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A Bargain At 77 Cents To a Dollar
Washington Post ^ | April 3, 2007 | Carrie Lukas

Posted on 04/03/2007 5:25:24 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds

Why are politicians again championing the Equal Rights Amendment -- newly minted as the Women's Equality Amendment -- when the speaker of the House, secretary of state and the Democratic presidential front-runner are women, and when women are making gains in education and the workforce? One reason is that many claim women are systematically discriminated against at work, as the existence of the so-called wage gap proves.

Talking about wage discrimination against women is a political mainstay. Last month, Sen. Hillary Clinton expressed consternation that women continue to make "just 77 cents for every dollar that a man makes" and reintroduced legislation, the Paycheck Fairness Act, that would give the government more power to make "an equal paycheck for equal work" a reality.

This statistic -- probably the most frequently cited of the Labor Department's data -- is also its most misused....

In truth, I'm the cause of the wage gap -- I and hundreds of thousands of women like me. I have a good education and have worked full time for 10 years. Yet throughout my career, I've made things other than money a priority. I chose to work in the nonprofit world because I find it fulfilling. I sought out a specialty and employer that seemed best suited to balancing my work and family life. When I had my daughter, I took time off and then opted to stay home full time and telecommute. I'm not making as much money as I could, but I'm compensated by having the best working arrangement I could hope for.

Women make similar trade-offs all the time. Surveys have shown for years that women tend to place a higher priority on flexibility and personal fulfillment than do men, who focus more on pay...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: equal; feminism; rights
An op-ed piece from my favorite writer. I assume the most recent version of the Equal Rights Amendment will get no traction, but the lying and distortions of politicians like Hillary Clinton need to be pointed out and exposed from the get-go. This common-sense op-ed piece is a start.
1 posted on 04/03/2007 5:25:27 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds
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To: grellis; maine-iac7; jnygrl; American Quilter; Semper Paratus; CougarGA7; absolootezer0; ...
SSFMKS Ping!
2 posted on 04/03/2007 5:27:24 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds ("Salvation is not free")
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

What wage does Hillary pay the female servants that staff her two mansions? Inquiring minds want to know.


3 posted on 04/03/2007 5:27:41 AM PDT by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

Bump!


4 posted on 04/03/2007 5:35:36 AM PDT by F-117A (Mr. Ahtisaari, give S?pmi it's independence! Free the Sami!!!)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
One would think, that if this "equal work" could be truly had for 77 cents by hiring a woman, and for a dollar by hiring a man, that some shrewd business person would hire a whole lot of women, and not so many men.

Men would have a hard time finding a job, because women could do it just as well, for 77% of the pay.

It's amazing how the American businessmen, reputed to be so smart when it comes to the bottom line, are unaware of this bargain opportunity.

Or maybe they'd rather spend the extra money just for the ability to discuss the joys of jock itch with the guys.

Either way, we need to get this info out to the clueless business people, dontcha think?

5 posted on 04/03/2007 5:37:05 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: silverleaf
What wage does Hillary pay the female servants that staff her two mansions?

Doesn't matter. When Bill hits on them it is considered a taxable job benefit. Sort of like a waitress getting tips to suppliment a low hourly wage.

6 posted on 04/03/2007 5:37:07 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s......you weren't really there)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
77 Cents To a Dollar

Bovine scatology.

Pay is commensurate with ability, in my experience.

This is just a lawsuit machine.

7 posted on 04/03/2007 5:37:09 AM PDT by Lazamataz (God: Always, In All Ways.)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

Studies have shown women are paid less because women don’t tend to stay in the workforce as long. Once you factor those factors, the difference isn’t all that great.


8 posted on 04/03/2007 5:37:15 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: Always Right
Surveys have shown for years that women tend to place a higher priority on flexibility and personal fulfillment than do men, who focus more on pay.. .

Because they love their wife and children more than their own personal fulfillment, IOW men don't have the same choices to trade pay for other benefits.

9 posted on 04/03/2007 5:44:20 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: Always Right

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/business/24gap.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5088&en=133b94af89d1d020&ex=1324616400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Ms. Blau and her husband, Lawrence M. Kahn, another Cornell economist, have done some of the most detailed studies of gender and pay, comparing men and women who have the same occupation, education, experience, race and labor-union status. At the end of the late 1970s, women earned about 82 percent as much each hour as men with a similar profile. A decade later, the number had shot up to 91 percent....


