prostitution

I've never understood why it is illegal. If it were legal, the pimps would have no power, and the pimps' treatment of their 'girls' is where most of the real crime occurs. I'm a woman, by the way, and while it isn't something I'd like to do for a living, I don't see why it is illegal.

Given this thread here: http://www.politicalfray.com/showthread.php?p=2684#post2684 I was wondering what the difference is between porn and prostitution. I mean, porn is legal in the US and it's basically the same thing - having sex for money - yet prostitution is illegal in all but two...

It has been around for ages, and yet is still looked down upon in several cultures. While I know the downsides of having it, I also know the downsides of prohibiting it. If it's prohibited, it will still exist but it will be illegal and that tends to put the women in danger more as they are...