I really wish we could get the ERA passed.

[boston bean]

That way our lives wouldn't be subject to the whims of courts, justices, backwards states and bigots.

I believe it would benefit women, men, minorities, LGBT, EVERYONE! It certainly couldn't hurt!

[MichiganVote]

1. Agree

[niyad]

2. and that is exactly why it has not been passed

[boston bean]

3. Yep

Just read up on Phyllis Schlafly. Mouthpiece for the patriarchy, and it will tell you all you need to know, and she can, with her bigotry, show you how much it is needed.

[niyad]

7. spent enough time debating her back in the fight for the ERA. don't need to do it again.

[boston bean]

9. I know it's tough to take, but in her bigotry, I think she actually

Makes the best case for it.. But it's tough to listen to, especially knowing the damage she caused.

You're one of the best on here. Your voice and experience are so much appreciated by me.

[niyad]

12. think it's tough reading what she says? imagine what it was like listening to that bilge in person.

there she was, with her helmet of perfectly coiffed hair (gov goodhair apparently learned from her), her perfect pink dress, and her perfect strand of pearls, spouting the most hateful and ignorant bilge. beyond sickening.

[boston bean]

13. And being cheered on!

We should have won it then. God damnit!

[niyad]

19. we came very close. it didn't help that this was about the only amendment that had a time limit

on it. and phyllis and company did everything in their power to block it.

[enlightenment]

43. Gads, yes. She is horrible in the flesh.

I remember when she showed up to counter an ERA march in Denver - mid-70s (after it failed to be ratified in '72). We were outside the State capitol building and she and her ilk set up down the street. We went to listen to see what she had to say (and heckle, of course). I wanted to gag.

[Arugula Latte]

15. I can't believe she still walks among us.

[Laffy Kat]

32. Well, slithers maybe.

My apologies to invertebrates.

[Freddie]

48. She's pushing 90

Not to wish ill on anyone, but hopefully not much longer. My local paper carries her column (probably ghostwritten) can't think of anyone whose opinion is more detestable. Truly a woman who hates women.

[RebelOne]

49. I know all about her and despised her way back then. n/t

[yardwork]

53. +1

[galileoreloaded]

4. I believe in true equality.

I don't believe in special protections, but equal protections. Love to hear your thoughts because this doesn't seem equal......because it isn't. Maybe its written poorly?

Advocates of the ERA intended it to give women constitutional protection beyond the Equal Protection Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. They believed that the ERA would compensate for inadequate statutory protections for women and sluggish judicial enforcement of existing laws. According to a report that accompanied passage of the ERA resolution in the House, the ERA was necessary because "our legal system currently contains the vestiges of a variety of ancient Common Law principles which discriminate unfairly against women" (H.R. Rep. No. 92-359, 92d Cong. [1971]). These vestigial principles, the report argued, gave preferential treatment to husbands over wives, created a double standard by giving men greater freedom than women to depart from moral standards, and used "obsolete and irrational notions of chivalry" that "regard women in a patronizing or condescending light."

[niyad]

8. oh my, we are getting desperate, aren't we? quoting from the reichwingnuts of the 70's like

phyllis? seriously, this is the best you could do? remdi95

[galileoreloaded]

11. you tell me? i was asking a question

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Equal+Rights+Amendment

snuffalupogus69

[niyad]

16. no, as usual you were whining about women's special privileges.

there is an old benediction that comes to mind: "may you receive everything you deserve"

[galileoreloaded]

18. so you don't know. so how are you qualified to comment?

i googled, and listed the first link that had a definition. it seems objective. i then highlighted the section that shows bigotry and bias, and asked if it was worded poorly.

i should have asked someone who knew.

Does anyone who actually KNOWS something know?

[LisaLynne]

25. You do realize that is not actually an excerpt from the text of the amendment, right? nt

[Democracyinkind]

28. Obviously it doesn't.

[LisaLynne]

34. I think I chased it away.

[niyad]

40. one can hope

[BainsBane]

52. It always comes back

To tell us how important he is, not to mention hawt.

[niyad]

36. that poster knows, but any talk about women's rights and issues brings that one out.

