1st Feline Battalion

08/17/2006: Today, the feds busted a human trafficking ring that apparently spanned from Rhode Island to North Carolina. At least 20 brothels–fronted as legitimate businesses–were involved. 31 people were arrested, and 70 “sex workers” were involved. According to the story, they were not “sex workers” by choice, either.

Anyone who thinks human trafficking is a European phenomenon or a Southeast Asia phenomenon or a Central American phenomenon needs to accept that it is also an American phenomenon.

American participation in this industry is deplorable and saddening. While many libertarians call for the decriminalization of prostitution, I’ve yet to see what the answer is to the issue of human trafficking, which goes hand-in-hand with prostitution.

Sure, the free market dynamics would cut somewhat into the profit margins, but would hardly stop human trafficking.

This is a case in which the right to do with one’s body as one chooses interferes with the tendency to enslave and exploit others sexually for profit.

I guess that’s one issue–among a few–in which I’d have to depart from the standard libertarian platform.

Meanwhile, two thumbs up for the feds. May the slave-owning pimps rot in prison.