Storyville

October 10, 1917 was the day Storyville was closed.  I share the take of historian Eric Loomis on this.

https://twitter.com/ErikLoomis/status/1447203382117249030?s=20

Meanwhile, many Communists I see on Twitter are calling sex work the greatest of all Capitalist exploitation, which no true Communist can defend.

Also often bragging about not drinking or smoking.

First, socialism is not end-communism.  End-communism is not only the end of all exploitation, but the end of all unmet needs.  Socialism is the middle ground where some exploitation has been eliminated, but people still work for wages under a boss of some kind (not a capitalist boss, but nonetheless a boss).  As long as there's a boss, or any kind of paymaster, there is exploitation.

During this intermediate time of socialism, some will have their minds exploited, some their pluck, some their bodies, and so on.

Worst is those who sell their soul in service of the imperial state.  But a state, even a socialist state, needs defense.

Second worst is those who sell their rage to the protection of capital and supremacism at home.  But there must be peace officers.

Way way down on the list of exploitation is medical doctors.  Medical doctors as claimants on the health insurance industry and in other ways are exploited, meanwhile as small business, may in term exploit workers.  But we will always need medical doctors!

I see sex workers about the same level.  Given the natural imbalance in heterosexual needs, we will always need sexual surrogates of many kinds, direct and intermediated.

Drugs are an equally essential part of living, alcohol, marijuana, and caffeine are the most useable and useful in moderation.  Tobacco is deadly, and should always be substituted with something better, but was a key part of The Greatest Generation, and before, FWIW.

Anything to do with "personal purity" is a religious matter, best not discussed in secular company.