League of Women Voters of San Francisco

Girls can too!

2008-07-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

There's some good news today from the education front. The long-standing stereotype that boys are better than girls at math seems to be a big mistake. Recent research shows that just as many of today's girls do well on math tests as boys do. Just about half of the math majors graduating from college today are women. The long-held belief that boys enjoy math and girls enjoy reading appears shattered. Remember when Mattel put out a Barbie doll which complained "Math classes are tough"? Those days are gone forever, so let's encourage more young women to study math and move into some of the high-paying jobs available.

Advantage to men

2008-07-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

On the front page of many newspapers and featured in the TV news are pictures of the recently arrested Serbian leader Radovan Karadzic. If we firmly put out of our minds the terrible story of his deeds and concentrate on the before and after pictures of his disguise, many women can't help but feel jealous. Those of us raised on Nancy Drew and Kinsey Mulhone are well aware of the fantasy of cleverly disguising ourselves to fool the bad guys and solve crimes. But in this department women have nothing as effective as the ability to grow a beard. Sure we can dye our hair, but there is always the problem of the roots showing and maintaining a good dye job takes constant care. Make-up helps, but has to be constantly renewed. And we can put on or take off large eyeglasses, but they seldom do the trick. A big bushy beard, a Hercule Poirot style mustache or even a small goatee would be so much more effective than anything we can come up with. In the end all we can do is sigh and remind ourselves that this handy disguise possibility may not be worth the daily shaving men have to do. Perhaps there is some equality after all.

Can we handle the voters?

2008-07-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

The coming presidential election is expected to bring a flood of new voters to the polls. Registration figures in many states are already at record highs and there are many weeks left for new voters to register. Many of these new voters will be unfamiliar with using a voting machine, and even experienced voters may be facing a new type of machine this year. More than half of all voters will be using machines different from the ones they used in the last presidential election. How are the states handling this issue? An article in the N.Y. Times outlines the problems that must be overcome. An unusually large number of poll workers must be found and trained, and many states, including California, do not have adquate resources to pay for these. If a paper trail must be generated, the election departments must order enough ballots to meet the needs of each polling place without ordering so many that there will be expensive wastage. Voting lists much be updated and checked or voters may find themselves unable to cast a ballot. Tova A. Wang, vice president for research at Common Cause is quoted as saying "Allocating enough ballots and machines is a tricky science under any circumstances, but especially when turnout is proving to be so unpredictable." This year more than any other, League members and others committed to encouraging voting need to volunteer to help their local election department to educate new and inexperienced voters about what to expect when they enter to voting booth. It will be a big job for all of us.

Another crazy vision?

2008-07-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

Once Al Gore gets an idea in mind, he goes all out for it. In these last few years he has persuaded most Americans that global warming is real and that it is a danger to all of us. Now he has come up with a radical idea--a challenge for "getting 100 percent of our electricity from renewable resources and carbon-constrained fuels within ten years". That sounds like a unreachable goal. The costs will be high, the technology doesn't yet exist, and the timeline is short. Bob Herbert's column in the New York Times offers a far more optimistic assessment pointing out how many near-impossible tasks the U.S. has accomplished over the years, from winning World War II to developing a space program. We seem to be in a slump of confidence now, unable to imagine overcoming new challenges, but if enough enthusiastic citizens sign on for Al Gore's vision, we may find new strength and surprise ourselves. It's worth trying!

Bad news for schools

2008-07-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

Despite what seems like endless forms to fill out and paperwork to complete, schools don't seem able to keep track of students. A new report reveals that the drop-out rate for California students is almost twice as high as had been thought. Figures are difficult to tally because there are some legitimate ways for students to disappear from schools--they start homeschooling or they move to another state--but the truth seems to be that about 25% of high school students in California do not receive a diploma. This figure represents thousands of individuals who will almost certainly be disadvantaged in the job market for the rest of their lives. Their chances of earning a decent income, living a comfortable life and raising a family are low. They can't all depend on winning a lottery to make them rich. One of the most disturbing factors in this picture is that African American and Latino students are more likely to drop out of school than are members of other ethnic groups. Teachers have been aware of these trends for years but now we have more reliable documentation. This is indeed a crisis and the community should take action to see it does not continue.

