
Bloomberg's Problem; Boy Scouts Abuse; Retirement Readiness
2/21/2020 | 25m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Bloomberg's women problem, BSA abuse, and retirement
Bloomberg’s Women Problem: Michael Bloomberg criticized by Sen. Elizabeth Warren for his past comments about women. Boy Scouts of America Bankruptcy: BSA leaders’ abuse of children brought to light. Retirement Readiness: Women are by and large not ready for retirement. Panel: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Frmr. Rep. Donna Edwards, Genevieve Wood, Patrice Onwuka
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Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Park Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.

Bloomberg's Problem; Boy Scouts Abuse; Retirement Readiness
2/21/2020 | 25m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Bloomberg’s Women Problem: Michael Bloomberg criticized by Sen. Elizabeth Warren for his past comments about women. Boy Scouts of America Bankruptcy: BSA leaders’ abuse of children brought to light. Retirement Readiness: Women are by and large not ready for retirement. Panel: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Frmr. Rep. Donna Edwards, Genevieve Wood, Patrice Onwuka
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> Bonnie: THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY: FIRST, FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG AND WOMEN.
THEN, BOY SCOUTS, BANKRUPTCY AND SOARING CASES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
AND WOMEN AND RETIREMENT INEQUALITY.
[MUSIC] >> Bonnie: HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY," A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, BLOOMBERG'S WOMEN PROBLEM.
WOMEN'S ISSUES LED THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE THIS WEEK.
FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG'S RISE TO SECOND IN THE POLLS WAS CHALLENGED AFTER SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN AND OTHER DEMOCRATS GRILLED HIM ABOUT HIS PAST TREATMENT OF WOMEN.
WARREN QUOTED BLOOMBERG'S INSULT-FILLED LANGUAGE AGAINST WOMEN WHO WORKED FOR HIM TO COMPARE HIM TO ANOTHER NEW YORK BILLIONAIRE, PRESIDENT TRUMP.
b DEFENSE WAS: 'I'VE BEEN NICE TO SOME WOMEN.'
THAT JUST DOESN'T CUT IT.b PRESSING BLOOMBERG TO RELEASE SEVERAL WOMEN FROM NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS.
BLOOMBERG SAID HE WOULD NOT DO IT SINCE THE AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED VOLUNTARILY.
CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON, HOW DO MAYOR BLOOMBERG'S WOMEN PROBLEMS COMPARE WITH THOSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP?
>> BONNIE, BLOOMBERG'S SEXISM WAS HORRENDOUS, BUT IT WAS APPARENTLY ALL TALK.
TRUMP'S SEXISM NEVER STOPPED WITH TALK AND GOES ON TO SEXUAL ASSAULTS.
>> I THINK THE PUBLIC WILL SAY WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER.
IF ELIZABETH WARREN CONTINUES IN THE PRIMARIES, HE BETTER FIND BETTER ANSWERS THAN HE DID THE OTHER NIGHT.
>> I MEAN, HE CERTAINLY DID NOT HAVE GOOD ANSWERS.
FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE KNOW IT'S ALL TALK BECAUSE HE WON'T RELEASE THE WOMEN, MOSTLY WOMEN FROM THESE NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, WHICH HE ABSOLUTELY CAN DO.
THE ONES THAT WANT TO TALK CAN COME FORWARD AND DO THAT.
WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS BEHIND THEM.
I THINK HE IS b ÃÃIF HE WANTS TO BE THE STANDARD BEARER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HE HAS TO FIX THIS.
>> Bonnie: YOU CAN CONSIDER THEM CANCELING EACH OTHER OUT.
IT MAY BE LESS OF AN ISSUE IF HE WERE TO GET THE NOMINATION.
I STILL DON'T THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN, THOSE.
>> Bonnie: DID THIS WEEK'S DEBATE TANK HIS PRESIDENTIAL RUN OR b ¦¦ >> IT'S ONE DEBATE.
>> NEXT WEEK IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLPARK THAN THE ONE BEFORE.
>> THE MAN HAS $60 BILLION.
I DON'T THINK SO.
>> Bonnie: IT IS WORTH 135.
>> WORTH A LOT OF MONEY.