10 posted on 04/03/2007 5:45:24 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
Hillary Clinton expressed consternation that women continue to make "just 77 cents for every dollar that a man makes"

And just who are these scofflaws that underpay their female employees? It is against the law to do so. But, Dem voters never were really up on current events, anyway. Plus the fact that "women" make less than men, because the jobs that many women take are part-time jobs that do not pay the same as full-time. Now is she talking truth or half-truth? Or none at all, just pulling that figure out of thin air? Where are her references and studies? What were the criteria in the study? Same job, same pay? Same job, different lengths of service? She really has no clue, since the only job she's ever had was being a lawyer and wife of a boorish clown...........

11 posted on 04/03/2007 5:52:42 AM PDT by Red Badger (If it's consensus, it's not science. If it's science, there's no need for consensus......)
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To: Izzy Dunne
Exactly. Logic says that if women were paid 77% as much as men for the same work, hardly a man in the country would have a job.
12 posted on 04/03/2007 5:53:54 AM PDT by Christopher Lincoln
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To: Christopher Lincoln
She really has no clue, since the only job she's ever had was being a lawyer and wife of a boorish clown...........

"Wife of a boorish clown" -- now that might be worth 77 cents on the dollar!

13 posted on 04/03/2007 5:56:35 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds ("Salvation is not free")
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To: Lazamataz
Even more than a lawsuit machine, it's governmental disruption of the natural and cultural forces at work in the marketplace. It's a strawman--flypaper for votes from the most disenchanted and ignorant in society, who are the only ones in her stiff pantsuit hip pocket anyway.

Its enactment would be incredibly expensive to all, but hey, using other people's money to gain votes for herself--priceless!

HF

14 posted on 04/03/2007 6:00:25 AM PDT by holden
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To: Always Right
“studies of gender and pay, comparing men and women who have the same occupation, education, experience, race and labor-union status. At the end of the late 1970s, women earned about 82 percent as much each hour as men with a similar profile. A decade later, the number had shot up to 91 percent....”

Except in both cases the men worked more hours and took off less time. I have yet to see a single case where women made less for exactly equal work and dedication to their job.

15 posted on 04/03/2007 6:03:52 AM PDT by Beagle8U (FreeRepublic -- One stop shopping ....... Its the Conservative Super Walmart for news .)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

I have heard that when statistically controlled for occupation, hours worked, years experience, time away from job on leave, etc., that women make $1.04 to $1.07 for every dollar that men make. So, where is the elevator? Cause we got the shaft!


16 posted on 04/03/2007 6:07:41 AM PDT by 2harddrive (...House a TOTAL Loss.....)
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To: holden
the most disenchanted and ignorant in society

Of course, you're describing a key voting block within the Democrat Party here.

17 posted on 04/03/2007 6:32:01 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds ("Salvation is not free")
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

I want a gap in alimoni and custody awarding closed too then.

Women make close as twice the money of men.


18 posted on 04/03/2007 6:35:08 AM PDT by JudgemAll (Condemn me, make me naked and kill me, or be silent for ever on my gun ownership and law enforcement)
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To: Christopher Lincoln

“Exactly. Logic says that if women were paid 77% as much as men for the same work, hardly a man in the country would have a job.”

These days with pay scales as they are, doing this would be impossible as well as against the law.

Bottom line is Hillary is full of crapola and no one has the cajones to call her out on it.


19 posted on 04/03/2007 6:35:36 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (The Clintons: A Malignant Malfeasance of the Most Morbid)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

Women tend to avoid jobs that require travel or relocation, and they take more time off and spend fewer hours in the office than men do. Men disproportionately take on the dirtiest, most dangerous and depressing jobs.

Thanks for the ping. It shouldn’t be surprising that women make career choices that allow them to meet family commitments as well. Can you imagine a family where both the husband and the wife put their money earning opportunities ahead of the family?


