Equal Time With Martha Burk

The country lost a Lioness this month with the death of Dianne Feinstein, an early female pioneer in the Senate.  Let's check on female gains in government (or not) since she was elected in '92.

October is here, and there ain’t much good news happening in the US, with daily mass shootings, a government in disarray, and a hurricane a day. So we’re giving our listeners a bunch of reasons to celebrate this month. Here’s a list, pick your own favorite and break out the champagne and confetti.

It's Hispanic Heritage Month, so let's recognize their leaders, and raise a glass to the founder of the United Farm Workers. If you’re thinking Cesar Chavez, you’re a little less than half right.

If you're getting nervous these days about going to the grocery or taking your kid to the ballpark for fear of getting shot, rest easy. Republicans in Congress are on the case, with a great plan for ending mass shootings.

Congress is wrangling over the Farm Bill, which includes over $3 billion for giant agriculture corporations and multimillionaire "farmers" who don't actually live on farms. Here's a suggestion for Republicans who want to shut down the government over $6.41.

Labor Day has been a national holiday since 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed the law making the first Monday in September a day off for workers. Labor unions had campaigned for years to gain recognition of both the contributions and the mistreatment of workers at the time. Since then, unions have enabled workers to negotiate for higher wages and benefits, and better conditions in all kinds of workplaces, from the textile mills of the 1800s to thousands of other workplaces today. History is littered with examples of of all kinds of dirty tricks to keep unions out, up to and including murdering organizers. Today it’s a little more genteel than it used to be. Companies don’t generally fight unions with bullets and billy clubs. Nope, they’re a lot more subtle. 

August is the month when we commemorate the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, passed in 1920.  But we're still behind lots of other countries when it comes to equality. Let's look around the world to see how we can, and should, do better.

Summer in August is known as “dog days” – hot and muggy, panting canines with tongues hanging out, alongside their disgruntled people.  In a few days some of those very disgruntled people – Republican people – will be taking the debate stage to see who can out-do the others on why they want to be the next President. We thought it would be fun to pair these folks with their canine counterparts, by way of giving you a preview of what to expect. 

The U.S. Women's Soccer Team won't be in the World Cup finals this year, but even if they were and took the trophy, it wouldn't have been their greatest victory. That happened in 2022 off the playing field. And it will last much longer than any given game.

I said I wasn’t gonna do it, but in the end I gave in. Went to see the Barbie movie. She’s still tall, thin, white, sporting signature long blond hair. But Barbiedom is diverse now. A few non white girls (one is a Black future President). One fat Barbie, one wheelchair Barbie briefly in the opening scene. And don’t forget a  Ken who’s supposed to be gay -- but not too gay. Has anything really changed?

The Civil Rights Act  prohibiting pay discrimination against women and minorities was passed August 1964. Some thought it was a joke  As Black Women's Equal Pay Day is marked in August of 2023, it's looking like they were right.

Rockefeller, Astor, Carnegie, Stanford. Rich guys from the late 1900s for sure, but what else? Robber barons. Big boys at the top of U.S. business, who used unethical methods to exploit workers to line their own pockets big time. They’re back, and you know their companies very well  

When Neil Armstrong touched down on the moon in 1969, NASA had a "No Girls Allowed" sign firmly on its figurative door. Come 2024 that giant step will be for humankind.

A new group is mobilizing Moms across the country, hoping to change the way schools teach and operate, and they've got some high profile support. Would you want your Mom to join?

July 4, 1776 marked the Declaration of Independence from Britain. But the founding fathers made one mistake that endures to this day.

June is Pride Month, and June 28th is Pride Day, marking the unofficial beginning of  "Gay Liberation" in 1969 with the Stonewall riots in New York.  Since then  the LGBTQ+ movement grown steadily and gained acceptance.  But is rough sledding ahead?

Juneteenth, marking June 19th, 1865 is a federal holiday celebrated each year to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. Most people think that was the day President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. Wrong. 

The annual June Father’s day shopping binge is upon us. Stores are touting the latest gizmos, and everybody loves Dad. All except corporate America, that is. Only 23% of U.S. private-sector workers have access to paid family leave in order to care for a new child. The majority of recipients are new mothers – precious few employers give fathers the same benefit.  

June 6 marks the anniversary of D-Day, the day in 1944 when Allied forces in World War II invaded France from offshore. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Thousands never made it out of the water, making the landing on Normandy one of the deadliest days of the war. In an all-out push, 150,000 men – and one woman -- hit the beaches.

Memorial Day is when we honor those who died while serving in the armed forces. It dates from 1866, when women decorated graves from both sides of the civil war. Even back then there were female warriors, though most disguised themselves as men. Women can join any branch of the military today, and hiding their sex is no longer necessary. But for years it seemed like women would be better off if they did. But at long last time's they are a-changin.'