Cleaning Up Amsterdam

[ER]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7769199.stm

[Doctor Menard]

That reminds me of a joke:

Two girls (women if you will) are arguing over this guy and which of them he likes more.

One girl says: "I know he like me better because I can tell you he has a tattoo on his penis that reads 'Adam'"

The other girl abruptly replies: "Ha...he does like me better because that tattoo reads 'Amsterdam'"




Looks like they're trying to cut it back to Adam.

[Rev. Powell]

Quote from the deputy mayor: "We can still have sex and drugs but in a way that shows the city is in control... It will be a place with 200 windows (for prostitutes) and 30 coffee shops [for marijuana], which you can't find anywhere else in the world." [Rev. Powell breathes sigh of relief]

I bet the vast majority women that are kicked out of their windows become Amsterdam streetwalkers who are controlled and abused by organized crime even more than before.

[ER]

I bet the vast majority women that are kicked out of their windows become Amsterdam streetwalkers who are controlled and abused by organized crime even more than before.

Yup, Rev, my thought, too. I take a very libertarian view on things like the legalization of prostitution and drugs. Meaning sometimes it's better to try to regulate certain activities than to try to outlaw them and drive them into the hands of the criminal element.

[Jack]

That's exactly what I was thinking.  You want to increase the number of criminals?  Just make something illegal, and everyone who continues to do it is therefore a criminal.  And instead of buying stuff at the store, they'll have to find another criminal to do business with.

[Newt]

If they were hoping to promote their city for a different kind of tourism - namely people who are not interested in travelling there for the easy access to drugs or sex - it seems a case of too little, too late.

I was in Amsterdam airport for several hours between planes some time back.  The 'scenery' - cruising prostitutes - did nothing to entice me to return to visit the city and spend my tourist dollars.  I can see that for free downtown in any city.

[Rev. Powell]

I had a friend who lived in Amsterdam for 10 years (worked for KMPG) and I had the opportunity to visit 3 times over that period of time and meet some of the Amsterdammers.  Most were not concerned about the prostitution and coffeshops; they lived their normal, ordinary lives far away from the tourist centers.  Many did not like the drunken British (especially) tourists who would come over on weekends and treat the city as their private urinal.  Nonetheless, most realized that tourism was the major part of the city's economy, and weren't so naive as to think folks were pouring into towns to see the Reijksmuseum, canals, and the Anne Frank house.  Some will still come for those attractions, but if the city is perceived as less open and "fun", they will see a loss of tourist dollars.  It remains to be seen whether in the long run they'll choose respectability over profitability.

Newt, sorry you spent your few hours there in the red light district.  Amsterdam has the same sorts of cultural attractions in any similar sized European city, but most people flock to the Walletjes (which does have a certain sleazy charm you can't really see anywhere else).

[Newt]

Most were not concerned about the prostitution and coffeshops; they lived their normal, ordinary lives far away from the tourist centers.  Many did not like the drunken British (especially) tourists who would come over on weekends and treat the city as their private urinal.  Nonetheless, most realized that tourism was the major part of the city's economy, and weren't so naive as to think folks were pouring into towns to see the Reijksmuseum, canals, and the Anne Frank house.  Some will still come for those attractions, but if the city is perceived as less open and "fun", they will see a loss of tourist dollars.  It remains to be seen whether in the long run they'll choose respectability over profitability.

NIMBY's eh?  With that kind of "bait" they expect to attract tourists who exhibit self-restraint, respect and decorum?  Perhaps they should keep their eyes closed and think of their economy.  Shouldn't be too much of a stretch. 

Sorry, Rev., that just screamed hypocrisy to me. 

[ER]

I have heard cops keep people handing out flyers for red light district attractions a three-block distance away from the Anne Frank House. Shrug.

[Rev. Powell]

Most were not concerned about the prostitution and coffeshops; they lived their normal, ordinary lives far away from the tourist centers.  Many did not like the drunken British (especially) tourists who would come over on weekends and treat the city as their private urinal.  Nonetheless, most realized that tourism was the major part of the city's economy, and weren't so naive as to think folks were pouring into towns to see the Reijksmuseum, canals, and the Anne Frank house.  Some will still come for those attractions, but if the city is perceived as less open and "fun", they will see a loss of tourist dollars.  It remains to be seen whether in the long run they'll choose respectability over profitability.

NIMBY's eh?  With that kind of "bait" they expect to attract tourists who exhibit self-restraint, respect and decorum?  Perhaps they should keep their eyes closed and think of their economy.  Shouldn't be too much of a stretch. 

Sorry, Rev., that just screamed hypocrisy to me. 

The vibe I got from those I spoke to wasn't hypocrisy.  It's just that they recognized there were good and bad elements to Dutch tolerence.  Most did not want to change.  But I only talked to a small subset of young, middle class Dutch professionals; others might have different opinions.