Of course, the reason most Republicans oppose the policy is because they don’t value women’s voices in politics. Especially for the religious right, which most Republicans are aligned with, the goal is getting women out of the dirty business of politics, so they can focus their energies on tending home and hearth. From that vantage point, there is no reason to create accommodations for parents of young children in Congress. Mothers are expected to stay at home and not work. Fathers are expected to come to work, no matter what is going on at home, as domestic labor is left to women. One of the few Republicans to back the bill, Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas, tried to plead that fathers are sometimes needed at home, telling Johnson he regrets leaving a sick son behind in the hospital so he could return to Congress to vote. But in the increasingly rigid gender politics of the MAGA-fied GOP, even tending a sick child is seen as women’s work that men should not be bothered with.
Received these two pieces of junk mail on the same day, and I’m kinda offended.
”Good day, Ma’am. You are now an old woman, so you should pay a modest fee to support an organization that sorta kinda sometimes advocates for people your age, and hey you can get discounts now. And if you don’t mind terribly, would you use some of those great savings you’ll get to DO something about how old you look because it’s really hard on the male gaze, and we all know that’s the source of your self-confidence* and societal value is based on that.”
*the front of the plastic surgery postcard is pink and waxes poetic about restoring self-confidence
AARP keeps marketing to younger and younger people. Pretty soon they will have bilboards outside of daycares.
I received my first AARP membership offer in my late 20s, back before data collection of every.single.transaction was as pervasive as now. Pretty sure they bought a subscription list from a magazine whose average subscriber trended older than I was. I did seriously consider getting the membership then, just to be able to plunk that card down and demand my AARP discount and see what would happen. I just wasn’t enough of a troll back then, I guess.
True, anybody can sign up with AARP, no matter how old they are. (I found this out while talking to a representative after my dad passed. Certain benefits don’t kick in until you hit the set ages (car insurance at 50, health insurance at 65, if I remember right) but there are other discounts available to all members, regardless of age.
I’m thinking of signing up now, since my aunt says she likes their car insurance (she’s never had any problems with it, at least) and I’m old enough to qualify for it.
Often, the AARP advantage in renting a hotel room is that you have cancellation privileges.
I’m an AARP member at age 42, AND already have my shingles vaccine. I’m fine with getting all the elderly person superpowers early, since my country is doing all it can to ensure I never reach old age.
I tried getting the shingles vaccine because i did get shingles like 3-4 years ago. Supposedly once you get it there’s a good chance it can pop up again, so i went and asked for it and was told no
If you are a Costco member and over 50, you should be able to get it there without having to consult with a physician.
Guess i’ll have to wait another 9 years for that then
Roger that!
Get off the lawn, kid!
As was predicted by, well, pretty much everybody.