Oct 14, 2023·edited Oct 14, 2023Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
The GOP seems to be aiming at the establishment of a patriarchal system when all around them are examples of how this model is not working. One only needs to look at each current world mess and ask, "How would this be playing out if the women in that situation were equally empowered?" There are evil women. There are misguided and maniac women. But systematic male dominance over women has done nothing to make the world a better place to live.
The problem is that when women joined the work force - the males will not do their part of the homework. They do not feel (taught) that it is their life's duty to clean the house, do some cooking, and yes clean the yard. All of it is shared. Generally speaking (I have observed most) do not pull their fair share of the homework. Women received an education and are equally capable of great discoveries in art and science. However, most were made to "feel guilty" about not "doing it all". The propaganda perpetuated on women in the following questions about - how do you do it all? how do you balance career and family. A male response would typically be - why can't I have it all? Women are forced to choose or work themselves into a poor health. Usually it ends in divorce. Why share the responsibility? It makes good social and economic sense. Since the US is obsessed with montinzing every little aspect of our lives these days - women have equal intelligence (there are NO significant gender difference - read that again) to deny women holds back all human discovery - which is supposed to make life better - correct?
I'm never using the words "right" to mean "correct" again. I'm tried of the republicans marketing firms hijacking the flags, American, and right.
Oct 14, 2023Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
An unexpected benefit of the evil you describe: some years ago, while searching for a way to establish a new relationship with my mother, one based on two adult women rather than on the dysfunctional mother/child relationship, it occurred to me that we had in common $0.74 on the dollar - two adult working women whose labor was valued at less than their male coworkers' labor. It worked. The woman who had more issues than National Geographic was also possessor of a switchblade wit and much political insight.
Sounds interesting. I need to read ebooks so I can enlarge the print, but it sounds like a subject my better-seeing friends would love, especially with your clever way of phrasing. I don't see it as an e-book.
PS) Don't forget - all behavior is taught unless it's a biological need etc. I ask myself a few questions - where did I learn a behavior, how was it reinforced, what is my choice. To me, that awareness is enlighten choice. reference - BF Skinner - see the foundation at Harvard for excellent videos.
I believe that this trend is the last gasp before real change in our society. The monetizing of all aspects of our lives is a real road block for the equity we seek. I believe that the inheritors of America have a better chance to enjoy a more level playing field.
As for me personally I have gotten the message long ago.
My wife and I share in the homework and always have since we started our relationship. I do most of the cooking because I like to cook and my wife likes what I make.
She does most of the dishes. We clean house together and garden together. I feed the dog at night. My wife feeds the dog in the morning. We both walk him and give him a bath. Hey, we love each other, that’s why we do it this way. Most importantly, we succeed together or miss the mark together. No one is to blame or the goat who feels guilty and inadequate. I find in the life we have built together there is room for personal growth and creativity without fear of mistakes. There is hope for a better world and I try lead by example.
Callie, you wrote one of the best summations of patriarchal failures I've read yet. One, patriarchy is NOT working. Patriarchy has made a mess of our world. Three, things would be playing out differently if women were equally empowered. :)
I am either the grandfather or godfather of free legal services based on income in several counties in Pa, before nofault. Legal services received federal and state grants. At the time, many local bar members objected, There were virtually no women lawyers. Many said that free services woud impoverish them. I was accused openly of being a communist.
Some of the same lawyers also objected that formerly all male colleges were going co-ed, as if I had something to do with it.
At the time, Pa had no alimony.
I discuss Pa: "Catholic" divorces in another post, below.
Although there was no provision for attorneys' fees in divorce per se, while it was pending, which could in practice be the life of the parties, "alimony pendente lite", pending litigation was possible. Some lawyers had a portfolio of clients who would never be divorced, but who were cash on the hoof.
After we became viable, some of the local judges would not co-operate.
Apparently Socialism has long been conflated with Communism. In the Vietnam War days, when I was a college student, I subscribed to the The Socialist Workers Party newsletter. It was a philosophy that struck me as more fair and just than Capitalism. I guess that was “radical” enough that I had my photo taken by the FBI. They weren’t surreptitious about it. A man in his thirties with shiny black shoes and an earpiece really stood out on a campus with long-haired hippie students.
Most people i knew in those days had such strange ideas about communists — like they all had a second head hidden under the collar of their shirt or something. The mere whisper of the word carried so much weight. And most people did not know, or did not want to know, what constituted being a communist in the first place. It was anything — economic, lifestyle, even stupid haircuts — that did not fit the local norm. You could be labeled a communist in Maryland for being a stay-at-home Dad, or be one in Iowa for growing an unusual crop!
A dollop of democratic socialism mixed in with our should-be-well-regulated capitalism would be a good thing. NOT classic government owernship of all the means of production. No rational person who sees how systems work wants THAT! But a touch of “the planet belongs to all of us” would be nice.
Pat, I like what you said here. I'm going to add my own take on similar issues: "We (humans, Homo Sapiens (allegedly sapient), do
not own anything ! We are - borrowing - from the future. But the way we are squandering (anything and everything in the here and now) there won't be a - future - worth surviving into ~ ~ ~ let alone
any other species of life on this planet, our only home ~ ~ ~
I have a "funny" story to tell about FBI agents here in western North Carolina. I live in the area were Eric Rudolph the Olympic Bomber hid out in the woods for 5 years. We used to have an annual event called the Possum Drop here in Brasstown on New Years Eve. A local fun even that didn't hurt a Possum being lowered in a cage but that another story anyway. So the FBI was looking for Eric and they came to this community event. There were dressed in brand new Carhart overalls and had bright shiny black shoes and ear pieces. They stood out like a very very sore thumb.
Now I don't want anyone to think that I am in some way an Eric Rudolph fan and it was a good day when he was caught by the local police in Murphy, NC.
I grew up in the Midwest and I can dress like a local in my old Carhart's but if I open my mouth and speak no one thinks I am a local.
