Monday, August 22, 2016

The 19th amendment

Last week was the anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, the right of women to vote in the U.S. I'm trying to think of a political movement since 1920 where it made any difference. Women were the ones who got the 18th amendment passed, and that was before they could vote. They were powerful in the emancipation of slaves movement and the equal protection for former slaves in the 14th amendment. They rolled up their sleeves and taught in schools, and ran the underground railroad for those escaping. In all states and townships before 1920 it was women pushing the education and public health issues, getting regulations in place and laws passed. Women's groups in churches collectively raised millions to support missionaries. But in recent years, all I hear from women is something vague about "health care," which is code for the right to abort their children. They are still letting the men do the heavy lifting. And now a very small group of women are delighted to have a female crook running for President. The rest of us, not so much.

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