An entourage of PR and bodyguards flock around a bouncy, young blonde as she traipses down the corridors of the Barnes and Noble in Glendale. With all of this security, you’d swear that Meghan McCain was the pope. From the looks of the crowd, she might as well be.

Pampered young Republican mommies with their toddlers, some with McCain/Palin pins hooked onto their jumpers, have congregated on the second floor fortress (no one gets in without purchasing a book) for Meghan’s reading and signing of her newly released children’s book My Dad, John McCain.

The book release is just in time for the election, and the holidays. A woman behind me in the line for the signing purchased 12 copies, “one for each of her granddaughters.” Sarah Palin would have been proud.

It’s not what one would call the ideal bedtime story, as Meghan brings to light the reality of her father’s situation as a prisoner of war and the hardships of campaigning. But it’s composed of beautifully drawn illustrations of family photos and reads like a nursery rhyme.

The content of her book isn’t the only side of Meghan that’s slightly unconventional though. She’s a citizen journalist, and has hosted her own blog for several years. She talks about women’s issues, life on the campaign trail, and her dreams of becoming a designer. Everywhere she goes, her female documentary team follows, posting images and videos on her “blogette” while she wanders.

The Columbia grad projects an image that young women can aspire to be: independent, enterprising, and, naturally, well dressed. She wore a pair of black patent leather Mary Janes to the signing, which conveniently showed off the itsy-bitsy star tattoo on her left foot. Meghan’s dress was a patriotic navy blue cap sleeved number, falling just above the knee. She’s well dressed, well spoken, smiley, and full of life.

While getting a book signed, I asked Meghan what message she would want to send young women from the White House.  “I really want to focus on young women having a healthy body image.” She believes that “Mia Tyler is a beautiful role model.” Meghan looks forward to designing a line of clothing for more curvaceous young girls like her, steering away from the homogenized stick thin look of the high fashion world.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that her tendency to think outside of the box runs in the family.

Stay up to date with Ms. McCain’s travels along the campaign trial by visiting her blog. http://www.mccainblogette.com/

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In this historic election, women have received more attention than ever, and the concept of “Equal Pay for Equal Work” has recently taken center stage.  Women are still paid 77 cents to the dollar when compared with men, despite the Equal Pay Act of 1963 which makes pay discrimination illegal.  Both candidates support Equal Pay, but they have two very different takes on how to accomplish it.

Most of the current debates on this issue swirl around an unassuming Alabama woman. When Lilly Ledbetter received an anonymous note explaining that her male counterparts were making almost double what she was making, she began a case that has sparked the latest Equal Pay for Equal Work debate.  Ledbetter worked as a supervisor at a Goodyear plant in Alabama for 19 years and when she discovered the pay inequity, she considered “moving on” but ultimately “couldn’t ignore the discrimination” so she filed suit.  She won her case, thanks to the Equal Pay Act of 1963, but Goodyear appealed and the case went to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against Ledbetter, which reversed the lower court’s decision.  Those who ruled against Ledbetter cited a limitation that says women must file complaints within 180 days of the offense.  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who ruled in favor of Ledbetter, claimed that this was impractical since salaries are often kept confidential under the threat of termination.

The federal government is now faced with the question of how we should move forward and, naturally, the candidates have been pressed about their opinions on the issue.  Many argue, McCain among them, that eliminating the 180 day limitation would lead to more frivolous lawsuits and stuff the pockets of trial lawyers.  He proposes “more education and training [for women] particularly since more and more women are heads of their households.”  As for the issue of keeping salaries confidential, the McCain camp believes it should remain in an effort to reduce government involvement in business decisions and infrastructure.  McCain also believes that using governmental force to encourage equal pay might increase product prices.

Obama, however, sponsored the Fair Pay Restoration Act with Hillary Clinton, which would have changed the 180-day limitation.  McCain was not present during the Senate vote on this act, but openly opposes it.  The act didn’t pass through the Senate but Obama maintains his position.  He calls the 180-day limit for filing a complaint a “loophole” and is against punishing workers for discussing their salaries.

