Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Single women: If you vote, the politicians will come

Froma Harrop/Syndicated columnist (as printed in the Seattle Times on 11/1/2006)


Ladies, you have power. You single women are 24 percent of the voting-age population and the fastest-growing demographic. But you hold the most dismal voting record of any group. Twenty million of you stayed home for the 2004 election — when George Bush received only 3 million more votes than John Kerry. You overwhelmingly prefer Democrats, so you can shake up Washington, if you care to.

Researchers ask why you don't vote, and you often say, "Because the politicians ignore me." That's what we call a self-fulfilling prophecy. You don't vote, and politicians don't come by with promises of health coverage and decent pay. Once you start exercising your political muscle, the candidates will be up nights thinking of ways to serve your interests.

America's 47 million single women are a diverse group. Some of you are young professionals. Some are elderly widows. Many are single mothers. Half of you live in households that make less than $30,000 a year. Because single older women tend to vote at high rates, the showing by you younger senoritas is even worse than the overall number for single female voters would suggest.
A nonprofit group called "Women's Voices. Women Vote" (www.wvwv.org) tracks the reasons many of you don't show up on Election Day. Time hunger is a big one. Women who work and raise children carry an awful load — and may feel that they don't have time to participate in the democracy. But if you want government programs that will ease your burden, you can't stay home.

A third of you single women move every two years, which makes it more likely that you don't know your polling place. The League of Women Voters can help. Its Web site, www.lwv.org, has links for finding where to vote and for registering. Depending on the location, there may still be time to register for the Nov. 7 election.

Many single women tell researchers that they skip voting because they don't know enough about what's going on to make an informed choice. Single men don't share that sense of inadequacy.

"Unmarried men absolutely don't care," said Page Gardner, president of "Women's Voices. Women Vote." "They'll just vote."

Single women reportedly don't trust the information they get, Gardner adds, "and they hate, hate, hate all the negative advertising."

Lassies, let's talk about the culture for a minute. Although more than half of all households are now headed by single people, the idealized image remains a homestead presided over by a married couple. Not much attention is granted the divorced, the widowed and especially the never-married.

It's not surprising, then, that when Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research interviewed groups of single women, it found a strong, negative reaction to the word "unmarried" or even "women." You seem to believe that being single and female makes you a lesser member of society. And what makes your sense of inferiority really sad is that the same research shows that you react most strongly to messages that appeal to your sense of civic responsibility.
So here's the pep talk: You are as all-American as your married friends or thrice-divorced Rush Limbaugh. And your vote counts just as much.

Women like you are not going to see your reflection in campaign ads — or your interests on the national agenda — until you take yourselves seriously enough to vote.

Vote, my single sisters, and you'll learn what power is all about. And remember: If your politician doesn't treat you with respect, you can find another one who does.

Providence Journal columnist Froma Harrop's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail address is fharrop@projo.com

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Breaking up isn't so hard to do

It would appear that the 2004 'Security Moms' are now opening their eyes to the fact that their sons and daughters are far less safe with George Bush in office, especially those whose have sons that will be registering for selective service before Bush leaves office.

According to today's story at cnn.com:

Southern women have been some of Bush's biggest fans, defying the traditional gender gap in which women have preferred Democrats to Republicans. Bush secured a second term due in large part to support from 54 percent of Southern female voters while women nationally favored Democrat John Kerry, 51-48 percent

But the continued conflict in Iraq and the direction of the country have caused a great shift in the demographic that the Bush administration had counted on to keep Republicans afloat this November.

Democrats only need 15 seats to take the House and that is well within our grasp. I would say it is five years too late but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth and if these Southern Security moms are ready to step up and protect their families and children's futures by helping make that 15 a reality I say, 'welcome, we are excited to see you!'

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Bush no help to women in poverty

by: TERESA HEINZ KERRY and JEFFREY LEWIS
first appeared in the Dayton Daily News, Printed in the Seattle PI 9/6/2006

Today, one in five of America's retired single women and widows live in poverty, and millions more may be just one tragedy or illness away from sharing that fate. But the Bush administration continues to explore Social Security and Medicare "reforms" that are likely to make the status of retired women even more unstable.

The roots of retirement insecurity for women lie in their working lives. Women earn less and spend more years out of the work force, caring for children or parents, leaving less money to set aside for retirement.

As divorced or single parents, they outnumber their male counterparts 5-1, and are more likely to be rearing minor children -- again cutting into their ability to save.

