"The Makers" on PBS

Last night PBS showed one of its best programs of all time; "Makers: Women Who Make America." It shows the history of the women's movement from World War II to the seventies. One important aspect of the show is that it sets the record straight on the Feminist movement. In spite of all the distortions that have been circulated, Feminism wasn't about "women versus men" but the progress of human equality. It is important to remember why Feminism was necessary in light of the current attack on reproductive rights and the right=wing attempt to turn back the clock on gender equality.

Let's Get One Thing Clear

The continuing battle over the Federak budget is enough to confuse anybody. It doesn't help that all the partisan rhetoric that's being vented it's hard to keep things straight. That pressure from GOP Congressmen led to the increase in the payroll tax which will fall most heavily on wroking people. The GOP pretend to be against tax increasses but in fact they only object when taxes are aimed at the rich. The GOP have no problems with tax increases on ordinary people. Their strident "anti tax" rhetoric merely covers their real agenda.

Repubs Against Democracy

Among the issues that President Obama addressed in the State of the Union last night was long waiting lines to vote. The problem is that Repub politicians at the State level have been busy making it hard for people to vote. They target minorities, the elderly, and young people but in general the more people exercise their right to vote the worse the repubs do. While names and labels can be misleading in politics we have come to be presented with a clear choice. The Democratic Party, which however inoconsistenltly favors democracy versus a "republic" of property owners. Which one will we choose?

The Downton Downer

I don't understand the popularity of "Downton Abbey." The show is not only a soap opera but a very boring one as well. Just look at how recently it has become a collection of soapy plot devices. Bates is convicted for a crime he did not commit. Edith gets jilted at the altar. Even Sybil's death was handled in a way that seems to suggest that the creators of this show have run out of ideas.

I suspect the reason why many Americans watch dippy British shows like "Downton" is because they still have some kind of inferiority complex. It's like these people still assume that anything British must be superior or something. I don't happen to agree.