Fellows. I'm Canadian of Belgian descent, where I made my rounds in Quebec as a young one in legal institutions.
I now live in Bangkok (here, in DC briefly for work) and I can truly say, countries or municipalities who understand the economic benefits of our hobby are the enlightened ones. I was in BKK during the red-shirts last year and the economy suffered significantly during that time. Tourism dropped, stores closed, everything halted. Yes- because of protests, but there was also a significant vacuum in the economy because my fellow mongers shied away. Only now have things gotten back to normal economically.
It's been mentioned already in this thread, but where gov'ts get it right, workers are carefully screened for STDs (bad for business if a monger turns up drippy) , businesses are properly taxed, everything is licensed and for the most part orderly. Sure there are still pushy touts, and rip offs to be had. But for the most part, the scene is safe, fun and constant. And that's why places like Singapore, Bangkok, and others are climbing the economic ladder.
USA is always funny to me. So puritanical (appearingly) but also so violent. Ok- off my soap box. Sorry.
Really, I'm sorry the AMP scene has these ebbs and flows here in DC. And moreso, I'm sorry the ladies who work in them are losing their livelihoods, their inability to send their families remittances, subsidize educations, etc.
Sucks for the game, but really boyz it sucks for the girls we enjoy.