[Democracyinkind]

38. I have NEVER called anyone a troll in all my years here...

"He" obviously is one. I could make a list. It's not just women's rights issues.

[galileoreloaded]

42. ya gotta pay the troll toll

[Democracyinkind]

46. I don't think you're being paid.

I'd consider it a bad investment even for ALECish nincompoops.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

45. agreed.

[BainsBane]

51. I've never seen him take a progressive position

on a single issue.

[lumberjack_jeff]

23. The language is very simple.

"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

The intent is kind of academic. The practical effect would be increased actual equality and less misguided intervention in the name of equality.

[galileoreloaded]

29. thank you! that makes sense. nt

[LisaLynne]

5. That would be wonderful. nt

[Ken Burch]

6. That's exactly WHY Phyllis S. worked so hard to kill the ERA:

Because it might well benefit "women, men, minorities, LGBT, EVERYONE!"

Unless you're a bazillionaire(well, a gentile one anyway)Phyllis S. doesn't want you to benefit from ANYTHING!!!

She believes, based on her actions and words, that life should be an endless Purgatory for most of us.

Phyllis probably thought that Toto deserved to be put to sleep for biting that old witch.

[boston bean]

10. Agreed 100%.

[William769]

14. I'm with you.

It's long past time, this should have been done 20 years ago.

[niyad]

17. this amendment has been introduced in every session of congress since 1923

complete text of the equal rights amendment:

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification

[William769]

20. Yes.

I apologize. I was going by the 1972 date when it passed both houses of Congress and went to the state legislatures for ratification.

[niyad]

22. that was 41 years ago-- incredible as that sometimes seems

[William769]

24. 41 years ago is incredible.

My time frame was allowing for 50 States to ratify which I knew would be a battle but I didn't think impossible.

"Justice delayed is justice denied"

[niyad]

33. did you know that 30 states had ratified by the end of 1973?

if I remember correctly, the legislature of Hawaii was sitting in session when the ERA finally cleared congress, so that they could be the first to ratify.

[William769]

37. I knew it was high but not that high.

Thanks for enlightening me.

[niyad]

41. you are most welcome. for so many of us, this is not history, but a battle we continue to fight

all these years later. as one protestor's sign says, "I cannot believe I am still having to protest this sh**"

[lumberjack_jeff]

21. Strongly agree. n/t

[marions ghost]

26. Relevant today as ever

as we have unfortunately seen. If anything, it's worse now.

[CTyankee]

27. WE NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN!

sorry for the shout, but women need this. Since I am old, I remember the earlier push for the ERA in the 1970s and into the 1980s. There was not the coalition we have today, so it was tough and uphill. Today, we HAVE the coalition and we CAN make it. Too many women are disgusted with their unequal pay and unequal representation. This is an issue ripe for exploration as a political discussion.

I have 2 daughters and 3 granddaughters. My heart is in this...

[Laffy Kat]

30. I know. Takes me back to the early 80s.

So many of us worked so hard for so long. It just boggles the mind if you read it why we couldn't get it passed. I KNOW we couldn't get it passed now.

[rosesaylavee]

31. K&R

It's about time.

[avaistheone1]

35. Maybe this will be the catalyst to get it going again.

k&r

[niyad]

39. for those interested in the battle for the ERA, here is the official website.

http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/

[pnwmom]

44. The main arguments against that were that it would put women in combat,

which has already happened, and that it would allow gay marriage, which has already happened.

[niyad]

47. as for women in combat, I asked her once since it was so horrible for our daughters to die in

war, why it was so wonderful for our sons. she refused to answer.

[Freddie]

50. Don't forget unisex bathrooms

That's what Phyllis objected to if I recall.
Seriously, I wonder how many laws that make women second-class citizens to fetuses would have passed if we had thd ERA?

[felix_numinous]

54. Yes it is time

to for all the RW troglodytes to crawl back into their holes, we've seen enough if what damage can be done to women all over the world.

Time again for the ERA, and sadly, voting rights all over again. Because sociopaths take over without being threatened with consequences.