I just been watching with total amusement how uncomfortable Fant and his new clone CShane become at the thought of individuals doing what they want with their own bodies. I don't think you guys will be satisfied until you regulate the moral behavior of everyone in the U.S. As you say Fant... twisted your knickers?
You said earlier: I don't understand why the element of religion must be introduced into the discussion. Aren't there sufficient secular reasons to 'outlaw' prostitution?
Just another victimless crime, like narcotics. Right?
The citing of religiousity and its influence on American Juris Prudence depicts the genesis of some of our outdated laws. These laws evolved as a direct response to religious dogma. While there may be secular reasons for curtailing prostitution or narcotics (ie. public health issues or related crime), they are not sufficient on a secular basis to directly outlaw regulated forms of these "vices".
Tell me which of our laws is not based on one of the Ten Commandments’. Is it possible to construct legislation that can be construed as not being rooted in therein?
Our governments and laws have time and again permitted previously forbidden activities in return for profit participation by the government. I think there is selective enforcement at work here. Pick the vice that pays the most and condemn the rest.
The problem with legislatures, at every level, is that they are populated by individuals who are a little short on, among other things, honesty, integrity, intelligence, independence, and courage. As a group, they see their primary responsibility as their re-election. To this end, they pander to any and all constituencies from which they solicit support in the form of contributions and votes. They tow the party line.
Shall I point out one of the favorite activities of one of your "moral", family values gurus.... Bill Bennett. The man is a compulsive gambler (and probabily doodles and occassional hooker as a high roller in casinos too!!).
No need to. The media did an excellent job of doing that. Speculation on things not knowable is SOP for the socialist-lib-Dems smear machine operators. Are you one of those?
Is there anyone of intelligence who does not understand that gambling, per se, is harmless for the masses much the same as alcohol? These same persons also understand that gambling, like alcohol, clutches some by the throat in the form of a horribly destructive addiction that can ruin their lives and the lives of their family members.
Do you think that more people are impacted by the negative effects of gambling in America that prostitution? Do you think it possible that more Daddy's piss away their paychecks in LEGAL casinos, leaving Mom and the kids out on the street? Is that different than a drug addict?
No. Both are economically unproductive in that they suck money out of people and give them misery in return.
Case in point. It is interesting that in the Bahamas, language printed in bold letters on every casino entrance door specifically prohibits anyone residing there from even entering. Locals refer to those large, beautiful buildings as temples. Why? Because that is where the tourists go to make their donations.
Well, they decided to allow that vice because it brings millions of dollars to the tax rolls.
Scroll back to the paragraph that begins, “The problem with legislatures…..”.
The second highest source of taxes for many states comes from the sale of alcohol. Do you think it possible (oh my!) that people under the influence of booze might do bad things like.... murder, robbery, DWI manslaughter, wife beating, assault etc etc... or that they cost the taxpayer millions from slow death in de-tox, blowing up from cirrosis of the liver, diabetes and what ever else crawls out of a bottle. But it's LEGAL because there is too much money in it.
Scroll back to the paragraph that begins, “The problem with legislatures…..”.
Why don't we just bust all the fat people for causing a major threat to public health... afterall, they are walking death traps that will cause undue strain on the health system and ultimately leave their families abandoned when they keel over clutching their chests from a massive heart attack?
Scroll back to the paragraph that begins, “The problem with legislatures…..”.
Blue Laws prevent some retail stores in certain states / cities from operation (purely motivated by religion), where others decided the sales tax revenue was too much to pass up.
Scroll back to the paragraph that begins, “The problem with legislatures…..”.
If you are going to apply the standard at least make it uniform. Then we can all live in Fantasea land with you Squire Shane as the guard dog of moral values and have Sunday dinner with Ozzie and Harriet!!
By the way young Shane, it is nice that you joined the forum, and I certainly appreciate intellectual banter, whether I agree with you or not. You are obviously very intelligent and seemingly raised by a nice conservative family with high moral values. But, didn't your Mother teach you to respect your elders and not to call other people idiots?
You should be ashamed of yourself... now go to your room. Hey Fant, let's bring back the old conservative rule...Children should be seen and not heard!!
While I agree with you that one should keep the discussion moving along in a totally civil and respectful manner, I must add that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to do so. It requires strong self-control to resist responding in kind to some of the disagreeable posts that show up in this forum.
In the matter of , “Children …”, children still learn much more about becoming successful, interesting adults when, in the presence of their elders, the listen politely, speak when spoken to, and, in general, while keeping their place, observe the social intercourse of persons more sophisticated they.
Parents who permit their children to ‘hog the show’ usually get what they deserve, dolts who are unwelcome outside the immediate family.
On the subject of legislatures, I think, more than anything else, it is the ‘career politician’ that is at the root of all of the ‘problems’ we lay at the feet of government. These guys, and now, gals, too, have to keep themselves busy creating new ways to inflict misery on the public.
Term limits make perfect sense to me.