20 posted on 04/03/2007 6:35:47 AM PDT by freedomfiter2 (Duncan Hunter '08 Pro family, pro life, pro second Amendment, not a control freak.)
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To: Izzy Dunne

One would think, that if this “equal work” could be truly had for 77 cents by hiring a woman, and for a dollar by hiring a man, that some shrewd business person would hire a whole lot of women, and not so many men.

Good point.


21 posted on 04/03/2007 6:36:43 AM PDT by freedomfiter2 (Duncan Hunter '08 Pro family, pro life, pro second Amendment, not a control freak.)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

“Wife of a boorish clown” — now that might be worth 77 cents on the dollar!

Yes, but look at all the time she saves by outsourcing the meeting of his needs.


22 posted on 04/03/2007 6:38:45 AM PDT by freedomfiter2 (Duncan Hunter '08 Pro family, pro life, pro second Amendment, not a control freak.)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

I wonder if Hillary would sponsor the ‘Rape Prosecution Fairness Act’ wherein if someone is a rapist, whether or not he is named ‘Bill Clinton’, then he is charged and made to stand trial?


23 posted on 04/03/2007 6:40:59 AM PDT by AD from SpringBay (We have the government we allow and deserve.)
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To: Lazamataz

It is commeasurate with ability and value for both people. Staffing is always an issue for companies but if they can compromise and allow someone some flexibility for less pay/less available hours they will do it. Also, if someone opted out for 3-4 years then they are simply going to have to take a hit on the salary scale. While they were home someone else was in the job working and adding to their salary value.


24 posted on 04/03/2007 7:19:11 AM PDT by misterrob (Opening Day--When Hope Springs Eterernal and Once Again---Yankees Suck!)
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To: silverleaf
What wage does Hillary pay the female servants that staff her two mansions? Inquiring minds want to know.

Well...., If they are good obedient little ***** they are allowed to service her husband. *-D

25 posted on 04/03/2007 7:31:30 AM PDT by EndWelfareToday (Live free and keep what you earn. - Tancredo or Hunter)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

“I believe in equal pay for equal work. I get paid once a week so I work once a week...”


26 posted on 04/03/2007 7:36:32 AM PDT by azhenfud (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
I'm not making as much money as I could, but I'm compensated by having the best working arrangement I could hope for.

My wife made a similar choice long ago - - she was on an "accelerated path to upper management" but decided that time with the family was more valuable and more important. She literally turned down promotions.

27 posted on 04/03/2007 8:53:41 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Izzy Dunne

Men would have a hard time finding a job, because women could do it just as well, for 77% of the pay.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Okay, in the words of Zero Mostel, “I am about to say the sooth”, or should I say tell the truth, even if not all welcome it.
This has been my experience, I would say that forty years ago most working women worked harder than men on the same job and may have been paid less for the same work. Not so today though, I recently left a full time job where I had worked for nearly four years after closing my business due to technology changes. I took a part time job at a University and filed for Social Security. After a short busy period the work at the University slowed and I began working part time at my old job so now I work two part time jobs. I soon figured out that the only reason the University wanted a part time person is that the full timer on the job is a woman who only does the easy part, when they have something a little tougher they call me in because she either cannot or will not do the job. If I worked full time I could do all that she and I both currently do and still not use up forty hours a week. On more than one occasion I have worked for hours while she played games on the computer with the full knowledge of management.
Now back to what used to be my full time job, in nearly four years there we never had a single woman who was an all around good employee, either they could not do the whole job or they were not reliable. By far the best people we had were older white males, the one exception I saw was an older black male who finally quit in disgust. The women draw the same exact pay as the men but do much less work and are far more likely to complain and run to human resources to whimper about some inconsequential matter that only the wimpiest of men would even mention. The idea that men are being given preference seems as absurd to me as Al Gore’s warming theories.
All who wish to do so may now flame away. I speak the truth.


28 posted on 04/03/2007 7:34:19 PM PDT by RipSawyer (Does anybody still believe this is a free country?)
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To: freedomfiter2

Can you imagine a family where both the husband and the wife put their money earning opportunities ahead of the family?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes, I can, look around and you will probably see some of them!


29 posted on 04/03/2007 7:42:05 PM PDT by RipSawyer (Does anybody still believe this is a free country?)
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