I THINK WE KID OURSELVES IF WE THINK EVERYONE IN AMERICA WATCHED THE DEBATE THE OTHER NIGHT WORD NEWS COVERAGE.
THEY DID NOTE WILL PROBABLY SEE MORE OF HIS COMMERCIALS.
E WILL HAVE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
I WILL SAY A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, AT LEAST IN HIS FIRST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ANSWERING THE SAME QUESTIONS, IS THAT TRUMP FOUGHT BACK.
WHETHER YOU LIKED IT OR NOT OR BELIEVED IS ANSWERS, HE DID FIGHT BACK.
BLOOMBERG WAS LIKE, YEAH, THEY DID NOT LIKE SOME OF MY JOKES OR SOMETHING b ÃÃI WAS LIKE, THIS IS NOT A MAN WHO SEEMS READY TO FIGHT FOR THE NOMINATION.
>> Bonnie: WHAT IS IT b ÃÃI MUST SAY SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG b ÃÃA LOT OF THINGS ARE WRONG WITH THIS POLITICAL PICTURE IN THIS COUNTRY.UT SANDERS AND BLOOMBERG WON'T OPEN b ÃÃSANDERS ON HIS MEDICAL RECORD, BLOOMBERG ON HIS MEDICAL RECORD, AND THIS THING WITH KEEPING THEIR MOUTHS SHUT OF THE WOMEN WHO HE HAD TO PAY OFF, WHAT IS IT WITH DEMOCRATS DOING THIS?
I MEAN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AFTER FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE, THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.>> WELL, NOT WANT THAT WANTS TO BE THE NOMINEE OF THE PARTY.
YOU HAVE TO RELEASE OF MEDICAL RECORDS, NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS HAVE TO b ÃÃTHE WOMEN HAVE TO BE RELEASED FROM THEM AND MAYOR BLOOMBERG NEEDS TO PROVIDE HIS TAXES SO THAT WE CAN ALL LOOK TRANSPARENTLY AT WHO HE IS.
WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO BUY THE PACKAGING OF MAYOR BLOOMBERG ON TELEVISION.
WANT TO OPEN UP THE PACKAGE AND SEE WHAT'S INSIDE.
>> TRUMP IS LOWERED THE BAR.
HE HAS NOT RELEASED HIS TAXES.
>> Bonnie: DOES THAT MEAN EVERY OTHER PRESIDENT IS NOW GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS?
THE PUBLIC SHOULD RESPOND IN SOME WAY TO SAY THIS IS NOT OKAY.
>> LOWERING THE BAR IS VERY, VERY BAD THING.
ONCE THAT PRECEDENT IS SET IN THE IT REALLY DOES MEAN THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS TO BE SO GOOD OR KIND OF BARACK OBAMA IS TO RAISE IT AGAIN.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC FIELD, YOU DON'T EVEN SEE THAT HAPPENING.
THAT FIELD BETTER b ÃÃTHAT FIELD BETTER SLIM OUT PRETTY SOON.
>> CAN WE TALK ABOUT NDA'S FOR A MINUTE?
>> Bonnie: NONDISCLOSURE b ¦¦ >> NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, THANK YOU.
THERE IS THIS REFLEXIVE WE NEED TO OPEN THEM UP AND ANY WOMAN WHO WE WANT TO USE AS A VOICE TO HIT ONE CANDIDATE OR ANOTHER SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR SAY.
THERE IS A REASON WHY NDA SUCCESS.
SOMETIMES IT IS PROTECT THE VICTIMS THEMSELVES, TO PROTECT b ÃÃPREVENT RETALIATION AND THAT A WOMAN OR A MAN WHO IS VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR HARASSMENT, DON'T HAVE TO BE HELD BACK BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THEIR CLASS.
I WORRY WHEN I HEAR ELIZABETH b ¦¦ >> Bonnie: WAIT A SECOND.
IF YOU RELEASED NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE WOMEN WANT WILL HAVE TO TALK b ÃÃTHEY HAVE THE OPTION TO.
LET'S JUST BE CLEAR ON THAT POINT THAT IT DOES NOT SAY, OKAY, WE ARE PUSHING YOU b ¦¦ >> Bonnie: SHE BRINGS UP AN IMPORTANT POINT.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT RELATIONSHIP.