Glad you didn’t hurt the possum. Here in Minnesota we are ecstatic if a possum adopts out yard because they eat deer ticks and yellow jacket ground nests. I’ve had Lyme four times due to tick bites and am seriously allergic to yellow jacket venom. So I was thrilled when a possum started living under my deck! I would never drop him/her anywhere, but I do drop offerings of fruit next to his/her entrance in hopes of a permanent residence!
Marge Wherley, your experience on campus would have scared me! Isn't it something, that people who want fairness and to share power with others is one of the things that frightens them the most?
I was too naive to realize what it could have meant. I just laughed. If the FBI was photographing me today, I would be much less oblivious. Also, I was probably high at the time! ;-)
Martha, I was raised Catholic, and so in the 50s and 60s was heavily indoctrinated in "anti-communism", though it was ill-defined. Later, as I grew older, probably in late high school, I started questioning when I realized that communism, (the theory or philosopy, not the totalitarianism practiced in the soviet union) seemed remarkably close to the early christianity described in Acts of the Apostles. It's a very interesting book in the bible. I'm not now christian, but it always surprises me, saddens me that "christians'' don't have a clue what their god was telling to do and how to live.
Here in Baghdad By the Sea, all Democrats are considered to be commies by the Batistianos.
However Maria Salazar, my representative to Congress who calls everyone who opposes her a commie, announced yesterday that she's willing to talk to us.
Martha, Exactly ! An "honest" definition of communism (derived from
commune, a group of individuals willing to work together toward a
common goal, i.e. The Arts and Crafts Communes of the early 1900's)
would be of benefit to REAL understanding of both the positives and
the negatives of the word communist//communism. IMO the main problem with 'communes' is that this rarely takes into account - the variability of human nature: some individuals work with and within the group, others work within but toward their own ends.
How would this law benefit males? Would they always make women at fault to not pay them anything? Just plain jury speak for those who are not lawyers. What would be the financial fallout for women?
Are you sure it would work out better ? I believe it might but I do wonder as women obtain higher positions and more power what will happen? I want to think that they would have a higher standard and be less corrupt but I fear it would not and big business would figure out how to stick their hands into their pockets.
All I know for sure is that men are doing a lousy job of it. What's missing is experience that very few male leaders possess. The more constricted social mobility became, the more in-experience we've seen in decision making roles.
I see the solution as an 'all hands on deck" approach which means diversifying the people in decision making and power roles as soon and as much as possible.
I personally have felt for many years now that men need to get out of the way and allow women to have their shot at making our world a better place. We all know, at least I think we do that men have pretty much done a lousy job of making our country a place, a shining light, a bastion of what freedom and love stand for.
They really want a theocracy and I'm afraid about 6 members of SCOTUS are all in. Alito and Thomas admit they apply "natural law" before the text of the Constitution. .To them natural law is Catholic dogma.
Daniel Soloman, it is frightening., I agree. Iran anyone? Came across a great quote recently, truthful --- "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious convictions." Blaise Pascal
If they violate the Constitution by making laws of religion,, isn't it a disqualification? They take away a previously enjoyed right based on religious beliefs. It sure looks like a serious violation to me. I guess the devil is in the details, and semantics. Religion is not 'natural'!, is it? A solemn oath to uphold the Constitution is what it is. So is a clear violation of that oath. My question is: Why have a Constitution if it is not followed? Why have a disqualification clause that cannot be enforced?
Scump wants to tear up the Constitution,I don't think a great many of his seriously delusional supporters 'get that' and what it (and he) would entail.I do believe the disqualification clause will be enforced,just by who and when.We've had tough times before and gotten past them,democracy WILL PREVAIL!
Obviously they are assholes! We women who actually think and challenge those assholes make their tiny egos scared, so they want to shut us (women) up, eveen if it hurts our country and our populace.
Oct 14, 2023·edited Oct 14, 2023Liked by Heather Lofthouse
No, Professor, you are not the last one to finally get Covid, I have not had it and I plan to get my next vaccination very soon when I go in for my flu shots.
You are right on the subject of Israel vs Hamas. The Hamas terrorists were absolutely wrong and as bad as anyone can get, On the other hand, Netanyahu has been trump before trump even came on the scene. I was sure he was done for when he was indicted on bribery and other nefarious charges and I really didn't think the Israelis would elect him again. There must be some Ben Gurion's or Golda Meir's left in Israel. I'll never understand why the UN cut out that stupid Gaza strip in the first place, even today, Israel could give them 143 square miles of Israel bordering Palestine and annex Gaza to Israel. It would give Israel more coastal access. I know a lot of our readers hate to hear me say this, but way back in 1948-1949 the UN and other countries offered agricultural assistance to Palestine as well as education and health. The then leaders refused it and any money they received they used to buy guns. The Palestinian leaders set up those "refugee" camps which I call concentration camps. The political leaders did not want the people to become self sufficient, they wanted to kill Jews. Yes over the years the Israelis have been more successful at war than their Muslim neighbors, but most of the wars have been retaliatory. Some Israelis have been greedy and wanted to get rid of the Palestinians and expand Israeli territory. My personal opinion is the Israelis are hated because they took poor land and turned it into a prosperous country where most citizens enjoy a better lifestyle than their Muslim neighbors.
On the subject of the extremists among the Republicans, I agree their only agreed upon doctrine is to destroy liberty, justice, the Constitution and Democracy. There goals are so obviously fascist I don't understand how anyone with an ounce of intellect can't see this. As I said on Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American - they are acting like toddlers in a tantrum and the 212 Democrats and 20 or so Republicans should send the lot of them home to their Districts with the admonition to have their constituents deal with their tantrums. Meanwhile the 230 adults can start legislating as they were elected to accomplish. And I still maintain the 'debt ceiling' is unconstitutional.
Yay for Unions!!!
