Scoutseven

Women and power

Currently, approximately 15% of the seats in the United States House and Senate are held by women. By comparison, Sweden has 47%, Spain 36%, and Vietnam 27% (see full list). That highest glass ceiling desperately needs shattering, but it’s not just about women having power, it’s about how we wield it. It’s about who benefits from our leadership, and who suffers as a result of the policies we enforce.

As a feminist, I find Sarah Palin’s nomination to the Republican presidential ticket manipulative and offensive.

It’s yet another example of women taking charge by becoming good ol’ boys, playing with guns, talking tough, and looking pretty all the while. Her policies hurt women, hurt the environment, and send her own children off to fight stupid wars. Let us not be fooled. This choice is not about women’s progress or women’s rights. Sarah Palin drives a dominating, patriarchal agenda, which makes some men in her own party look like bra-burning liberals.

We can do so much better than this.

Tired of speeches

Mabye I’ve just gotten really cynical, but I’m watching a bit too much of the Democratic convention, and I wish someone would just get real, stop reading, and speak from their hearts.

I’m seeing one canned line after the next, with calculated pauses and perfectly framed messages.

It feels flat and manipulative and, worst of all, absolutely necessary.

Our political process has made authenticity impossible. In our pollster driven media culture, there’s no room for anything real. There’s no room for humanity, or complexity, or nuance, or dialogue, or possibilities as opposed to promises.

So this is what it comes down to. One big grandstanding attempt to manipulate the American vote.

It’s top down democracy, and we need another way.