News Us politics - read first post before comment

[hodge]

@hodge , I think it was worth mentioning and that the topic is worth discussing too. I...

OMG, yes! Anytime I go home, especially after dark, I do a search of the house with keys between my fingers. I also sleep with a sharp long-handled yard tool next to me. And, yeah, I don't think my husband understands, but he doesn't say anything.

And, whenever I'm out in public, I want my back against the wall with full view of the door.

 

[scout86]

Yeah, and SOME of that is PTSD and some of it is "things women learn to take into consideration". I really have no way of knowing which is which, because I don't remember experiencing the world any differently than I do now. (That's something else he brought up yesterday, that "most people" start out trusting that others are good/safe and, at some point in childhood, learn that isn't always true.)

Listening to that program DID get me thinking about how hard it is for anyone to understand something they've never actually experienced. I think, the way that guy structures his talks, there are so MANY women, eagerly adding to the list, it probably has a bigger impact than one person telling her experiences.

There was also kind of an interesting piece yesterday on "This American Life" (NPR) about an Australian woman who set out to convince guys that cat calls were bad. It was nearly impossible. Why? Well because they guys she talked to were totally convinced they were being complimentary. (I am totally serious!) When she explained how they made her feel, the guys believed her, but thought she was an exception. When she gathered statistics, they still doubted her. Apparently because, if some random woman complimented them on their ass, loudly and in public, they'd think it was great, and they can't imagine how else you might see it.

(I hope this isn't getting off topic, now that the Franken thing got moved to "politics"!

 

[hodge]

Yes, I do think they think they are being complimentary. But, cripes, they are so not. You're on the street, defenseless and some guy's yelling at you? I shudder just remembering that. It doesn't happen here in our small town. I think even if any guy dared to do it here, the woman would know him and call his wife or mother, lol.

 

[hodge]

I know I would, if I knew who he was.

 

[scout86]

My T said that he thinks the thing that changes a guy's point of view the fastest is having a daughter, and that they need to realize that every woman they meet is someone's daughter.

 

[hodge]

Gah, another Franken accuser. Well, it's not surprising. I wasn't exactly holding my breath. I just read earlier that he had written sexual assault legislation, which Amy Klobuchar is now taking over. Which is as it should be. But, damn, Al, how could you??? You -- who created the sweet Stuart Smalley character, who I liked to think was Frannie's devoted husband all these years. SMH.

Hubby and I are thinking he can't survive this politically. And he probably shouldn't. We have lots of talented Dems in this state. Especially a lot of women running for governor and some might be willing to get appointed to replace him.

It's just so freaking sad. I really liked Al. But I think he's gotta go. The Senate has enough to do without another ethics investigation. And if there are two accusers, there are more. Just disgusting. I am again literally sick to my stomach. I might have to do a total news fast before Thanksgiving so I can bear to make the meal.

 

[scout86]

There are probably more.

I'm still not sure where the line should be. We have a president, after all, with a bunch of credible accusers, including at least one minor. And, I keep wondering how many others there are, in Congress and elsewhere, who are equally guilty. But we don't know it, at least not yet. And the scarier they actually are the less likely they are to be publicly accused. So, the ones who pay a price are the ones who cop to it? (And now the list also includes Charlie Rose.)

I guess at least a little of what bothers me is that the "person" who molested me will go through life unscathed, because he's a nobody, and Al Franken will probably lose a career for grabbing someone's butt. And Roy Moore will be elected to the Senate, And Trump will stay in office........ It pisses me off! I told me T the other day that I seriously think the solution to the problem is kill 'em the first time and be done with it, because there IS no justice, if you leave things to "the system".

I'd actually really like to hear from some male forum members on this topic.

 

[Justmehere]

This BBC article makes a fascinating point I’ve never thought about before: Why so many sexual harassment cases in the US, and not the UK?

It points out in the UK legal system, media outlets must prove Heir story is right if they get sued. In the US, the burden of proof is on the person who does the suing, to prove the media outlet story is wrong.

 

[Deleted member 541]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/14/politics/sexual-harassment-congress/index.html

They have paid out millions to shut up the victims too. So yes @scout86 there are more that go to the very top.

 

[scout86]

I knew the British system was a lot different. And was a good article explaining how. And,, of course, there are other countries where victims have even less rights.:(

@She Cat , I've heard a little about those payouts. I hope that gets looked into because the public shouldn't have to pick up the tab for this stuff and, if the plan is "zero tolerance", it should be applied across the board.

 

[Deleted member 541]

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/3...-out-15-million-on-behalf-of-sexual-harassers

@scout86 also heard this several times on the news lately. YES, tax payers have been footing the bill for this too.

 

[scout86]

If nothing else, we ought to take their lifetime benefits away from them, to recover some of the costs. And then we need to set it up so that laws passed by Congress have to APPLY to Congress, because they can exempt themselves now. :mad: