Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site pucc-k Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!CS-Mordred!Pucc-H:Pucc-I:Pucc-K:agz From: agz@pucc-k (banta) Newsgroups: net.women,net.politics Subject: Re: ERA Message-ID: <334@pucc-k> Date: Thu, 27-Sep-84 10:50:30 EDT Article-I.D.: pucc-k.334 Posted: Thu Sep 27 10:50:30 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Sep-84 07:31:19 EDT References: <319@hou2g.UUCP> Organization: Purdue University Computing Center Lines: 33 Could the reason (that some people support equal rights for women while not supporting the ERA) be that we see no reason for legisaltion saying that women must be treated equally? I agreed whole-heartedly that women should be equals of men (and vice-versa), but I don't see any reason that there has to be a law supporting this! I know that women don't get treated equally in all instances now, in such things as promotion scales, draft registration, and oppurtunities in certain fields, and I'd like to see this rectified. But do we *REALLY* need a Constitutional amendment that says so? I think things are changing on their own and eventually, and no, there won't be a need for this. People by nature would most likely do this, but if someone wrings their arm up behind their back, this might change for the worse. Think about it. And I'm not sure if this has been brought up previously, but I thought I'd make the comment. Maybe over fifty percent of the people support the ERA. That doesn't make one bit of difference. If you check your documents, a vote of 2/3+ in congress is needed to get the wheels rolling for an amendment. After that, 3/4+ of the states have to ratify it.* The Constitution was set up so it couldn't be changed easily. Could you imagine the amount of flip-flopping in the situation of a simple majority deciding on amendments? Let's try to keep our heads screwed on straight on this thing (not that I'm saying anyone doesn't). *A Constitutional Convention can be called if 3/4+ of the states propose an amendment to congress. Days later ... Andy Banta {}pur-ee!pucc-k!agz "Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day, You fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way ... "