YOU LOOK AT WEINSTEIN AND THE WAY THE WOMEN WERE COOPERATING, THE POINT YOU WERE MAKING, THOUGH, IS THE OPTION.
I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THAT IF SHE SAID, I DON'T CARE, I DON'T MIND MY STUFF HANGING OUT THERE, THEN LET IT ALL HANG OUT.
>> I THINK THIS GOES INTO WHAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC REALLY CARES ABOUT.
I THINK WE SOMETIMES OVER THE SIDE, WELL, THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD NOT.
EVERYONE SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE MORALITY OF PEOPLE AND SO FORTH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK PEOPLE HAVE DONE THINGS THAT WERE NOT RIGHT AND THAT'S THE PASTOR HOPEFULLY IT'S THE PAST BUT I LIKE THEM ON X, Y, AND Z OR I THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD FIGHTER FOR ME OR STAY AND OFFER ME AS PRESIDENT, WHATEVER IT HAPPENS TO BE.
YOU ARE USED A LOT OF FIREPOWER IN THE DEBATE.
I THINK IT PROBABLY HELPED HER THE OTHER NIGHT.
BUT WE WILL SEE HOW MUCH THE PUBLIC CARES ABOUT BLOOMBERG'S PAST ON THIS.
>> Bonnie: WAIT A MINUTE.
ISN'T THERE A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST THE PUBLIC HEARING?
WHEN YOU DON'T RELEASE THESE THINGS UP FRONT, THEY HAVE A NASTY WAY OF BITING YOU IN THE BEHIND LATER ON BECAUSE THEY GET LEAKED TO THE MEDIA.O, I MEAN, SHOULDN'T WE BE SETTING b ÃÃI DON'T THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC PAY ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THESE DETAILS, SO THAT SHOULD BE OUR BAR?
>> I'M NOT SAYING THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE CANNOT AFFORD THE DRIP, DRIP, DRIP AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
AND THIS IS ABOUT MAYOR BLOOMBERG SAYING, I WILL NOT SUE YOU IF YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S THE DECISION THAT HAS TO BE MADE.
AND THERE IS NO GOOD REASON THAT HE CANNOT MAKE THAT DECISION ON BEHALF OF HIMSELF AND THE COMPANY.O EXCUSE FOR IT.
FRANKLY, I THINK THE PUBLIC MAY NOT CARE NOW, BUT THEY MAY CARE IF THEY NOW WHAT WENT BEHIND b ¦¦ >> THE BIG BOMBSHELLS b Ãà [CROSS TALK] >> I WANT TO KNOW BEFORE I CAST MY VOTE.
>> ALSO, GETTING BACK TO WHICH DO YOU THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, HOW HEALTHY MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND SANDERS ARE b ¦¦ >> WHAT THEIR TAX RETURNS b ¦¦ >> Bonnie: WHAT THEIR TAX RETURNS.
>> IT'S AN ONGOING THING.
ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO PEOPLE, WHEN THEY WANT TO GET SOMEONE OUT, THEY ARE DEMANDING TAX STUFF AND ALL THESE THINGS.
BUT I QUESTION WHETHER THAT IS REALLY b ÃÃIF THE PUBLIC CARES AS MUCH ABOUT THE TAXES OR EVEN BERNIE SANDERS' HEALTH.
LOOK, HE HAD A HEART ATTACK b ÃÃ [CROSS TALK] WHEN YOU SAY I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC CARES, WHAT PART OF THE PUBLIC?
WHAT PART DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH IN WHAT PART OF THE PUBLIC ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
>> THE PEOPLE, TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE VOTING, WHETHER DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
THEY MAY CARE WHERE CANDIDATES STAND ON ISSUES MORE THAN THEIR TAX RETURNS IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> I ALSO THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE POLLING, REALCLEARPOLITICS AND ALSO EMERSON, ALL THE DIFFERENT POLES DIG DOWN DEEP AND ASK QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DRIVING VOTING DECISION FOR YOU IN THE DEMOCRATIC BINARY?
