Unhappy Hookers

I read in the news the other day that brothel owners in Amsterdam, Netherlands are at war with the Amsterdam City Council over the proposed closing of one third of the brothels in Amsterdam’s famous Red Light (Whores in Windows) District.

The Council claims these Brothels are bringing an undesirable influence into the Red Light district and into Amsterdam itself. Most of them are new and privately funded brothels. The council believes that the private funds are coming from organized crime. They also believe that if they clean up the district more banks would loan money to new brothel owners rather than them getting it from other sources.

The 10,000 strong Prostitute Union, and yes they have unionized, is also against the closures. They claim that if the brothels are closed they will have to work in the streets rather than work out of apartment building windows, as they do now. Both the Brothel owners and the Prostitute’s Union are taking the Council’s action into the courts.

I’m for legal prostitution. As well as the legalizing of Marijuana and some other recreational drugs. Why? Not because I am a user, my drugs of choice are still legal (Alcohol and Nicotine), but for the tax revenues that they would bring into the US Treasury. Unfortunately both the moral right wingers and organized crime will never let this happen. They both spent tons of bucks to influence our members of Congress.

Although I haven’t used the services of a prostitute for nearly 40 years, I feel that they perform an essential service that, and like any other service industry, should be legal. Remember it’s the world’s oldest profession and a victimless crime.

The Beach Bum