A lot of publications jumped on the story about the woman arrested for allegedly exchanging sex for a $100 gas card. I found it interesting to see the range of headlines, the range of approaches to the story and the commentary that was missing.
Like Fox News, most outlets used something along the lines of “Woman Accused of Trading Sex for Gasoline.” Only one that I found, a TV channel in Indianapolis, mentioned the buyer: “Indiana Man Charged In Sex-For-Gas Scheme.” Huntington, WV, news put their entire narrative into a title that was nearly as long as the article: “An Arm And A Leg And...: Kentucky Town Makes Prostitution, Business Without License Arrest --- She Traded Sex for Gas.”
Clearly, gas gift cards are at least as precious as actual (weakened) dollars. Free gas has replaced free toasters as the darling marketing ploy of the day, used by businesses from hotels to car dealers. Chrysler has taken a massive, if not desperate leap, according to the San Francisco Chronicle: “Starting May 7, the automaker began offering subsidized gasoline to people who buy new Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicles. For the next three years, those customers will pay $2.99 per gallon for the first 12,000 miles they drive each year.”
But, back to Kentucky. While the police there are spending their time and citizens’ money on running this kind of sting (other women were also arrested for prostitution), and while the news outlets are pouncing on the story in great numbers, let’s try to remember who is really screwing consumers for gas money. The oil barons, the Halliburtons, the war mongers’ buddies, the national debt, the dictatorial leaders of so many oil-producing countries and the mortgage cowboys are all contributing to the necessity of the rest of us to do what we can to keep moving.
Once again your cogent observations and analysis focus on the core issues facing our society. This is in contrast to the spew of fluff and white noise provided by mainstream media, our elected representatives and our government. Their energy plan is to offer off-shore drilling that in 15 to 20 years will reduce the price of a gallon of gas by 6 cents - while having ignored the looming energy crisis for the past 35 years. The wrong people are being arrested for prostitution.
http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Stephen Weinstein | 06 July 2008 at 11:15
I remember when "having a gas" meant you were having fun. Now, the mere mention of the word brings all sorts of uncomfortable realities to mind: emissions, expense, and, yes, getting screwed by the oil barons. Great post!
Posted by: Mary Eileen Williams | 07 July 2008 at 11:55
A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!
It's amazing what the male population is willing to pay for a little booty.......hehehehehe They are such easy marks!
Now if prostitution were legal, this wouldn't be an issue. Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars on natural human tendencies, they could be collecting taxes from each act! That would be more useful to the community instead of spending money to curtail sex! Not to mention it's so much more fun and appealing than the screwing big oil is giving us.
Posted by: Lynda | 09 July 2008 at 10:23
Apt cartoon of gas nozzle
gun aimed at head.
"Up yours" is the point
of the post. What
"member" and "tank"
must we depict?
Running on fumes here.
Verandah
Posted by: verandah | 11 July 2008 at 15:33