WE ARE SEEING IT AS NERONHA ELECTABILITY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND, NUMBER TWO, ISSUES.
IF, FOR EXAMPLE, BLOOMBERG, DEMOCRATS FEEL HE'S THE BEST WANT TO ELECT TRUMP, THEY MAY BE WILLING b ÃÃI'M SORRY b ÃÃTHEY MAY BE WILLING TO TURN b ÃÃMAY NOT PUT AS MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE RESPONSE b ¦¦ >> THAT IS IRRELEVANT, FRANKLY, THE STANDARD FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS THAT YOU RELEASE YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS, YOU RELEASE YOUR TAX RETURNS, AND YOU COME CLEAN ABOUT HER PAST.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP VIOLATED THAT STANDARD DOES NOT MEAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS b ¦¦ >> WHAT I MEANT ABOUT THE BAR BEING LOWERED ON EVERYTHING, AND WHEN THE BAR IS BEING LOWERED ON HEALTH RELEASING OF TAXES, THEN EVERYONE IS HELD TO A MUCH LOWER BAR AND THAT'S WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE WHOLE SET OF CANDIDATES TRUMP AND THE DEMOCRATS.
>> UNLESS YOU SEE A POLL COME OUT LIKE WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HIS INCOME IS, I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH HE PAID IN TAXES, I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH HE GIVES TO PHILANTHROPY, CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH IT, RIGHT>> HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.
LOOK, WE KNOW WHAT BILL CLINTON WAS DOING IN OFFICE WITH AN INTERN AND PEOPLE DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE KNOW THAT AND THAT'S KIND OF BAD, BUT WE LIKE HIS POLICIES.
THEY REELECTED HIM.
SO I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF SAYING THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW THIS AND IT WILL ALL BE OUT THERE.
PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WILL THE PERSON IN TERMS OF HOW WELL IT WILL IMPACT MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND THAT'S WITH THE CARE ABOUT.
>> Bonnie: LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AND WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.
FROM DEMOCRATIC POLITICS TO SCOUTING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY AMID THOUSANDS OF SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS.
AFTER STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS IN SEX ABUSE CASES WERE LENGTHENED IN STATES INCLUDING CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK, CHILDHOOD VICTIMS OF SEX CRIMES HAVE COME FORWARD.
THE L.A. TIMES PUBLISHED AN INTERNAL SCOUTS RECORD KNOWN AS THE b ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST TROOP LEADERS.
HUNDREDS OF INSTANCES SURFACED WHERE THE BOY SCOUTS FAILED TO REPORT CRIMES, OR SIMPLY BLACKLISTED TROOP LEADERS AND KEPT THE STORIES PRIVATE.
SINCE THE 1940S, MORE THAN 7,000 ABUSERS WERE REPORTED AFFECTING SOME 12.000 TARGETS OF ABUSE.
THE ALLEGATIONS HAVE CAUSED MEMBERSHIP TO DECLINE ON A MASS SCALE.
EVEN AFTER THE DECISION TO ADMIT GIRLS, THE NUMBERS HAVE NOT BEEN OFFSET.
THE ORGANIZATION APOLOGIZED TO ALL SURVIVORS AND ANNOUNCED A PLAN FOR MANDATORY SCREENING OF ALL POTENTIAL TROOP LEADERS.
>>> DONNA EDWARDS, FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN, REST, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THEN GOD KNOWS WHO.
NOW THE BOY SCOUTS.
I SAW A DOCUMENTARY ON THE MOVIE CHANNEL WHERE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE HASIDIC JEWS IN ISRAEL DOING THIS TO THEIR b ÃÃ SAME THING TO THEIR BOYS.
HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF THEM ARE SO VENERATED BY THE PUBLIC, ABUSING THEIR CHILDREN, WHY CAN'T THEY ALL JUST GET IT OUT THERE AND LET'S MOVE b ÃÃCHANGE THE RULES AND GET ON WITH IT?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.
I AM GLAD THAT THESE BOY SCOUTS NOW, YOUNG MEN AND OLDER MEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEIR CASES FORWARD.
