Nine Shift

It's every woman for herself ! !

As America tumbles downward economically, do you sense a little panic setting in?

Does it feel a little like every person wants to hang on to his or her standard and style of living, regardless of the plight or progress of others?  The Boomers are warring with their children, forfeiting their children's education in order to preserve their own entitlements.  High school graduates want college graduates to make as little as they do.  No one wants to pay for anything.

And no one wants to adjust her or his lifestyle and spending habits, especially not if vets, seniors, infants and students would benefit.  What do you think?  And are you adjusting your spending habits?

Live Coverage: Wisconsin Recall Elections

The last week of the campagins, and outside entities are coming in, along with millions of dollars.

In little River Falls, pop 12,500, the Democratic National Committee is sending in top organizers for the last week. Apparently River Falls is a key battleground.  If the entrenched Republican State Senator Sheila Harsdorf can be recalled, it will carry the state as well as send a message that even entrenched conservatives are vulnerable in Scott Walker's political fiasco. So the big time pros are walking into the River Falls office and taking over, all to the positive says our Julie Coates.  Of course, Republicans are pouring in money as well.

Last night Democratic State Minority leader Mark Miller was in town. He is one of the Fab 14, a hero all around the state.  So Julie was standing next to him for a picture, and lots of other people were crowding in to be in the picture as well.  Julie leans over to Sen. Miller and says, "I've never had so many people want to be in a picture with me before." Sen. Miller got the joke, laughed and put his arm around Julie.  Good times.

Feminists vs Feminists: Part IV

Time for feminists to address some critical societal issues.  Here's the one raised by Dr. Karen Sibert.

  At what point do doctors (male or female, but the statistics suggest this affects women far more than men) have an obligation to society for its financial burden of paying for one's medical education? What do you think?

Photo: Mother Jones, female activist of 100 years ago, advocated for women, children and boys.

NPR Reporting of the Debt Default

"There's a lot of interest in the Rupert Murdoch story here in the UK," the British reporter told his American interviewer, adding, "That's because our politicians aren't destroying our economy like yours are."   Weak embarrased laugh from the American radio host.

If you are an NPR listener, you probably didn't hear that interview.  That's because it was not on NPR.  The absence of any international perspective, or even an objective one from here within the U.S., is sorely missed and does not speak well about the ability of National Public Radio to provide objective coverage, much less serve as "educational radio." 

Instead, we get this from NPR a month or so ago at the top of the news: The U.S. debt is the biggest problem facing the country today.   Really?  You are stating this as fact?  According to whom? 

Belatedly, due primarily I would suggest to an acutely observant and objective British perspective, we are now getting the real story:  that the debt, nor the debt ceiling, is actually not the biggest problem facing the United States, and that the whole debt ceiling crisis is artificially manufactured on Capitol Hill, diverting huge sums of time and money that will wind up costing U.S. taxpayers enormous dollars down the road. 

And where is NPR? 

Feminists vs Feminists: Part III

"The revolution is over.  And we won.  Now what?"

Those profound and ahead-of-his-time comments were made by Dennis DuBe about our little educational revolution in 1976.  We had been advocating that "anyone can teach, anyone can learn,"  a philosophy hotly disputed and fought by institutional America.  The NY Times even wrote an editorial opposing the idea.
That concept is now common, hardly noticed and rarely challenged. The opposition's belief that ordinary citizens would teach brain surgery never materialized.  But we won? Really?  Not everything was perfect. And yet we had.

In 2008 Jesse Jackson did not fully support Barack Obama's candidacy (until election night), because the struggle was not yet won, there was much to be done. And yet Obama won.

Today feminists face the same dilemna. Not everything is perfect. Women still do not receive the same pay for the same work.  And yet, girls are wearing pink, high heels, do not think things can go backward, assume they can get the same job as a man, etc.  Women have won. Now what?

Very soon gay and lesbian activists will face the same "we won, now what?" dilemna. 

Progress in gender equality is part of the reality that is shaping the debate, Feminists vs. Feminists.
Photo: Dennis DuBe and wife Jude Biggs.

