Pelican you will get no answer you can consider reasonable from runner.
If you look, you will see a strange view some hold just being a woman bars you from doing good work.
Many extremely good women sit in every Parliament in Australia.
I do not think Gillard is not one of them for other than her inability to lead.
And the two Bishops disturb me.
But some of our best business managers are female.
Emily's list?
I could start one about air wasting men in every house in this country.

"As I said men and women stand by alone as individuals first and are judged on their own values and beliefs (and behaviours)."

Pelican could not agree more. As a member of The Greens I have been involved in a number of election campaigns working with both males and females. I've never come across a problem with pre-selection based on gender, always been on merit. In The Greens woman are very much respected for their input and hard work. I must say the best candidate I ever worked with was a woman, she was a hard worker, very committed, intelligent had a very good understanding of the issues, articulate and a good listener. Back in the 90's I worked with a nice bloke who had a very defeatist attitude, did not want to get involved seem to be there to make up the numbers. Its not just about 'winning' its so important to get your message across, all part of the democratic process. Back in the 70's and 80's as a ALP member it tended to be an 'old boys club'. Campaigning was different our sitting members were ministers in safe seats. Campaigning was media releases, photo ops and mass mail-outs, little or nothing at the grass roots level. It makes a whole lot of difference when you have money to burn. Our budget for the last State election was a bit over $20k and what we raised ourselves, about $2k more, (fairly large by Green standards many get about $5k), the ALP spent $42k alone on one very glossy mail out. i think woman are getting a far better run in politics today than in past years.

(Excuse my bad grammar and editing in the previous post).

Thanks Belly - despite disagreeing with runner on many issues, he is generally a respectful sort of bloke so I was more surprised with his emotive comments. From some of the others it is the norm. It is interesting that despite the fact that the majority of politicians are men, these sorts of attitudes remain. I don't give a toss if a politician is male or female only that they do their job in representing their constituency but with a strong party system unfortunately it is often party interests and 'winning' that take priority. And this is not a gender problem.

Paul, I did not mean to divert your very relevant thread too much on this, but cannot help but respond to some of the anti-women sentiments. There are many good women and men out there in various roles including some politicians.

The work and commitment involved in being a member of a minor party is much more generally given there are less resources.

lexie[our love]..loved the quote

""Eagles may soar but weasels never get sucked into jet engines!""'

[though i have seen a dude put jet engines on his skate board
so never say never]..BUT..i still agree its unlikely..but never say never

ps im not getting sukkerd into the jets
on this woman thing..let me be clear..i [normally]..love woman telling me what to do[but when they crew me into the same place the males do..they get the same outflow...[sussing]

my bull shhhhh it detecter..ignores sex

if they lie down with dogs
they get fleas

and scratching the little beggers
only gives them a new place to suck new blood from

a cant reveal the leeches fast enough
in fact wish they would suck harder
so we get to the end game...where the light come on..

and we see the scum for the scum they are
[regardless of race sex beliefs]..

by their deeds
will we know them

no place to hide...sows ears look best on a sow
as a male its best to watch out for the tusks

but big ones
or lots of em...
seem to turn..even a thinking woman into a juliar

the yes woe[man[.....version
of the yes man...yes mzzzz pm

tax me a little bit more..it feels so good
keep spanking...it only drives the problem deeper
beat me till ya hands hurt,...lol

i dont trust childless people
of any sex/race/creed..but also dont trust child lovers

something about taking the middle road

a little here..a little there..
dont just hit the hot eject button
cause you* found out where it is..[*you used genericly],lol..