In age of austerity, Dutch government is enforcing taxes on prostitution

[Joanne98]

Source: AP

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Workers in the world's oldest profession are about to get a lesson in the harsh reality of Europe's new age of austerity.

The Dutch government has warned prostitutes who advertise their wares in the famed windows of Amsterdam's red light district to expect a business-only visit from the taxman.

Prostitution has flourished in Amsterdam since the 1600s, when the Netherlands was a major naval power and sailors swaggered into the port looking for a good time. The country legalized the practice a decade ago, but authorities are only now getting around to looking to sex workers for taxes.


Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/sns-ap-eu-netherlands-taxing-prostitutes,0,4622548.story

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Should have been done right from the start

I think everyone in a civilized society needs to pay taxes, and legal prostitutes are no different. The workers surely use the Netherlands' health care system, after all, and rightly so.

[iandhr]

2. not only that

they are unionized prostitutes.

[24601]

7. Does that mean you have to take the one with seniority? n/t

[iandhr]

3. not only that

they are unionized prostitutes.

[nodehopper]

8. The Netherlands has a privatized health care system :) n/t

[jkappy]

4. Oldest Oppression-- The Pimp State Wants More!

Unionized prostitutes makes about as much sense as unionized slaves. Check out Sweden's laws on prostitution--the reverse of this policy--the buyers alone are criminalized which is obviously the way it should be (the world's oldest oppressors get their due)

[Unvanguard]

5. The people you are trying to "protect" generally hate that policy.

It only makes things worse for them.

[musiclawyer]

6. We should legalize and tax prostitution here

I wouldn't use Nevada's model. At least here in CA But taking the crime out of it and making it a public health issue, just like drugs, would be very beneficial to society.