Low turnout, lots of mail

2008-07-14T13:33:00.001-07:00

Everyone knew the voter turnout for the June primary election would be low, but now a report from the Secretary of State's office documents just how low it was. Only 28.2% of registered voters throughout the state voted, about half as many as turned out in the presidential primary in February. A majority of those who cast votes did so by mail--58.7% statewide. Some small counties did all of their voting by mail. San Francisco did not do as badly as some other counties, like Los Angeles. The turnout in San Francisco was 40.2% of registered voters, with 51.8% of them voting by mail. This is the first election in which a majority of votes were cast by mail. Those of us who urge people to vote, must be discouraged by the low figures, even though they were expected. When you look at these figures for people who have taken the trouble to register and then consider the numbers of those who haven't taken that first step, it means that very few citizens expressed any opinion at all on the candidates and issues on the June ballot. Despite all the ads and the publicity, many people don't take time to vote. Of course many more will show up in November, but it is important for whoever is elected President in that election to know how people feel on issues and candidates. It's only by voting in every election that citizens are participating fully in democracy. There's still a lot of work to be done.

Can we take the truth?

2008-07-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

Those of us who spend time trying to get citizens out to vote, hope those we encourage will cast their votes responsibly. Sometimes, however, as we watch the struggle to find a budget for California, we have to wonder whether voters are willing to accept the truth and to vote for people who will face reality. The L.A. Times today features a tough-love article about the fact that most citizens accept the unworkable structure of California's budget process. Most voters support requiring a super majority to pass the budget; most voters approve of term limits, yet both these positions have let to an almost comic spectacle of the legislature struggling to provide revenue for the realistic needs of Californians. Whether or not you agree with its suggestions, this article is well worth reading.

Health care bill coming

2008-07-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

The trouble with being a concerned citizen and raising your voice in support of issues you care about is that it takes so much time. Luckily the League is very helpful in giving us a heads-up when important issues are being considered in the legislature. One of the bills that many people care about is California's Health Care Bill:
SB 840 (Kuehl) Single-payer health care coverage. (A-07/10/2007 html pdf)
Status: 07/10/2007-Read second time. Amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Location: 07/10/2007-A APPR.

Summary: Would establish the California Healthcare System to be administered by the newly created California Healthcare Agency under the control of a Healthcare Commissioner appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The bill would make all California residents eligible for specified health care benefits under the California Healthcare System, which would, on a single-payer basis, negotiate for or set fees for health care services provided through the system and pay claims for those services. The bill would provide that a resident of the state with a household income, as specified, at or below 200% of the federal poverty level would be eligible for the type of benefits provided under the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the commissioner to seek all necessary waivers, exemptions, agreements, or legislation to allow various existing federal, state, and local health care payments to be paid to the California Healthcare System, which would then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid for with those funds. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

On Wednesday, July 16, there will be a hearing on this bill, SB 840, in the Assembly Appropriations Committee chaired by Mark Leno. If you care about moving the bill forward, NOW is the time to contact your Assembly representative and urge his or her support for this bill. If possible, you could even go to Sacramento and sit in on the hearing.

Seen any good movies?

2008-07-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

We don't often think of a G-rated animated movie as giving us political direction, but Frank Rich's column in the N.Y. Times today gives a pretty good idea of how much we could learn by seeing the weekend's hit Wall-E. After reading and listening to some of the trivial political commentary which is coming think and fast in this election season, perhaps it would be good to turn to contemplating a possible future when the earth would be truly uninhabitable and where citizenship has become a carnival of unlimited shopping with government by a global corporation called Buy N Large. Even though this future is unlikely to come to pass, it contains enough possible truth to make us all think--and perhaps to question our government and ourselves about how we are going to build the future we really want for the generations to come.

Who's watching you?

