Bernie Sanders didn't give a definitive answer on sex work vs. sex trafficking

[TreasonousBastard]

33. "We're going to take a hard look at it..." The bill was passed over a year ago ...

and Sanders voted for it.

So now he's looking at it?

This is one case where I'm sympathetic with his trying to avoid the minefield. I just don't like the lazy way he did it.

Pretty much everyone but traffickers hate sex trafficking, so that part is easy. The real problem is voluntary sex work-- we are still overly puritanical and divided over it. Hypocritical, too, to say the least. And very confused.

If I pay a woman to be in a movie and the movie is largely about us having sex, that is constitutionally protected free speech. But, if I pay her to have sex with me in a hotel room with no cameras, that is illegal prostitution. Gay, straight, other... the only things that make a significant difference are someone under age or under duress.

Some claim FOSTA-SESTA has actually made it more difficult to prosecute trafficking charges since evidence is less reliable, and that may be true. Law enforcement made the claim that closing Backpage merely made the ads go underground, hampering prosecutions. The ACLU and other free speech organizations claimed free speech was under attack.

All of which is a mess, and no one thinks trafficking has been reduced.

I don't blame Bernie for slipping out of this one.