Photo by Amanda Walker

EQUITY FOR WOMEN

Message to guys: Maybe your loving partners aren’t telling you, but: They’re pissed!

Women Surgeons? 71% of what male counterparts earn. (Claudia Goldin)

Women in the Academy? Tenured less, and later; getting less credit on articles co-authored with men (Heather Sarsons)

Some solutions ready to be implemented, today?

SOLUTIONS, WHOSE TIME IS COMING, VERY SOON, we predict:

Our “Fix Congress First” Campaign, to win the Maryland Eighth Congressional District, projects that within 1- 4 years, a commitment to reform Congress will already be at or near completion, ending partisan blocking of needed legislation.

How is such a bold and optimistic projection credible ? Because the reform model to be adopted in Congress :

-- Republican legislators literally electing Democrat Legislative Committee Chairs, for example – in the State where it has been in effect for 80 years).

This in not conjecture, hyperbole, nor hypothetical. It is real, and has been deployed in the actual legislative world successfully for eight decades, -- and -- is finally getting the attention it deserves (see Politico ; The Atlantic ; NPR , - and our ground-breaking Congressional Campaign ). (and it's NOT "Unicameralism") !

We believe this is a truly transformative idea whose time has finally come.

AND, most importantly, because the adoption of this reform will not depend on altruism, or anyone “doing the right thing” , but instead appeals directly to the self-interest of the Members of Congress who must enact it, we believe it realistic to expect passage, once a 1- 4 year period of education of the Members has been undertaken.

Our Campaign anticipates adoption by an affirmative vote of a large, bipartisan majority of the Members of Congress. This “Fix Congress First” reform will transform the poisonous, rancorous, and – dare we say – childish – partisanship that has turned Congress into a discredited, and corrupt embarrassment - and will restore that sad institution back into a once-again effective and responsible branch of government.

Bold assertions. We realize the reader is skeptical. Don’t believe us. Read for yourself ( Politico ; The Atlantic ; NPR )

What has this to do with Pay Equity for Women?

This has everything to do with Women’s Pay Equity, as it does with every other sensible agenda item that has been languishing in the partisan dysfunction into which Congress has descended. Reform of Congress is doable. And an urgent priority.

We can and we will make working in Congress once again satisfying for Members, and their constituents, regardless of party affiliation. And we will make Congress work, again.

But, in the meantime, for 1- 4 years, depending on which party controls Congress for thelast time, before Political Party control of Congress is abolished (we can hear the snickering and ridicule already) -- as we confidently predict it will be -- in the short 1- 4 year time horizon, since the Federal Paycheck Fairness Act may continue to languish on Capitol Hill, we encourage all States to follow the leadership of California, which today has the best enacted Gender Pay Equity legislation in the nation .

Regarding equity for stay-at-home Moms and Dads:

Judith Shulevitz, writing recently in the NYTimes, on “Universal Basic Income”, the growing, and eclectically-supported (Andy Stern, Thomas Paine, Robin Chase) movement, wrote

‘… [ society’s] getting a free ride on women’s unrewarded contributions…”

Dan once took 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for his late wife, with a guarantee of not losing his job. That was better than what many employers offer. But we should and can do better.

Pay inequality is an issue women especially own. If they will lead (as we think they must) we will be right there with them.

(Following Alice Paul’s example)

How Much Longer ?

This photo is undated. But from the women’s coats, it’s 1950s ? How Much Longer ? !

In 1919, Alice Paul faced a similarly moribund Women’s Suffrage movement. Her success then , quickly drove President Wilson off the sidelines, and into pushing Congress for ratification of the 19 th Amendment, is a lesson in how to re-invigorate the incredibly slow pace of securing Equal Pay, nationwide.

H​ow Alice Paul, 33,​ changed Congress

Will You Join Us?

DanT​oC​ongress@gmail.com

​ 301-204-7569

Bethesda​