2008-07-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

Most of us surf the Internet reading bits of information or watching videos without thinking of who might be watching what we are watching. Now a struggle over protecting online copyright material has led a federal judge to order YouTube to tell Viacom what individuals are watching online. Privacy advocates worry about this new invasion of privacy because YouTube's information would include the unique identification of individual computers. It's unlikely that Viacom cares who is watching Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert, but they do care how many people watch these shows online instead of on TV. It's always difficult to worry about whether a huge corporation might not be getting all the money it deserves, but the underlying principle of Internet privacy is important. As more information and entertainment gathering shifts to the Internet, decisions about who has the right to know what people are doing online are important. The Fourth of July is a celebration of freedom, but freedom is never absolute and drawing the line of where individual freedom stops still requires eternal vigilance.

Why women don't speak up

2008-07-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

When you go to a League meeting, or to meetings of other community groups, women are well represented and often express their opinions freely. When you look at the op-ed pages of newspapers, however, the great majority of columns are written by men. An article in the S.F. Chronicle reports that efforts are being made to change that. Seminars are being offered regularly in cities, including San Francisco, to encourage women to end that disparity. Why don't women write more opinion pieces? One suggestion is that women find it difficult to say they are "experts" on any particular area. Many women are accustomed to portraying themselves as less knowledeable than they are and defering to the opnions of others. Isn't it about time we encouraged women to speak up, not just in local venues, but also on the pages of newspapers and magazines to talk about their ideas and make suggestions about public policy?

Something to think about

2008-06-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

On a long, summer Sunday afternoon you could do worse than spend some time reading the N.Y. Times. There are always a variety of opinions to think about and argue about. Today the Times has a collection of opinions on what higher gas prices mean to American society. The varied ideas range from a suggestion that high gas prices accentuate the differences between higher and lower income people because of the necessity of gas in American lives to cheering thoughts about how high gas prices will stimulate faster development of alternative fuel. Not all of the writers can be correct and only time will reveal which guesses come closer to the truth, but all of them are thoughtful and worth considering as we suffer through the changes we've all felt from higher gas prices.

Who's on the Net?

2008-06-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Although most Californians agree that the Internet is very important in daily life, many people do not have convenient access to it. As reported in the S.F. Chronicle, home access to the Internet is closely connected to both income and ethnicity. It's certainly no surprise to most of us to learn that families with incomes below $40,000 are much less likely to have a computer at home, especially one with a Broadband connection, than families with higher incomes. Computers cost a significant amount of money and a Broadband connection is a regular expense that cuts into spending for food, gas and recreation. San Francisco's plan to have free wireless Internet service throughout the city has not materialized, but it's important to remember that access for all citizens is important. Public libraries and schools make computers with network connections available to the public, but many other facilities might also provide these connections. With some help from foundations and government grants, recreation centers and community organizations might also provide public access to computers. The Internet has become a crucial part of our news dissemination system. With important national and local elections coming up in the fall, it's time for some public spirited citizens to step up and try to close the digital gap in allowing people better access the latest facts and opinion on what is going on in our government.

Coping with gas prices

2008-06-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

We have plenty of problems to talk about in the Bay Area these days, especially wildfires, but somehow we can't resist talking most often about gas prices. Most people haven't done much to save gas, except perhaps for a few extra trips on BART or Muni, but everyone worries about what the future will bring. Quite a few people are looking at Smart Cars those strange little things with a toy car look, but it's hard to figure out how it would feel to drive on on an actual highway. Today the San Jose Mercury-News has given us a chance to find out. This is a refreshingly down-to-earth account of one person's experience in driving a Smart Car. As usual there are pros and cons, but now that we are all looking for alternatives to the standard American car, it's good to know how many of the innovative solutions being considered would actually work for us. We all know things have to change, so let's consider all the options.

Important Commission meetings

2008-06-21T14:21:00.001-07:00

The California Commision on the Status of Women is a hard-working but quiet group whose mission is to serve the women and girls of California, and be the vehicle through which all their voices can be heard. With the advice and support of elected officials, the commissioners can create a realistic agenda for women and girls, and make great strides forward.

