September 26, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 8

Page Text

Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, September 26, 2020 Ginsburg’s life is a lesson for anyone Opinion Page “ElkCituNews made to feel they don’t belong Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 By Heidi Stevens, Chica- was Jewish; two, I was a landmark gender discrimi- cause we know about the What about go Tribune If you've read many of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg ap- woman. But the killer was that I was the mother of a 4-year-old child.” nation cases, clearing the path for women to join the Virginia Military Institute doubts and resentments she encountered trying to enter and excel in her chosen field, preciations (or watched “On “You graduated first in and becoming the first Su- despite her clear and ever- small the Basis of Sex,” the 2019 movie about her life), you likely know that Harvard your class,” Pauley replied. “Didn't that say something preme Court justice to offi- ciate at a same-sex marriage about your ability to be both ceremony. present abilities. I love it that she never let those doubts and resent- businesses? Law School Dean Erwin a mother and the best?” Along the way, she be- ments infect her thinking to Griswold asked Ginsburg, “Tt should have,” Ginsburg came an icon and a hero to a degree that clouded what along with the small group of replied back. millions. Young children she knew: The law. Her nine female students in their She managed to change dressed like her for Hallow- worth. The importance of class of hundreds, “Why are the world anyway. een. People had her likeness her lens. By Richard Williams, Tribune News Service you at Harvard Law School, She became the first direc- tattooed onto their bodies. Her life and accomplish- taking the place of a man?” tor of the ACLU’s Women’s The U.S. Women’s National ments are a lesson and an This National Small Business Week (Sept. 20-26) has a ‘And if you've read the ap- Rights Project in 1972, Soccer Team had an RBG inspiration for anyone who's somber tone thanks to the 400,000 such businesses we’ ve preciations (or watched the where she began her lifelong jersey made for her. (“The ever been made to feel they lost since the COVID-19 pandemic began. movie), you also know the crusade of dismantling legal jersey will be my favorite for don’t belong in the room A survey five years ago found that 80% of small-busi- answer. barriers to women’s equal- the biweekly workouts that where it happens - where ness owners traded the security of 9-to-5 jobs to pursue keep me in shape,” Ginsburg Because she belonged ity. wrote in her thank you note decisions are made, where their passions, even though many ended up working lon- there. Because she earned “The Women’s Rights to the team.) history is made, where pow- ger hours. Today, much of that work is being undone. the spot. Because she was Project tallied hundreds of In researching Ginsburg’s er is brokered and wielded, Among the many people in need of help during our re- ready to take flight and federal laws that discrimi- life and accomplishments where the important people covery from lockdowns and lawlessness are those who change the world and Har- nated on the basis of sex - in after she died at age 87 on sit. For anyone who’s heard, brave bankruptcy to chase the American dream, create vard was her runway. (She education, employment, re- Sept. 18, I came across this overtly or covertly, “Why later transferred to Colum- productive rights, mortgag- interview with the Smithso- are you here? Why are you jobs and keep our neighborhoods vibrant. Like many of bia Law School, where she es, credit cards, loans, house nian’s National Portrait Gal- taking the place of someone you, my McLean, Virginia, neighbors are doing what they graduated in 1959 - tied for rentals, prison and the mili- lery, during which she re- who looks like me, thinks can. Will it be enough? first in her class.) tary,” ACLU Executive Di- called her first time arguing like me, lives like me, wor- We're losing brick-and-mortar stores as Americans stay Not that the world was ea- rector Anthony D. Romero before the Supreme Court. ships like me, loves like me? home. Some have been lost to senseless vandalism. One ger to be changed. wrote in his Ginsburg appre- “J did not dare eat any- Why are you trying to get a African American firefighter in Minneapolis used his life One ofGinsburg’s Harvard ciation. “Most legal schol- thing because I was afraid piece of the power?” savings to start the Scores Sports Bar only to see it burned professors, Albert Sacks, ars believed the law should I wouldn’t keep it down,” We owe her tremendously. to the ground. Those of you who own businesses could recommended her for a posi- treat women differently, to she said. “Of course, I was She protected our freedoms tion as a law clerk to former protect them. For instance, very nervous. I had a first and our paychecks and our be forgiven for taking country singer Johnny Paycheck’s some laws prevented