I THINK THIS BANKRUPTCY DOES ALLOW FOR RESTRUCTURING THAT WOULD ENABLE SETTLEMENTS TO BE PAID TO THOSE WHO WERE VICTIMIZED, BUT ALL OF THESE INSTITUTIONS NEED TO COME CLEAN.
THIS DOES NOT IMPACT LOCAL COUNCILS AND STATE COUNCILS BECAUSE THEY ARE INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO CLEAN HOUSE b ¦¦ >> Bonnie: IT WILL BE ASSOCIATED.
>> EXACTLY.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY IMPACTING THEIR MEMBERSHIP AT ALL I CAN SAY IS I WAS A GIRL SCOUT.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST DON'T DO THAT STUFF WHEN MY DAD, WHO CAME FROM A POOR IMMIGRANT FAMILY IN BROOKLYN, THE ONLY WAY HE GOT OUT OF THERE AS A CHILD WAS THROUGH THE BOY SCOUTS.
IT PAINS ME TO SEE THIS ORGANIZATION FALLING APART BECAUSE OF THE STUPIDITY AND THE PRE-INTERNET ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU COULD JUST HIDE THINGS.
NOW YOU CAN'T HIDE ANYTHING ANYMORE.
YOU MAY AS WELL GET IT OUT THERE.
>> I THINK IT PAINS A LOT OF PEOPLE, BONNIE.
YOU ARE RIGHT.
I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS OUT THERE WHO EXPERIENCED THE BOY SCOUTS, IT WAS A GOOD ONE AND THE THING AND THAT YOUNG MAN'S LIFE.
THAT CAN BE SAID FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
BUT YOU HAVE SOME VERY BAD THINGS THAT HAPPENED.
AND COVERING IT UP WILL NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY OR GET BETTER AND SO WE HOPE THAT THIS EXPOSURE, IF YOU WILL, BRINGS TO LIGHT THESE STORIES AND YOUNG FOLKS WHO WERE TRAUMATIZED GET, NOT PAYBACK, YOU NEVER GET OVER IT BECAUSE YOU WANT COURT SETTLEMENT, BUT I HOPE THEY HAVE THEIR DAY.
>> Bonnie: YOU KNOW, AND JUST READ SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEONE DISCOVERING THE VATICAN SECRET FILES THAT GO BACK TO JUST ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE TIME BECAUSE CHURCH GOES BACK TO ZERO, E YOU KNOW, A.D.
THE BOY SCOUTS, THEY HAVE THAT FILE THAT WAS DISCOVERED, THEY HAVE OUTED PEOPLE, THEY ARE MOVING ON.
IS THE VATICAN GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME TO GET BEYOND THE CATHOLIC PRIEST SCANDAL?> I WOULD HOPE SO.
BUT THE VATICAN'S, IT'S A MUCH MORE REVERED, MUCH BIGGER ORGANIZATION.
>> Bonnie: IS REVERED, IT IS A CHURCH.
>> AND POWER FOR, CERTAINLY NOT AS POWERFUL AS CENTURIES PASSED.
I THINK IT GOES TO A LARGER POINT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO HIDE THINGS.
THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS EVENTUALLY COME OUT.
HE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, BONNIE, IT EVENTUALLY COMES OUT.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ORGANIZATION I THINK CAN BE DEVASTATING.
BOY SCOUTS BEING FILING BANKRUPTCY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.
AND SO, I HOPE THERE IS A LESSON TO CIVIL INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT THE PEOPLE MAKE AT THE TOP TO HIDE WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO THEM.
>> Congresswoman: WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IF BOY SCOUTS CAN CLEAN.
WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE BOY SCOUTS WENT BANKRUPT.
THE BANKRUPTCY OPEN TO THIS ISSUE TO THE WORLD.
WHY DID THEY GO BANKRUPT?
IT'S RELATED AGAIN TO THE SEXISM, WORSE THAN SEXISM, THE WAY IN WHICH THEY DEALT WITH SEX.