During June and July the Commission is holding public meetings and inviting individuals and organizations to bring their comments and recommendations to the Commission. At the San Francisco meeting on June 19, a wide range of topics were covered:

Reproductive rights
The treatment of girls in the juvenile justice system
Support for incarcerated women and their families
Domestic violence
Support for rape crisis centers
Discrimination against employees with family care responsibilities
Support fro breast cancer research
Human trafficking
Decriminalization of prostitution
Support for women entrepreneurs
Fighting childhood obesity and inactivity

This is only a sample of the issues brought before the Commission. Other topics will be raised at future hearings in San Diego and Fontana. Information from the hearings will help the Commission set its legislative agenda and its recommendations for administrative action and studies of issues. To follow the Commission's activities and learn more, go to www.women.ca.gov

2008-06-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

LWVUS Convention Day 2 & 3;

One of the highlights of the Sunday plenary sessions was an address given to the convention by The Honorable John Kitzhaber, Former Governor of Oregon, "The Unfinished Business of the Baby Boom Generation; Health Care for the 21st Century". Governor Kitzhaber spoke to the two sides of the Health Care crisis Financing and Delivery. He observed that politicians are focusing the conversation about financing and the national conversation needs to be about how health care is delivered. Governor Kitzhaber soke especially to the Baby Boomer generation and the need for them to solve this problem for future generations or the costs will overwhelm everything in the National economy. His thoughtful, passionate plea to the delegates received a standing ovation and more than a few moist eyes. The address was a very thoughtful prelude to the program later adopted by the delegates for a Health Care Program to educate members and communities in order to be able to do Health Care advocacy as needed during the coming national conversations.

Sunday a panel on CLimate Change moderated by Sarah Diefendorf pressed a call to action for the delegates. Dr. V.Ramanathan, UC San Diego, spoke to what we know and what we don't know about the causes global warming; what we can change and effect to slow the damages of climate change and what we can't alter . His efforts to compress his graduate seminars to limited remarks were successful. Heather Kaplan from OXFAM America also had compelling stories about the great harm that is already being felt disproportionately by poorer developing nations and OXFAM is looking to the League to participate in efforts to educate and advocate for changes and solutions.

The LWVUS Board Proposed Programs were adopted along with a program for a Multi Level Education and Advocacy campaign about Global Climate Change and a new study of the National Popular Vote Compact.

There is always so much to absorb at the conventions; all of the caucuses about different proposals that might be considered, Workshops available about all aspects of League work and Program, networking with delegates and hearing about what they are doing in their communities. It is inspiring to participate in a convention and leaves you with a wonderful feeling about the LWV organization and all of the sensational people and the work they do in their communities States.

There were over 600 voting delegates in attendance this year and another 400 participants and observers.

Convention Day One

2008-06-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

From the convention;First Day: Delegate briefings at 9:00AM ( a short course on how to figure out what's going on at convention)10:00 AM
The first hot item for all of the California delegation( 100 strong) was a proposed concurrence on Redistricting that was going to be offered by the Oregon and Virginia delegations. If approved by two thirds of the delegates the language of the proposal would be added to the LWVUS existing position on Redistricting and Reapportionment. LWVC President Janis Hirohama encouraged all California delegates to attend the caucus hosted by Oregon and Virginia delegations to discuss the potential negative impact of that proposal on the Voters First Redistricting Initiative headed for the California November Ballot.

The LWVUS has a very broad position on Redistricting and reapportionment that was first adopted in 1966 and subsequently refined after Supreme Court rulings and emphasizes equal populations, compliance with the Voting Rights Act and all other applicable laws. Like many of the League's positions it is broadly written so that the LWVUS and the States that use LWVUS positions have many opportunities to put forward the League's core positions.

The new language offered by the Oregon and Virginia delegations provided a one size fits all solution to redistricting in much greater detail. One of their concerns was that Congress would someday follow through on a bill to set redistricting standards and the League would not have strong enough guiding principals to lobby effectively.

