Referendum to legalize prostitution

[Longermonger]

California legalized a thing on January 1st. It’s a forbidden thing on this hooker board so I won’t even mention it. But now you can smoke that thing legally. My point is that legalization effort is worth watching when it come to legalizing our thing, prostitution. Some states run it through their state houses. Others put it on the ballot as a referendum. So how would you put legalization of prostitution on a Missouri ballot? How would you word it? How do you get the majority to vote for the minority? Maybe you could pitch it as a Prostitution Tax. Propose to tax and regulate it instead of criminalizing it.

[Drainbamage]

Would you call that S.T.O.P. State Tax On Pussy

[bigryan2222]

How do you get a real push to legalize prostitution? Who will be the face of it? How many married men (or even single men) will be willing to put their name on something like this? What benefits are you going to sell the public on the change?

I think you need 100,000 or so signatures to get something like this on the Missouri ballots. Keep in mind that in many states (I dont know about Missouri) these signatures are available for open record requests. I know you are trying to play what if on how to implement it. I just wanted to rain on your parade and remind you why it will probably never pass in my lifetime.

[royamcr]

Legalize, never will happen. Decriminalize and regulate, maybe, but probably not. Too many women in power, they want to keep their husbands balls in their pockets.

[hobbyist22]

The effort would need to campaign on positives, such as:

-incoming revenue from taxes (much like the argument for the lottery, legalized cannabis, etc)
-lower risk to the safety of the girls by regulating the practice to ensure physical safety
-lowering the risk to the general public by requiring providers to maintain monthly STI checks
-lowering the risk to women and children by reducing human trafficking
-generating new jobs for overseeing the program, inspecting facilities, etc
-potentially reduced expenditure of law enforcement funds OR funding their efforts using incoming tax revenue

It's unfortunate but for this to ever be considered, something would have to thrust the hobby into the spotlight and highlight the danger and risk these providers face. We'd also need to find a way to demonstrate just how much this is happening under the noses of the people who would oppose legalization. MO and KS will be among the last states that would ever legalize and I don't expect that to happen in my lifetime.

[cmore197474]

it's actually better too just decriminilize it rather than making it legal. easier to get support and other advantages too. Google the difference.

[royamcr]

It would be political suicide for anyone advocating for any type of legalization or decriminalization. It is just one of those subjects that you don't touch.

In a lot of ways just keeping it illegal makes most of it self regulating. I don't know a percentage, but I think 80-90% of all prostitution is "out of sight/out of mind" between escorts, SB/SD, paid porn and other types of arrangements. It all happens and I think a large part of the population is ok with it. Just keep it on the down low. The other 10-20% is more shady be it street walking, trafficking, pimping and substance abuse related. Who knows, maybe it is more like 70/30.

[the_real_Barleycorn]

You need a face to represent your cause. Normally you want someone squeaky clean to be your mast head but that doesn't work this time. You need a mother, a single mom, who is articulate without any arrests. Someone who can make the case that she is doing what she is doing in order to take care of her children. Then you can hammer home about taxes, women's rights, women's safety, and be willing to accept decriminalization rather than legalization.