AND I MUST SAY I DON'T SEE ANY EVIDENCE THAT IN ANY OF THESE INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER THERE IS NOW THE BOY SCOUTS, THEN THE CHURCH, THAT WITHOUT SOME b Ãà SOMETHING HORRENDOUS HAPPENING THAT YOU HAVE THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH WILL SAY LET ME COME CLEAN ON THIS, WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED BY A CRISIS LIKE THE BOY SCOUTS BANKRUPTCY b ¦¦ >> Bonnie: WIKIPEDIA, FOR EXAMPLE, ANY MAJOR CORPORATION WHO SOMEBODY HACKS THEIR PERSONNEL FILES AND CAN PULL THIS STUFF OUT AND GIVE IT OVER TO WIKIPEDIA.
THEY WILL PUBLISH IT ON A VERY POWERFUL GLOBAL PLATFORM.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE INSTITUTE b ÃÃTHE CORPORATE INSTITUTIONS YET HAVING THEIR QUOTE "DAY IN COURT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE HIDING FROM THE PUBLIC.
WILL WE?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
IT DOES TELL YOU THE VALUE OF BEING ABLE TO EXTEND STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS THAT WILL ALLOW THESE LAWSUITS TO COME FORWARD.
THE REAL REASON WE KNOW ABOUT THIS, WHETHER IT'S THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR BOY SCOUTS, IS BECAUSE SOME COURAGEOUS PEOPLE CAME FORWARD AND WERE ABLE TO BRING THEIR VICTIMIZATION TO THE PUBLIC EYE THROUGH SUING THESE INSTITUTIONS.
I THINK THAT THAT COURAGE IS ACTUALLY b ÃÃWHETHER IT'S IN CORPORATE AMERICA OR THESE INSTITUTIONS, IT IS WHAT WILL ENABLE US TO GET IT ALL OUT THERE.
>> YEAH.
WAFFLING AROUND IS NOT GOING TO GET IT DONE.
OPENING UP THE BOY SCOUTS TO SAY NO GIRLS CAN BE PART OF IT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO DO IT [CROSS TALK] >> FROM A PR PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
THEY HAVE LOST TONS OF OTHER TRIPS LIKE 400,000 TROOPS I READ THAT WERE RELATED TO THE MORMON CHURCH BECAUSE OF THE STANCE OF THE BOY SCOUTS NOW TAKING.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO BE SOMETHING TO EVERYBODY.
ON TOP OF THAT, YOU'VE GOT THIS HUGE SCANDAL WHICH EVERYBODY THINKS IS BAD AND WRONG.
AND SO, THEY GOT REAL PROBLEMS.
>> Bonnie: FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN DIVINE RETRIBUTION HERE, WAS IT DIVINE RETRIBUTION?
I HAVE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AGAINST THE BOY SCOUTS FOR ADMITTING BOY SCOUTS IN AT LEAST TAKING SOME GIRLS, IF NOT A LOT OF GIRLS COME AWAY FROM THE GIRL SCOUTS?
>> THE SCRIPTURE THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS WHAT YOU SOW IS WHAT YOU REAP.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARILY APPLICABLE.
I THINK THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN TAKE GIRLS AND THEY BECOME SCOUTS IN ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED I THINK WAS b ÃÃIT HAS BACKFIRED AND IS BACKFIRING.
>> Bonnie: AND YOU AS A FORMER GIRL SCOUT.
>> AND THE GIRL SCOUTs MEMBERSHIP IS THRIVING AND ELEVATING GIRLS IN A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL WAY.
AND SO, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE SORT OF INTEGRATION , IF YOU WILL, AROUND GENDER, REALLY HAS DONE ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE PROSPECTS OF THE BOY SCOUTS.
FRANKLY, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH BOY SCOUTS LONG BEFORE THIS SCANDAL WAS EXPOSED.
I THINK WE ARE JUST SEEING THE RAMIFICATIONS IN THIS.
>> Bonnie: AND DO YOU THINK THINGS WILL COME OUT ABOUT THE GIRL SCOUTS?
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T THINK ANY INSTITUTION IS IMMUNE TO HAVING BAD ACTORS WITHIN THE INSTITUTION AND HIDING IT.
SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, NO TO THAT, BUT I WILL SAY TO THE EXTENT THAT WE KNOW NOW, THESE ARE NOT THE KIND OF THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT IN GIRL SCOUTING.
WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS?