There were concerns expressed by State League's that already had a position or had had success implementing a system that worked for their State that a more expanded, detailed position would not support what they had in place in their States. Others , expressed the concern that it contained language that might be volatile buzz words in their communities and hamper efforts to reform the redistricting process in their State.

It was interesting to hear from States who had reformed their redistricting processes and were quite happy with the outcomes. Some of the States have redistricting commissions with equal divisions that are absolutely partisan or intentionally include Leadership from the State government in combination with other non-partisan independent members.

Long into the night, Saturday,leaders of the California delegation and others worked with Oregon and VIrginia to change some of the language of the proposal before it was brought to the floor of the plenary session on Sunday for consideration. There were significant enough changes that the California Leadership told us they would reluctantly support the proposal.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco delegation ( 4 delegates and our Program Manager), pepped up from non stop meetings on our first day and a wild introduction to parliamentary proceedings and a prolonged debate about changing the Rules of Convention at the first Plenary Saturday afternoon, had our own lively debate over dinner, about the Redistricting proposal and came to consensus at the end of dinner that the whole issue needed more study and that the proposal, though well intentioned to give more guidance before the redistricting happens in 2011 should be voted down.
Ultimately, the Redistricting Concurrence was moved for consideration, and subsequently moved for adoption .After intense and impassioned debate, the motion to adopt failed the required two thirds vote .

The League convention begins

2008-06-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

The League of Women Voters of the United States is convening its national conference in Portland, Oregon this weekend. Women, and a few men, from all over the country will gather to discuss issues of the day and to make decisions about League priorities for the future. With the country facing a national presidential election in the fall, there are many issues under discussion. The League has always stood for the importance of civic action and the inclusion of all citizens in national decisions.This year promises more action on these issues. For the next several days, this blog will have posts direct from Portland so readers will be able to follow the actions taken by the League and the stories behind them. It should be fascinating reading.

Big changes coming

2008-06-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

San Francisco's historic Presidio may be changing dramatically over the next few years if the recommendations of a report released today are implemented. The changes include building a hotel and a building with three theaters as well as a museum of modern art. The old Herbst Exhibition Hall as well as other buildings will be demolished if this plan is adopted. This being San Francisco, you can expect a lot of arguing about whether or not the plan would be an improvement, but it is certainly a bold vision and would have a major impact on the Presidio and the area around it. This is something that civic-minded citizens will want to know more about. The public is invited to comment until July 31, and there will be public meetings held. For further information go to the Presidio Park Trust website.

A webcast to watch

2008-06-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

During this quiet weekend, now that the excitement of the primary campaigns are over and we can take a breather before the general election campaign begins, take the time to watch a speech given by Bill Moyers at the Media Reform conference in Minneapolis this week. Most of us have seen Bill Moyers on PBS even though we may not watch his program regularly. He has alerted us to many of the problems and dangers facing Americans over the years. Now he talks us about the dangers of media conglomeration which is narrowing the scope of news we can access from newspapers and television. As the FCC allows more and more consolidation of media in many markets, the number of reporters and columnists shrink. Fewer points of view are aired in the mainstream media, and those that do appear are shaped as often by advertisers as by facts. Anyone who cares about the future of democracy in our country should pay attention. It's worth listening and thinking about his message.

Thinking about water

2008-06-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

Governor Schwarzenegger has told us that the state is now officially short of water and all of us should prepare to conserve. Of course this hits farmers worst of all, and we all suffer when vegetables and fruits are not as available as we expect, but it will hit private homes too. Looking back, it's easy to see that periodic droughts are normal in California, but every time one comes along it feels like a new assault on our way of life. As all those green lawns begin to turn brown, homeowners regret the time and energy they spent nurturing them. Perhaps it is time to think more seriously about replacing lawns with artificial turf that never needs mowing and looks good through all weather conditions. California wasn't made for green lawns and our attempts to build an artificial "green and pleasant land" are a mix of nostalgia and fantasy. The ever-changing landscape of an arid state can be beautiful if we work with nature instead of against it, and for those who still long for year round green--modern science has developed realistic looking turf that works.

