Men like sex (OK, so do women, but that isn't the point). Most are also very willing to pay for it if they must. They've been doing so for centuries and centuries (prostitution is, after all, the oldest profession in the world) and will continue to do so regardless of their standing in society. People of all standings have admitted to paying for sex. One of the more recent stories involves the scandalous former governor of New York Eliot Spitzer, to the even more recent admission of guilt involving sex in exchange for money by the husband of Senator Debbie Stabenow, Thomas Athans.

In the case of Thomas Athans, after being questioned by the police regarding his involvement in a prostitution ring, Athans was issued a ticket because he was driving with a suspended license; there were no sex charges brought against him. The women whose services he employed, however, were not so lucky. Twenty-year-old Alycia Martin was arrested and charged with prostitution and is now awaiting a pretrial hearing which is scheduled for April 22.

I am so confused that I don't even know where to begin. I've heard arguments against prostitution and I've heard plenty against arresting prostitutes: "Go after the people who use prostitutes rather than going after the prostitutes" is an argument that many have tried to make. The solution is more simple than you may think. The only problem is that it conflicts with many peoples moral and religious beliefs (but then again, what doesn't?).

The basic principle of supply and demand applies here just as well as it would with any other 'commodity'; as long as there is a demand there will always be a supply. We've learned over time that the demand for sex will not diminish anytime soon. Nor will the supply of it. Instead, we need to embrace an issue that goes hand-in-hand with other serious issues that plague this nation such as health risks that are related to prostitution.

Prostitutes, for the most part, don't have access to adequate health care and are constantly exposed to sexually transmitted diseases such as genital ulcers, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV; therefore their customers are also exposed to these diseases. Legalizing prostitution allows the government to regulate the profession and put in place mandatory medical examinations.

Another major issue that coincides with prostitution is the exploitation of teenagers and vulnerable women. Thousands of troubled underage girls are manipulated by opportunists and conned into selling their bodies.

Legalizing prostitution would eliminate the "underground" aspect of it and bring everything out into the open thus making it easier to control and regulate. The 'transactions' can be done in a safe and controlled environment and could (and most probably would) put the sleazy pimps out of business. The environment will also, for the most part, become safer for both prostitutes and customers.

Many prostitutes that are subjected to violence do not report the incidents to the police because they risk getting thrown into jail, as well. By legalizing prostitution, violence against prostitutes could be reported and the offender perhaps even apprehended. I don't know about you, but I'd feel more comfortable with a violent man in jail than with a prostitute.

Recognizing prostitution as a valid form of employment would also allow the government to tax their earnings. Legalizing prostitution is not merely a popular notion that still needs to be put into effect. In fact, the United States is one of the few countries in which prostitution is illegal. Places such as Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, all of Europe, and many parts of Asia have all legalized prostitution and done so with positive results and no problems.

People argue that by legalizing prostitution we are pushing the envelope of acceptance too far and we must draw the line somewhere. This invisible line that we are so adamant on keeping around is costing us more than we could ever imagine; rather than trying to ignore a situation that has been around since basically the beginning of mankind is foolish of us. By following the footsteps of Europe and Canada we can work to make the situation better for all parties involved... and we can have fun while we're at it!