Feminists vs Feminists: Part II

So I was called a sexist for accurately quoting Julie Coates' discovery of a Department of Labor study, done under the leadership of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, that showed that women are absent from work about twice as much as men are, and that the difference is NOT due to women taking care of families, health issues, or children.

It's very difficult for Third Stage Steinem feminists to call another woman, such as Julie and certainly Secretary Solis, a sexist. Mainly because they are not sexists.  Also because Third Stage feminists believe male discrimination is due to any lack of equality. So it is easier to call this male, the "innocent" messenger, a sexist.

But me aside, what is important is that new studies, research and evidence are calling into question the fundamental beliefs of Third Stage Steinem feminists.  Most of the research is being done by women, like Doreen Kimura, Susan Pinker, Judith Kleinfeld, Christine Sommers and on and on. 

Gloria Steinem, who to my knowledge has not been married nor had any children, much less boys, nevertheless urged millions of women to "raise boys like girls."  Not that this has ever been done successful, despite being tried by this feminist and many others.  And is not being done by today's totally feminist fathers and mothers.  Photo: Secretary Solis.

Enter evidence, research and facts.  Gloria Steinem feminists, your response? 

 

 

Feminists vs Feminists: Part I

For the first time, I got called a sexist after a NineShift presentation.

Amazingly, it was the same day that feminists charged that a female doctor was abandoning her gender.

Writing in the NY Times, Dr. Karen S. Sibert raised the compelling and important issue of whether doctors who complete their education with taxpayer support have a moral obligation not to work part time, especially now when we have a growing shortage of doctors. The issue mainly affects female doctors, and drew a chorus of criticism from other women.

This marks a turning point in the women's movement. Having gained much in the last few decades/century, second stage Betty Friedan feminists are now challenging third stage Gloria Steinem feminists over responsibility, neurology, and gender roles.

Second Stage Betty Friedan Feminists
   Believe women are equal to men, but not superior to men. Do not believe female traits are necessarily superior to male traits.  Believe boys should be raised as boys, not girls.  Believe there are some appropriate differences in gender roles. 

Third Stage Gloria Steinem Feminists
   Believe female traits are superior to male traits.  Believe boys should be raised like girls.  (this is a direct quote from Ms. Steinem).   Believe women should be equally represented in all areas of endeavor (e.g. computer scientists). Any lack of equal representation is due to discrimination by men, not neurology, female preference, or gender traits.

 

The Fall of Rupert Murdoch

I am reading a book about the fall of Rupert Murdoch. Amazing timing.

Here's how it will end:
-Murdoch will not go to jail, he will continue as a businessman, but he will lose all of his political influence.
-He retires and dies rich, but having lost all his credibility
-There will be a great uprising against rich people influencing politics. Watch out Koch Brothers.

The book is called A Certain Rich Man. It was written by William Allen White.  Here's a key passage on how the rich man retains his business but loses his political influence:

"Big business, and little business that apes big business (my note:this is a great observation), dropped its jaw (at the rich man getting caught). Men say:  'How can these things be- might makes right.  Jails are for the poor, not for the rich, because the poor are wrong and the rich are right, and no just man made perfect by a million should be in jail." 

The book was written in 1911.  History does repeat itself, and as NineShift has shown, exactly 100 years later. Murdoch does not go to jail, but his political influence is over.  Good ending huh?

 

 

Wisconsin Recall: Sha Na Na Visits Recall Election Office

Jon "Bowser" Bauman of Sha Na Na visited the River Falls recall election office tonight, energizing the volunteers.

Bauman, who lives in California, is here in Wisconsin visiting all the recall offices and districts to support the defeat of the Tea Party and right wing. 

He told the volunteers, "The whole country is focused on Wisconsin." Bauman said that if the recall elections in Wisconsin stop the Tea Party and right wing, then it will have national implications, noting

"The right wing is trying to do this all over, but starting with Wisconsin was a really bad choice."
Photo: My brilliant co-author with Bowser, in his trademark pose, at the recall election office tonight.

Wisconsin Recall: Big Office on Main Street

People sit outside of the volunteer office and passers-by throw money into a donation cup.
Enthusiasm, energy and optimism extremely high.