LWV Baltimore County December 2020 Volume 2020-21 Issue 4 December 2020 CALENDAR WHAT’S INSIDE Co-Presidents Letter .................. 2 December LWVUS ..................................... 3 Monday, Dec. 14 Deadline for delivering the Consensus to National Programming and Events........... 4 Wednesday, Dec 16 Book Club Book Club ................................ 4 7:30pm The Address by Fiona Davis County/City Programming ...... 4 Legislative Luncheon .............. 4 January Committees and Reports ......... 5-8 Wednesday, Jan. 27 Book Club Membership .......................... 5-6 7:30pm Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents Communications ...................... 6 by Isabel Wikerson County Council Monitoring..... 6 Saturday, Jan. 30 LWVMD Winter Workshop Education ................................. 6 www.lwvmd.org Student Support Network ........ 7 Cancelled Legislative Luncheon for the LWV Baltimore County Consensus .................................. 8 Advocacy ................................... 9 Of Interest ........................... 10-11 February LWVUS Women Power TBA Book Club Book selection still under consideration; the Vote ............................. 10 suggestions are welcome LWVMD Winter Workshop .. 10 Civic Awareness .................... 11 Post-Election Resources ........ 11 Petition for Peace ................... 11 New Members LWV Baltimore County Welcomes You! Board of Directors ................... 12 Ruthie Gumnitzky LWV Baltimore County Empowering residents Brackie Mitchell through voter registration, education, and advocacy LWV Baltimore County December 2020 CO-PRESIDENTS LETTER Dear League Members, The League of Women Voters uses the phrase, “Empowering Voters, Defending Democ- racy” as a summary for the mission of our organization. As we reflect on the activities of our members during the past months, the work to register voters, poll observation, edu- cating the public on issues, and supporting voters in locating voting locations and pro- cesses all contribute to successfully accomplishing this mission. Given the acrimony and partisan divide that currently characterizes the country’s politics, the question arises as to whether our democracy, one of the world’s oldest, can survive. History teaches us that democracy demands constant attention and maintenance. A recent post by Lawrence Mishel and Jori Kandra, on the Economic Policy Institute Blog, brings to our attention an issue that is common when explaining the demise of democracy – a glaring and growing gap between the very rich and the rest of us. Using published Social Security Administration data1, the article documents wage growth since 1979 to 2019 of 160.3% for the top 1% in contrast to those in the bottom 90% of the population of 26.0%. The top 0.1% grew by 345.2%2. What are the consequences of this growing divide in earnings? Obviously, a growing proportion of our gross national product is in the hands of and controlled by few and fewer. Money is power and we see the use of money in efforts to control the outcomes of elections, the ability to access higher education, the dis- parities in health, the criminal justice system, housing and homelessness, child abuse and foster care, and a host of other problems. Our sense of community and shared experience is disrupted. What is common among both poor coal miners in West Virginia and multimillionaire hedge fund executives in New York’s upper west side? The fracturing of our common experience has serious consequences for our democracy. The League’s founding was predicated on the successful fight for equal rights for women, a task that re- quired more than a hundred years to be fully realized and is still evolving. The quest for greater income parity is equally difficult and has been the subject of revolution over the centuries. In today’s United States it will require tax and regulation reforms, more comprehensive and better funded safety net programs, less individualism, and greater public support. The transformation of our means of public communication signaled by the way information is transmitted and absorbed, the environmental crisis signaled by global warming, the disparities between the rich and the poor each demand our attention. The League’s history, standing in the community, emphasis on education, and method of achieving consensus provide a strong foundation for our potential contributions to the pub- lic discussion that will enable the preservation of our democracy. Our activities during the last election testify to our commitment and to the power of our voluntarism. The League can be a strong contributor to supporting positive change by continuing to empower voters and de- fending democracy. Sincerely, Camille Wheeler Tana Hamilton Co-Presidents 1 These SSA wage data are W-2 earnings, which include realized stock options and vested stock awards. These wage data are not top-coded, meaning the underlying earnings reported are actual earnings and not “capped” or “top-coded” for confidentiali- ty. 2 https://www.epi.org/blog/wages 2 LWV Baltimore County December 2020 LWVUS LWV STATEMENT ON THE ELECTION OF VP KAMALA HARRIS 11/18/2020 – As