I don’t know why, must be something in my disposition, but every political forum I go to, someone always seems to end up asking me where the toilet is. I obviously always respond professionally and politely point them in the right direction, and I hasten to add that these toilet enquiries do not always derive from men alone. I think the last person to ask was actually Jane Davidson. Although this new found toilet director role is rather amusing, in economic terms, it is a complete waste and under use of resources, as I know I’ve got a brain, but if I can see there is no outlet to use it then I’ll switch it off, sit back and enjoy the show and let someone else do all the work whilst I remain dependant and passive. I suppose the point I am making, is the burden of change should not be on women, to become more like men. The equality agenda isn’t just a moral issue, it’s economic. At the moment, in terms of gender relations, we’re under stretching women and therefore just not maximising the potential profit, metaphorically speaking of course, that women in political life can make. We seriously need to work towards cultivating a perceptual and in part a structural change to ensure women are central to political life, because at the moment, there are questions that need to be asked around what is economically and socially lost when women are not enabled to maximise their potential?

You mean like in your average totalitarian dictatorship. Nice

“the £5 million bill that the citizens of Cardiff had to pay because the previous Labour administration challenged the auditor in court over their illegal expenses. ”

What? That couldn’t happen in a council of “independants”.? People of like minded political views will congregate together and act in concert. Stripping away the party labels wouldn’t remove those people’s politics. All it will means is that we won’t know what those politics are until after they’re elected at best

With the shrinking membership in political parties it might be impractical. Also a very small talent pool to pull from. People are more concerned with services than what colour rosette their candidates are wearing and frequently vote for someone who may be from a party that they dont normally support. However the key should be education in how the system works in the schools.

I suspect it’s the rule of large numbers. WalesHome is pretty specific in its focus on Wales. While welcoming articles and commentary from a wider audience, Wales does not generate the same high profile coverage as, say, an “EnglandHome” page would.

Re: DH and BJ on female commentary:

While undoubtedly women are interested in politics, policy, and government, leaving comments on political and social issues boards is not generally how the majority of women chose to express their opinion. Generally speaking, women (and gay men too) tend to be excellent communicators using text media to express opinion and commentary. But politics in general and social issues in particular tend to generate partisan and confrontational responses that are generally strident in tone and unhelpful in reasoned debate, putting off many from leaving commentary. This is what, in my opinion, that AM DH was speaking to had touched on, “Well, it’s all for men, isn’t it?”

In my observations, women generally tend to be more diplomatic in their responses which are lost on those leaving strident and high strung responses in forums such as these. This is why, in my opinion, a female perspective is invaluable in government.

Additionally, politics and policy debate does not generate the same kind of interest outside of election seasons for either gender. Therefore, readership and commentary will clearly decline, except from political aficionados. I remember in political sciences class that sustained year-round interest in politics appeals to only about 10% of the population. People are interested in kitchen table issues such as job security, rent and mortgages, education and health care and are ready to comment to a reporter on a street interview, but they have things to do that night and don’t have the time to read up on these forums and leave comments.

Re: Ageism in politics

BJ is quite right and undoubtedly she has been the victim of ageism in opponent’s criticism of her views, as people have targeted her youth. This can be expressed in many forms. While one may disagree with her politics, her clear dedication to representing her constituencies can not be questioned. That said, one can criticise BJ’s experience (in terms of tenure) in policy making without touching on her age, or letting it devolve to that level.

Re: reiterating objection to gender quotas:

Though I note that the female perspective is absolutely important, I disagree in legislating a mandate for that in government or in legislatures. Its one thing for a political party to choose and field only female candidates within any particular constituency, but its quite another to mandate that into law. Any mandate of that sort encourages discrimination, in my opinion.

Re: term limits and parties in local elections

Already commented above on term limits. I do not agree with term limits except the ballot box. As for political party membership in local elections, I do not think it practical. For one thing, membership in political parties is shorthand in communicating general political beliefs of a particular candidate. Additionally, factionalism is a particular characteristic of democratic politics and should be recognised.

How?

Why?

Then why confine it to local government? surely a cabinet minister who knows naught about his brief is far more frightening than a member of a council executive (which is what I think your agenda is).

Who would appoint this “independent board”. My solution get rid of political parties out of local government. work out why 25-30% of the electorate vote in local elections.

term limitations (which I think Peter was referring to). Tests for candidates with the results published on the ballot forms.

Education in schools. American government is compulsory in US schools with good ol Magruders as a text book.

It is a worry that women have not commented on these blogs. But I think that I can safely say that lots of women read the blogs, but they do not comment. I don’t know why that is- perhaps they don’t want to get sucked in to the sometimes ya boo world of commenting on blogs that is very often dominated by men. Who knows? From my own experience, I comment less and less on blog posts because I do my own blogs, and get on with things. I’d like more debates over on my own blog, but perhaps people are not so keen to comment on political blogs as they are on independent based websites like this.

Anyway, I hope it will spark discussion for the future.

A joke, certainly, but with a grain of truth. Perhaps it’s something for WalesHome in the future.

Alwyn – read the piece again before inferring an insult. Michael – I was there. I know how it was implied.

Whilst I agree absolutely with the premise of this article (I would introduce mandatory provisions like the Spanish example, and cap terms on councils – though not age) it is telling that there seem to be so few women even joining the debate.

The calibre of councillors’ competence (taking Cardiff as an example maybe) is what we need to address even more urgently that their gender. Let’s start with job descriptions and perhaps pre-qualification assessment by an independent board of competence. Now that would be a start.