Author: terry

I am a socially liberal, fiscally conservative Berkeley grad who loves words and makes my living manipulating people with them. In short, I am a marketing consultant. Straight, married, white female with a healthy appetite for good food, fine wine and great times with friends and family. I've got a thick skin, a sense of humor and I am absolutely without shame or political affiliation. I don't do religion, though I do believe in God. I am a true believer in personal responsibility, personal privacy and active philanthropy. My personal philosophy: Live with integrity, love passionately, fight bravely and never give up! So, go ahead, challenge me, my opinions, my facts - I'm looking forward to it.

IF YOU WANT THEM TO COMMIT, SUBMIT.

Is June Cleaver the American female ideal? Do hetero men really want a woman whose sole reason for existence is to take care of her man and his needs? I don’t want to believe it but I am afraid that it might be true.

As Maureen Dowd (in her 1/13/05 NYT editorial) describes:

“A new study by psychology researchers at the University of Michigan, using college undergraduates, suggests that men going for long-term relationships would rather marry women in subordinate jobs than women who are supervisors.

As Dr. Stephanie Brown, the lead author of the study summed it up for reporters: “Powerful women are at a disadvantage in the marriage market because men may prefer to marry less-accomplished women.” Men think that women with important jobs are more likely to cheat on them.
Continue reading “IF YOU WANT THEM TO COMMIT, SUBMIT.”

the king is dead, long live the fool

Jerry Falwell is at it again.

Why, oh why must we take people like this seriously? Isn’t there some sort of legal challenge that can be brought against this type of activity? Isn’t it illegal to enforce a religious test upon public officials? Yes, I know, it is illegal for the government to do it. How do we get this guy to go away?

I want my country back.

soldier as citizen

I have never wanted to serve in the military. However, I have family members and friends that have either served or are serving in one branch or another of our nation’s armed forces. While not all of those currently serving are in Iraq, a few are and I worry and pray for them everyday. I have told them and others who serve, past and present, “Thank you for putting your life on the line so that I can enjoy my freedoms.”

One of the reasons that I won’t serve in the military is that once you are in, you are the property of the US government (for at least 30 years). Now, while this may not be true legally (de jure), it is technically (de facto). And I am growing more and more concerned for the civil liberties of our men and women in uniform. (continued)
Continue reading “soldier as citizen”

how “morality” is crippling our democracy

I found myself at 1:00 am pondering the bizarre result that “morality” was one of the most important drivers for voters at the polls. Equally disturbing is that an overwhelming majority of those waving this particular flag voted for Bush. In this particular election cycle, “morality” became the pollster/network shorthand for divisive social issues; abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, equal pay… “Morality” in the United States has become intolerant, hateful and politically handy. (continued)
Continue reading “how “morality” is crippling our democracy”

winning friends and influencing people

I know this will come as no surprise to you that the Coalition Provisional Authority was spending Iraqi money in violation of its own rules. We’ve heard the allegations of political favoritism, overcharging and waste. Now it seems that the CPA was using Iraqi money to pay for things that the US Congress would balk at.

This is one of the reasons that Bush could say unequivocally that he would invade again. Because knowing what he knows now he would still want all of his cronies and people in a position to do his administration a favor to get richer at the expense of Iraqi and US citizens. This was never about “freedom and democracy.” This was about getting Halliburton’s hands on the oil money that was previously going to French and Russian companies under the UN oil for food program.

Now that they have pillaged the Iraqis for more than a billion dollars do you think they will be satisfied? I’m betting no.

Jimmah!

Former President Jimmy Carter (The Velvet Hammer – thank you Jon Stewart) at the opening night of the Democratic National Convention delivered five principles of national and global citizenship:

“In repudiating extremism we need to recommit ourselves to a few common- sense principles that should transcend partisan differences. First, we cannot enhance our own security if we place in jeopardy what is most precious to us, namely, the centrality of human rights in our daily lives and in global affairs. Second, we cannot maintain our historic self-confidence as a people if we generate public panic. Third, we cannot do our duty as citizens and patriots if we pursue an agenda that polarizes and divides our country. Next, we cannot be true to ourselves if we mistreat others. And finally, in the world at large we cannot lead if our leaders mislead.”

Thank you, Mr. President, for taking it to the Bush Administration.

If you would like to read the entire speech, it deserves reading. Unfortunately, network coverage was and is so limited that we only got the prelims and the Clintons. But thankfully, for political junkies like me, the cable news coverage is incredibly over the top complete. Oh, and by the way, I will be this engrossed, if not more so, when the Republicans hit NYC – I can’t wait to see the police picket lines!