And Heather I agree with you, the only reason to overturn no-fault divorce (dissolution of marriage as it is called in California) is an attempt to reassert male dominance. I had such a dissolution of my first marriage. My second marriage was fantastic, my husband was intelligent, witty and a joy to live with, the only bad thing he ever did was to die, before I was ready.
Fay Reid: I am 81, been exposed to COVID on several occasions, but never caught it. Have had six shots, as of last month. Got Covid shot, flu shot and RSV shots all in the same visit. Had a sore arm for a while and a feeling of queasiness for about 3 hours on the afternoon of the 2nd day after.
Had similar experience to yours with spouses. My first couldn't hang on to a job, did very little around the house and did a more than rotten job with our children. My 2nd hubbie was a prince who supported me in every way possible. He too died too early...we were married a few weeks short of 30 years.
I share your sorrow in the loss of that 2nd spouse.
When daytime television is full of Holy Rollers bellowing out yarns about some hairy prophet who came down from a mountain or walked up a mountain over 2,000 years ago, it isn't hard to discern the origin of current day madness. The numbers of the religious right may be declining but their intolerance is growing exponentially. They seem unable to parse the dis-ingenuousness and mendacious manipulations of their new Orange Messiah.
Daniel Soloman, they are very, very patriarchial. But noticeable change within the congregation has been taking place over the past 50 years or so. Friends of mine, one being a former priest, famous catholics, outspoken nuns, and Pope Francis all give me hope. There are many who reject the traditional patriarchial teachings rooted in strict punishment. judgment, fear (lots of fear), and discrimination. All the people embracing the dignity of one another and sharing power is a big no, no, and threat to the traditional power in the church.
Pope Benedict was responsible for rolling back many reforms. A Catholic friend of mine in Minneapolis had ten siblings including three gay brothers. They attended mass at a church with a very welcoming and affirming priest. Benedict had him and many similar priests removed. He also cracked down on a group of progressive nuns:
The reform order was issued in 2012 under now-retired Pope Benedict XVI, after an investigation concluded the nuns' group had taken positions that undermined Roman Catholic teaching on the priesthood and homosexuality while promoting "radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith."
My friend and her family quit the Catholic Church. I’m not Catholic but it appears to me that whenever the authority of the old white men is challenged or even vaguely threatened, there is always a backlash. Church or State.
Marge Wherley, wait, wasn"t that around the time, "The Nuns on a Bus" were traveling the country to sell people on the idea of The Affordable Care Act and the Vatican ordered the U.S. highest ranking church leaders to put those women "back in their place"?
Marge Wherley, thanks I didn't know or had chose to forget Benedict's regression orders. (My friends belong to progressive catholic churches.) I 100% agree with the cycles of backlash against inclusive. progress and prosperity. They"re never-ending today and historically.
We have come close to the Reich's Ministry for Church Affairs (Reichsministerium für die Kirchliche Angelegenheiten) in the Bush II and Orange Messiah administrations.
What it did in Germany was to destroy the church. Now churches in Germany are often just museums that or tourist attractions.
Ending No fault divorce just adds to the oppression of women on top of the ban on their healthcare. It's another culture war distraction keeping our eyes off the billionaire's outsized power and wage theft. It is another 'divide and conquer' move as well. A woman seeking to leave a marriage is often daunted by simple financial hurdles, even with no fault divorce, or mutually agreed on divorce. With 9% interest rates, just having a roof over her head, and taking care of children's needs requires a good income. Most women do not have decent pay. Second class status is what the 'right' wants for women. tfg likes oppression of women; "treat them like $#it" he said. Look at Iran, and what they support. They have the capability to fund HAMAS, and are suspected to be behind the attacks on Israel, Tfg thinks Hezbollah is "Smart". I can't help but wonder what "my Kev" was doing in Israel recently. I bet he was up to no good. Netanyahu was having to face massive protests very recently. I am suspicious that he knew more about these assaults, may even have been complicit. He is a fascist, and can't be trusted.
I am positive I have somehow crossed into the Upside Down/Twilight Zone. I am busy looking for the portal to the country that existed once upon a time--when Democrats and Republicans actually worked together.
Until all of the people in our Congress who denied the validity of the 2020 election are removed, either by vote or via the 14th Amendment, we will continue to see this amount of dysfunction and will see continued assaults on the rights of all Americans but especially on the more than half of our population who are female.
Any woman that still votes [for any] Republican is not using the brain that evolution has provided.
Now it's no-fault divorce? This iteration of the Republican party wants control over areas where they have no business interfering, often in the name of religion or family values. And they establish relationships with the rich and powerful to support their ideas when only money can get the job done. Buy a Supreme Court Justice? Support elections of conservative politicians? Money talks, and the Supreme Court says that's just fine with them.
Renowned physician and social critic Gabor Mate writes, “In the wake of the horrors of the Vietnam War and the unconscionable lies used to justify it, I…had to arrive…at the heartrending realization that the dream that had been a balm to my soul, that of a triumphant Jewish national rebirth in my people’s ancestral biblical home, had been achieved by imposing a nightmare on the Palestinian inhabitants of the land, a nightmare that continues to this day. When the truth struck home, I was once again astonished that my imagined universe could have been such a distorted version of the real one. Visiting the West Bank and Gaza, I wept every day for two weeks.”
One thing I objected to, Robert and Heather, was your suggestion that Israel and the Palestinians are equally bad. You should know the true history, because there have been so many lies about this. Israel has been oppressive of the Palestinians from Day One. It drove out 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland at gunpoint. It certainly doesn’t stop there. israel has had vastly superior weaponry (including nuclear warheads), an army, navy and air force--which the Palestinians have never had--checkpoints, constant harassment of Palestinians, plus Israel’s nonstop grabbing of more and more of their land. They are an oppressed people. Don’t you dare say you can’t support them as a people. Not Hamas, which was encouraged by israel’s bullying and oppression--but the Palestinian people themselves need our help and love. They just want to live happily. The Israelis wouldn’t need all their technology, their weaponry, their surveillance and horrible fences, if they just had one thing--good will, and they can stop calling all Palestinians Nazi terrorists. Not a Jewish state ruling over others, but one state with equality for all, is what we must have.
