"A Disabled Young Man From Copenhagen..."

No, I'm not above linking to the Beeb story today about the disabled Danish guy who wants the guv'mint to pay for hookers to visit him. And if that proposition is not enough in and of itself to, er, get a rise out of you, just read on into the backstory:

In Denmark, prostitution and other forms of sex work are not illegal so long as it is not a woman's sole means of income.

I wonder exactly how much more income she needs in order for her horizontal activities to be legal. Would operating a small souvenir and newspaper stand in her bedroom count? Or if she travels, could she also double up by delivering pizzas?

Mr Hansen started seeing a prostitute after attending a course at a social centre.

There, he and other disabled people were taught that if they had needs, they "could do something about it".

"I had a strong desire to have sex, and I think I gained the confidence around that time to get the call girls to come to me.

"Since then I've had a lot of escort girls coming to see me - but I've also had girlfriends."

File this one under Nanny State Horror Stories. The Danes were once the terrors of Western Europe. Now they're reduced to taking Continuing Ed classes on how to ask, "How much?" Need we say any more?

He also said there had been "much research" into people in his situation, and that it had showed that not being sexually fulfilled can lead to "frustration and aggression".

As Taranto might say, what would we do without researchers?

"It's unfair to deny people with disabilities the right to a sex life," he added.

Funny, back in my X-treme Dork Bachelor Days, I tried a variety of different arguments, bribes and outright pleas to get girls to take an interest in me but it never occurred to me to put it in Constitutional terms. I'm sure Madison put something in the Federalist Papers about the inalienable right to get some.

Actually, I can't really blame this guy for being confused. The inmates seem to be in charge of the asylum:

Kristen Brosboel, a Social Democrat member of the Danish Parliament, is among those who have argued against Mr Hansen.

"Obviously I recognise that he has a problem that people without a disability may not have - but I disagree with the fact that we should support his visits with a prostitute with tax money," she told Outlook.

"We also spend tax money on trying to prevent prostitution, helping women out of prostitution - and we have a clear policy that this is a social problem that we want to solve."

Emphasis mine. Who was it who once remarked that in a totalitarian society everything that isn't forbidden is mandatory? (I think it was Peej, but I also think he was quoting somebody else.) This guy just seems to be going along. But the Danish Government seem to be trying to have it both ways at once. If they're shelling out tax money to try and stop prostitution, um, well, then, why is it legal? (The cynical side of my brain is whispering "tax revenues.....tax revenues.....")

UPDATE: Okay, I had to give it a try once I had started it.....

A disabled young man from Copenhagen
Had issues financial 'bout hooker-shaggin.
He applied for the dole,
To help make him whole,
Now he smiles even when his paycheck's laggin'.

Thangkyuh verrah much.

YIPS from Steve: Hooker-shaggin ?????????????????

You leave the founding father of Connecticut out of this!