High-End Stripper Index Suggests Power Shift To Washington, DC

There has been some responsible reportage on the plight of New York-based strippers during the Wall Street crisis of late -- it seems that the high-end customers have been lighter lately, and the tips have been coming in smaller denominations -- and even some mention that Hugh Hefner is facing the music and considering layoffs for a few Playboy bunnies.

Thankfully, the Washington Post has found a source to make sense of it all. What does it all mean?

Well, it means a temporary shift of power, that Washington, D.C., is in effect the new Wall Street, he says:

Renowned defense lawyer Edward W. Hayes, a self-described night owl, long ago developed two measurements for gauging the ups and downs of Wall Street: the HEGI and the HESI, which stand for High End Girlfriend Index and High End Stripper Index. When the financial sector's business is good, he said, the traders and bankers spend huge sums on high-end girlfriends and in the VIP rooms of Manhattan's pricey strip joints.

Now, said Hayes, who represents many of the woman in the business, he is seeing evidence of the downturn.

"The strippers are getting killed -- it's terrible," he said. "It really started in the last month. What they really need are the guys who go in and spend $500."

Comments

[Shaddup]

For those of us on main street, I have long used the Panhandler index: During the Bush years alone the amount of panhandlers per block in the Loop of Chicago has increased threefold. There is also the weekly newspaper For rent vs. Help Wanted ratio: wherein as the economy gets better the Help Wanted section increases and the For Rent section decreases.

[GerryS]

economy worse= more people @ the food banks, homeless shelters and soup kitchens-
also non- profits that care for the people in need loose donations.

ya just gotta love deregulation-

[dadw5boys]

So thats why McCain suspened his campaign and went to New York for 3 days.

[joebiz]

Not that I'm interested, just cheking, but there's an increase in "erotic escorts" on craigslist. Higher end ladies have gone "down market." What a bargain.

[openhand]

Someone did a study a while ago looking at centerfold breast size vs economy and found that during good times breast size decreased and during recession/low growth that breast size increased, something about survival of the fittest, drought etc...

[HeevenSteven]

Oh the humanity! Can we add some relief to the bailout bill for these poor girls?

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

OBAMA NATION ROCKS

[Jethro13]

One good side effect is that the HOT girls are resorting to stripping in this economic down turn. The not so hot ones are losing time on stage and therefore increasing the quality of the dancing we are getting. There's always a silver lining...

[MaryfromMontcoPA]

ew.

[joebaggadonuts]

When no amount of spending on self indulgent activities can make those in power feel better about what is going on, or alternatively when so many of them have lost fortunes, you will find the HEGI and HESI falling quickly. There is no pity among the living for what they have done to us.

[Lpeter]

Will strip for mortgage payment. I'm moving to DC. Yeah baby!!

[mommadona]

Wow.

Wow.

Sympathy? Nope.
Pity? Nope.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omYB1r7QL4k

[funkalicious]

Bond Strippers are turning out to be light in the loafers too.

[Yermammy]

Hey, the liars, cheats and money grabbers teasing people with their promises of pleasure are in for big trouble. The strippers are in a bad way too.