The New Yorker, Collusion and All That
by Chris Roberts

The big news story this week is New York Governor Elliot Spitzer’s dalliance with a prostitute; and his subsequent resignation. I do not intend to pass moral judgment on the Governor’s actions – although personally, I believe this to be a matter between him and his wife; and his conscience, if he has one. It is not really the public’s business; except for the suggestion that the Governor may have used tax dollars to finance his escapades. Pretty stupid to leave a paper trail, if you ask me. Even a dumb crook knows that, if you’re carrying out a transaction you want to keep secret, you always pay in cash.

This article, however, is not about Governor Spitzer. It is about Ashley Alexandra Dupre. A week ago, you would have been quite justified in asking, Ashley who? But now the young lady is getting far more than her 15 minutes of fame. Her picture is already splashed across newspapers all over the world; she even got herself mentioned on CNN and BBC.

Most Americans, if they think of Australia at all, vaguely recall it as that land ‘down under’ – where everything is upside down. They celebrate Christmas in summer, for Pete’s sake. The Yanks may be on to something.

Here’s another example. In testosterone-driven America and most of Europe, it’s the man who is willing to play any angle to get some sex – either free or paid for. Turns out, some Ozzies like to live up to their reputation and turn things upside down.