Legalize it, regulate it and tax the shit out of it.

A story about one of my biggest pet peeves.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050510/ap_on_re_us/brothel_tax

We're talking about cutting benefits everywhere. We're talking about how over worked and under paid our law enforcement officers are. However, we spend an inordinate amount of law enforcement time arresting, processing and procescuting prostitutes. Same thing goes for marijuana users and sellers.

Why can't we get the stick out of our butts and legalize prostitution? We spend so much time pretending it doesn't exist and trying to stop it but it isn't called the oldest profession for nothing. There is an old saying in the software business, "If you can't fix a problem, feature it." Prostitution can't be "fixed" so why not legalize it, set up health regulations to ensure everyone stays disease free and then tax it like crazy. You hire a few inspectors (any volunteers for that job?)and free up a hell of a lot of law enforcement time. You also put a lot of illegal bitch slapping pimps out of business.

Same thing with marijuana. You can't fix it and if you allow booze and cigarettes, why not weed? That way you get all the illegal shit off the market, you can regulate it and once again, tax the crap out of it. Who would buy a bag from some guy on the street when you could walk into a liquor store and buy a pack?

I guess it's all too logical. Heaven forbid we stop trying to legislate morality and start treating people like adults.