As odd as it may sound, I think having legal regulated prostitution would be very healthy for a society. We all know what can happen when sexuality is suppressed (Catholic and Orthodox priests), and not everyone has someone with whom he or she can get some. I talked to my friend from Italy, to them sex is as natural as eating and breathing. There are MANY individuals who would benefit from some fun in the sack =D

I think we should be careful with how we approach this issue. Particularly with the difference between legalization and decriminalization.

[newrepublic.com]

Prostitution is as old as civilization, but that doesn't make it moral. Slavery, child labor, forced marriage, etc. are also as old as civilization, and they are not moral, either. Prostitution is a feature of patriarchy, and is bolstered by the belief that sex is a commodity, and that men are entitled to sex. The problem with prostitution, from my point of view, is the power imbalance. In countries where prostitution is legal and promoted, such as Germany and the Netherlands, human trafficking has increased and the criminal element has dug in hard. Most of the prostituted women in both these countries are poor women of color, from other countries, who have been brought in to satisfy what is becoming the demands of an ugly industry. In a recent study, researchers in Germany were unable to find a single German woman selling herself in the brothels they visited. Even in the Netherlands, authorities are rethinking the situation. (See link.)[independent.co.uk]

Prostitution should not be legal, but it should be discouraged socially.
Prostitution should not be illegal, because that makes criminals of the prostitutes, but it should be discouraged socially.
People say prostitution is as old as civilization, and will never be eradicated, but that is a false argument. It's as old as civilization precisely because civilization is patriarchal, meaning that women as people are devalued, and sex is comodified. Slavery, child marriage, forced conscription and child abuse are all also as old as civilization, and that doesn't make them moral, or desirable, either.
Prostitution is the attempt to divorce sexual reciprocity from the emotions of love and connectiveness. The same is true of pornography. Yes, it can be done. But that doesn't make it a good idea.
In places where prostitution has been made legal, organized crime has moved in in a big way. In the red light district of Amsterdam, officials are rethinking the policies that have allowed prostitution to flourish there. Sex trafficking has increased, not decreased. Most of the women who work in the brothels are poor women (and girls) of color, who were brought to Amsterdam to service what has become a huge business, and nearly all the elements that go with this situation are undesireable in an advanced culture. The same is true in Germany, where 9 storey buildings house hundreds of impoverished third world prostitutes. Researchers in one study could not find a single German woman who chose to prostitute herself in one of these bordellos.
You can always find women who claim to love prostitution, and some who make a lot of money doing it. That doesn't negate the fact that for the vast majority of women and girls who make their living prostituting themselves, they would do anything else if they possibly could, and their lives are marked by suffering and degradation. Most cannot, and do not, escape the horrible life of sexual slavery.
Men (and women) who claim that prostitution is empowering for the women are deluding themselves. Just look at the evidence: it's not that hard to find. Women who leave prostitution have very sad stories about it. Men who visit prostitutes, and post their reviews, are horribly cruel and mysogynistic to the women they have just paid to fuck.
Upstanding male citizens who view porn and argue that prostitution should be legal, would generally not be thrilled to learn that a beloved daughter or granddaughter has decided to go into the sex trade. Why not, if it's just another job?
Because they know, even if they will not admit it, that "sex work" is degrading and dehumanizing.
In the Nordic model, only the purchasers of sex are prosecuted. This approach tends to shame men who are willing to engage prostitutes, and remarkably, the incidence of prostitution goes way down, when such an approach is implemented.
Isn't that more like the kind of culture we all want? Where prostitution is rare, rather than commonplace? Doesn't that reduce suffering more?

“Everything in the world is about sex except sex. Sex is about power.”
― Oscar Wilde

Men hate the power women have over them sexually and so attempt to control them. Making prostitution illegal is part of that control.

I think it has been shown with little doubt that if you make something which is frowned upon socially, like prostitution, drugs etc. legal the situation gets a lot better for everyone concerned.

I have known quite a few prostitutes and they all have very different lives. One female I know works very hard at her job and has bought a house and is set to retire at 30. Another is in prison for drug smuggling even though she comes from a very wealthy family. She loved being a prostitute as she had never had a boyfriend before and liked the adventure. Two of my male friends have been prostitutes and one still is. He does it mainly for the money but is quite promiscuous anyway so enjoys it mostly. I went out with a girl who’s ex. boyfriend/girlfriend was a transexual prostitute who loved it. She lived with him for year and still sees him socially now.

I mention this for those who have the idea that prostitution is only the result of hitting rock bottom. There are those stories but there are also many much more happy endings (pun intended).

It's the world's oldest profession...in some cases it's the only asset a woman (or man) has to survive.

