Quotas for female politicians sought

[Stakhanov]

Quotas for female politicians sought - The Irish Times - Thu, Nov 05, 2009

A new nonsense!!

The “overall masculine image of politics” remains as a powerful barrier.

I am by no means a misogynist; I do feel that putting any limitations on who can and can’t win elected office is undemocratic. When I think of Dail Eireann I don't imagine swathes of masculine "Marlboro men" discussing the nation’s affairs. In the highest echelons women are quite well represented.

The report said parties should face financial penalties unless one-third of their candidates in the next general election were women. The legislation should be temporary and should include a “sunset clause” to ensure the law lapsed when targets were met, Ms Bacik said.

I think this is absurd. If women seek to go into politics they seek a parties nomination and are backed on their merits as viewed by the party members. It is not exclusionist. These proposals are exclusionist and a poor use or resources.

What next? Racial and minority quotas? Maybe we should make voting for those over 18 compulsary?

I would like to state I am pro women in politics. I am anti curbs on anyone seeking office should they choose to do so.

[sauntersplash]

Affirmative action? Well, time has shown it to be a horrendous idea elsewhere, so I suppose it passes the first criteria for implementation round here.

[goosebump]

The last time we gave an inch on woman in politics we ended up with Mary O'Rourke as Minister for Transport.

We won't be making that mistake again.

[Theowolfe]

Discrimination is discrimination no matter how you dress it up with nice language. It is anti democratic because it excludes one gender.

[mmrebel]

Should women not be elected on merit rather than quota's ???

[The Caped Cod]

Well we can at least be sure that even affirative action couldn't give us a worse government then we have and have had.
Still,it always gives me a chuckle when the Marketing and Com boys get together to make up insane words. "Positive descrimination", so you see kids, descrimination is bad, until it's good that is.
How about a law demanding that one third of each parties candidates are competent and honest. We coulld call it "Negative Gombeenism",

[nixmix]

If thats what they want then perhaps we should have gender equality in all sections of public service. Correct me if I am wrong but are not 60% of the public sector female? We need to level that out too so lets fire a heap of women and only make new posts available to men. Fair is fair.

[Prester Jim]

Should women not be elected on merit rather than quota's ???

What attribute though?
Mary Coughlan was elected on merit (of some sort).

To lower the tone a bit if you could imagine all the politicians as top trump cards perhaps here is Coughlan's

Skill as minister: 1
Political acumen: 4
Neck: 4
Charm/Charisma: 6
Intelligence: 1
Bluster/arrogance: 3
Obfuscation/corruption: 2
Powers: lovely smile 8

I would imagine the Dick Roche card would excel at Bluster with a score of 10
The Beverly Cooper FLynn card would beat all with Neck of 20 etc.
Could make a fortune with this..

[Prester Jim]

Anyway it degrades any persons position when they are not seen to have attained it with merit and by the same method as others.
The obscure selection procedure for FF pols might make that point moot however.

Anyway the wrong people are attracted to politics in the this country, male, female black or white they are mostly drawn in to fulfill their own personal needs and acquire wealth.

[darkhorse]

given that females form about half the electorate
and given that they could all vote for another female if they wished
then the problem could be easily solved
if in fact it was a problem
but given that the female electorate choose to vote for men mostly
then what the hell is the problem?
who is trying to impose female candidates on us simply because they are female?