Grandma Was Right

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Just when I thought things might actually get better, this opinion piece from the NY Times hits me right between the eyes. It is, of course, correct to remind us that jobs for women will not be adequately represented in the recovery plan as so far put forward.

• A public works program can provide needed economic stimulus and revive America’s concern for public property. The current proposal is simply too narrow. Women represent almost half the work force — not exactly a marginal special interest group.
• Mr. Obama compared his infrastructure plan to the Eisenhower-era construction of the Interstate System of highways. It brings back the Eisenhower era in a less appealing way as well: there are almost no women on this road to recovery.

Why is it that women are so frequently asked to set aside their needs for others? And why do we so often do it? These are the questions I have been asking all my life. As far as I can tell, they are exactly the same questions my grandmother was asking.

Up with the matriarchy!

Talk about wishful thinking.

Speaking of my grandmother, she--with good cause--espoused a plan whereby each woman could (but was not required to) shoot one man per year with no legal consequences. Her contention was that by the second year, those men remaining would straighten right up. The longer I live, the more I am convinced that she was right.

Now, comes the LA Times with the "talking points"

• In case any Bush administration officials have trouble summing up the boss' record, the White House is providing a few helpful suggestions.
• The document presents the Bush record as an unalloyed success.
• It mentions none of the episodes that detractors say have marred his presidency: the collapse of the housing market and major financial services companies, the flawed intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq war, the federal response to Hurricane Katrina or the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

Anyone have their fire extinguisher handy? I believe my hair is on fire--yet again.

I quote the redoubtable Jon Stewart, "Give us our bicycle."
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