|
It’s a man’s world
Dear Republic:
Good for Andrea Reimer! She's bang on when she says women are ridiculously under-represented in politics (frighteningly so, in fact). Why is this? While Reimer's theory that political parties just don't nominate enough female candidates and that women don't have the required support networks, financial and otherwise, to win elections, are no doubt true, I think we're missing something here.
A key hurdle, if not the main obstacle, keeping women from entering politics, is the system itself. The Canadian political system was designed by males for males. It reflects the way men like to do business—that is, it is a confrontational model. Women, in contrast, prefer a collaborative approach. Aggression, yelling, and name-calling make most women recoil in disgust, however this is exactly the approach that fires up the male competitive spirit.
What woman wants to put herself in the line of fire, knowing that most of her energy will be directed at fighting her male colleagues, instead of working together to find solutions? Very few are prepared to go that route, seeing in advance the futility of her efforts.
If we, as a nation, want to see fairer representation at the provincial and federal levels, we need to put our entire political system under the microscope and be prepared to make drastic changes. Imagine the heated arguments, discussions, and dissertations the country would endure if we were to go this route. A bit unsettling, I know, but imagine the alternative. We're living it now, and for many of us, it's just not a fair place to be.
- Jennifer Williams, online address
Rethink inflation
Dear Republic:
I'd like to challenge the statement in “Hit the Bank” (Republic Issue 11) that says “As wages go up, inflation increases.” This is exactly the corporate line that we got sold back in the 70s when inflation was the crisis du jour.
The fact is that many things go into increasing the rate of inflation. One could as well say that when investors demand more return on their investment, inflation goes up. (I know that doesn't roll off the tongue quite the same.) The price of oil, cost of materials and many other things effect inflation.
The reason I feel a need to challenge that particular line is that the propaganda of the 70s used that particular factor on inflation to demonize unions and any demand they made for increased wages and benefits. That was in a time when everyone was doing quite well in the middle and working classes. I doubt we will again see a time when the workers enjoy as much in wages and benefits. Since then real wages and benefits have gone down and yet inflation is still with us and the cost of living still goes up. Granted not at the double digit rates we saw in the 70s.
So what can we say about inflation that doesn't lay the blame on the greedy worker? Well, inflation is what we call it when the cost of living goes up. What causes that? Why good old supply and demand, that holy mantra.
Next time try, “as demand increases, prices and thus inflation goes up.” You’re the writer, you can probably come up with something better.
- John, online address
Unplug yourself
Dear Republic:
I enjoyed Kevin Potvin’s piece on inventing a new culture that is more Earth friendly. Many people are, as Kevin suggested, already living a more earth friendly life.
My suggestion would be that the impetus for living a more Earth friendly life is not that the Earth is running out of resources. This is pretty abstract and in the distant future for people to truly grasp—like telling a twelve year old that smoking will give him cancer.
I think it would be really good to live a more Earth friendly life because that kind of life is, well, just a better way to live. I find it much easier to have a “real” encounter with people when it is apparent that I don't have a “lifestyle” to live up to.
Stopping in for a coffee after getting out of a BMW is a different experience than stopping in for a coffee after locking up my bike. I feel that this new culture could can only begin when people unplug from mass media and regain their own minds and hearts.
- Guy Hawkins, Amsterdam
****
|
