Political prostitution is worse

Iain Dale has written a very reasonable argument in favour of decriminalising prostitution, concluding:

It’s easier to buy or sell sex than ever before - at least in part because of the internet. We need to recognise that the world has changed and adapt our approach to the sex industry accordingly. Many who are reading this will quite understandably be repelled at the very thought of it. It’s not the kind of issue discussed in polite society, they will say. I totally understand that. But if we don’t, the issue will become more of a problem.

Bravo.

But of course prostitution ought to be legal.  As Dale focuses on, prohibition simply doesn’t work.  And unlike the decriminalisation of drugs, against which I will concede there are arguments (albeit flimsy), there simply aren’t any cogent arguments against decriminalising prostitution.  Since prostitution is paying for sex, either:

1) The objection is to sex with a stranger, i.e. puritanism.

2) The objection is to men spending money, i.e. communism.

3) The objection is to women earning money , i.e. misogyny.*

Iain Dale’s a lot of things, but he’s not a puritan, a communist, or a misogynist.  So to come out in favour of decriminalising prostitution wasn’t a difficult step to take logically.  Kudos, however, for not prostituting himself politically, and standing for what’s logical and right - it’s not that common.

Sadly, he does himself an injustice with his small-print:

Note: I would be grateful if we could keep the debate on this subject to the issue of prostitution and not be diverted onto the legalisation of drugs.

Now if only he followed that logic by broadening the debate to decriminalising drugs, we could get somewhere.  Come on, Iain, there’s no point ignoring the debate and whoring yourself politically…