Hooker Flashback

A 1977 Atlantic article makes the case for decriminalizing prostitution. At the time, the authors were optimistic:

To propose that our government stop making war on prostitution may seem quixotic. But American attitudes toward sex have been changing rapidly. The notion of a young couple openly living together or college clinics routinely providing birth-control devices would have been as shocking to most Americans a generation ago as toleration or regulation of prostitution is today. Furthermore, legislatures and the public in some states have begun to recognize how costly it is to use criminal sanctions against consensual behavior—evidenced by softening or removal of criminal penalties for public drunkenness, smoking marijuana, gambling, and abortions.

Worked out for the abortions (until John McCain gets to appoint John Paul Stevens' replacement at least) and to some extent gambling, but not so much on the pot and hookers.