After several years of trying to end the death penalty, Maryland legislators voted to abolish the death penalty on Friday. It awaits the signature of Governor Martin O’Malley who has fought tirelessly to get the bill passed. It almost passed last year. This year Maryland becomes the 18th state to abolish the death penalty. Colorado and Delaware have pending bills. For the victims of violent crime, the death penalty does not provide any peace but offers years of trials and appeals and countless states’ money to pursue it. And to some on death row who have been later found to be wrongfully convicted through DNA evidence, it does nothing to give them back their lives. And government money spent in years of death penalty appeals can now be used elsewhere. Maryland’s bill once signed may go before the voters on a referendum. But this is a major step forward in the right direction. The death penalty does not serve the interest of justice, the victim's families or our society. … [Read more...] about Maryland Votes to End Death Penalty
Archives for March 2013
Black Women Go to Washington to Assert Political Power
Midway through Women’s History Month, black women from ten states came to Washington, D.C. and converged on the nation’s capitol to meet with Democratic and Republican representatives of Congress and to assert their political power, as part of the Black Women’s Roundtable (“BWR”) Summit on March 14-16. They came to tell our leaders in Congress to stop the partisan politics and pass legislation that creates good paying jobs with livable wages, increases small business opportunities for women, reduces gun violence in our communities, and invests in our children’s education. Education is the social justice movement of our time says Becky Pringle, Secretary/Treasurer of National Education Association (“NEA”), in speaking to the BWR. “We’re coming together to the nation’s capitol to leverage our vote,” said Melanie L. Campbell, convener Black Women’s Roundtable and president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. Meetings included those with Democrats and … [Read more...] about Black Women Go to Washington to Assert Political Power
Mississippi Forbids Ban of Foods but Bans Abortion
As Mayor Bloomberg’s ban against large size sodas gets stricken down, Mississippi takes the “anti-Bloomberg approach by forbidding any law to ban any nutritional or food item. The bill known as the “anti-Bloomberg” law because well, it’s the exact opposite of the New York trans fat ban and large size sugary drink ban, passed the Mississippi Senate by a vote of 50-1. It passed the Mississippi House 92-26 and is being reviewed by the Governor. According to the Robert Johnson Foundation, Mississippi has the highest obesity rate in the entire country with 35% obesity. While I believed Mayor Bloomberg’s ban on sugar drink size and the exemptions left something to be desired, I didn’t think that another state would pass the opposite law the day after New York’s law was struck down. While I questioned New York City’s law, I give New York credit for trying to do something about the obesity war against children and adults. New York may be having to re-think its law while Mississippi is … [Read more...] about Mississippi Forbids Ban of Foods but Bans Abortion
Did Mayor Bloomberg Go Too Far with Soda Ban?
Mayor Bloomberg and New York's efforts to help and protect against childhood obesity ran amuck this week. A Judge struck down New York City’s ban on large sizes of sodas over 16 ounces saying that it was “arbitrary and capricious” and therefore unconstitutional. I applaud Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts for trying to do something about the obesity in his city by attempting to pass this law. But one has to wonder if there were better ways to go about it to accomplish the goal. Obesity and the health issues and diseases caused by it are a great concern in this country to those who care about our youth and our society. Rising health costs due to obesity in New York city alone are estimated to cost a whopping $2.8 billion in New York alone, according to their Health Commissioner, Thomas Farley. And with our youth expected to have a decreased life expectancy and quality of life due to obesity, something has to be done. Banning the size of sugary drinks in some establishments but allowing … [Read more...] about Did Mayor Bloomberg Go Too Far with Soda Ban?
Restoring Democracy and Power to the American People
Everyone knows that democracy is for the people as the Declaration of Independence states, “We the People” except the recent Supreme Court case of United Citizens placed power in the corporations. In an effort to restore power to the people and wrestle it back from corporations, Senator Bernie Sanders (I. VT) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D. FL) proposed a new constitutional amendment on Tuesday to end unlimited and secret corporate funds from buying elections and our democracy. The proposed amendment is aptly titled “Democracy is for People” amendment. Citizens United overturned almost a century of political tradition when it granted corporations the same free speech rights as people and allowed Big Business to spend unlimited amounts to attack candidates and support causes. The move to end unlimited and secret spending by corporations will not be won overnight. But so far, it’s slowly moving down the track with 11 states and the District of Columbia supporting a constitutional … [Read more...] about Restoring Democracy and Power to the American People
The Women’s Pay Gap is as Bad as We Think and Worse
A recent Time article, The Pay Gap for Women is not as Bad as You (and Sheryl Sandberg ) Think suggests that women are either somehow at fault or to blame for earning less than a male for the same job with same skills, citing that women make poor career choices which pay less than ones selected by men. Women on average earn less than men for comparable jobs or 77 cents in 2012 for every dollar a man earns. Past studies account for job choices and compare similar jobs in citing the pay differences between men and women. The reason that women are paid less than a man for equal work and experience is discriminatory and for no other reason. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women's salaries are outpaced by men almost everywhere from the highest paying occupations to the lowest paying occupations. Everywhere from doctors and lawyers to cashiers and lesser positions, women earn less than their male counterparts. And for those women who are fortunate to attend college, … [Read more...] about The Women’s Pay Gap is as Bad as We Think and Worse