Stephen Franks asked to explain his hypocrisy on freedom
“Stephen Franks voted against legalising prostitution earlier this month, but claims that we should accept that people
can do what they wish as long as they don’t harm anyone else – what sort of hypocrisy is that?” asks Libertarianz
Spokesman on Free Speech Scott Wilson today.
“Franks in a press release today rightfully said "Freedom means accepting that people can choose to do things that might
not be good for them, as long as they don't harm others - anyway, you might be wrong about what's good for others."
"It appears he will talk the talk, but not walk the walk, by voting to retain the criminalisation of adults exchanging
money for sex!"
"I congratulate him for being completely correct on his principle, but why doesn’t he not want this to extend to adult
men and women buying and selling sexual services? Why did not he vote for the Prostitution Reform Bill? Why does he know
what’s good for the sellers and buyers of sexual services?” asked Wilson.
“Adults own their bodies and have the right to use them as they wish, as long as they don’t interfere with the same
right in others. It might not be good for them, but as nobody else’s body is infringed, it does not give anyone the
right to criminalise someone for behaviour they see as wrong.”
“In short, adult New Zealanders are grown ups and neither Franks, nor United Future, NZ First or any other Nanny
statists should be able to criminalise anyone for making choices they wouldn’t like to make themselves”. Explained
Wilson
“Presumably most people engaging in buying and selling sex do so because they see greater utility in that activity than
any other they may undertake at the time, they may be wrong, but they are no more wrong than people who choose to watch
TV, go to church, sunbathe, masturbate or play the bagpipes – all activities that some people think are not particular
good for people to do”.
“Libertarianz support the Prostitution Reform Bill, and believe that the only laws governing the selling and buying of
sexual services for people above the legal age of consent should be criminal laws covering rape, sexual assault and
theft, and the law of contract."
"Libertarianz call upon all ACT MPs to VOTE according to the principles Stephen Franks says but does not ac, and all
other MPs that claim to believe in individual freedom, and the right for people to own their own lives, to vote for the
Bill, and get the state out of what consenting adults do in private”. Wilson concluded.