I couldn't agree with you

I couldn't agree with you more Rafe. The NDP is always voicing concerns about the "little guy" but they have this habit of shooting themselves in the foot. Is there a core group in the NDP establishment who take "stupid pills" every morning? When Carol James steps down as leader does that mean that her successor should be a man?

Affirmative action

Ho hum.... rather old news Rafe. That affirmative action policy was decided by BC NDP Convention way back in November. And while Carole James did speak in favour of the policy, it was the Convention, on the recommendation of a committee of the executive that brought in the motion, not Carole as Leader.
There was hot debate, and by no means was the policy unanimous, but a democratic decision was made, and so it will play out....

Exclusion and symbols

Rafe, you're arguing for practicality and against symbolism.

Canadians already consume American products through American purveyors. It would be amusing if the NFL in Canada had to show its games through the nationalistic middlemen that exist in our television licensers like CTV. Perhaps on broadcasts, the players could be electronically stippled with maple leaves.

Anyway, the CFL has no moral room to argue for exclusion of the NFL into Canada, given its eagerness to expand into such cosmopolitan realms as Shreveport, La.

The NDP should get at least a moment of sympathy for what it is trying to do with its candidate gender balance. I would argue that sex is a clear difference in our species, and maybe the only real one. Race, sexual preference, and religion don't run nearly as deep. So, the slippery slope argument isn't that worrisome.

What's left is the fact that the policy shuts out men from those jobs. Well, yes, but on the other hand it's not a particularly large number of jobs. In terms of economic impact, it's nothing at all like setting entrance quotas for university students or, ahem, firepersons. One could say, alright, its unfair to several hundred men who might otherwise become MLAs or MPs, but on the other hand, look what the public gains by a more equal representation of women as our elected leaders.

In Iceland there was an all-woman's party that actually won the mayoralty of the capital for some time.

Banning Men

Over the years I have voted for women running for public office - if in my opinion they are the best candidate they get my vote, if not they don't, the sex of the person running is of no importance in my decision. I do have a problem with the person running must be from a specific group. Any political party has a responsibility to put forward their best candidate.
I am physically disabled, should the party also decide a certain portion of their candidates be disabled. I would not want to be elected based on my disability but rather based on my abilities, -women I have talked to express the same sentiment regarding their situation.
This my become a problem for me in the next election as the incumbent may not run again and will need to be replaced by a woman - it is entirely possible that the best person for the position is his constituency assistant who is a woman - no problem if she gets the nomination by an open nomination but, if she is nominated in a controlled entry nomination I will always wonder if she is the best they had.
If the NDP wish to remain in opposition they should continue this policy; Gordo has to go, please Carol, change this policy.

Taking Liberties

Generally, I can agree with Rafe, but this time there may be a bias showing.

Americans have the NATIONAL Football League, Canadians have the CANADIAN Football League. In interviews I have heard with players who have been employed with both leagues, they appear to mostly prefer the Canadian game for the field action, but, since money trumps all in the U.S., they opt to work for the NFL. If we could afford to pay for it, perhaps there would be several more Canadian teams playing for the Grey Cup.

World population is almost always near 50/50 percent male and female, as is the Canadian proportion, and is a basic fact of life, which neither faction denies. It would be nice if government could at least offer a way to elect equal numbers of both sexes.

We divide the population according to age. We have "rules" regulating the age at which one becomes an adult, can be admitted to see certain shows, can be granted a driving licence, etc. There must be a way to regulate the division of the sexes to promote equal representation within government without denigrating either male or female in the process.

So. I am assuming that all

So. I am assuming that all the attempts re affirmative action re minority groups were wrong?

gender is not the point!

So Rafe is stirring the pot again!
Of course it would be great if the females were better represented in parliament(s).
But what really counts is how many members a party gets on the polling day.
No matter how well a member can communicate or which gender is a moot question if the government has a majority.
Keeping that in mind Carole James should worry about which candidates are most likely to get elected, not which gender they happen to be.
We cannot afford to loose an election because of some idealistic sentiment!
On a similar note James should realize that she symbolizes the BC NDP at the moment, and she needs to begin to look like a leader!
She needs to make clear statements and explain her policies.
So far there have been too many waffling decisions! take a stand and stick to it!

more weatherproofing

"That there are not enough women in government, ..... is a fair point."

Enough for what? Are there enough gulls in the harbor? enough fallen leaves on our roads in the fall? enough red neon signs on Broadway? Women can go where they want, when they want, to the same degree as men. However many, or few, there are in politics, must be enough. If it wasn't, more would feel motivated and do something about it. This is a fundamental tenet of democracy.

I wonder what James has been smoking. And that is a kind interpretation...

level playing field?

Well, I don't think it has been a level playing field. Do we need a push to get out of this rut? I think so

greengreen

I would for once like to know where in the basic structures of political parties and the whole political arena there has not been a level playing field? This whole myth may apply in some parts of society but it simply does not stand the test here?

Anyone who uses it in politics is simply insecure and has no place in the business.

Des Emery

Would "rep by pop" require 50% women to be elected?

Skywalker - ask any woman

Skywalker - ask any woman why she feels restricted in running for election. Of course, some women will say they don't feel restricted at all.

But remember Charlotte Whitton, former mayor of Ottawa, who was asked if it was hard for her to be mayor. She opined that it wasn't that difficult for a woman like her to be in politics - all she had to do was be twice as good as any man, and, thank God, that was easy enough to do.

Turning an insult into a joke was her way of deflecting a negative male attitude, common enough then as now. I guess that's the restriction women feel, that old male superiority complex.

ME2 - I suppose we could elect a parliament composed of 50% each of women and men. Half as many seats as we have now for each sex, but one of each for every riding, men running against men and women against women. Once in parliament, each person, male or female, would have a separate vote, so parliament would more accurately reflect a true cross-section of the country.

But that's not bloody likely to happen, is it? Men are not apt to opt for true 'rep by pop.'