>> Bonnie: WE HAVE SEEN MUCH SMALLER NUMBERS, PERCENTAGES, BUT WE'VE SEEN WOMEN COMMIT JUST ABOUT EVERY KIND OF CRIME INCLUDING MURDER THAT MEN COMMIT.
FROM SCOUTING TO SAVINGS.
>>> ONLY ABOUT 1 IN 5 FEMALE WORKERS WORLDWIDE, AND 1 IN 4 IN THE U.S., SAYS SHE IS PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT PROPERLY.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT WHICH ALSO SAYS DISPARITY IN RETIREMENT READINESS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IS NARROWING SLOWLY.
THE GENDER PAY GAP IS CONSIDERED THE MAIN CULPRIT.
WOMEN EARN ONLY A FRACTION OF WHAT MEN EARN, MAKING IT HARDER FOR THEM TO SAVE.
BUT OTHER FACTORS EXIST.
FOR ONE, WOMEN LIVE LONGER, MEANING THEY NEED MORE SAVINGS.
ANOTHER REASON IS WOMEN ARE STILL EXPECTED TO HANDLE MOST DOMESTIC AND CHILD REARING RESPONSIBILITIES AND MANY OF THOSE COSTS.
AND WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO TAKE EXTENDED TIME OFF FROM WORK THAN MEN, USUALLY TO CARE FOR FAMILY.
WHILE THESE CREATE SUBSTANTIAL OBSTACLES, WOMEN CAN TAKE ACTION.
THE REPORT RECOMMENDS WOMEN SAVE EARLY AND REGULARLY, THEY WRITE DOWN AND STICK TO A SAVINGS PLAN AND MAKE A BACKUP PLAN IN CASE SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
>>> GENEVIEVE, DO YOU THINK WOMEN IN PART AT LEAST IN THE U.S. ARE NOW PREPARING BECAUSE THEY ARE RELYING ON SOCIAL SECURITY, WHICH ANYONE WHO'S BEEN EDUCATED ABOUT ECONOMICS, IS ONE OF THE THREE LEGGED STOOL YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FOR RETIREMENT?
>> LET'S GET OUT THERE TELLING EVERYONE.
UNFORTUNATELY, MORE AMERICANS, MEN AND WOMEN, YOU LOOK AT STUDY AFTER STUDY AND THE SAY THE SAVINGS RATE FOR RETIREMENT AMONG ALL AMERICANS IS TERRIBLE.
THE PROBLEM FOR WOMEN I THINK IS TWOFOLD: ONE, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S SOCIETY WHERE THE DIVORCE RATE HAS INCREASED, YOU ARE NO LONGER MARRIED TO SOMEONE WHO YOU CAN RELY ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY.
>> Bonnie: AND NON-MARRIAGE CHILDREN BEFORE MARRIAGE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
ON TOP OF THAT, UNTIL MAYBE A DIVORCE HAPPENS, MANY TIMES WOMEN ARE THE CAREGIVERS.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN OUT OF THE WORKFORCE BUILDING UP THEIR OWN NEST EGG.
I THINK MEN AND WOMEN NEED TO DO BETTER, ABSOLUTELY, BUT WOMEN CERTAINLY HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE FACT YOU CANNOT b ÃÃYOU CAN RELY ON IT BUT EAT IT WILL BE A TOUGH RETIREMENT IF ALL YOU HAVE IS SOCIAL SECURITY.
> THAT'S ALL THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF WOMEN ARE HAVING.
I DON'T REALLY SEE ANY WAY OF THEM TO GET OUT OF IT BECAUSE YOU START WITH THEIR PAY AND YOU GO THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE FINANCIAL LIVES, YOU REALLY END UP WHERE WOMEN ARE TODAY, OVER RELY ON THE GOVERNMENT AND MEDICARE.
THAT'S WHY THOSE OF US IN CONGRESS FIGHT SO HARD TO KEEP THAT FROM BEING REDUCED.
WE ARE REALLY FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THE LONGEST, THAT'S WOMEN.
THEY TALK ABOUT REAP WHAT YOU SOW, THE SODALITE AND THEY ARE NOT REAPING WHAT THEY SOWED.
>> I WILL SAY THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FLEXIBILITY.
