Prostitution is often called a ônecessary evil,ö primarily because it has always existed and still does in all societies (Legalized 2003). Regardless of this fact, the issue of decriminalizing prostitution creates as much controversy and debate in society as those of decriminalizing marijuana or recognizing gay marriages. The reason for such heated debate is the nature of policymaking in the United States. Conservative, right-wing interest groups like the New Right and Religious Right maintain significant influence over U.S. policy, particularly in the right-oriented, born again Christian administration of George Bush. Despite such opposition to legalizing prostitution, many argue legalizing prostitution would result in a greater tax base, increased protection for prostitutes, cost reductions from less criminal arrests related to prostitution, and a reduction in the number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among both prostitutes and those who patronize them. As Barbara Johnson (2003), a lawyer running for political office, argues ôSince weÆre going to have prostitution any way, we ought to be looking for ways to tax it, and to reduce and decrease crime. Legalizing and regulating prostitution will do exactly that,ö (1).
Regardless of such thinking, many organizations remain committed to keeping prostitution a criminal act. Statistics demonstrate that all countries have populations of women engaged in prostitution, ranging from .25 to 1.5 percent, (Prostitution 2003). Far greater percentages of men are paying for sex, however. In addition, statistics on the impact of prostitution on women are grim. In Canada, women or girls engaged in prostitution have a mortality rate 40 times that of the national average, while in the U.S. estimates put the number of prostitutes who are raped (many more than once a week) at seventy percent, (Prostitution 2003). Such statistics make many argue that decrimin
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