Equal Time With Martha Burk

Many great women snagged honors this year, from athletics to movies, science and more, and we lost a few great ones too.  But one gets our personal year end award.

The term Guns or Butter? goes back to World War I and protests over prioritizing the production of munitions over the production of dairy products. Nowadays it's unneeded war toys over needs of kids.

December 7, 1941 was one of the deadliest days in American History. The massive assault on Pearl Harbor drove the American military to do something it had never done before.

Thanksgiving is coming up – and once again turkey will be the star of the show.  But there’s always an issue with side dishes.  No worries, a business in Florida has definitely got you covered, and not in the way you think.

Last week marked the one year countdown to the 2024 Presidential election. It was both a kick in the pants and clown show on the Republican side, and a cause for celebration for the Dems. But -- far from predictive for a year from now.

"Buy American" was a phrase coined by the government in 1933,  in the midst of the Great Depression. It granted a preference to domestic products in  government purchases to shore up US companies when the economy was in the pits. Is it still a good idea today in a global economy?

Halloween used to be about Fairies and Superman, but in the 1970s a new spook came on the scene -- the evil clown. Historians say it was because kid's clown entertainer John Wayne Gacy was also a serial killer. Since then more scary clowns have followed, including a terrifying new one this year.

The carnage in the Middle East rages on, and most folks are worried and frustrated, because there’s nothing ordinary individuals can do to solve the conflict and stop the killing. But there’s lots you can do to make things better right here in the USA, now matter where you live.

The United Nations designates October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, promoting empowerment and rights of  girls to safe, educated, and healthy lives as they mature into women. In researching the day, I planned to take aim at backward countries where girls are mistreated and devalued. To say I was surprised at what I found is the understatement of the century.

The country lost a Lioness this month with the death of Dianne Feinstein, an early female pioneer in the Senate.  Let's check on female gains in government (or not) since she was elected in '92.

October is here, and there ain’t much good news happening in the US, with daily mass shootings, a government in disarray, and a hurricane a day. So we’re giving our listeners a bunch of reasons to celebrate this month. Here’s a list, pick your own favorite and break out the champagne and confetti.

It's Hispanic Heritage Month, so let's recognize their leaders, and raise a glass to the founder of the United Farm Workers. If you’re thinking Cesar Chavez, you’re a little less than half right.

If you're getting nervous these days about going to the grocery or taking your kid to the ballpark for fear of getting shot, rest easy. Republicans in Congress are on the case, with a great plan for ending mass shootings.

Congress is wrangling over the Farm Bill, which includes over $3 billion for giant agriculture corporations and multimillionaire "farmers" who don't actually live on farms. Here's a suggestion for Republicans who want to shut down the government over $6.41.

Labor Day has been a national holiday since 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed the law making the first Monday in September a day off for workers. Labor unions had campaigned for years to gain recognition of both the contributions and the mistreatment of workers at the time. Since then, unions have enabled workers to negotiate for higher wages and benefits, and better conditions in all kinds of workplaces, from the textile mills of the 1800s to thousands of other workplaces today. History is littered with examples of of all kinds of dirty tricks to keep unions out, up to and including murdering organizers. Today it’s a little more genteel than it used to be. Companies don’t generally fight unions with bullets and billy clubs. Nope, they’re a lot more subtle. 

August is the month when we commemorate the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, passed in 1920.  But we're still behind lots of other countries when it comes to equality. Let's look around the world to see how we can, and should, do better.

Summer in August is known as “dog days” – hot and muggy, panting canines with tongues hanging out, alongside their disgruntled people.  In a few days some of those very disgruntled people – Republican people – will be taking the debate stage to see who can out-do the others on why they want to be the next President. We thought it would be fun to pair these folks with their canine counterparts, by way of giving you a preview of what to expect. 

The U.S. Women's Soccer Team won't be in the World Cup finals this year, but even if they were and took the trophy, it wouldn't have been their greatest victory. That happened in 2022 off the playing field. And it will last much longer than any given game.

I said I wasn’t gonna do it, but in the end I gave in. Went to see the Barbie movie. She’s still tall, thin, white, sporting signature long blond hair. But Barbiedom is diverse now. A few non white girls (one is a Black future President). One fat Barbie, one wheelchair Barbie briefly in the opening scene. And don’t forget a  Ken who’s supposed to be gay -- but not too gay. Has anything really changed?

The Civil Rights Act  prohibiting pay discrimination against women and minorities was passed August 1964. Some thought it was a joke  As Black Women's Equal Pay Day is marked in August of 2023, it's looking like they were right.