INCREASINGLY, I THINK WE ARE SEEING THE WORKFORCE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL 9b¥¥ EMPLOYEE bÃÃEMPLOYER TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP WHERE MAYBE YOU ARE DOING FREELANCE WORK, MAYBE YOU ARE DRIVING FOR UBER.
I HAVE MANY MOM TO PICK ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THEIR CAREGIVING FOR THEIR CHILDREN OR DROP OFF AGING PARENTS AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE THE MARKET IS SUDDENLY PROVIDING THESE NEW FREELANCE INDEPENDENT CONTRACT TYPE WORK OPPORTUNITIES WHICH ARE REALLY POPULAR AMONG WOMEN.
>> NOT POPULAR, BUT STILL PAYING WHAT THEY NEED TO LEAVE ON OR ANYTHING CLOSE TO IT.
>> THAT'S NOT TO SAY YOU CANNOT NECESSARILY CREATE A GOOD LIVING BASED ON CARVING TOGETHER, PUTTING TOGETHER DIFFERENT TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES.
>> THAT DOES NOT REALLY ALLOW FOR SAVING.
I THINK b ÃÃYOU CANNOT HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT WAGE GAPS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, OWING TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU POINT OUT, BUT ALSO THE WAGES THAT WOMEN ARE PAID WHEN THEY ARE IN THE WORKFORCE DO NOT ALLOW ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE IN THE KIND OF WAY THAT WILL PROTECT THEM IN THEIR RETIREMENT, GIVEN THAT SO MANY WOMEN ARE LEFT ON THEIR OWN, WHETHER IT'S BY DIVORCE OR BY BEING WIDOWED OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS THAT LEAVE WOMEN IN THE LATER STAGES OF THEIR LIVES ON THEIR OWN AND UNABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO b ¦¦ >> CONGRESSWOMAN, NOBODY LISTENS TO ME, OF COURSE.
I HAVE THE BEST ADVICE IN THE WORLD.
THE WAY FOR WOMEN TO GET OUT OF POVERTY IS TO GET THEIR COLLEGE DEGREES FIRST AND HAVE BABIES LATER.
>> LOOK AT BONNIE'S.
>> AS SOON AS YOU FORSAKE YOUR EDUCATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHILDREN TOO YOUNG OR OUTSIDE OF WEDLOCK b ¦¦ >> BONNIE, MORE WOMEN GET COLLEGE DEGREES THAN MEN TODAY.
>> OKAY, BUT STILL.
>> EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT THEY GET MARRIED AND NOT HAVE THE CHILDREN ON THEIR OWN TOO.
LET'S BE CLEAR, EVEN IF WE ALL AGREED ON THE WAGE GAP b ÃÃ [CROSS TALK] >> Bonnie: IF THEY DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT I'M SAYING, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING [CROSS TALK] >> WOMEN ARE NOT DOING THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO.
BUT b ÃÃ.
>> WE ALL HAVE TO SAVE BETTER.
EVEN IF WE AGREE THAT THERE IS A HUGE GAP BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN'S PAY, I WILL HAVE THAT TO BE ON ANOTHER SHOW, BUT A LOT OF MEN HAVE NOT SAVED FOR RETIREMENT EITHER.
SO THIS IS ALSO A MATTER OF, YES, HAVING THE RIGHT SET UP, GOING TO COLLEGE, GETTING A DEGREE, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE POINT OF SAVING OR IT WILL NOT BE THERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY MANY AMERICANS, ARE NOW MAKING THOSE CHOICES.
>> IT HAS TO BE PERSONAL SAVINGS TOO.
I WOULD NOT RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
MY GENERATION RECOGNIZES WE HAVE HIGHER SAVINGS RATES THAN BABY BOOMERS RIGHT NOW.
>> Bonnie: BUT YOU ARE ALSO HAVING A LOT HARDER b ÃÃREAL ESTATE VALUES ARE OUT OF SIGHT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN BIG CITIES -- >> YOU HAVE HEADWINDS.
WE RECOGNIZE IF WE WANT ANOTHER SECURE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO DO IT.
>> Bonnie: THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK, TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK .
>> Announcer: FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR SEE AN ONLINE EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

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