I recently heard the argument that the pay differential between men and women is actually fair. This idea is based on the situation of women living longer than men but work the same period of time. This argument claims that the total difference of pay between men and women equals the cost of additional medical care spent for women in their senior years.

For example, let's say a man and a woman work the same number of years (about 40), in the same job with the same responsibilities, and the man makes 10% more than the woman. Say that the job pays (in constant dollars) an average of $30,000 over the forty years. The man makes $1.2 million over this period and the woman makes $1.08 million.

The difference is $120,000. Now at age 60, a man will generally live to be 75 and a woman will live to be 85. Most medical expenses are incurred in the last ten years of live. These costs are paid mostly by public funds through MediCare. The pay_inequality_is_fair argument holds that this $120,000 pay differential is used by society to pay the additional medical expenses that women use and men don't.

I realize that this argument will float like a lead zeppelin on the Positively Revolting community. However, you may want to be aware of it so you don't get blindsided by it in a public debate on the issue.

Thank you,
Alan in Portland

I must have picked a good week to start listening to KBOO. My unhealthy addiction to KPOJ has been shaken. What stirred me to radio hop was the recent clubbing and scrubbing of morning show co-host Heidi Tauber.

Thankfully (along with news I'm not hearing elsewhere) I struck gold with back to back to back mornings of call in shows which were right up my avenue. On Wednesday Barbara Bernstein and friends of the 40 Mile Loop took me on a bike ride down memory lane. The next day, Dave and Jo Ann took on the very difficult but extremely important topic of race and justice in America. I found the candor of the hosts and callers-in to be a much needed breath of fresh air.

Yesterday was quite synergenic. I didn't think anything Positively Revolting would be my pint of brew, but the community of thought that came together was positively revolutionary. I'm still not entirely successful in finding joy amidst the madness, but the range of emotions I was able to experience during the show were a welcome departure from depression. Together we just may succeed... or at least, survive.

KBOO, I think I love U. (And Jeff always has sumpin' to say to go along with that sexy voice! I'm glad he seems to hop around the dial too.)