Sound Politics Public Blog: Prostitution-free zones--Say WAAAA?

January 18, 2009

Prostitution-free zones--Say WAAAA?

I used to listen to local gadfly David Goldstein when he was on KIRO radio. One of his favorite talking points was that high taxes were necessary because today's voters want, nay, demand their wonderful government services.

You mean like this, Goldy?

From the Wa Post

In preparation for the inauguration, D.C. police have been putting up large red "Prostitution Free Zone" signs in the central section of the city. The signs were originally the idea of ex-mayor Anthony Williams, the same guy who got rid of an aide for using the word 'niggardly,' a perfectly good word entirely unrelated to the vile racial slur.

Within a block of where I live in Bellevue there are two metal "Drug Free Zone" signs on the street. So my tax dollars went to pay for some committee to conceive the sign, an artist to design it, workmen to install it, etc. I will eat my hat if Bellevue can produce just one druggie who was stopped from using drugs by the existence of these signs.

Only government can be this fricken stupid with a straight face. The most clownish televangelist never posted "Sin-free Zone" at his church. The scammingest car dealer never posted "Breakdown-free zone" on his lot. Government does it not just once, but repeatedly. Don't even get me started on Mayor Nickels' 'gun-free zones.'

We have gone off the deep end. Are we really this stupid in 2009? I can only hope that if one digs deeply enough there is a politician's brother-in-law with a sign-making company lying at the bottom.

Posted by 6p01053690976c970c at January 18, 2009 05:29 AM | Email This

Comments

1. The prostitution-free signs bear a certain resemblance to Seattle's banning of 29 types of malt liquor. It worked for a short time, but the makers simply changed the names of the product to evade the ban. The city's consultant himself concluded that the ban had been 'meaningless.'
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2008-02-20/news/high-octane-hooch-returns-to-alcohol-impact-areas.php

This suggests to me that it really is just sheer stupidity that underlies these ideas. In fact, even homeless drunks appear to be smarter than the Seattle City Council.

Posted by: nickels-willams-free zone on January 18, 2009 06:25 AM

2. If they really wanted to make a difference they would put up drugs allowed zone signs at all the countries borders and watch the true crime rate (as in things like theft & murder) in the country drop like a rock.

Posted by: Lysander on January 19, 2009 03:17 PM

3. I think the "Drug Free Zone" signs might have a purpose. They show areas where druggies can face tougher penalties for use and distribution. It is possible that they did the same thing in DC. You get busted for prostitution AWAY from the inauguration you get a $200 ticket. You snag your trick under a "zone" sign, you get to spend a week in the can. It ads visibility to invisible lines. Not sure this is the case, but one can hope there is a LITTLE method to the madness.

Hairy

Posted by: Hairy Buddah on January 20, 2009 05:04 PM

4. You're right, if you read the link there is at least a suggestion that the signs are linked to increased penalties. Nonetheless I would argue that a) at best it just means that the transaction moves to another location, so it still is a waste of time & money; b) the 'drug free zone' signs in my neighborhood don't say anything about this, they just proclaim the area to be a 'drug free zone.' If we are going to spend the money for signs, let's not have Orwellian nonsense that is going to make the kids roflmao.

Posted by: 6p01053690976c970c on January 20, 2009 08:29 PM