They're also less likely to have jobs that offer retirement plans. And, because they earn less, their Social Security checks are smaller when they retire. Today, the checks of newly retired men are, on average, 47 percent larger than those of women.

As they have less in savings and lower Social Security payments, women benefit greatly from retiring as half of a married couple. But, at 65, women can expect to outlive their husbands by three years -- their income diminished by the loss of their husband's Social Security and pension, while expenses for housing and transportation remain just as great and medical expenses rise.

More than half of U.S. women older than 65 make do without the fiscal support of a husband, while almost three-quarters of older U.S. men live with their wives.
Many other older women face the fiscal and emotional hardships of divorce. About 10 percent of women older than 65 today are divorced or have an absent spouse.

Poverty rates for an aged couple are among the lowest, but those for aged widows and divorced women are among the highest.

Several trends have made retirement more secure for aging women, including requirements that wives must consent if survivor benefits are to be waived under their husbands' pension plans, shorter vesting requirements for pensions, improvements in asset exclusions under Medicaid and the greater number of women who have earned Social Security benefits in their own right.

Those positive developments may be offset by two more dangerous trends. The first is the movement away from retirement plans that pay a guaranteed amount every month, toward plans such as 401(k)s, which require contributions and offer no guarantees. With more time out of the work force and lower disposable incomes to contribute when they are employed, women can look forward to a significantly smaller nest egg than men.

Compounding the problems caused by this shift in pension planning, though, is a continuing effort by the Bush administration and the political right to privatize Social Security and to cut back on Medicare benefits. Those efforts are expected to continue despite the resounding rejection of similar efforts last year.

Recently, it was reported that Republicans might seek a new bipartisan effort to rein in the costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

If the social safety net that allows older women a chance at a secure retirement is to be rewoven, it is critical lawmakers take into account the unique needs and circumstances of women. Policy-makers must protect their economic security, lest their likelihood of poverty climb even higher.

As the November elections approach, politicians must remember that women matter, and that women are not timid about expressing their voice when they vote.

Teresa Heinz Kerry is chairwoman of the Heinz Family Philanthropies and the wife of Sen. John Kerry. Jeffrey Lewis is president of the Heinz Family Philanthropies. This column appeared in the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Prescriptions must be filled under newly adopted rule

Recently Washington's state Board of Pharmacy had been toying with the idea of allowing pharmacists to object to filling prescriptions if they 'morally' object. Of course what they mostly objected to was providing birth control options to women. Yesterday they passed new guidelines that state that individual pharmacist will be required to fill prescriptions IF the drug is in stock.

According to the linked article, this compromise was drafted by Gov. Gregoire and women's advocacy groups are excited with the adoption but it seems that the reality is that this is not really much of a win.

Plan B birth control must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, and if a pharmacist 'morally objects' it would seem the easiest way to keep from breaking the new rules is to make sure the needed birth control options are not in stock. I do realize that at times we need to celebrate small wins, but this doesn't seem to be a win of any kind. Rather, this just appears to be nicer packaging on allowing pharmacist's conscience in women's private choices.

I do realize that at times we need to celebrate small wins, but this doesn't seem to be a win of any kind. Rather, this appears to be a nicer package on allowing pharmacists' conscience in women's private choices.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Care2 Email

I received the following email this morning from Care2.org:

It's commonsense that people should have ready access to their doctor-prescribed medication.

The anti-choice movement doesn't think so. They believe pharmacists should have the right to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions on "personal, moral or religious grounds." As a result, pharmacists around the country are refusing to fill their customer's birth control prescriptions and states such as Washington and Mississippi are supporting them.

Stop states legislatures from legalizing moral subjectivity. Support Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act Now.

In Madison Wisconsin, pharmacist Neil Noesen refused to fill a woman's birth-control prescription. He also failed to transfer it to another pharmacist or return it to her. By the time she was finally able to get her prescription filled (at the SAME pharmacy by a different pharmacist), she had already missed a pill because of the delay.

For victims of rape, women seeking emergency contraception, and the 80% of American women who use prescription birth control, this is a huge problem. Where can women go, if not to their pharmacy, for contraceptive options?

Don't give conservative states the chance to legally compromise your access to birth control. Sign the petition calling on Congress to support the Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act to ensure that every woman in every state can get her prescription for birth control filled, whether or not an individual pharmacist has an objection.

Isn't this a commonsense measure you can support?

