My son stole a candy bar from the local, nearby gas station. We took him back to the gas station and made him return it, apologize, and offer recompense. The station manager (a friend of ours) told my son that he would have to work around the station for two weekends, one hour each, at minimum wage, to teach him a lesson. My son agreed. (We paid his wages.) My son was 8 years old. Minimum wage back then was just over three dollars per hour.

Do you think Child Protective Services would have objected? I don't know, but I would have told them to ... nevermind.

Prepubescent prostitution. Well, of course, it's illegal everywhere. But then I'd ask why should it be illegal in some of the Southeast Asian countries where, even today, even though it definitely IS illegal there, it is ignored, not prosecuted (usually), and rampant (according to the U.S. Government reports.) The prepubescents are simply not paid while their parents are. Sure, the wages are used to buy food and other necessities. But if it were legalized, don't you think the country's laws would protect the youngsters and make sure THEY got the money? Keep in mind that these countries are much different from the Civilized West.

I know, you're going to say that it SHOULD be stopped. But, well, it's not. Some of these families are close to starvation and NEED money to come in. Are you going to guarantee those families food and such? How? You're here in the Civilized West. Legal or illegal, prepubescent prostitution happens. Currently, it's a miserable life because it IS illegal and not protected. It does NOT happen in families there who do have a higher quality of life. Quod erat demonstrandum.