Republicans want a Christian theocracy, not just male dominance. If they were to succeed, we'd become another Ireland with Catholics versus Protestants. The founding fathers understood that religious tolerance is an oxymoron. Only a secular government can maintain coexistence.
I agree... however, as a child I had the example laid out about women being equal and men being an equal partner in raising a family.
My Mother had a masters in math. She had her own money. My Father was an avid reader and educator and a clever, witty writer with a natural musical talent. He heard the music and then could play it on the piano by ear.
What they taught us: as a family: we all shared the work.... making the beds, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, doing our homework... all a family purpose. Then, on week-ends we got to hike or go to a movie or to a restaurant ( usually Chinese for good food at a reasonable price). We read together, we listened to music on the stereo system my Father built. We studied music and dance.
My Mother’s Father was an immigrant from Yugoslavia. He worked hard in the mines with union protections. He believed in two things above all else, education and unions.
My Father had a broken home after the age of six. He suffered polio and lost the entire muscle from the knee to the ankle on his left leg. He never once talked as tho’ he were crippled. He had a brilliant memory that remembered everything he read. He was a “fish culturist” for the state fish and game. He ran the fish hatchery and became a total environmentalist and teacher to three young daughters. He mad me believe that as a person I could do and become anything I chose. My Mother also believed this. Three daughters had college degrees as did she . One became a lawyer.
Both parents believed in the “New Deal” that FDR helped imagine. They believed in paying back into ones’ country . They believed in being “good citizens and neighbors”.
I am simply sharing that two people: a man and a woman can decide freely to be an equal part of the equation of being human. Of caring about the universe. They never believed that getting rich was a goal. They had lived through the Depression. They did believe in saving and in taking care of things.
Do I believe I am better than others? No, but I believe that educating one’s self can help one see that all together we are strong! But alone we just tread water..., man or woman.... we need one another and we need to decide what works and what doesn’t. This is called “CHOICE”!
We need more guys like him. The divorce rate would go down :))) If women don't have money, then the chances of abuse probably go up. I haven't seen any studies. You mom was a lucky lady!!!
I agree, the R goal to do away with women's power in no fault divorce is maddening. It's patriarchy, white patriarchy, rearing its ugly head, as it has done so disgustingly for the past eight years, devouring the dignity and rights of women and girls and smashing to pieces all the progress we've made towards a more perfect union that exemplifies equity and equality for all.
They only want women to work when the males run off to war. After that, they want servants again. Look at what founded this country - killing the Indians, taking land, bringing in slaves, not paying taxes, pushing puritan religious laws... gezzz...
Janet, I’m struck by the contradiction between the men that want women to stay home, barefoot and pregnant, and the men who can’t find enough women to fill their job openings. I guess they decided to compromise by trying to abolish child labor laws?
They want their cakes, ice cream, and cherries. The dominate males do not treat other males very well either. Elon Musk and Co just wants slave labor back in general. Getting rid of divorce, forced pregnancy, and forced child labor.
I am surprised how obsessed kids these days are about getting a job. The amazing progress our country made was the humane treatment and education of young people until 18 is amazing. These new "kings" can't stand it - even thought they benefited from it. I don't know
They exemplify the Desire to go backwards -as with every policy that GOP has on its agenda. Need to go backwards- to fight any social progress which ultimately leads to economic progress for the bottom 99%.
The GOP seems to be aiming at the establishment of a patriarchal system when all around them are examples of how this model is not working. One only needs to look at each current world mess and ask, "How would this be playing out if the women in that situation were equally empowered?" There are evil women. There are misguided and maniac women. But systematic male dominance over women has done nothing to make the world a better place to live.
The problem is that when women joined the work force - the males will not do their part of the homework. They do not feel (taught) that it is their life's duty to clean the house, do some cooking, and yes clean the yard. All of it is shared. Generally speaking (I have observed most) do not pull their fair share of the homework. Women received an education and are equally capable of great discoveries in art and science. However, most were made to "feel guilty" about not "doing it all". The propaganda perpetuated on women in the following questions about - how do you do it all? how do you balance career and family. A male response would typically be - why can't I have it all? Women are forced to choose or work themselves into a poor health. Usually it ends in divorce. Why share the responsibility? It makes good social and economic sense. Since the US is obsessed with montinzing every little aspect of our lives these days - women have equal intelligence (there are NO significant gender difference - read that again) to deny women holds back all human discovery - which is supposed to make life better - correct?
I'm never using the words "right" to mean "correct" again. I'm tried of the republicans marketing firms hijacking the flags, American, and right.
An unexpected benefit of the evil you describe: some years ago, while searching for a way to establish a new relationship with my mother, one based on two adult women rather than on the dysfunctional mother/child relationship, it occurred to me that we had in common $0.74 on the dollar - two adult working women whose labor was valued at less than their male coworkers' labor. It worked. The woman who had more issues than National Geographic was also possessor of a switchblade wit and much political insight.
Thank you for giving me a laugh today, Martha. "The woman who had more issues than National Geographic". Priceless.
Feel free to borrow - Ture's free quip library is open to all.
you should be a writer - very witty, very thoughtful.
Actually, I am a writer. Would you care to read my book? https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/joe-walker-martha-ture/1009014380
Sounds interesting. I need to read ebooks so I can enlarge the print, but it sounds like a subject my better-seeing friends would love, especially with your clever way of phrasing. I don't see it as an e-book.
Wonderful last sentence! I plan to steal it for my own purposes!