female sentence written out, memo- bodies and our democracy. Supreme Court Justice Felix advice: “Take this job and shove it, I ain’t working here Frankfurter, according to employees from lifting more rized. And then I looked up She did it eloquently and no more.” But we still need you. The New York Times, based than 15 pounds, or working at the bench and thought, tirelessly and despite tre- This is a freedom we don't often talk about: to work on her outstanding grades, at night. Some lawyers were ‘Here are the most important mendous obstacles. where one chooses through ownership. As historian An- her work as a law review beginning to take on cases judges in the country, maybe And she gave us an an- drei Sokolov has written of the former Soviet Union, la- editor and “her qualities of of sex discrimination, often the world, and they have to swer, whenever we need one, mind.” Frankfurter never to help a specific woman, listen to me. I have a captive to a question that sneaks its bor contracts were once locked in for five-year terms, and even interviewed her. not necessarily with a view audience.’ And suddenly, way into our heads - because downtrodden workers posed “poisonous” questions like Ginsburg didn’t get a sin- toward changing the law on instead of getting nervous, someone put it there or we “When will we be allowed to change freely from one en- gle job offer from a New gender equality. Ginsburg I had a sense of empower- put it there ourselves: Why terprise to another?” York law firm upon gradua- wanted to do just that.” ment. I knew a lot more are you here? This freedom allowed the Mkandawire family to mi- tion. She told Jane Pauley in And she succeeded, both about gender discrimination To change the world for grate from Malawi, a landlocked country in South Africa, a 2016 CBS “Sunday Morn- as a lawyer arguing before than the nine of them did.” the better. No more, no less. to McLean in 1992. According to the World Bank, Mala- ing” interview: “I had three the Supreme Court and as T love that. Heidi Stevens is a colum- wi ranks 153rd out of 190 countries on the ease of starting strikes against me: One, I an eventual justice - arguing I love it especially be- nist for the Chicago Tribune. Republicans would regret replacing a new business. The United States is 55th. There are seven recognized languages in Malawi, but English is not one of them. Nevertheless, four years later, 16-year-old Burton Mkandawire applied for a job bussing tables at McLean Pizza, which had been open since 1962. He worked his way up to waiter, and in 2017 had saved Ginsburg before election enough to buy the place with a partner from Saudi Arabia. By Noah Feldman, the constitutional authority ing new seats and filling change the balance of the Burton has his small business, which may not have Bloomberg Opinion to nominate a new justice them with progressive jus- Senate over the long term. been possible in Malawi, but now he struggles to keep President Donald Trump right now and the Senate has tices. Until now, when the Of course, admitting D.C. it. He used to have 20 tables full every night and during and Senate Majority Leader left of the Democratic Party and Puerto Rico as states the authority to vote - or not most lunches. That’s down to one or two tables, because Mitch McConnell wasted no has talked about court pack- would represent a significant vote - on that nominee. The time after Justice Ruth Bad- arguments pro and con are ing, moderates have pushed change from the tradition of many customers come from nearby offices and banks that er Ginsburg died, immedi- moral and political, as I’ve back strongly. They may maintaining some Senate are closed. ately announcing their intent noted before, not legal. change their tune if Gins- balance by admitting Demo- But he has hope, as neighbors are doing their best to to nominate and confirm a In a rational version of burg is replaced by a conser- cratic- and Republican-lean- help. Old high school friends have just donated money. replacement. Senate confirmation poli- vative before the election. ing states at the same time. On the Nextdoor app, McLean neighbors urge each other Tempting as it is for Re- tics, the party in the major- That will place enormous And to do it, Democrats to go for the fantastic wings and pizza. The landlord has publicans to install a third ity thinks about how its ac- pressure on Joe Biden, who would have to eliminate the reduced his rent, He also says Paycheck Protection Pro- Supreme Court justice dur- tions will affect the other - before Ginsburg’s death - filibuster. But progressive ing Trump’s first term, it party when it takes control. made it clear that he opposed Democrats are already an- gram loans and grants have been a help, though more aid would nevertheless be a Ideally, that norm leads to packing the court, because it gry enough to do that, and a appears to be politically dead for the next few months. serious mistake - and po- balance and some fairness: I would lead to an arms race quick vote to confirm Gins- There are more problems on the way. Burton will have tentially a historic one - for don’t take advantage of you in which the legitimacy of burg’s replacement could to face the No. 1 problem for small businesses: Premiums Senate Republicans to go so that in turn, you won’t the court would ultimately enrage moderates enough to for family coverage have risen 54% in the last decade. along. The result would take advantage of me. be undermined. join them. