rise of female television journalists?

Salon composite

we'll see.

Check out Salon's article on women journalists...

Ladies of the nightly news

The Best Kept Secret

Philadelphia Alliance for Labor Support (PALS) will be screening
Orgasmic Birth, The Best Kept Secret on November 6th at 6pm at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut St).

Woah! According to the flier I picked up, this film is "A documentary that examines the intimate nature of birth and the powerful role it plays in women's lives when they are permitted to experience it fully."

There will be a panel discussion after the film. This goes along very well with our health and sexuality series so if anyone goes please let me know!

for more info email palsdoulatraining@gmail.com

Phinally!

Outrageous

Apparently new evidence suggests a huge disparity in the amount of money men and women pay for individual insurance policies, for the exact same plan.

Reasons?

Some of my favorites from the New York Times article by Robert Pear:

The Childbearing Excuse.....

Insurers say they have a sound reason for charging different premiums: Women ages 19 to 55 tend to cost more than men because they typically use more health care, especially in the childbearing years.....

Representative Xavier Becerra, Democrat of California, said that “if men could have kids,” such disparities would probably not exist.

Man....I always thought both my mom and dad were my parents, but apparently men don't have kids.

Women are more health conscious...

Elizabeth J. Leif, a health insurance actuary in Denver who helps calculate rates for Nebraska and other states, said: “Under the age of 55, women tend to be higher utilizers of health care than men. I am more conscious of my health than my husband, who will avoid going to the doctor at all costs.”

So now women are being punished for taking care of themselves, staying healthy, and practicing preventative medicine? And men are rewarded for not going to the doctor "at all costs"?! Using this logic, men would cost insurance companies more money in the long run.

Presidential Election

Last night we had a great discussion on the Presidential election! Please check out the articles if you haven't done so already:

Economists Grade Presidential Candidates on Ten Issues Vital to Women
Election 2008: Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader
Bob Barr on Reproductive Health Issues

The Pennsylvania ballot will include Barack Obama (D), John McCain (R), Ralph Nader (I), and Bob Barr (L). The Green Party candidate, Cynthia McKinney is not on the ballot but can be written in.
In our discussion, we focused heavily on Cynthia McKinney, as she is the only woman running for President. Other topics included:

• the two-party system and its faults
• the role of third parties
• the centrist politics of Barack Obama
• what's left, what's right, and what's Libertarian?
• "radicalism" vs. the perception of radicalism

So now, LET'S ALL VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4!

Death for just TALKING about women's rights?!

Parwez Kambakhsh (right) with his lawyer, Mohammad Afzal Nuristani (photo: Rahamat Gul/AP)

Parwez Kambakhsh, a 24-year-old Afghan journalism student, was originally sentenced to death for "blasphemy" for an article he had shown to others discussing women's rights under Islam. The court kindly overturned that decision, and his sentence is now 20 YEAR IN PRISON.

Laura King reports for the Los Angeles Times.

Election: PA State Treasurer

On November 4, we will elect a new state treasurer. The incumbent, Robin L. Weissman, is not running (took over for Bob Casey when he won his Senate seat). The responsibilities of treasurer include investing the tax revenues, paying bills, and managing a budget of 60 million and a staff of 520 people.

Here is some of the information discussed at our last meeting on the major candidates:

Rob McCord (Democrat, age 49)
Montgomery County

Experience:

• Cofounder and Director of Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners
• Cofounder of Eastern Technology Fund
• 10 years working with Budget and Regulatory issues on Capitol Hill, working with notable figures such as Al Gore, Norm Mineta, Bob Edgar, and Tony Coehlo.
• Board Member for United Way of Pennsylvania and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Education:
BA in Economics & History from Harvard University
MBA from UPenn's Wharton School of Business

Self-described objectives as treasurer:

• Cut wasteful spending
• Protect pensions of seniors
• "Attract new innovative business to Pennsylvania to encourage job growth."

Criticism:

Reuters

Tom Ellis (Republican, 49)
Montgomery County

Experience:

• Cheltenham Township Board of Commissioners (1990-2002)
• Montgomery County Board of Commissioners (2003-2006)
• Partner in the Public Finance Department of the law firm Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll (1985-present)

Education
BA in Political Science from University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania's School of Law (editor of its Law Review)

**Issues:

• Cut spending in order to reduce taxes
• Preservation of land (by stopping "urban sprawl") and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
• Public safety

Berlie Etzel (Libertarian, age 77)
Clarion County

Experience:

• 12 years as Math & Science Teacher
• Professor of Math at Cheyney University (1969-1986)
• Assessor of Ashland Township

Education:
BS in Education from Clarion State College
M.Ed from Penn State University

Issues:

• Open books for 'bonusgate' investigations
• Retrieve lost money from PHEAA (see Auditor General blog below)
• Making sure there's a "constitutional basis" for all payments