So, what does the shift in political climate mean for us single mothers?
Seems it puts us one notch higher on the hope totem for diddly squat.
Unless we get together. Cause you know, a thousand women can scream louder than just one. Think we’d be heard?
My friend Stealthbadger rose to the occasion when I challenged him to tell me what the new shift in the Powers that Be might mean for women’s issues and single mothers. He wrote an eloquent, amusing post… and I quote:
Tags: political activism, single-mom, single-mother, womens-issues, womens-rightsNow for the important part. What makes a legislator happier than a happy constituent? A happy group of constituents. This is the core of electoral politics - if you want your position to be taken seriously by an elected official, get as many people as possible to tell the person to do so. The easiest place to find groups to write these letters is where the groups are already doing (or worrying about) things that you’re concerned with. Say you want to write a letter about the need for child care, talk to the other parents you see every day at the day-care facility. Talk to your friends online or at work who also have children. Even better, wait for a “parents’” night at school, and start asking around there. If you’re still at a loss, here are three organizations to get you started:
The National Women’s Political Caucus
9to5, National Association of Working Women
Women’s Action for New DirectionsIt’s strange that there are millions of single mothers in this country, and yet there are few (if any) federal programs designed especially for them. There probably won’t be any new ones coming out of the 110th Congress as things stand now, but there could be if you help push for it. Otherwise, if you don’t take action then at least things will probably not get worse for you - but only probably. Lots of people who would very much like to make decisions for you aren’t staying silent, why should you? Consider that it was a lot of work by a lot of people, but the grassroots, netroots, and just plain old angry individual citizens did far more to knock the Republican majority down than the Democratic party machinery could ever dream of. The 110th isn’t a good thing for single mothers as it stands now, but with effort, it could be turned into a golden opportunity for you; grab it if you can.
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POSTED IN: PSA, political activism
1 opinion for So, what does the shift in political climate mean for us single mothers?
Tam
Sep 27, 2007 at 6:44 pm
You’re kidding right? Nobody is going to stand up for a single mom. The only people helped in this country are 2 income families and wealty. These are the groups concidered to be those who “read”, “vote”, and are “valid”. This I know for a fact. You must have cash or access to cash to count. (or a cool mini skirt with blonde hair to get on Oprah) Me, I’m a middle age, educated, white female. I’m actually one of the “lucky ones”, my parents sent me to school…. thank God! However, I have a highly abusive exhusband who is a cop and his hobby is being abusive to my child. (gotta love “shared custody”) I’ve been to court so many times I’ve lost count. I have no family, no support. I’ve spent 10’s of thousands of dollars in a vain attempt to protect my little boy…. no one cares but me. He’s 10 and in 10 years he has been with a baby sitter 1 time, that was to buy me a Chrismas Present. He had never done that before. Don’t miss understand, I’m not poor and I’m not wealty, I on my own am middle to upper middle class. I’ve lost 2 homes, almost had my car repo’d over and over, and now, I have to go back to court again due to the abuse upon my 10 year old during his visitation. If I don’t send him, I can and probably would go to jail. Then the child get to live with “Daddy Dearest”. Set up a fund to protect the kids and men will straighten up. Follow through with law and hold them accountable and our children won’t grow up to not trust adults and loathing men. People care about social security, cheap healthcare and medicine, and making more money on their home, they do not care about kids and single moms. Well, here’s the facts and listen up…. mine makes straight A’s and B’s and yes, he will get his law degree and he will remember who remembered him in his time of need. As far as coming up with court money, I’ll figure something out or maybe, just maybe an attorney in Northern VA will read this and step up to the plate, with the reality that kids need help. This area needs more that a group of complaining moms, it needs a Union that lobbies for the kids and has funds paid by dues based on a sliding scale in conjunction with membership dues from attorneys and donations from corporate America, to protect our children. Don’t kid yourself they will donate, companies love the free advertising and notority. (Oh and Corporate America, mines coming to work for you in the near future better think about it.) I’ll help, but I want a licensed attorney on board. Otherwise, we’re no where and we’ll keep raising children that get labeled as “product of a single mom”. (I’ve proven my child rearing capabilities, I go to court and try to protect him) The real label is this, product of a society that believes just medicate the mom so she can bear it because the kid has no hope. (Somehow doesn’t seem quite fair so keep your drugs) I lived it, I know and don’t forget… I’m one of the fortunate ones. Lets re educate ourselves on a few facts, the word “Survival” is not a definition for a childhood. And “toughened up” is not a character trait. Yes, these are the answers we’ve been given by society outside of the healthcare industy. Very Sad. Organize, and focus your efforts. And if there is a smart attorney out there that would like to make some money, think about a plan which allows you to be financed start to finish, gives you a steady flow of clients, and free national advertising. This is not an impossible concept, actually it’s really pretty simple. I’m an advertising and marketing manager and, I’ve worked with IUPA, I know. So, you want to talk email me. Here’s the sad part, I bet not one person contacts me.
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