I feel that prostitution is exploitative, whether it is legal or not. There are but few women who would chose it as a profession if they had any viable alternative and I find it immensely sad that there are women who feel they do not have those alternatives. That said, I am very much in favour of protective and regulatory legislation so that vulnerable sex workers can maximise their safety and limit their exposure to opportunistic pimps and predators.

There are FAR too many laws in this country. No one has the right to make a law curtailing my right to choose for myself, as long as I'm not clearly infringing someone else's rights. We have given away an incredible amount of our individual freedoms, because a loud, wealthy, active, and christian segment of our population deems particular freedoms to be unsavory and against the teachings of jesus. They're opinions and feelings should only play a part in dictating their choices. They cross the line by thinking they have a right to dictate mine.

I voted other b/c I don't think the government has a right to stick their nose into a relationship between two people, be they a woman and her john, an inter-racial married couple, a hetro-couple, gay couple, etc. IMHO saying the government should legalize it is implying they have a right to dictate it in the first place.

Legalize it, regulate it, and tax it. I do think you said it well.

I really avoid posting curse words but here it is rather significant and appropriate. George Carlin once said " Sellings legal. Fuckings legal. Why is selling fucking illegal?"

Sex is at the least necessary for our species to survive. Prohibitions ( barring what actually hurts another person ) are completely arbitrary based on religious influence.
The reason for this is by suppressing and or controlling sex religion could control people. This was done to make people more dependent on religion. The hijacking of humanity and our natural instincts is what is immoral. Not two consenting adults having sex.

It's legal in Nevada.

I have no problem with legalizing it, but there is still the problem with "Human trafficking". So there would still have to be laws protecting sex workers and children.

As someone who wouldn't be here if not for my biological mother being a prostitute, getting knocked up and not believing in abortions, I say legalize it! She made a lot of money doing it, but a good handful of it went to her pimp who was abusive and when she left him so she could lead a better life, he promised he would find her and kill her. She lives with fear because she saw one of his boys (I assume one of his thugs?) and one of his girls (another girl that worked for him) after she moved states away, she was for sure he was gonna find her. But she has not heard from him since and hasn't seen them. So, I hope she will be okay, but I'm sure she will as long as he doesn't bring a gun. She took self defense classes to protect herself in case something with a client went wrong. If they do regulate it though, they should teach self defense as something mandatory, in my opinion.

I accidentally voted keep it illegal. I meant to vote for legalize.

No, I don't think it should be illegal. Makes no sense. Who's it hurting? When it comes down to consenting adults making informed decisions, it is infringing on my right to use my body as I please, whether it be giver or receiver.

I now live in Australia where prostitution is legal, and I believe should stay that way. Legalizing it solves a lot of problems, let's face it, it exiists, legal or otherwise, and that isn't going to change. It becomes safer for everyone when it is legal.

My question is should it be?

Keeping prostitution illegal serves no public interest. It's a moralist agenda residual from a puritan founded society. What people do with their bodies is their business.

OF COURSE it should be legal!

Seriously....when did it become illegal? WHEN CHURCHES HELD MORE INFLUENCE THAN THEY DO NOW! I've always been mystified about poor Mary Magdalene. Now, the bibble never says she's a prostitute...but she's been rumored to have been one. Why's that? Because the people who wrote the bibble (MEN) also demonstrated great hatred toward strong women. Even poor Mary (mother of Jebus) was only revered because she was a virgin. This is the sort of attitude which causes prejudice against women who own their own bodies and use them as they see fit.

Anyone who's traveled in the world has seen countries where prostitution is legal, protected and regulated.

WHY NOT?

Buying sex should be illegal.

The biggest problem is extortion and traffiking of the workers. Legalizing it would be good, but I propose even more .... Unionize it, provide benefits for the workers, including protection from abuse, legal aid, health care, etc.

Should prostitution be illegal? Thats a hard question are you talking about a pimp. Where he pimps out women or men for . And thus taking most of the made? Or a woman or man that just has for a few extra dollars or food but is not owned by a pimp? If its just a woman or man doing it themselves it should be ok so long has they are checked out every week or so.

But for those against it you can't regulate morals. So why not look at why a person does it? And fix the problem. Off the top of my head I would be willing to bet its due to issues.

Completely agree.

Outside of religious and some religion-related societal dictates, prostitution is just a service... If accompanied by simple protection, health screening of customers and agents... Less dangerous than driving on the roads. Plus: The "world's oldest profession" exists everywhere I've been where there are human populations of size.... Legitimize it, and the workers (women and men) and help to keep all disease and pregnancy free.