we close out the 2020 election cycle, we have much to reflect upon. This has been a tumultuous, sometimes heartbreaking, yet in many ways celebratory election year. At the League of Women Voters, we are celebrating the all-time high voter turnout and the extraordinary dedication of our poll workers, GOTV volunteers, election officers, and postal workers who fought against all odds to make this election successful and secure. In addition, this year we have a very special success to celebrate: we have a woman ready to take her rightful place in the White House. Vice President-elect Kamala Har- Dr. Deborah Turner, ris is prepared to be the first woman to ascend to one of the highest offices in our coun- President LWVUS try. It has been a long time coming, America. This accomplishment is even more significant because Kamala Harris is a woman of color — a Black, Indian American daughter of immigrants. How sweet it is! While the League never endorses candidates or parties, we celebrate the election of a women to the vice presidency, because we cannot deny the historic significance of this moment. Despite extraordinary circumstances, millions of Black and brown women went to polls and elevated their voices in the 2020 elections. Now, because of their persistence, along with their supporting partners — people of all ethnicities and gender identities — they can finally see a future for themselves reflected in the White House. Little girls across America will finally see the beauty of America's diversity represented in our highest hall of power. However, as Vice President-elect Harris so aptly pointed out in her post-election address, she may be the first, but she does not plan on being the last, and she humbly stands on the shoulders of those who came before. Vice President-elect Harris has broken the glass ceiling that women have fought against since the 1800s, when Victoria Woodhull ran for president and Lucretia Moss ran for vice president. Exactly 100 years after women won the right to vote, America has elected a woman to serve in the White House. We will not allow another 100 years to pass before we have many more women in the White House and the presidency. The League has long supported more women running for office at every level, and we will continue working toward the day when seeing women elevated to the highest positions of government is not only the norm but is expected. Because of this historic accomplishment, we can hear the voices of the past still resonate today: the joyful cheers of suffragists — especially our heroines of color who continued to fight for our rights after the 19th Amendment was passed, and the cries of victory from civil rights leaders who fought, bled, and died for the right to vote — many of whom were women whose voices were not always acknowledged. We can also hear the voices of the present: millions of voters, the majority of whom were women, are celebrating today because they proved that America still believes in Democracy and the importance of letting every voice be elevated, against all odds, even in the year of COVID. We all know America has a long way to go to become that more perfect union we aspire to be. This year ripped off the bandage that had allowed us to ignore or sidebar the division, distrust, and unkindness fueled by misinformation, inequity, fear, and loss of respect for one another. It is important that we do not re-bandage deep wounds but instead move towards healing. For “Change, it is a-coming,” and the election of a woman of color to the White House is one decisive step on this journey. So, let us all take a moment to honor and celebrate this historic feat, with the anticipation of many more to follow. - Dr. Deborah Turner, President, LWVUS 3 LWV Baltimore County December 2020 PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS BOOK CLUB There is plenty of room to join book club since now all meetings are virtual. Please contact Betsy Sexton, esexton2009@lwvbaltimorecounty for the link and time. Wednesday, December 16- The Address by Fiona Davis Wednesday, January 27- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson February’s book selection and date are still under discussion; suggestions are welcome. - Betsy Sexton, Book Club Committee Chair LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON The League had hoped to have the Legislative Luncheon again this year. However, with the increased numbers related to the current pandemic, and with COVID changes to the General Assembly itself, even a virtual luncheon is not possible. Therefore, we must unfortunately cancel our January Legislative Lunch- eon. We are very sorry not to be able to hear their priorities and concerns. We will however be monitoring and working closely with the State League on their new advocacy approach. Let’s hope that this time next year we are back at the Woodbrook Baptist Church meeting with our Legislators. - Neilson Andrews, Legislation Luncheon Committee Member COUNTY/CITY PROGRAMMING In the heat of a COVID summer 2020, our combined events committee began organizing zoom experiences to celebrate the 19th amendment and 100 years of women’s suffrage.