Equal Time With Martha Burk

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  Didn’t know we celebrated such a thing?  You’re not alone. Lesser known than Black History Month or Women’s History Month, AAPI Heritage Month as it’s usually called, celebrates U.S. citizens from 15 countries in the Far East and the Pacific Islands.

April 1st was officially  “All Fool’s Day,” but politically it’s been All Fools Month, at least when it comes to candidates already gearing up for the 2024 election. Before the month of fools fades, let’s take a look at a couple of the presidential hopefuls so far.

Way back in the '70s there were country songs bemoaning taxes. Things have changed a lot since then -- for the worst.  In those days the rich paid their fair share.  Now ordinary workers pay far more than those who don't go to work at all -- fat cats living off dividends and capital gains.  To paraphrase another '70s ditty -- "they got the gold mine, we got the shaft."

I grew up on country western music – but whether you’re a casual fan, love it or hate it, there’s a message, and it ain’t all good. Some very prominent artists agree – take a listen an see what you think.

Twenty years ago this week national women's groups protested the all male Masters Golf Tournament for its exclusion of women. On this 20th anniversary, has anything really changed?

The French Pantheon was created in 1790 to honor those who have done great service to the country. The motto over the door reads "To great men, a great country". In the 21st Century it's very slowly honoring a small number of great women as well.

Let’s stop the abortion debate right now. We already know how. Eliminate the need for abortion. If all babies were planned and could be cared for, women wouldn’t have to seek the procedure. Here’s a modest proposal a la Jonathan Swift: control men’s fertility.

March 14 is date this year when U.S. working women finally reach the amount men earned by the end of last year.  And that’s only when all women are lumped together.  Black women won’t meet men’s last year benchmark until September 21, Hispanic women October 8, and Native women will have to wait until November 30. Twenty years ago the wage difference between what U.S. women and men earn overall was 80 cents on the dollar.  Now it’s 82 cents. Mighty poor progress.

March 8 is International Women's Day, and it's time to check in on where the good ol' USA stands in relation to the rest of the world. Spoiler Alert -- We're not number one.

We've been celebrating President's Day since the 1870's, and it's the same old, same old again this year. Will it ever change?

It's Black History Month, and that means the gals along with the guys. Visit two women you probably never heard of who were "firsts" in their field...

 Analysis of the issues President Biden addressed in his State of the Union Speech in 2022, what was in, what was out, and commentary on what needs to improve in 2023.

House Republicans took early action to help their constituents.  Does that mean you?  Could be -- if you're in a certain group.

Roe v. Wade establishing the right to abortion was decided January 22, 1973. It was argued and won by Sarah Weddington, a young lawyer with little experience. In this 2012 interview on the 39th anniversary of the decision, Martha Burk talked with her on what it was like. Weddington died in 2021, a year before the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022.

In January we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., one of the greatest icons of the 20th century, known by all as the strongest advocate for equal rights for African Americans using non-violence.  King was a great man indeed, but we should also be celebrating the January birthday of a female civil rights hero who pioneered non-violence, and preceded King by half a century.

There's been a lot of chaos on Capitol Hill in the past week with Republicans failing multiple times to elect a Speaker of the House. Martha Burk talks with Nancy Pelosi on being an effective Speaker after she was elected for the second time in 2019. Make note of what has changed since then -- and what hasn't.

Are you awake yet? Does your head hurt from a wee bit too much champagne, or were you a good kid who welcomed the new year at church? However you did it, you probably didn’t stray far from U.S. tradition – fireworks, the countdown, popping that bubbly, or lighting a candle for good luck. Come with me on a quick tour around the globe to see how other countries mark the changing of the calendar.

Well, we made it through another year. Let's review some good -- and not so good -- news for the female half.

The last of the turkey has gone to hash, and Black Friday's behind us. Consumers are snapping up the latest gee-whiz gadgets, cheesy clothing, and mountains of plastic soon-to-be-junk from toy stores.  Call a halt -- and start a new tradition.