Immoral Superiority

There have been prostitutes
as far back in human history
as there was 'ritual uncleanness'
along with currency, clients for sex,
and the use of power to create poverty.

Throughout that time clients were male
and thought themselves powerful and moral.
for them it was rhetorical; they were male,
as opposed to fickle, weak, and female.

This hypocrisy reached a peak
with the declaration
'power without responsibility
has been the prerogative
of the harlot throughout the ages'
which was less about prostitutes
and more about how popular journalism
that also happened to be honest
might drag the wealthy through the dirt.

Comparing journalism to prostitution
was a false but effective analogy.
The jibe held up what was popular
was proven so by it being bought cheap.

That was not where the comparison ended.
Also both journalists and prostitutes
had to take on the powerful and secretive
to survive and both were very easily misused
by wealthy hypocrites, particularly press barons
who disguised where their real interests laid.