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped lower the tax bur- not only likely be the long- In our current world of So say Biden caves to the Senate Republicans there- den, but property and state taxes on business income are term erosion of the Supreme power politics, the norms pressure and installs two, or fore have to calculate wheth- Court’s legitimacy as a third three, or even four new jus- er they would be better off have eroded to the point of now a huge concern. branch of government, but near-disappearance. What tices on the Supreme Court. confirming a conservative These are our friends, families and neighbors. Women also a backlash so strong it that leaves is medium-term This would delegitimize justice and risking these con- own 36% of all businesses, 99.9% of which are small would hurt the Republican self-interest about what the the Supreme Court, which sequences or delaying until businesses. Minorities own almost one-third of all small Party itself. other side will do immedi- would be bad for the coun- after the November elec- businesses, accounting for more than 50% of new U.S. The reason for Repub- ately, as opposed to what try as a whole. But it would tion and confirming a Trump licans to hold off isn’t the both sides would do if norms also be bad for conserva- nominee only if Trump wins businesses recently. extraordinary hypocrisy of fairness applied. tives, who might find them- re-election. Are those who seek to represent us at all levels of gov- they’re showing by push- The self-interested rea- selves stuck living under In our current political ernment paying attention? Can we enable people who ing a rapid confirmation son Republicans shouldn’t three Democrat-dominated moment, only rational Re- have sacrificed everything to start their businesses, and now, despite holding Justice confirm Trump’s nominee branches of government for publican self-interest can who are now struggling to hold on, to keep the doors Antonin Scalia’s seat open in short order is that it will some time. stop the Trump-McConnell open? Will we preserve opportunities for those who in 2016. Unfortunately, we create a potential backlash The other danger to Re- juggernaut. Republicans had dream of someday owning their own business? don’t live in a world where that could have disastrous publicans is probably even better start thinking about In addition to practicing zero tolerance for burning or voters will punish a party for effects for Republicans. If a deeper. Democrats enraged whether the road they’re arrant hypocrisy. conservative fills Ginsburg’s by a quick confirmation of a walking is taking them to a vandalizing property, leaders must - now more than ever Republicans and Demo- seat, and then the Democrats conservative might be moti- destination they really want - keep government burdens, including taxes, regulations crats alike all understood win the presidency and both vated to admit Washington, to reach. and health care costs, down as much as possible. that McConnell was mak- houses of Congress in No- D.C. and Puerto 0 aS Noah Feldman is a Bloom- Nearly 95% of our small-business owners plan to vote. ing a specious argument vember, an outraged, left- states - each with their own berg Opinion columnist and In better economic times, when the Small Business Regu- when he claimed the March leaning Democratic base (presumably Democratic) host of the podcast “Deep latory Enforcement and Fairness Act was put to the vote nomination of Judge Mer- will pressure Democratic senators. Constitutionally Background.” He is a pro- in 1996, the “yea’s” were 100-0. That’s a good statistic to tick Garland was too close leadership to do things lead- speaking, this can be done fessor of law at Harvard to the November election to ership would never other- with a bare majority of both University and was a clerk pay attention to. deserve a vote. We all knew wise have considered. houses and the presidency. to U.S. Supreme Court Jus- Richard Williams is a senior affiliated scholar with the it was power politics then; The most obvious is that Four more Democratic sena- tice David Souter. His books Mercatus Center at George Mason University and former and we all know it is power left-leaning Democrats will tors (or even three out of include “The Three Lives director for social sciences at the Food and Drug Admin- politics now. push their leadership to pack four, if Puerto Rico elect- of James Madison: Genius, istration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. To be clear, Trump has the Supreme Court by add- ed one Republican) could Partisan, President.”