It’s no longer a secret that women are still fighting for equal pay.  During this election, as both sides equally push the platform of “Change,” the national consciousness is beginning to focus on women’s oppression.  Whatever vein you believe our candidates should follow, the most important part of the debate is the goal, and keeping that goal in the public eye.  Let’s not let this drop out of the limelight!  Let the candidates and your local politicians know what you think.  It’s a google search away!  They are, after all, fighting for your vote.

2008 election, clinton, equal pay, lilly ledbetter, mccain, obama Hide

It’s no longer a secret that our current use and method of accumulation of oil is a problem.  In addition to the environmental effects of burning up oil, constantly fluctuating gas prices are affecting everyone.  What are the candidates’ plans?

OBAMA: 10 year goal
* Supports offshore drilling if it is part of a “larger strategy to reduce energy costs” and boost production of alternative fuel sources.
* Would provide $4 billion in loans and tax credits to American auto plants and manufacturers so that they can retool factories and build fuel-efficient cars.
* Would put 1 million 150-mpg plug-in hybrids on U.S. roads by 2015 and would give consumers a $7,000 tax credit to buy fuel-efficient cars.
* “Use it or Lose it:” would require oil companies to drill the 68 million acres of land that are currently leased (many of which are offshore).
* Wants to tap into the Oil Reserve to ease gas prices; also opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
* Believes oil companies should be taxed on oil profits.
* Claims his plan will eliminate foreign dependence in 10 years.

MCCAIN: The Lexington Project
* Would lift the offshore drilling ban- “Drill Baby Drill!”
* Would expand “domestic oil and natural gas exploration and production.”
* Proposed a $300 million award for “the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars.”
* Called for the suspension of the 18.4-cent-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4-cent-a-gallon diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
* Believes decisions to drill domestically should be decided by state governments.
* Also opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
* Does not believe oil companies should be taxed on oil profits.
* Claims his plan will provide energy independence by 2025.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
“For decades, some of us have been saying that we need to develop renewables, but nearly all the political decisions — such as funding for research and development — have not been supportive of this alternative direction. On a more positive note, I am pleased to see that both McCain and Obama understand that, so I’m confident that the future will be brighter (so to speak).” —William Lowry, author of several books on energy and environmental policy, as quoted by Garry Everding in 2008.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, election 2008, gas consumption, gas price, Lexington Project, mccain, obama, oil, oil independence, Oil Reserve Hide

As soon as we turn 18, we are encouraged to vote. The 18-24 age range votes least in comparison to all other ages, which is tragic though understandable. Every story has two sides. Perhaps asking these young citizens to vote is asking a lot. It’s understandable that there are more voters passed the age of 24 than there are younger ones. The young age range is a very transitional, life-affirming stage and voting is sometimes the last thing we want to think about.

In the 2004 election, 51.5% of 18-24 year-old Americans registered to vote. Of them, 41.9% actually voted. Young voters may likely come around this upcoming election as Barack Obama is bringing a new and exciting face to American politics – a change, if you will. The issue, then, arrives at sustainability. If the opportunity to vote is neither new nor exciting, then, do we vote?

While admirable, organizations like Rock the Vote are missing a key fact – at this age, voting doesn’t always make the priority list. I’m assuming when you turn 18 the first you think is, LEGALLY AN ADULT! Not VOTING, yes! Am I wrong?

I am 20 years old and I have voted in every election since I was capable of doing so – which is 3 (including the very thrilling primaries earlier this year). I think voting is a right I was given and I am going to take advantage of that. I am neither an activist nor a political junkie, but I think I am capable of voting. However, the decision is not as simple for all young voters.

In the very critical and fragile time of being 18-24 years old, a lot is going on. You’re getting out of high school – HUGE transition – and maybe going to/applying for college. Some are applying for grad school, entering the real world, and may even be starting families. If you don’t call those stressful times, I don’t know what are. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen pregnancy rates in the US rose in 2007 for the first time in 14 years. Teen moms have concerns outside of registering to vote and casting their ballots. Sometimes when there’s a lot going on, it’s hard to look at the bigger picture. Issues of finances, jobs, education, and family become immediate. Voting is something that looks into the future when many only have time to look at right now.

