They're absolutely pitiful. I feel sorry for any young girl who is forced to be part of one. And who are we kidding? Of course they're forced. And those male panel judges probably go home and beat off to the kids who performed on stage. Disgusting.
Hardly any difference at all. The part of their platforms that IS vastly different are their typical stances on social issues like gay rights and abortion. Otherwise, they both support the welfare state, military interventionism, and the repudiation of most natural rights.
I don't think there should be any doubt about it. Prostitution is the world's oldest profession, so the idea that you can get rid of it is incredibly naive. And just like with the banning of "narcotics", it creates another underworld of criminals and crime.
A couple of people on this thread have justified the ban on prostitution by asserting that all women (and men, for that matter) who become prostitutes do so because they had a traumatic childhood full of physical/sexual/emotional abuse. Even if that statement were true without exception, it wouldn't be relevant. A legalization issue is always centered around the question of "Which solution contributes more to the well-being of society?" And to me, the answer is clear.
The evidence that age restrictions are not effective and easy to bypass is overwhelming. I never knew a kid growing up who wouldn't drink because he was underage or couldn't get someone of age to buy him alcohol. The discretion should be in the hands of the supplier, because he is the only one who can truly monitor and enforce a responsible sale.