PS) Don't forget - all behavior is taught unless it's a biological need etc. I ask myself a few questions - where did I learn a behavior, how was it reinforced, what is my choice. To me, that awareness is enlighten choice. reference - BF Skinner - see the foundation at Harvard for excellent videos.
Janet, o so true!
I believe that this trend is the last gasp before real change in our society. The monetizing of all aspects of our lives is a real road block for the equity we seek. I believe that the inheritors of America have a better chance to enjoy a more level playing field.
As for me personally I have gotten the message long ago.
My wife and I share in the homework and always have since we started our relationship. I do most of the cooking because I like to cook and my wife likes what I make.
She does most of the dishes. We clean house together and garden together. I feed the dog at night. My wife feeds the dog in the morning. We both walk him and give him a bath. Hey, we love each other, that’s why we do it this way. Most importantly, we succeed together or miss the mark together. No one is to blame or the goat who feels guilty and inadequate. I find in the life we have built together there is room for personal growth and creativity without fear of mistakes. There is hope for a better world and I try lead by example.
Ah! I love that. More gentleman need to copy your lead.
I hope that in this lifetime we still have the chance to keep equality going.
Callie, you wrote one of the best summations of patriarchal failures I've read yet. One, patriarchy is NOT working. Patriarchy has made a mess of our world. Three, things would be playing out differently if women were equally empowered. :)
I am either the grandfather or godfather of free legal services based on income in several counties in Pa, before nofault. Legal services received federal and state grants. At the time, many local bar members objected, There were virtually no women lawyers. Many said that free services woud impoverish them. I was accused openly of being a communist.
Some of the same lawyers also objected that formerly all male colleges were going co-ed, as if I had something to do with it.
At the time, Pa had no alimony.
I discuss Pa: "Catholic" divorces in another post, below.
Although there was no provision for attorneys' fees in divorce per se, while it was pending, which could in practice be the life of the parties, "alimony pendente lite", pending litigation was possible. Some lawyers had a portfolio of clients who would never be divorced, but who were cash on the hoof.
After we became viable, some of the local judges would not co-operate.
Daniel Soloman, seems a historical pattern in our country, call everyone a communist who wants more equity and equality than you do,
Apparently Socialism has long been conflated with Communism. In the Vietnam War days, when I was a college student, I subscribed to the The Socialist Workers Party newsletter. It was a philosophy that struck me as more fair and just than Capitalism. I guess that was “radical” enough that I had my photo taken by the FBI. They weren’t surreptitious about it. A man in his thirties with shiny black shoes and an earpiece really stood out on a campus with long-haired hippie students.
Most people i knew in those days had such strange ideas about communists — like they all had a second head hidden under the collar of their shirt or something. The mere whisper of the word carried so much weight. And most people did not know, or did not want to know, what constituted being a communist in the first place. It was anything — economic, lifestyle, even stupid haircuts — that did not fit the local norm. You could be labeled a communist in Maryland for being a stay-at-home Dad, or be one in Iowa for growing an unusual crop!
A dollop of democratic socialism mixed in with our should-be-well-regulated capitalism would be a good thing. NOT classic government owernship of all the means of production. No rational person who sees how systems work wants THAT! But a touch of “the planet belongs to all of us” would be nice.
Pat, I like what you said here. I'm going to add my own take on similar issues: "We (humans, Homo Sapiens (allegedly sapient), do
not own anything ! We are - borrowing - from the future. But the way we are squandering (anything and everything in the here and now) there won't be a - future - worth surviving into ~ ~ ~ let alone
any other species of life on this planet, our only home ~ ~ ~
I have a "funny" story to tell about FBI agents here in western North Carolina. I live in the area were Eric Rudolph the Olympic Bomber hid out in the woods for 5 years. We used to have an annual event called the Possum Drop here in Brasstown on New Years Eve. A local fun even that didn't hurt a Possum being lowered in a cage but that another story anyway. So the FBI was looking for Eric and they came to this community event. There were dressed in brand new Carhart overalls and had bright shiny black shoes and ear pieces. They stood out like a very very sore thumb.
Now I don't want anyone to think that I am in some way an Eric Rudolph fan and it was a good day when he was caught by the local police in Murphy, NC.
I grew up in the Midwest and I can dress like a local in my old Carhart's but if I open my mouth and speak no one thinks I am a local.
I take it you don’t wear shiny black shoes?!
Glad you didn’t hurt the possum. Here in Minnesota we are ecstatic if a possum adopts out yard because they eat deer ticks and yellow jacket ground nests. I’ve had Lyme four times due to tick bites and am seriously allergic to yellow jacket venom. So I was thrilled when a possum started living under my deck! I would never drop him/her anywhere, but I do drop offerings of fruit next to his/her entrance in hopes of a permanent residence!
Marge Wherley, and I agree they use those two "isms" interchangeably as strategy aimed at their supporters and perceived enemies.
Also, people today seem to know nothing about history. No wonder it keeps repeating!
Marge Wherley, your experience on campus would have scared me! Isn't it something, that people who want fairness and to share power with others is one of the things that frightens them the most?
I was too naive to realize what it could have meant. I just laughed. If the FBI was photographing me today, I would be much less oblivious. Also, I was probably high at the time! ;-)
Anybody ever ask these Solons of wisdom to define the word "communist?"
Martha, I was raised Catholic, and so in the 50s and 60s was heavily indoctrinated in "anti-communism", though it was ill-defined. Later, as I grew older, probably in late high school, I started questioning when I realized that communism, (the theory or philosopy, not the totalitarianism practiced in the soviet union) seemed remarkably close to the early christianity described in Acts of the Apostles. It's a very interesting book in the bible. I'm not now christian, but it always surprises me, saddens me that "christians'' don't have a clue what their god was telling to do and how to live.
Here in Baghdad By the Sea, all Democrats are considered to be commies by the Batistianos.
However Maria Salazar, my representative to Congress who calls everyone who opposes her a commie, announced yesterday that she's willing to talk to us.
