I am mystified why a message on welfare signed by women economists is particularly useful. It doesn't go against gender stereotyping; welfare is typically thought of as a "women's" issue, squishy and bleedingheartish, unlike big macro thinking or rigorously tiny microthinking. It would be news if *men* signed such a statement, not women. It would also be news if NOW and other upscale feminists made a big deal out of defending welfare recipients. But I don't see the point of having any sex segregation on this issue; we're getting deeper into a period of vicious welfare cuts, and we need everyone we can to speak up for civilized treatment of the poor? Is it that women are disproportionally the recipients of welfare - is that what makes it a special issue for women economists? But most welfare recipients are children; should we have a joint petition signed by the children of economists, or better yet, 5-year-old dismal scientists? Doug Henwood [[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Left Business Observer 250 W 85 St New York NY 10024-3217 USA 212-874-4020 voice 212-874-3137 fax
