The Bill of Rights for Men
Welcome to the new era of (mostly white) male privilege
Happy Tuesday! Or not, as the case may be. I hope most of you are still enjoying some peace at the local level and in your homes. Soak it up while you can, stay strong and healthy and aim to keep your equilibrium. That’s all we can really do, right? As the Trump administration and GOP begin their campaign of blowing up our country and democracy, there is no time like the present to focus on the things over which we have at least a little control. Certainly there is no point in taking up arguments with people who belong to a cult. I have found it helpful to focus on one thing over which I might affect change (if just a little), rather than trying to counteract all that the GOP is dismantling. My focus these days: women’s rights.
Clearly, the breadth of the GOP’s campaign against women’s rights, and the rights of every non-white, non-Christian, non-binary contingency in the United States has not yet fully emerged, but we have gotten a good taste of where things are headed. It doesn’t look good. Know this: the GOP has downplayed their intentions on future policy, especially as relates to women’s rights, in order to win this election. They needed the female vote and therefore light peddled what lies ahead: the Donald J. Trump Revenge Tour. Believe me when I say there is a shit ton of revenge ahead for the women in Trump’s life: Fani Willis, Liz Cheney, Leticia James, Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mika Brzezinski, Megyn Kelly, Tanya Chutkan, E. Jean Carroll, Stormy Daniels, etc., etc. Anticipating fun times for these women, and the rest of us for that matter. If Trump can’t figure out how to get back at these ladies directly, he will find another way — one that hurts all women.
Here are some hints as to why we can expect shit to hit the fan as relates to women’s rights:
• The blueprints for the current administration and Congress are from Project 2025 and The Heritage Foundation. Enjoy the intelligent sounding but highly convoluted directive on “Pro-Woman Feminism” on the Heritage website. Erika Bachiochi is the author (for more info., see below).
• The massive disparity between number of women and men in the new Trump administration. Only 10 of Trump’s 38 picks are women. Yes, that’s only 26%.
• The massive disparity between men and women in the Senate and House of Representatives (see breakdown below).
• The types of people Trump has brought into his circle — many with checkered pasts as relates to their stance on women’s issues and a handful (or is it now more?) with actual sexual misconduct allegations, including the president himself. For details, read the WaPo piece on this issue.
To appreciate the actual goals of the GOP, try exploring The Heritage Foundation and Project 2025 websites. Only 6 of the 36 authors on Project 2025 are women, so imagine this: women are grossly underrepresented in a publication on which the GOP has crafted its entire platform. Yep… only 17% of the authors on Project 2025 are women. That means GOP policy is based on 83% of its input being from MEN. Got it?
From the American Center for Women and Politics, here’s a handy breakdown of women in the House of Representatives and Senate:
Summary for those bad at math: Republican women represent 10% of all current U.S. senators and 7% of the Representatives. Pathetic. And gonna say this out loud — also pathetic that there aren’t more Democratic women. Yes, I’m disgusted this is where we are at.
Then there’s the Supreme Court. Five men (all Trumpers) and four women (one Trumper). Six Trumpers vs. three liberal women. Not going to get any satisfaction there.
Then let’s take a close look at Trump’s cabinet picks: Pete Hegseth accused of sexual assault, Matt Gaetz regularly paid for sex and once with a minor. Linda McMahon, Trump’s pick for education secretary, was previously head of World Wrestling Entertainment and failed to protect teenage WWE workers (yes, plural) from sexual abuse, and then there’s Robert Kennedy Jr. who is accused of sexual assault. And let’s not forget the president himself, with his 27 allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Read more in Wikipedia. Let’s not forget Brett Kavanaugh, whose transgressions were glossed over by the GOP during Trump’s previous term. All of these folks are in tight with the prez and in a position to influence the fate of women in our country. Not comforting.