1. You should move. The psychic cost of staying in Florida is bad for your health.
2. Every one of these people who uses Commie as a pejorative needs to show how smart they are by defining Communist, in public and on the record.
That would be fascinating.
Also let them define socialism?
Martha, Exactly ! An "honest" definition of communism (derived from
commune, a group of individuals willing to work together toward a
common goal, i.e. The Arts and Crafts Communes of the early 1900's)
would be of benefit to REAL understanding of both the positives and
the negatives of the word communist//communism. IMO the main problem with 'communes' is that this rarely takes into account - the variability of human nature: some individuals work with and within the group, others work within but toward their own ends.
How would this law benefit males? Would they always make women at fault to not pay them anything? Just plain jury speak for those who are not lawyers. What would be the financial fallout for women?
Are you sure it would work out better ? I believe it might but I do wonder as women obtain higher positions and more power what will happen? I want to think that they would have a higher standard and be less corrupt but I fear it would not and big business would figure out how to stick their hands into their pockets.
All I know for sure is that men are doing a lousy job of it. What's missing is experience that very few male leaders possess. The more constricted social mobility became, the more in-experience we've seen in decision making roles.
I see the solution as an 'all hands on deck" approach which means diversifying the people in decision making and power roles as soon and as much as possible.
I personally have felt for many years now that men need to get out of the way and allow women to have their shot at making our world a better place. We all know, at least I think we do that men have pretty much done a lousy job of making our country a place, a shining light, a bastion of what freedom and love stand for.
Evil and maniacal women are not given the power that evil, misguided, and maniacal men get with few exceptions, such MTG.
None of those countries to exclude women from the workforce or from public life are thriving, happy countries with thriving, happy families.
This may be a good time to remember Golda Meir. Let us pause to remember the war between Israel and Egypt when she was in charge. It lasted six days.
Because they’re assholes.
They really want a theocracy and I'm afraid about 6 members of SCOTUS are all in. Alito and Thomas admit they apply "natural law" before the text of the Constitution. .To them natural law is Catholic dogma.
Daniel Soloman, it is frightening., I agree. Iran anyone? Came across a great quote recently, truthful --- "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious convictions." Blaise Pascal
If they violate the Constitution by making laws of religion,, isn't it a disqualification? They take away a previously enjoyed right based on religious beliefs. It sure looks like a serious violation to me. I guess the devil is in the details, and semantics. Religion is not 'natural'!, is it? A solemn oath to uphold the Constitution is what it is. So is a clear violation of that oath. My question is: Why have a Constitution if it is not followed? Why have a disqualification clause that cannot be enforced?
Scump wants to tear up the Constitution,I don't think a great many of his seriously delusional supporters 'get that' and what it (and he) would entail.I do believe the disqualification clause will be enforced,just by who and when.We've had tough times before and gotten past them,democracy WILL PREVAIL!
🤞
I object. An asshole serves a useful purpose.
Fair point.
David Reno: who are you responding to?
Understand my comment didn't go through. Which one?
I thought Janet Adams but it may have been misdirected.
LOL !
This was my first thought. I also consider they want to tear every fabric of society.
That’s an insult to assholes.
Obviously they are assholes! We women who actually think and challenge those assholes make their tiny egos scared, so they want to shut us (women) up, eveen if it hurts our country and our populace.
I hope the Red State women are beginning to feel the same way.
I think there are women everywhere who think as I do, even in Red States.
Nailed it!
No, Professor, you are not the last one to finally get Covid, I have not had it and I plan to get my next vaccination very soon when I go in for my flu shots.
You are right on the subject of Israel vs Hamas. The Hamas terrorists were absolutely wrong and as bad as anyone can get, On the other hand, Netanyahu has been trump before trump even came on the scene. I was sure he was done for when he was indicted on bribery and other nefarious charges and I really didn't think the Israelis would elect him again. There must be some Ben Gurion's or Golda Meir's left in Israel. I'll never understand why the UN cut out that stupid Gaza strip in the first place, even today, Israel could give them 143 square miles of Israel bordering Palestine and annex Gaza to Israel. It would give Israel more coastal access. I know a lot of our readers hate to hear me say this, but way back in 1948-1949 the UN and other countries offered agricultural assistance to Palestine as well as education and health. The then leaders refused it and any money they received they used to buy guns. The Palestinian leaders set up those "refugee" camps which I call concentration camps. The political leaders did not want the people to become self sufficient, they wanted to kill Jews. Yes over the years the Israelis have been more successful at war than their Muslim neighbors, but most of the wars have been retaliatory. Some Israelis have been greedy and wanted to get rid of the Palestinians and expand Israeli territory. My personal opinion is the Israelis are hated because they took poor land and turned it into a prosperous country where most citizens enjoy a better lifestyle than their Muslim neighbors.
On the subject of the extremists among the Republicans, I agree their only agreed upon doctrine is to destroy liberty, justice, the Constitution and Democracy. There goals are so obviously fascist I don't understand how anyone with an ounce of intellect can't see this. As I said on Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American - they are acting like toddlers in a tantrum and the 212 Democrats and 20 or so Republicans should send the lot of them home to their Districts with the admonition to have their constituents deal with their tantrums. Meanwhile the 230 adults can start legislating as they were elected to accomplish. And I still maintain the 'debt ceiling' is unconstitutional.
Yay for Unions!!!
And Heather I agree with you, the only reason to overturn no-fault divorce (dissolution of marriage as it is called in California) is an attempt to reassert male dominance. I had such a dissolution of my first marriage. My second marriage was fantastic, my husband was intelligent, witty and a joy to live with, the only bad thing he ever did was to die, before I was ready.
Fay Reid, Sorry, that your husband has passed on. I hope you had many years with your loving partner.
Thank you, we had 17 great years.
Fay Reid, wonderful!
Thank you
Fay Reid, you have said everything I believe but, somehow for me, the words and concepts never seem to flow correctly or easily. Thank you!
