Here's a pop quiz on gender equality. In which part of the world are women most likely to reach the highest rungs of power? Choice A offers new moms 12 weeks of maternity leave, almost no subsidized child care, no paid paternity leave and has a notoriously hard-driving business culture. Choice B gives them five months to three years of paid time off from their jobs after having kids. Millions put their offspring into state-sponsored day-care centers for several hours a day. Government agencies, full of female directors and parliamentarians, protect workers at the expense of business and favor a kinder, gentler corporate culture. So which place is better for women who want to make it to the top? If you guessed A, the United States, you'd be right. If you chose B—Europe—think again.

Why is this? Simply put, Europe is killing its women with kindness—enshrined, ironically, in cushy welfare policies that were created to help them. By offering women extremely long work leaves after children, then pushing them to take the full complement via tax policies that discourage a second income, coupled with subsidies that serve to keep them at home, Europe is essentially squandering its female talent. Not only do women get off track for long periods, many simply never get back on.

There's a lot more in the article on how the welfare state has handicapped the female career.

One point brought up later is the tax-structure in many European countries. In Britain, for instance, I've heard an off-hand estimate by a West Londoner that someone like Mick Jagger would lose 95% of his income to all-forms of taxes.

Evidently, one reason Paul McCartney is still loved is because he stayed in the country (thus subjecting himself to British taxes).

The ending of the article kind of left me at a loss, though. After spending the entire article slamming too much government intervention, the piece finishes by applauding these steps:

From The Olympian:

The Olympia City Council stunned this community last week when council members emerged from a closed-door session and voted unanimously to condemn land for water rights in the city of Tumwater at the defunct brewery. As stunning as the move was and as badly as it was handled, it was the right decision.

If Olympia had not made first claim on about 13 million gallons of water a day, someone else could have. The test will be whether Olympia is successful in condemnation court and, if so, whether city leaders live up to their promise to share water resources with neighboring Lacey and Tumwater.

Has Olympia significantly damaged its relationship with Tumwater?

Discord between officials in Olympia and Tumwater could forestall discussions about merging the two cities’ fire departments, a move officials thought could benefit residents of both towns.

Officials from both cities met earlier this month to discuss the issue, and agreed to pursue a study of the benefits and drawbacks of merging. But that was before Olympia officials announced Monday they were making a bid for water rights at the former brewery in Tumwater, leaving neighboring city officials feeling betrayed.

SURVIVING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF DISSENT
Grand Juries, Snitches, & Spies, Oh My!

Is this Justice?
How far can they go?
How far have they gone?
What do you have to lose?

Grand Jury Roadshow: Is a Grand Jury Coming to a City Near You?
Sunday February 19th
Olympia WA, Souphouse, 6:30-8:30pm
406 Washington st.

Come to an educational forum on Grand Juries, criminal prosecution, and the use of confidential informants presented by Attorney Lauren Regan of the Civil Liberties Defense Center. Learn the facts about the legal system and what rights citizens have in the face of a growing police state that is based on political whim more than a desire for safe communities or justice. Come hear how grand juries and snitches deny your rights, disrupt political movements, and destroy communities. How will current events impact your community?

For more information, contact the Civil Liberties Defense Center at 541-687-9180 or info(at)cdlc.org. Our website is http://www.cldc.org.