when i initially posted my OP essay on Facebook, i received a heartwarming comment from a woman in the Midwest. that lady thanked me for my sympathetic view of sex workers, explaining that when she was a child, one of several siblings being raised by a single mom, there were times when mom had a difficult time with both putting enough food on the table AND paying the bills. in those times of extreme need, her mom engaged in sex work to supplement the family's income. the commenter loved and respected her mom for doing what she could -- what she had to do -- in order to keep her family together and healthy. her opinion of sex work, needless to say, was positive for the benefits it provided that whole family. the concept of "shame" never entered her conversation.

the only problem with that situation was that the commenter's mom had to walk a fine line; she was forced, by our govt, into a dangerous circumstance. she was neither licensed, protected, nor regulated. her govt didn't have her back. her children, OTOH, had the practical sense to appreciate what their mom did to keep them all together. THEY, at least, had the intelligence to give her the respect she deserved.

yes, but ... it's just like with cannabis: the govt COULD be getting its cut from sex workers, instead of their pimps or along with their Madames, e.g. -- in legal income taxes, etc. in the case of sex, it's strictly on religious, "moral" grounds that the profession is blackballed. you'd think that, what with the example of Jesus's close friendship with Mary Magdalene, they'd be more accepting ... but, noooo! for some reason -- and this has GOT to be Freudian -- it's a potential Learning Moment conveniently swept under the rug.

the Big Three -- i.e., xtianity, judaism, islam -- are all so horribly fucked up about everything having to do with sex, it's stupefying. all the way from antiquated Blue Laws (still in effect here in the bible belt) to the unimaginable injuries inflicted by FGM, the major monotheistic religions are both cruel AND unusual. so much more could be said, but i'm sure y'all know what i'm talking about.

i can't get AG Sessions out of my thoughts, while we're discussing hypocrisy and bullshit. his recent statement linking opioid use to the "gateway" drug of marijuana "and other drugs" -- i saw his statement to that effect as tweeted by NBC News -- got me SO mad, at both the AG and NBC, i practically erupted. it's plain as day that Sessions will do ANYTHING to link cannabis use to a litany of Wickedness, but there is simply NO EVIDENCE for his statement -- it's a lie that came out of nowhere, an unattributable, irresponsible remark, crafted wholly to slander cannabis, despite all -- and i mean ALL -- evidence to the contrary. why am i pissed at NBC reporters? -- for not immediately asking him the follow-up question: What data do you base that assertion on, that marijuana is a gateway drug, for opioids or for any other particular drug? that was just shoddy reporting, there.

in both cases -- legal copulation and legal cannabis -- our politicians betray their loyalty to their god and its perverted "morality" as interpreted by them and their chosen ministers -- some as young as four (Marjoe, e.g.) -- over their oath to their constituents and the secular U.S. Constitution. we must put an end to this farce! it is We the Rational People who are allowing this idiocy to control us; it is We the Rational People who must take hold of the situation and stop it in its tracks! not with guns, but with wide-ranging discourse, fierce debate, and determined votes. q.e.d.