So I Spent The Day At My State Capitol

[SPKrazy]

"button holing" (an old term for when the public actually lobbies their legislators) my state senator and representatives about some issues relevant to my profession and the people of Arkansas.

What blows me away is this: remember the EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT? Yes, the one that was never fully ratified by all of the states, and is still up in the air so to speak, to be ratified some day. The amendment has to be in the same language as the original bill. Instead of using the word "gender" they used "sex" in defining who is being given equality by this amendment.

So, back in the 70s the fear tactics used I remember were "unisex bathrooms", and stuff like that.

Now, the fear tactics are just as irrational, "gay marriage" and "state funded abortion". I guess lil ol' Arkansas scares the bejeebus out of the reich wingers because they brought out old Phyllis Schaffley of the eagle forum to testify in committee last week regarding the ERA. She pulled out these new images that strike fear in the hearts of legislators I guess now. The ERA is stuck in committee, with a vote of 10-10. Unbelieveable! This is 2007! WTF is wrong with these people who don't want woment to have equal rights. Especially women who don't want women to have equal rights? I don't get it. So now, 21 co-sponsors of the amendment have taken their names off because they received fear mongering e-mails, letters, and phone calls, saying they were of the devil if they voted for this.

:wtf: :shrug: Are we really advancing as a society? Or are we just running on a wheel in a squirrel's cage?

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

BTW I did get a positive response from representatives who would support this "if" it gets out of committee which is a safe bet that it WON'T so it's a safe position to take.