I hate politics, and party politics in particular. I didn't know I hated it until I went to Boys State and was elected Supreme Court Justice (seminars were boring as hell, but in the evening it was nothing but pizza, poker, and carousing with the college girls on NAU's campus during the summer), but I learned quickly that I hate politics. But I do strongly believe in voting, so I do.
Anywho, as some of you may know, Jenna Jameson put up a strip club in a suburb of Phoenix. The city didn't really want the business or the notoriety so they tried to ban strip clubs. That didn't go so well, so they decided that they would just ban lap dances instead. Jameson, her entourage, and the scads of lap dance fans that attend ASU said they didn't like that idea, either, and they were willing to collect signatures and take it to the polls. And that they did. Today, Scottsdale voters are determining whether or not they want lap dances to remain legal.
If you'd like to read about Prop 401, aka Boobgate, click here.
While I do hate politics, this whole vote has me thinking...
- Is it really fair, or even legal, to have Jenna Jameson's name tied to any ballot issue? There are some guys that, if they know a porn star's breasts are backing an issue, they're going to vote for it. It wouldn't matter if the issue was mandating government-assisted suicide for all firstborn males at the age of 25, they'd still vote for it. We'll call this the Jameson Bias.
- Will the Jameson Bias end up attracting more total votes than the Govenor's primary race in the same city? Or, more appropriately, will a higher percentage of registered voters turn out to vote in Scottsdale because of the Jameson Bias (both for and against the issue, as there are some voters/people that are against the bill simply because a porn star's breasts are backing the issue)?
- Many folks are suddenly in outrage over lap dances. Why now? Did you not know about lap dances before? Had you forgotten that you're against them until Jenna Jameson's arrival in your back yard stirred your memory? Did Jenna turn you down for a lap dance? Are you jealous of her breasts?
- One of the common arguments against the business I've heard is that lap dances are degrading to women. This, to me, is a little bit (maybe a lot) ignorant. My first thought is, "How do you know it's degrading to women?" The answers to that question aside, other quesitons come up. Who do you feel it's degrading and why? Is it degrading to you? My mom? Your mom? Our female governor? My multiple lady co-workers? And if it is degrading to all those folks, does your vote represent them or you?
Is it degrading because it violates your religious beliefs? Because you feel that such activities are violations against the beauty of the female body and should therefore be outlawed? Does another woman choosing (omg, does it offend you that she might actually *want* to do this?) to earn her living via moving her body make you feel like less of a person? Are you degraded because that woman is making more money with her body than you are with your mind?
If a woman moving her body next to a man is degrading, is it also degrading when a woman wants to work construction or an assembly line? Or is it only degrading if her shirt is off while she's working?
I realize that the issue is a little deeper than whether or not we have a problem with women making money by shakin' a little T&A, and I think some of the points against the lap dances are particularly valid and poingnant. But what I also think is that we have a situation where "a person is smart, but people are stupid," and on this particular issue we've got a city of idiots full of sound and fury telling their meaningless and largely ignorant tales, signifying nothing. I only hope that voters, whatever they decide, take a moment to actually ponder the issue, why they think the way they do, and make a rational, educated decision. That's all I ask. Is that too much?
When T&A are involved, you're damn right that's too much to ask. Rightly or wrongly, the Jameson Bias trumps reason any day of the week.
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3 comments:
I've got no problem with a sexy, nekkid woman shaking her body in front of me. But it is a little disheartening that this "job" earns as much money as it does. (And I feel the same way for actors and atheletes.)
Sure it's our money and we can spend it anyway we want to, but why do we choose that these people earn millions while families in America go homeless or hungry. Imagine if 10% of the money we give strippers/actors/atheletes went to charities (or medical research) instead.
Again, I have no problem with a woman that wants to shake her thang for money. I just think it's a shame that it's "worth" money.
- Enrique
Well said, Kiki, well said.
It's funny that you indicate it's worth money. Clearly that's the case or else they wouldn't be in business. They don't get my money, though. I'm not a fan of strip clubs. I've tried them and they're not really my thing (why would I want to pay someone just to tease me...I still don't get it). I also think that the industry is full of peril and, just like with atheletes, models, construction, and other professions where people use their body, they had better have a good strong mind to go along with whatever physical assets they may have. But just because the industry concerns me, I'm not about to say that I don't think it should be legal for others to choose to engage in such activity.
I thought you were someone different Scott.....
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