Yesterday, Representative Mary Peltola (D-AK) won Alaska’s House seat for a full term after taking it this summer in a special election to replace Representative Don Young (R-AK), who died in office in March after 49 years in Congress. Peltola is the first woman to represent Alaska and, as Yup’ik, is the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress.
Excellent news about the increasing number of women in government. It’s news because the suits significantly outnumber women. Let’s change that even faster. Let’s work to reinstate Civics in all USA middle and high schools. Teach about government in younger grades by educating teachers in how to set up democratic classrooms. Starting in Kindergarten. Work for family friendly day care and paid maternity leaves so women don’t end up leaving career paths and not being able to return. Working for low tuition or tuition free two and some four year public colleges will help more women as well as men attend higher education programs. This Rutgers website features women in government from 1848 forward. I want to reincarnate and run for office. Too late for me, but not for many of you, or our friends and daughters.
One would think that the Republican Party, seeing the trend in election results and changing demographics, would try to craft policies that would attract more voters. But they either can't stomach the idea of compromising their political principles and/or are so beholden to business and "religious" interests that reform is impossible. Thus the party grows more insular and open in the embrace of hate and one-party rule.
There is clearly not a majority of voters who want anything resembling the Trump years. That's not to suggest we're anywhere close to being out of the woods. A minority party can wreak havoc, and the GOP's new slim majority in the House will do just that.
I’m loving being wide awake at 78 to cheer the women in political life now and I expect this representation will continue growing in coming years! What a pleasure!!
Per Rutger's Andrea Alexander 11/15/22, the problem-solving Gen Z Voters are projected to.have an overweight impact on national elections through 2030.
It's my personal opinion that Congress needs more women in office, as I believe women are fundamentally more collaborative in nature than men. They're generally more civil as well. Just one guy's opinion...however, the more women there are in office, the more we'll see some like Taylor-Greene and Boebert who don't represent their gender well. I don't think men have the lock on despicable behavior, but they seem more given to competition than collaboration.
“The reelections of Peltola and Murkowski illustrate that we are, in many different ways, at a sea change moment in American history.”
I agree, with skeptical optimism. Oxymoron? Maybe guarded optimism is better. Either way, we’re by no means out of the woods yet. We do well to remember that Stacey Abrams (barely) lost in Georgia, and Rand Paul got re-elected in Kentucky. Herschel Walker may yet be elected senator from Georgia. If that last fails to occur, I will feel a lot better.
Heartening news indeed! I hope that the next gen young women (and young men) will in the future replace the Repugs like Marjorie Threenames, Boebert, Gaetz, Hawley et al and bring an end to this surreal landscape of election deniers. I hope it can turn around in my lifetime.
Our daughter introduced us tonight to the Hulu series on Hilary Clinton, and her work in political campaigns looks like she was a trail blazer. Good to see this timely review by HCR which appeared in my inbox just after part 4 of the Hulu series (made 2 years ago but who are we to be current) finished airing on our home screen.
Ho, boy... " ... efforts to dismantle the business regulation, basic social safety net, promotion of infrastructure, protection of civil rights, and international cooperation that were the fundamental principles underpinning American government after the Depression and World War II." Now that certainly spells out the basic Repub Party manifesto. Sure glad to see the changes brought on in the mid-term. And clearly the fast-fading away of the MAGA-brain dead. Looking good, USA!
Such an inspiring piece about the positive changes in our country. No going back? I'm hesitant but more optimistic after your detailing of the demographic change and increase in our representative diversity, nationwide. Let us keep moving forward into the 21st century.
In the wee morning hours, having read through some 96 comments here & not seeing it mentioned, I would like to lob a wish of mine into the ring: I would like to see in my lifetime (I’m 73) the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. It is way past time to make it so.
The results of the midterm elections were indeed gratifying for women and many Democrats, but we must remember that Trump backed candidates won many seats in the house of representatives and they will work to disrupt the good work that the Biden Administration has accomplished.
over the last 40 years there has been a distinct move towards fascism in this country and many eminent sociologists believe that it is still a huge danger to our democracy. nearly all of the autocratic dictatorships have been formed because the leaders failed to enamor the people and lost elections and took over the government through force. This situation exists today and Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the 2024 presidential election in that it has been said that he is planning to attend the inauguration in 2025 and claim victory even though he had lost the election in 2024.
Hopefully, he will be serving a long term in federal prison at that time and won’t personally represent a threat, but we must be ever vigilant that fascist right wing forces are ready to continue their assault on democracy.
Every American must stand firm against fascism and be sure not to let democracy fail.