This will make your blood boil if you don’t fall asleep wading through the ridiculous amount of archaic feminist history at the front end of the article: “Rights, Duties, and Relations: Toward a Pro-Woman Feminism for the 21st Century,” by Erika Bachiochi. Erika is a devote Catholic (apparently) whose focus is on everything other than the transgressions of her own religion. Early on, she makes the huge leap that our country’s government is based entirely on christian values and teachings. Not only does she take liberties with biblical references (both in interpreting and explaining them), but she also clearly ignores the First Amendment of the United States Constitution in making her case. For those who need a refresher, the First Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
And can we review that title of hers that includes the expression “pro-woman feminism”? Is that in contrast to “pro-man feminism” or “anti-woman feminism”? It sounds like jibberish to me — echoing biblical jibberish. Wake the fuck up Heritage Foundation.
For a better understanding of Project 2025 (and The Heritage Foundation directives that inform 2025’s platform), check out this easy-to-read summary from the ACLU: “Project 2025 Explained.”
As obvious as the GOP’s racism, misogyny, and religious bigotry has been of late, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet. The GOP knew to keep things toned down until they crossed the finish line. They are now on the podium collecting their gold medals. Pretty sure we can expect the worst.
What exactly will happen to the United States Bill of Rights? This document currently spells out the rights of all American citizens as they relate to the United States Constitution. Here’s where I see that document headed…
THE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR (straight white) MEN
Amendment I
No law shall dictate respect toward women in the workplace or equality in pay, prevent any religion from making women subservient, or prohibit the free exercise of men to do as they please, including freely saying whatever they feel, however crude, in the workplace or in a public forum, nor shall they prohibit men to peaceably and freely take liberties with women of their choice, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances should a women complain or refuse to do as they dictate.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia is necessary to ensure women are kept in their place. And the right of men to make women, of their choosing, bear and raise their children, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
Any man shall, in times of peace or war, be quartered in the house of any woman he so chooses, without the consent of that owner, and he shall be treated in a manner to which he is accustomed in all things, and this is to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The rights of men to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, including their women and children, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No man shall be held to account for extra-marital affairs, failure to support their children, physical and psychological abuse, pedophilia, stalking, reckless endangerment, sexual harassment or assault, preventing a spouse from achieving gainful employment, or other unbecoming or cruel behavior. Nor shall men be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. No women shall enjoy these same rights.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, only men that have been accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be reserved for men only, and no fact tried by a jury of all men, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
For men, excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Women do not retain these rights.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall be understood to be solely for men, not women or children.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, and only to the men in these States specifically.
In reality, this of course is not a "new era" of male privilege but simply a step back of many years for some girls and women who had achieved some minor improvement in their status and opportunity.
That any woman voted for Trump is a constant mystery to me and I can only assume that they either hate themselves or their own sex as well as having no interest or care about what happens to their sisters.
The reality is also that this "new era", if such it can be called will actually be one of privilege for Trump and his favourites, for billionaires and the wealthy, for bigots and bullies, and for hypocrisy and lies run riot.
The vast majority of men and women, including virtually all those deluded enough to have voted for him, will suffer as a direct consequence of the election of this man of obscene character and an ego so inflated that he actually thinks that he knows not only many things but many things 'better than anyone else', despite it being quite obvious that what he knows is little to nothing when it comes to ethical, moral, honest, equitable and positive management and care for a nation with already lost credibility but holding military might that get it quickly into a scenario of disaster from which it will likely never recover.
The sad fact is that human beings are easily misled, deluded and conditioned and so for those already feeling the pain of inequity and having little understanding of the need for checks and balances and at least some semblance of decency in government, it is not all that surprising that many have fallen into line, believed the hyperbole and won't realise their mistake until the wheels start to wobble before finally falling off and the cart falling into the ditch.
I would say, "God help us", except that over 70 years or studying religions and their role in society I have found not one shred of evidence to suggest even the remotest notion of some such omnipotent creature. Indeed, that notion is as bizarrely contrary to all evidence as that Trump is somehow fit to be President of the United States.
Chris Andrews: This misogyny, a real sickness . . .
As a man who has loved Nancy 53-years (51 married) and has two daughters and a granddaughter, and whose very being has been formed from my Mom's influence, it is so natural to love a woman and love one's woman friends.
These are the most treasured persons in my life.
I get along and converse much easier in the presence of women friends, generally, than most men (with some brotherly exceptions).
This sickness baffles me and I find it creepy and ugly.