The English Are Daft

Ah yes … Zero Tolerance raises it’s hoary head again – this time across the great pond.

We take you now to Merry Old England – about to become just a little less merry.

Why?

You see, the Blair government is about to embark upon a new crusade. Terrorism? Naw … that’s old hat. Hunting? Been there – done that. Gun ownership? Yesterday’s news.

The winner this time is …

Prostitution!

Yes! England will muster it’s vast resources and police powers to stamp out once and for all the scourge of selling sex.

As their Home Office minister Fiona Mactaggart said:

"I'm not tolerant of the view that prostitution is the oldest profession in the world and there's nothing we can do to reduce it." Prostitution blights communities. We will take a zero tolerance approach to kerb crawling (johns). Men who choose to use prostitutes are indirectly supporting drug dealers and abusers. The power to confiscate driving licences already exists. We want the police to use that power more."

Hear! Hear! Madam Minister!

Even though every other government throughout all of history has met with defeat when trying to eradicate street walking – you think you’ll succeed.

So girdle up your uniformed police, cry havoc and let loose the morality squads.

And what will be the eventual outcome? Simply this:

Nothing.

You won’t get rid of prostitution. You’ll hardly even make a dent, much less any substantial inroads.

You’ll be spending oodles of money, throwing coin and paper at a ‘vice” that’s eluded eradication since the dawn of civilization. You’ll marshal your resources to round up women and men who’ll just go back to what they’re doing the moment they’re released.

Priorities, Priorities

Of course – putting so many eggs in that particular basket will only take away from stopping minor crimes like bombings, burglaries, rapes and the like. After all – we must have out priorities.

But, Madam Minister – I’d tread very carefully. Be sure not to bust the higher end pleasure establishments. You may very well find that their cliental and those in Parliament are remarkably similar.

And that would be more than a little embarrassing. For you that is – because you’ll be out of a job faster than one can cry: John Bull.