She Proclaims: Our Declaration of Independence from a Man’s World Book Review

American women have a lot to celebrate. In the nearly 100 years since the 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution, we have made leaps and bounds towards equality. But for every step we take forward, there are two steps back.

Feminist and political advisor Jennifer Palmieri published her new book last month. Entitled She Proclaims: Our Declaration of Independence from a Man’s World, the book states unequivocally that women can only go so far by playing the rules of men. In order to break the glass ceiling once and for all, we have to blaze a new trail of our own making.

I really loved this book. It is short, sweet, to the point and frankly inspiring. For those of us afraid to step out of the tried and true, Ms. Palmieri gives the reader the kick in the proverbial behind needed to get out there and change the world.

I recommend it.

$400 a Week is Pathetic

Anyone who has ever been on unemployment (myself included) can testify how financially difficult it is. While still some money coming in, it is far from enough to get by.

For the last few months, those rendered unemployed by Covid-19 have received $600 a week via the CARES act. Unfortunately, that money will no longer be going out because Congress cannot get their act together. In response, you know who signed an executive action to send $400 a week to those receiving unemployment.

Putting aside the request (if one wants to call it that) that the states have to put in 25% of the funds, $400 a week is pathetic.

$400 a week is $1600 a month, before taxes. Let’s imagine that one’s rent or mortgage is $1000 a month. That leaves $600 for the rest of the monthly expenses. If this person is lucky, the $600 will be just enough to cover the rest of their bills. That leaves nothing left over in the case of a financial emergency, which is bound to happen, sooner or later.

Two things bother me. The first is that this money belongs to the tax paying American public. We give this money to the government so they can take of us when need arises. The fact that they are unwilling to give us this badly needed money speaks volumes. The second is that the members of Congress earn more in a year than most of us see in our lifetimes. They don’t have to worry about if they will be able to stay in their homes or feed their families.

The only way to get the economy going is to get America back to work. Unfortunately, I have a feeling the $400 in unemployment will hinder, not help the current economic status.