Newsgroups: alt.hemp,alt.drugs,alt.psychoactives,talk.politics.drugs
From: [go 1 n] at [ellis.uchicago.edu] (bing  gong)
Subject: DONAHUE: Consensual Crimes Show 
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1993 21:45:04 GMT


   I just finished watching the Donahue show, and although I thought
it missed a few big points overall the show was positive.

    If you missed it, the show consisted of the guy who wrote the book
about how much consensual crimes cost society (sorry I dont remember the
author or title, it was in a previous post... maybe someone could repost
it... it would be worth it..)

    The other guests were a MJ user, a Prostitute, a Homosexual,
a current L.A. city prosecutor, and a Christian Talk Show host.  

   If its not totally obvious how these chips were going to fall here is
a run down-

   MJ User:

      A woman who did more whinning than anything else.  Seemed very
exasperated and Phil pretty much ignored her (I dont really blame him,
unfortunately).  She did correctly point out that it was "the law that
is wrong,"  when someone pointed out that using MJ is against the
law so it *must* be bad/wrong.  She seemed more to fit the 'selfish'
stereotype presented in an earlier post.

   Prostitue:

      I thought she was excellent.  An average looking 40ish woman, a 
little overweight.  Was previously on public councils dealing with 
the problems of prostitution.  Did a lot of research herself and decided
she had to try it to 'really get the idea of what I was researching.'  
It turns out she likes it and keeps doing it.  Several times she
questioned why should it be illegal to do if both her and the client
are consenting... who is hurt?  Excellent point.

   Homosexual:

   	Didn't have much to say.  He was arrested for engaging in 
sodomy in Nebraska.  (He was in private with a consenting partner).
Took the case to the Nebraska Supreme Court and won 4-3. (I can't 
believe it was that close... :(

   Christian Talk Show Host:

	He again and again used the bible to show how it would be wrong
to legalize these actions.  Kept quoting verses. I was getting chills
down my spine thinking of a guy like this as President.  Uttered the
phrase Family Values several times.  Stated how prostition and drugs
ruins so many peoples lives.  Bible thumping hurt his point (in my opinion)
- the older members of the audience (50+) seemed to like it though...

   L.A. City Prosecutor:

	This guy was an absolute Godsend.  He added a lot of credibility
to the argument.  He points out that LA spends millions a year on
consenual crimes, with -no- impact on these crimes.  The instances of
them are actually increasing.  He pointed out that whether we like it or
not people are going to use drugs and engage in prosititution.  We can
either deal with it, and take the criminal out of it, or keep holding
out hands over our eyes, thinking we are inhibiting it.  He had an 
excellent refutation of the Bible Bumpers claim that these acts  ruin
peoples lives.  He pointed out that it was the fact these acts are made 
crimes that causes the problems.  If drugs were legal, people would not 
have to steal and sell themselves to support their habits.  If 
prositution were legal, you could have them tested and in legit. places-
not in the hands of pimps.  

    The Guy Who Wrote the Book:

	Pretty much said what everyone else on the panel said about how
we as a society are accomplishing nothing and losing a lot enforcing
consensual crimes.

    Phil Donahue:

	Seemed to be pretty well footed on the side of freedom.  Probably
smoked a joint before the show... :)   (sorry phil!)


       Buy the book!   (I know, I havent given the title... sorry)

Steve