Test for voters

2008-06-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

Today is Election Day, but do California voters remember they are expected to go to the polls? Back in February, if you can remember that far back, there was great excitement about the presidential primary, but today's vote doesn't seem to have many people excited. According to the S.F. Chronicle, the voter turnout is expected to be very low despite the importance of the issues. Too much of the publicity surrounding elections focuses on candidates and the endless struggle to displace one candidate by another in the legislature. Actually, ballot measures are often more important than personnel. There are no term limits on ballot measures and the decisions we make at one particular election will influence the way our government works for years into the future. This may not be the best way to make public decisions, but it is the system we have chosen. There are several important measures on the ballot today, so go out and vote and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. If you have questions about what we're voting for, visit http://www.smartvoter.org for more information.

Keeping an eye on the city budget

2008-05-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

At a time when so much economic news is bad, it's nice to know that San Francisco is thriving. Anyone passing by one of the city's tourist attractions will hear the sound of conversations in a multitude of languages. Tourism is growing, tax revenues are growing, yet still Mayor Newsom faces a challenge in bringing forward a balanced budget. How can this be? There are several reasons, but one of them is the voters habit of passing ballot measures that set aside funds for specific projects. Voters have passed measures requiring certain amounts be spent on Muni, children's services, and other highly valued city expenditures. The voters' sentiments in passing these measures reflects their feelings that we need to continue to support public transit and children's services, but perhaps we don't go about it the right way. The League of Women Voters takes the position that money for specific services should not be permanent set-asides that prevent government officials from exercises judgment about spending when conditions change. Revenues go up and down with economic cycles, sudden disasters can completely wreck a budget and require unforeseen expenditures. The government has to have the power to allocate resources to meet needs as they arise. As voters, we may recommend policies and certainly express our views about which expenditures should be highest priority, but we only cause trouble when we set rigid rules about exact expenditures. Let's have a little common sense about ballot measures.

Costs of cars

2008-05-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

One thing we are gaining from higher gas prices is increasing information about how much cars cost to run. Right now, when everyone is talking about the price of fuel, Kathleen Pender in the Chronicle has provided many facts about judging a car by its overall cost instead of just its gas mileage. Depreciation is a huge factor, of course, although that doesn't matter too much if you tend to keep cars until they become worth nothing more than a donation to your favorite charity. Then there is the added cost of cars that require premium instead of regular gasoline. And of course you have to figure out the amount you will save on a hybrid's fuel mileage as compared with the higher initial cost. Buying a car is more complicated than ever--a social statement rather than just a purchase. Wouldn't it be nice to go back to the days when we could just pick the color we liked and the most comfortable seats?

The war we have forgotten

2008-05-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

On this Memorial Day all of us think of the wars the United States has fought and the men and women who served in them. Everyone who served in wartime has been changed by the experience, many have been injured either physically or mentally and others have survived more mature and serious. But the wars we remember are the big ones--the Civil War, World Wars I and II, and Vietnam. Other wars are almost forgotten although to the individuals who lived through them, it's not the size of the war that counts but the extremity of the experience.

The Korean War from 1950-1953 is one of the forgotten wars although thousands of troops served in it and more than 35,000 died. It was a harsh war in a bitter climate and was fought by the sons and younger brothers of men who had served in World War II, but it never caught the imagination of the country. Reading the books and looking at the websites about the war, we can see how important it was. One momentous change, although almost unnoticed, is that it finally led to desegregation in America's armed forces. President Truman signed the bill authorizing desegregation in 1948, but most of the units which entered the Korean War were completely segregated. The military was not eager to embrace a multiracial force until the dramatic losses in Korea made it necessary to replace many white soldiers. Gradually servicemen realized they could serve together as effective units. It was not until 1951, three years after Truman's ruling, that the Army finally announced plans for desegregating all units. Even forgotten wars can have far-reaching effects. So as we remember our service men and women let's include all of them from all the wars that have shaped American history.