Lauren Alvarez,Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

PS. According to the American Pharmacists Association, all practicing pharmacists must pledge to "assume ultimate responsibility for assuring that his/her patient has been able to obtain, and is appropriately using, any drugs and related products." Don't let pharmacists abandon their promise. Sign the petition: http://go.care2.com/e/m4m/qe/s045

Need Plan B? He's not selling

It seems that regardless of the FDA's approval for over the counter sales of Plan B. Some Washington State pharmacists feel it is their moral authority to limit women's access to this highly researched pregnancy prevention medication.

This is not an 'abortion pill', this is a pill that when taken 72 hours after unprotected sex PREVENTS fertilization and/or implantation. The same result can be achieved by taking large doses of birth control pills but this requires a Doctor's perscription and exam prior to being given a perscription for birth control bills and generally creates a situation where women are not able to gain access within the 72 hour window.

I've decided that I will be keeping a list of all the pharmacies that are refusing to carry Plan B, because as pharmastists they are choosing to hinder the private choices of their female customers and I believe women should all have that knowledge when choosing where to spend their money. Remember now that it is an over the counter medication it will not be covered under prescription plans so this is completely an out of pocket expense.

I will be sending Mr. Ramseth, the owner and pharmastist at Convington Pharmacy a nice note letting him know that his moral authority over women in our community amounts to nothing more than a clear choice to shop else where.

If you would like to send him a note as well, here is the contact information for the pharmacy as well as additional pharmacies that have refused to carry or dispense on prescriptions for Plan B.

Convington Pharmacy
17239 Southeast 272nd Street
Covington, WA 98042
(253) 631-1200
(425) 235-4916 (fax)

Albertsons-Sav-On - Food Centers
6100 Pacific Avenue Southeast
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 491-8283

Rite Aid Pharmacies
691 Sleater Kinney Road Southeast
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 491-4111

Walgreen's Drug Store
4540 Lacey Boulevard Southeast
Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 438-2020

Tuesday, January 17, 2006


Pastor Ken Hutcherson is the vile Redmond, Washington minister that continues to push his agenda of hate.

While he is once again calling for a national boycott of the business that are lending their support to Washington state's anti-discrimination bill, I would like to ask those of us in the area to return the favor and boycott all his ministries and services. There are many churches available that believe fully in the christian value of loving thy neighbor and would love to know that you also support their ministries and work as well.

Please counteract his hate by visiting and signing up to support Equal Rights Washington( http://equalrightswashington.org/)

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Taming of a Defiant Mind - Tracy Johnson (Seattle PI)

2005 was a year of deep pain for me and my family. We have struggled with a number of family illnesses and loss and so most of which left me feeling unwilling to share my thoughts openly with anyone. That was until I ran across this article today in the Seattle PI. I sat sobbing at the loss for the family of this little boy and grateful that this woman was able to continue to get the help she so obviously needed.

In September I received a call from my father, telling me that my cousin had killed himself the day before. I sat dumbfounded by the news, as it just seemed impossible. I was the lucky one though because I had the luxury of only knowing him as a young man filled with life and potential. He was quite a bit older than me and my memories are those of a child watching in awe as he seemed to shine in everything he did. He was always on the go, after college moving to Colorado to ski during the winter then back to Idaho for summers on the lake where he would always make time for me and my brother. He would take us boating and helped teach my little brother to swim. It didn't seemed to matter that we were always tagging along, he would take us to the store and buy ice cream and never complained when his parents asked him to keep us busy. I loved and adored him.

As I said, I had the luxury of only my childhood memories. I never knew the man he became as he fell deeply into mental illness. My cousin was schizophrenic, and yet always in my memory was larger than life itself. Maybe this was what made it even harder for him, the potential that was locked inside and the demons that kept him from reaching it. The last time I saw him was a few years back at a family holiday function, he was quiet and shy and I missed him deeply.

My cousin struggled so hard with his illness, as many will tell you at times the cure feels worse than the disease and he was on and off with his medications, at the time of his death he was off and drinking heavily. My family seems to be pulling itself apart at the seams, as everyone wants to find something tangible to blame for this happening.

I know I'm rambling, and quite possibly have sent any readers packing...but the reality is this post is just for me today. I've included the link because it's such and important story, we need to realize that yes infact these things happen, and we as a society need to be ready to help our brothers, sisters, cousins, or even our parents if they are not well and know that the demons inside may just be punishment enough.