November 25, 2022
It was an amazing day for us here in Alaska! I am so proud to have such intelligent, strong, hardworking women representing my state.
Women! One of the issues I marched for in the late 60s & early 70s. Getting somewhere. It’s taking longer than we had hoped.
Excellent news about the increasing number of women in government. It’s news because the suits significantly outnumber women. Let’s change that even faster. Let’s work to reinstate Civics in all USA middle and high schools. Teach about government in younger grades by educating teachers in how to set up democratic classrooms. Starting in Kindergarten. Work for family friendly day care and paid maternity leaves so women don’t end up leaving career paths and not being able to return. Working for low tuition or tuition free two and some four year public colleges will help more women as well as men attend higher education programs. This Rutgers website features women in government from 1848 forward. I want to reincarnate and run for office. Too late for me, but not for many of you, or our friends and daughters.
https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/milestones-women-american-politics
One would think that the Republican Party, seeing the trend in election results and changing demographics, would try to craft policies that would attract more voters. But they either can't stomach the idea of compromising their political principles and/or are so beholden to business and "religious" interests that reform is impossible. Thus the party grows more insular and open in the embrace of hate and one-party rule.
There is clearly not a majority of voters who want anything resembling the Trump years. That's not to suggest we're anywhere close to being out of the woods. A minority party can wreak havoc, and the GOP's new slim majority in the House will do just that.
I’m loving being wide awake at 78 to cheer the women in political life now and I expect this representation will continue growing in coming years! What a pleasure!!
Per Rutger's Andrea Alexander 11/15/22, the problem-solving Gen Z Voters are projected to.have an overweight impact on national elections through 2030.
It's my personal opinion that Congress needs more women in office, as I believe women are fundamentally more collaborative in nature than men. They're generally more civil as well. Just one guy's opinion...however, the more women there are in office, the more we'll see some like Taylor-Greene and Boebert who don't represent their gender well. I don't think men have the lock on despicable behavior, but they seem more given to competition than collaboration.
“The reelections of Peltola and Murkowski illustrate that we are, in many different ways, at a sea change moment in American history.”
I agree, with skeptical optimism. Oxymoron? Maybe guarded optimism is better. Either way, we’re by no means out of the woods yet. We do well to remember that Stacey Abrams (barely) lost in Georgia, and Rand Paul got re-elected in Kentucky. Herschel Walker may yet be elected senator from Georgia. If that last fails to occur, I will feel a lot better.
Heartening news indeed! I hope that the next gen young women (and young men) will in the future replace the Repugs like Marjorie Threenames, Boebert, Gaetz, Hawley et al and bring an end to this surreal landscape of election deniers. I hope it can turn around in my lifetime.
You are women,
We hear you roar.
Our daughter introduced us tonight to the Hulu series on Hilary Clinton, and her work in political campaigns looks like she was a trail blazer. Good to see this timely review by HCR which appeared in my inbox just after part 4 of the Hulu series (made 2 years ago but who are we to be current) finished airing on our home screen.
Ho, boy... " ... efforts to dismantle the business regulation, basic social safety net, promotion of infrastructure, protection of civil rights, and international cooperation that were the fundamental principles underpinning American government after the Depression and World War II." Now that certainly spells out the basic Repub Party manifesto. Sure glad to see the changes brought on in the mid-term. And clearly the fast-fading away of the MAGA-brain dead. Looking good, USA!
Such an inspiring piece about the positive changes in our country. No going back? I'm hesitant but more optimistic after your detailing of the demographic change and increase in our representative diversity, nationwide. Let us keep moving forward into the 21st century.
In the wee morning hours, having read through some 96 comments here & not seeing it mentioned, I would like to lob a wish of mine into the ring: I would like to see in my lifetime (I’m 73) the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. It is way past time to make it so.
We need more like this one:
https://youtu.be/fCNuPcf8L00
Leonard Katz
The results of the midterm elections were indeed gratifying for women and many Democrats, but we must remember that Trump backed candidates won many seats in the house of representatives and they will work to disrupt the good work that the Biden Administration has accomplished.
over the last 40 years there has been a distinct move towards fascism in this country and many eminent sociologists believe that it is still a huge danger to our democracy. nearly all of the autocratic dictatorships have been formed because the leaders failed to enamor the people and lost elections and took over the government through force. This situation exists today and Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the 2024 presidential election in that it has been said that he is planning to attend the inauguration in 2025 and claim victory even though he had lost the election in 2024.
Hopefully, he will be serving a long term in federal prison at that time and won’t personally represent a threat, but we must be ever vigilant that fascist right wing forces are ready to continue their assault on democracy.
Every American must stand firm against fascism and be sure not to let democracy fail.