part in the industry.

 

for sure.

Kali Yuga - look it up - it is written.

The age of vice is ending.

really? you think so?

Think about how it was back in the day in Rome - orgies, vomitories, death matches in the arena, it was fucking carnage and mayhem.

 

i think there should be no laws then we'd really see survival of the fittest