Thank you for the compliment, Stephanie, probably from retiring so late in life from a job that required continuous critical analysis.
Fay Reid: I am 81, been exposed to COVID on several occasions, but never caught it. Have had six shots, as of last month. Got Covid shot, flu shot and RSV shots all in the same visit. Had a sore arm for a while and a feeling of queasiness for about 3 hours on the afternoon of the 2nd day after.
Had similar experience to yours with spouses. My first couldn't hang on to a job, did very little around the house and did a more than rotten job with our children. My 2nd hubbie was a prince who supported me in every way possible. He too died too early...we were married a few weeks short of 30 years.
I share your sorrow in the loss of that 2nd spouse.
Thank you, Cathie, it seems we have a lot in common. I'm hoping the RSV is also available, I hate having to make extra trips. I'm 91, soon to be 92.
Thanks, Bobbe
When daytime television is full of Holy Rollers bellowing out yarns about some hairy prophet who came down from a mountain or walked up a mountain over 2,000 years ago, it isn't hard to discern the origin of current day madness. The numbers of the religious right may be declining but their intolerance is growing exponentially. They seem unable to parse the dis-ingenuousness and mendacious manipulations of their new Orange Messiah.
Catholic dogma opposes virtually all divorce.
Daniel Soloman, they are very, very patriarchial. But noticeable change within the congregation has been taking place over the past 50 years or so. Friends of mine, one being a former priest, famous catholics, outspoken nuns, and Pope Francis all give me hope. There are many who reject the traditional patriarchial teachings rooted in strict punishment. judgment, fear (lots of fear), and discrimination. All the people embracing the dignity of one another and sharing power is a big no, no, and threat to the traditional power in the church.
Pope Benedict was responsible for rolling back many reforms. A Catholic friend of mine in Minneapolis had ten siblings including three gay brothers. They attended mass at a church with a very welcoming and affirming priest. Benedict had him and many similar priests removed. He also cracked down on a group of progressive nuns:
The reform order was issued in 2012 under now-retired Pope Benedict XVI, after an investigation concluded the nuns' group had taken positions that undermined Roman Catholic teaching on the priesthood and homosexuality while promoting "radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith."
My friend and her family quit the Catholic Church. I’m not Catholic but it appears to me that whenever the authority of the old white men is challenged or even vaguely threatened, there is always a backlash. Church or State.
All religion is evil. There is no god, devil, heaven or hell. They are all make believe like Santa Claus.
Marge Wherley, wait, wasn"t that around the time, "The Nuns on a Bus" were traveling the country to sell people on the idea of The Affordable Care Act and the Vatican ordered the U.S. highest ranking church leaders to put those women "back in their place"?
Nuns on the Bus were still traveling in 2018, so I guess the patriarchy failed to put them in any one place.
Marge Wherley, a wonderful failure!
Marge Wherley, thanks I didn't know or had chose to forget Benedict's regression orders. (My friends belong to progressive catholic churches.) I 100% agree with the cycles of backlash against inclusive. progress and prosperity. They"re never-ending today and historically.
See my comments below.
Daniel Soloman, ok.
I agree and find it abhorrent also, but at least they don’t attempt to deny the fossil record.
Patrick, I experienced that when I (an Anthropology major) dated a man of the LDS (Mormon) faith. “Devolution” my ears and whiskers! 🤣
We have come close to the Reich's Ministry for Church Affairs (Reichsministerium für die Kirchliche Angelegenheiten) in the Bush II and Orange Messiah administrations.
What it did in Germany was to destroy the church. Now churches in Germany are often just museums that or tourist attractions.
Ending No fault divorce just adds to the oppression of women on top of the ban on their healthcare. It's another culture war distraction keeping our eyes off the billionaire's outsized power and wage theft. It is another 'divide and conquer' move as well. A woman seeking to leave a marriage is often daunted by simple financial hurdles, even with no fault divorce, or mutually agreed on divorce. With 9% interest rates, just having a roof over her head, and taking care of children's needs requires a good income. Most women do not have decent pay. Second class status is what the 'right' wants for women. tfg likes oppression of women; "treat them like $#it" he said. Look at Iran, and what they support. They have the capability to fund HAMAS, and are suspected to be behind the attacks on Israel, Tfg thinks Hezbollah is "Smart". I can't help but wonder what "my Kev" was doing in Israel recently. I bet he was up to no good. Netanyahu was having to face massive protests very recently. I am suspicious that he knew more about these assaults, may even have been complicit. He is a fascist, and can't be trusted.
I am suspicious that Netanyahu was complicit somehow.
That was my initial thought! He wanted to break the protesters because they were not going away, so hey, let Hamas do it for us.
Agree!
I am positive I have somehow crossed into the Upside Down/Twilight Zone. I am busy looking for the portal to the country that existed once upon a time--when Democrats and Republicans actually worked together.
Looking for the wormhole in space?
Yes, any idea where it might be? ;P Seriously, though, the news lately has been hard to bear
Irishcoda, PLEASE beam me up when you find it!
Until all of the people in our Congress who denied the validity of the 2020 election are removed, either by vote or via the 14th Amendment, we will continue to see this amount of dysfunction and will see continued assaults on the rights of all Americans but especially on the more than half of our population who are female.
Any woman that still votes [for any] Republican is not using the brain that evolution has provided.
Now it's no-fault divorce? This iteration of the Republican party wants control over areas where they have no business interfering, often in the name of religion or family values. And they establish relationships with the rich and powerful to support their ideas when only money can get the job done. Buy a Supreme Court Justice? Support elections of conservative politicians? Money talks, and the Supreme Court says that's just fine with them.
