Liberals Look to Boost Number of Women Candidates

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Seeing as how women often make up more than 50% of the population in many regions, if they wanted someone to represent the majority, there should be more women candidates than men.

(FYI, there are more women in Canada than men)

Yes I know that...thanks. I said the reason it plays a roll is because of that.....not the sole reason.

Just from my own life experiences.....almost ALL of the women I know care nothing about politics and many of the men I know DO.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

That's the common answer when asked why women never make it to be CEOs. They lack the motivation to get there. They much prefer it in the typing pool.

Lets not forget they bear childern, stealing years and years of expierence and tenure from their careers.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Yes I know that...thanks. I said the reason it plays a roll is because of that.....not the sole reason.

Just from my own life experiences.....almost ALL of the women I know care nothing about politics and many of the men I know DO.

That may be true. That would maybe explain why Dion picked a representatively low number like 33% instead of 50%. It's easy to lack interest in an institution that one has been systematically excluded from. I think this country would benefit if something is done to push for more inclusion.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

That may be true. That would maybe explain why Dion picked a representatively low number like 33% instead of 50%. It's easy to lack interest in an institution that one has been systematically excluded from. I think this country would benefit if something is done to push for more inclusion.

There is a BIG difference in education people about the benifits of public office and making it manditory that a certain percentage make up the public office. Big difference.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

There is a BIG difference in education people about the benifits of public office and making it manditory that a certain percentage make up the public office. Big difference.

Do you really think that there aren't enough women worthy enough in Canada to produce 1 candidate in 33% of the ridings in this country? Just because less women than men are interested in politics doesn't mean that many are not.

Let me ask this: What is the difference if a party shows a bias towards women instead of the common bias towards men?

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

BS....

The FACT is that given a choice a lot of women, if not most, would rather be in the home and looking after the kids ect.

Really? Why is that most University students are females then? Are they getting higher educations to fulfill their dreams of being stay at home moms?

[Vulcan]

I really dislike being dictated to on who my candidates may be. I think I'm unbiased enough to choose who I want and who will do the best job without considering race, religion or sex unless they make this part of their platform.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Do you really think that there aren't enough women worthy enough in Canada to produce 1 candidate in 33% of the ridings in this country? Just because less women than men are interested in politics doesn't mean that many are not.

Let me ask this: What is the difference if a party shows a bias towards women instead of the common bias towards men?

There are enough "worthy" women in Canada to fill 100% of all the political positions. That is not what is being argued. There is a big difference in educating these people about the benifits of public service and creating artificial bench marks as to what is an acceptable level of participation. Once this idea of hiring only certain people because of their differences instead of the quality of candidate arrises.....that is when the system really falls apart. People get in who shouldn't.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Really? Why is that most University students are females then? Are they getting higher educations to fulfill their dreams of being stay at home moms?

I am not even going to dignify this with a response.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I really dislike being dictated to on who my candidates may be. I think I'm unbiased enough to choose who I want and who will do the best job without considering race, religion or sex unless they make this part of their platform.

You are dictated to who your candidates are that you can vote for. It's always been that way.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

There are enough "worthy" women in Canada to fill 100% of all the political positions. That is not what is being argued. There is a big difference in educating these people about the benifits of public service and creating artificial bench marks as to what is an acceptable level of participation. Once this idea of hiring only certain people because of their differences instead of the quality of candidate arrises.....that is when the system really falls apart. People get in who shouldn't.

I guess what I am getting at, is I don't believe it is an artificial benchmark. If anything, I think the current disproportional representation of males is artificial .

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I guess what I am getting at, is I don't believe it is an artificial benchmark. If anything, I think the current disproportional representation of males is artificial .

Yes it is. One of the biggest issues facing women who want to get into politics is exactly WHO it is voting for them to represent their riding. How many of you are part of your constituency association? Who makes up the majority of those who get to vote for their representatives? Women just aren't into politics at the grass roots levels, voting for their representatives, or there would be more females representing more ridings.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

You are dictated to who your candidates are that you can vote for. It's always been that way.

Sure but I don't think they should be setting the precedent that sex matters. It's just another way of politicians dividing us and is against what I believe in.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Sure but I don't think they should be setting the precedent that sex matters. It's just another way of politicians dividing us and is against what I believe in.

You're right. It's much better if all the crusty old men in Canada get to put all men in... then there's no division.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by FireFly

You're right. It's much better if all the crusty old men in Canada get to put all men in... then there's no division.

What?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by FireFly

You're right. It's much better if all the crusty old men in Canada get to put all men in... then there's no division.

I don't vote that way and I don't think most Canadians vote that way as there seems to be more women and minorities elected all the time.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I don't vote that way and I don't think most Canadians vote that way as there seems to be more women and minorities elected all the time.

Really? Cause I think there were actually fewer women voted in during the last election, and it's been rather stagnant for the last... what, 15-20 years? Not sure what you're seeing, perhaps it's more women in Cabinet, but there aren't more women being elected and there hasn't been in a while.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

What?

I don't know, I'm drunk. That was my response to his post though. Politicians dividing us by forcing us to vote in women, how dare they?!

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by FireFly

I don't know, I'm drunk. That was my response to his post though. Politicians dividing us by forcing us to vote in women, how dare they?!

So you think women should be given special privileges in politics, eh. Me thinks you have an agenda.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

The Liberals are set to bar men from running in some ridings in a bid to boost female candidates. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is prepared to take "extraordinary measures" to boost the ranks of women candidates in the next election

http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=2&nid=47019

Oh...real democratic like. Instead of getting the best person for the job that the riding association would want to run for them....Dion will be forcing them to accept people that they may not think are as good as others.

The more I hear about this guy....the more I get scared as to what would happen to this country if he gets into power.

And where was your outrage and indignation when Harper handpicked candidates for various ridings, even barring long time party members from running for nomination leading up to the last election?

At least you could pretend not to apply a double standard to Liberals versus the Conservatives.