Slog - Comments on Questions You (Probably) Won't Hear at the Debate http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the Courtesy of RH Reality Check, which asked "What Would A Women's Issues Debate Look Like?" The teen birth rate increased in 2007 for the first time in years. We currently have the highest teen pregnancy rate of all developed nations. To what do you ascribe these trends, and what would you do to address the issue of teen pregnancy? While many people disagree on the issue of abortion rights, no one can argue that abortions are almost always a result of unplanned pregnancies. What are some steps you would take to lower the number of unplanned pregnancies? Do you believe... Copyright 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:42:24 -0800 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:26:52 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball Why do some women obsess on women's issues?

]]> Jubilation T. Cornball http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167608 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167608 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:52:08 -0800 Comment by jean enersen's interest in women's issues Because men are more interested in things like this:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/07/yacht.killings.trial.ap/index.html

]]> jean enersen's interest in women's issues http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167617 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167617 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:58:10 -0800 Comment by Smiley Who is your favorite Sex in the City character?

]]> Smiley http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167620 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167620 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:00:58 -0800 Comment by Karla Speaking as a Canadian, @1, your country sucks for women's rights. What most countries accepted as normal social policy years ago, yours still hasn't accepted. The U.S. is most often a socially backward place.

]]> Karla http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167622 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167622 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:02:14 -0800 Comment by Julie in Chicago Why do some gays obsess over gay issues? Sheesh. I mean that Dan Savage just won't shut up about gay marriage and gay adoption and blah blah blah.

/saracasm.

]]> Julie in Chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167623 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167623 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:02:35 -0800 Comment by you mighty morphin' power rangers! NEVER FORGET:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfOACVCOJsM

]]> you mighty morphin' power rangers! http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167626 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167626 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:03:51 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe None of these are voting issues. Thank you.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167627 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167627 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:03:58 -0800 Comment by Jen I agree with the Canadian.

]]> Jen http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167630 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167630 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:04:47 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I'd really like to hear McCain answer the one about one in three women in the armed services being sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier. I'd follow up by asking him if he can think of any reason why there aren't any prosecutions of these crimes. Does he believe that soldiers should be allowed to rape other soldiers with impunity?

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167632 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167632 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:05:21 -0800 Comment by Greg As for equal pay issues, some related questions:

Why was my graduating class in the engineering department 95% male? What's driving women away from science, math, and engineering, and what can we do to keep them?

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167638 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167638 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:09:07 -0800 Comment by crazycatguy What are you going to do about making sure I can put food on the table for my kids. It's the economy, Erica.

]]> crazycatguy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167659 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167659 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:13:19 -0800 Comment by kerri harrop Great list of questions, Erica. I also agree with the Canadian @4.

Poe, what the hell are you talking about?

]]> kerri harrop http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167661 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167661 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:14:53 -0800 Comment by ERICA C. BARNETT'S #1 FAN I want to know why Obama's wife got rid of her career for parenting children.

]]> ERICA C. BARNETT'S #1 FAN http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167662 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167662 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:15:03 -0800 Comment by Tiktok #10: 95% of your engineering classes were male engineering students.

Even female engineering students find them...difficult to be around.

]]> Tiktok http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167676 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167676 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:19:41 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave "when did you stop beating that cunt of a wife?"

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167688 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167688 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:22:05 -0800 Comment by inkweary Paid maternity leave should be a given for all women in the USA, as it is in other industrialized nations. I would look further into the question before asserting that only 4 other countries in the world do not provide it. It is one thing to say you do and quite another to do it. For example, do you think they really pay it out in Zimbabwe, Uzbekistan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and all the rest? It is a shame we are on par with these places in this issue but posing questions that can easily be deflected is not a good way to win a debate.

]]> inkweary http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167697 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167697 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:25:26 -0800 Comment by jrrrl @10: more women than men graduate with math degrees, and more women than men graduate with science degrees (even if you only include physical/life sciences).

about 80% of engineering majors are men, but i'm sure that has to do with the same social forces that keep men from getting nursing or education degrees.

]]> jrrrl http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167710 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167710 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:32:52 -0800 Comment by Greg @14: Is this about the beer and porn in the computer lab again?

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167712 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167712 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:33:48 -0800 Comment by Original Monique I think these are great questions. None of which will ever be asked, but great nonetheless.

How about this (as more sensational version of a question you have):

"Infant mortality rates in the USA are higher than Cuba. What would you do to help improve the infant mortality rate and get it more in line with other industrialized countries?"

]]> Original Monique http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167725 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167725 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:40:22 -0800 Comment by Greg @19: Simple. Stop counting premies, like most other industrialized countries have done.

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/060924/2healy.htm

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167839 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167839 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:47:16 -0800 Comment by brandon i have no more questions to offer, just a critique. your "women's diseases" question is very odd. i don't understand why that question needs to have a gendered spin on it.

tons of federal (and non-federal) funding already goes towards investigating the causes of (not just cures for) virtually all forms of cancer, including the ladycancers. in fact, breast cancer receives more federal funding than any other form of cancer (almost 2X that of prostate cancer). it's not like women's diseases are being neglected. quite the opposite.

]]> brandon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167840 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167840 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:47:36 -0800 Comment by Elizabeth Why are Slog Commenters such sexist assholes? What makes them think they can call themselves progressives? What makes their sexism any different than that of McCain, Bush, or any Republican backwards fucker?

@1, 3, 7, 13: a big feminist fuck you.

And Erica: Great post. I think you are awesome.

]]> Elizabeth http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167874 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167874 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:07:16 -0800 Comment by Chris in Tampa Is it better to be first or last in maternal mortality?

]]> Chris in Tampa http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167894 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167894 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:14:20 -0800 Comment by prenks Considering how long the election process is in the United States, and how much other topics have been covered, I feel that women's issues are indeed voting issues. Yes, there are many other issues that need to be addressed, but taking a moment to address these issues is also quite valid. Besides, I think they offer excellent insight into the candidates values and may help to provide a more clear view of their perspective on other issues.

]]> prenks http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167925 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167925 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:28:07 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave Elizabeth, what makes you think they call themselves progressives? And what makes you think that slog commentators aren't an indicative sample of the prevailing attitudes in the rest of the world let alone washington?

slog isn't a hate free zone like some half baked feminist/GLBT mixer

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167944 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1167944 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:40:20 -0800 Comment by Seajay @22: Seconded. Great questions, Erica, and you're right, none of them WERE asked. There never was a chance.

]]> Seajay http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1168008 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1168008 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:56:18 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle This sounds like a debate that John Kerry and Michael Dukakis would love to participate in.

Obama would rather WIN.

And you know it.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1168089 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1168089 2008 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:04:09 -0800 Comment by ams you know if they asked women´s issues questions mccain would be all, "Sarah Palin this, Sarah Palin that".

]]> ams http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1168150 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/questions_you_probably_wont_hear_at_the#c1168150 2008 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:26:52 -0800