It’s important to have the knowledge and maturity to vote and many potential young voters haven’t attained that yet. A politician who speaks directly to our age group and talks to us about what we need to do would really help. Why go out and vote if you don’t know why you’re voting for the things you are? If you don’t know the difference between McCain and Obama, come November, I don’t think you should vote. And if you can’t appreciate what voting is right now, wait. What’s the point of doing so otherwise?

Voting at a young age is expecting a lot. Sometimes our immediate here-and-now lives take first priority and we forget about the greater good of the nation and the future. It’s not wrong; it just is. But it’s important to take time and think about that bigger picture because the future that seems so far away may come sooner than you think.

photo by theresa thompson

2004 election, 2008 election, mccain, obama, vote Hide

As we prepare for the presidential elections this fall, IATG wants to highlight some key issues that we, ourselves, wanted to know more about.  The first in this series is healthcare.  47 million people are living without healthcare, and 1 in 3 of the uninsured are 18-24. Where do these candidates stand on the issue of healthcare?

McCAIN-Individual Insurance

The Facts:
* $2,500 tax credit for individuals and $5,000 for families for health insurance. This would make corporate health benefits unnecessary but still leaves the jobless uninsured.
* Quotable: “Families should be able to purchase health insurance nationwide, across state lines, and their policy should follow them from job to job.”
* Would increase awareness of and promote the use of existing children’s health insurance programs while expanding community health centers.
* Encourage faster production of generic drugs. This would create more market competition with the plan of lowering drug costs.
* According to his website: Would “pass medical liability reform that eliminates lawsuits directed at doctors who follow clinical guidelines and adhere to safety protocols”
* Says he will work with governors to help states create plans to lower costs for those with pre-existing conditions.

Concerns:
*No requirements for health-care providers to cover those with preexisting conditions; no government limits on how much they can charge these patients.
*By allowing citizens to buy health care in any state, many fear that health-care companies may move their headquarters to states with less stringent consumer protection laws.
*The tax credit will only grow at about 2% per year, whereas the amount we pay for insurance grows at about 7% a year; though McCain argues that his plan will reduce the price of insurance through competition.
* The average family policy now costs $13,000 annually and the tax credit is only $5,000 for families.
* No specific plan for young adults without coverage.

How do we pay for this?
* Taxes on those who decide to keep their employer-provided health insurance.

OBAMA-Building on Employer-Provided Health Care

The Facts:
* Says: “Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan.”  Small businesses will be exempt and receive a tax credit to reduce the cost of providing health care.
* The National Plan: will have benefits similar to the health care plans offered to members of congress (including guaranteed eligibility despite pre-existing conditions; preventive, maternity and mental health benefits).
* If you can’t afford the national plan, you’ll get a subsidy that corresponds to how much you make.
* Young adults can remain on their parents health insurance until 25 to be covered by parents (most plans now require a student to be enrolled in school full-time) in case their post-college jobs don’t provide the benefit.

Concerns:
* Does not require coverage for all adults, only children– this is the big point of contention with Obama’s plan: many believe that coverage for adults should be mandated.
* We do not know how much the subsidies will be for those that can’t afford the national plan.
* Though Obama promises to make plans affordable, we do not know how affordable.
* Some argue that the “Pay-or-play” system is unfair- this refers to Obama’s idea of having states use taxes to make employers pay, or avoid the fee by providing health care or coverage to their workers (play).

How do we pay for this?
* Obama plans to eliminate tax cuts for those earning over $250,000 a year and tax employers who do not provide insurance for their workers

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

“The stock Democratic health reform solution, before Bill Clinton changed it, was a play-or-pay employer mandate, and that’s exactly what Barack Obama has.  And in 1992, the favorite GOP solution was tax credits to buy private health insurance. So, a lot of things have happened in 16 years; the health care system is much worse than it was, but we pretty much have the same solutions that we’ve always had.”
Jonathan Oberlander, a professor of health politics and policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and expert on the presidential health care plans

Both candidates say very little about what they will do to solve this issue.  Write in and ask them how they will help you get health insurance!
www.johnmccain.com
www.barackobama.com

2008 election, health insurance, healthcare, mccain, obama Hide