Meanwhile in Colorado, a judge has ruled that the trial of Trump's eligibility for the 2024 ballot must proceed. https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/trump-trial-election-2024-14th-amendment-rcna120270
Renowned physician and social critic Gabor Mate writes, “In the wake of the horrors of the Vietnam War and the unconscionable lies used to justify it, I…had to arrive…at the heartrending realization that the dream that had been a balm to my soul, that of a triumphant Jewish national rebirth in my people’s ancestral biblical home, had been achieved by imposing a nightmare on the Palestinian inhabitants of the land, a nightmare that continues to this day. When the truth struck home, I was once again astonished that my imagined universe could have been such a distorted version of the real one. Visiting the West Bank and Gaza, I wept every day for two weeks.”
https://twitter.com/hahussain/status/1712277203935760472?s=12&t=3aj0CFnc6OinEOS9i6cx5w&fbclid=IwAR3XKP8Ht8uxy9GD7943Ipl1VQ7pk9T4I9x5w9aiuwaXI7VvD-WagNvJvdQ
Thanks for this!
One thing I objected to, Robert and Heather, was your suggestion that Israel and the Palestinians are equally bad. You should know the true history, because there have been so many lies about this. Israel has been oppressive of the Palestinians from Day One. It drove out 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland at gunpoint. It certainly doesn’t stop there. israel has had vastly superior weaponry (including nuclear warheads), an army, navy and air force--which the Palestinians have never had--checkpoints, constant harassment of Palestinians, plus Israel’s nonstop grabbing of more and more of their land. They are an oppressed people. Don’t you dare say you can’t support them as a people. Not Hamas, which was encouraged by israel’s bullying and oppression--but the Palestinian people themselves need our help and love. They just want to live happily. The Israelis wouldn’t need all their technology, their weaponry, their surveillance and horrible fences, if they just had one thing--good will, and they can stop calling all Palestinians Nazi terrorists. Not a Jewish state ruling over others, but one state with equality for all, is what we must have.
Please reconcile what you say with the FACT that the Arab Legion sent more Jews TO Israel (ostensiby to die) in 1948, at the same time it told Arabs to flee because ther was an impending bloodbath to kill everyone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_exodus_from_the_Muslim_world#:~:text=In%20June%201948%2C%20soon%20after,left%20the%20country%20for%20Israel.
Republicans want a Christian theocracy, not just male dominance. If they were to succeed, we'd become another Ireland with Catholics versus Protestants. The founding fathers understood that religious tolerance is an oxymoron. Only a secular government can maintain coexistence.
Janet,
I agree... however, as a child I had the example laid out about women being equal and men being an equal partner in raising a family.
My Mother had a masters in math. She had her own money. My Father was an avid reader and educator and a clever, witty writer with a natural musical talent. He heard the music and then could play it on the piano by ear.
What they taught us: as a family: we all shared the work.... making the beds, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, doing our homework... all a family purpose. Then, on week-ends we got to hike or go to a movie or to a restaurant ( usually Chinese for good food at a reasonable price). We read together, we listened to music on the stereo system my Father built. We studied music and dance.
My Mother’s Father was an immigrant from Yugoslavia. He worked hard in the mines with union protections. He believed in two things above all else, education and unions.
My Father had a broken home after the age of six. He suffered polio and lost the entire muscle from the knee to the ankle on his left leg. He never once talked as tho’ he were crippled. He had a brilliant memory that remembered everything he read. He was a “fish culturist” for the state fish and game. He ran the fish hatchery and became a total environmentalist and teacher to three young daughters. He mad me believe that as a person I could do and become anything I chose. My Mother also believed this. Three daughters had college degrees as did she . One became a lawyer.
Both parents believed in the “New Deal” that FDR helped imagine. They believed in paying back into ones’ country . They believed in being “good citizens and neighbors”.
I am simply sharing that two people: a man and a woman can decide freely to be an equal part of the equation of being human. Of caring about the universe. They never believed that getting rich was a goal. They had lived through the Depression. They did believe in saving and in taking care of things.
Do I believe I am better than others? No, but I believe that educating one’s self can help one see that all together we are strong! But alone we just tread water..., man or woman.... we need one another and we need to decide what works and what doesn’t. This is called “CHOICE”!
Lovely story! Thanks for sharing it! ❤️
We need more guys like him. The divorce rate would go down :))) If women don't have money, then the chances of abuse probably go up. I haven't seen any studies. You mom was a lucky lady!!!
Republicans are so good at deflection... look over here!
While they are robbing the populace of basic rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Men who support women are real men. (Katalin Kariko discovered the Covid vaccines and saved humanity).
I agree, the R goal to do away with women's power in no fault divorce is maddening. It's patriarchy, white patriarchy, rearing its ugly head, as it has done so disgustingly for the past eight years, devouring the dignity and rights of women and girls and smashing to pieces all the progress we've made towards a more perfect union that exemplifies equity and equality for all.
They only want women to work when the males run off to war. After that, they want servants again. Look at what founded this country - killing the Indians, taking land, bringing in slaves, not paying taxes, pushing puritan religious laws... gezzz...
Janet, I’m struck by the contradiction between the men that want women to stay home, barefoot and pregnant, and the men who can’t find enough women to fill their job openings. I guess they decided to compromise by trying to abolish child labor laws?
They want their cakes, ice cream, and cherries. The dominate males do not treat other males very well either. Elon Musk and Co just wants slave labor back in general. Getting rid of divorce, forced pregnancy, and forced child labor.
I am surprised how obsessed kids these days are about getting a job. The amazing progress our country made was the humane treatment and education of young people until 18 is amazing. These new "kings" can't stand it - even thought they benefited from it. I don't know
Greed is bizarre. But it is a learned behavior.
Janet Adams, if only the men of good will could have been the majority in power throughout history, there would have been a lot less suffering.
They exemplify the Desire to go backwards -as with every policy that GOP has on its agenda. Need to go backwards- to fight any social progress which ultimately leads to economic progress for the bottom 99%.
LaVelle, it seems as though their minds have never moved from the so-called “Good Old Days”.