Firethorn, don't assume that I'm against legalization - I'm still making up my mind. And don't take my arguments to prove points I didn't intend them to prove.
I didn't assume anything. I saw your post and had a thought. Today's society has certain images of 'Pimps and Dealers' that have some very negative connotations. I apologize for pissing you off.
Of course. That's my point. "Dealer" doesn't imply illegality or shadiness.
You know, you're right. I think that it was the close proximity to 'pimp' that set me off on that one. And yeah, 'Dealer' doesn't mean illegal. Car dealers, for example.
Anyone who manages a prostitution business is a pimp, whether legal or not. That is the meaning of the word. While I don't doubt there are prostitutes with the where-with-all to manage their own affairs (pun not intended), those who turn to prostitution usually don't do so out of ambition and a keen grasp of business skill. The prostitutes will be the same girls who are doing it now, and they will work for some kind of pimp, whether legal and "ethical," or not.
According to dictionary.com:
1. a person, esp. a man, who solicits customers for a prostitute or a brothel, usually in return for a share of the earnings; pander; procurer.
2. a despicable person.
6. to exploit.
Saw a special on prostitution. It touched on how prostitution works in areas where it's legal and where it's illegal. In illegal places the Pimps act as 'Managers' as well and frequenly the prostitutes are essentially slaves for the pimps, who will beat them for poor performance. In places where it's legal, you're more likely to get Madams, and the only men are hired security, though I suppose you could still have advertisers as 'pimps' by definition 1. It's a case of, my personal definition has a 'pimp' acting as manager/ruler of a stable of prostitutes, using violence as a means of control(As him, the prostitutes, and the johns can't call the cops).
Legal prostitution is safer and cleaner for everyone involved.
One of my favorite methods for controlling crime like this is to try to defund the criminals. Take away their profit. Well, as long as having a victim isn't part of the process. Organ stealing, snuff films, child porn/molestation, kidnapping, extortion all have victims, so by all means continue sending cops after any who try it.