Jayb,

You've caught me at an embarrassing moment - here I am, trying to sweet-talk Lexi into dropping that barbed-wire fence, and you come along and put that reality on me.

But I have to suggest that women in general are hardly responsible for any of the world's problems - seriously, do they really have power even in today's societies ? Where do we hear of young men being killed for not marrying who their parents decide, and for not carrying out their 'marital' duties ? Where is there honour killing of men for playing around with other women ? In what country do they throw acid over young boys going to school ? Or burn their schools ?

Seriously, in what society on earth do women - qua women - dictate to the rest of their societies ? After thousands of years of male dominance (thankfully coming to an end), isn't it true that - in every country where it has occurred - women in politics have, with the odd hassle and human failing, advanced, added to, the political life of every country where they have been able to lift their heads ?

I hope that, by the time I shuffle off, the issue of women or men running governments will be as irrelevant as right- or left-handers doing it. Speaking as a left-hander, of course.

lexi: They're the unpredictable ones who go into Parliament to bring about particular reforms.

& they either do as they are told by the Party Bosses, or their out.

Lexi: It is shaped by what our past experience has prepared us to see and by what we consciously or unconsciously want to see.

Too true Lexi. I'm a people watcher with a good memory for what gone on before behind the scenes. Some of which I was involved in many years ago. As my CO once told me, "I know too many people above my station in life" & I did.

Loudmouth: You've caught me at an embarrassing moment.

Sorry. Don't worry I've done it myself.

Loudmouth: isn't it true that - in every country where it has occurred - women in politics have, with the odd hassle and human failing, advanced, added to, the political life of every country where they have been able to lift their heads?

True, very true. But, tempered by the fact that women are extremely hard to work with. Especially for other women. Ie: "bad situation." 3 Kids, 3 dogs, 3 women in an office. "rowroueee, skiss!, skiss, spit spit." Hoowhaa! bitch fight. Sad, but true.

I think that's about me for 24 hours. See ya'all

The Coalition has had the fortune to hold office in good
economic times
Lexi,
Yes because when you look at those times you'll find that many other countries had conservative Government.
Look at the GFC, how many conservative Governments were then ?
Just because some parties call themselves conservative/democratis doesn't mean they are. Just look at this country, it's supposed to be democratic also but two independents can throw it all out the window. Same goes for economic management which appears to be a foreign phrase for Labor.

individual,

There was a big fat conservative/neoliberal government in power in the U.S. in the eight years preceding the GFC....busy they were deregulating and presiding over the whole unfolding economic cataclysm...and that's precisely the place where the economic rot took hold.

individual, you say "it's supposed to be democratic also but two independents can throw it all out the window" As a conservative you have to be consistent, at the last federal election the people failed to give a clear mandate to any one party, that left the independents and a Green holding the balance of power. Democracy has had to work as it will given the prevailing conditions, it was never going to work all that well given the constraints the people imposed by their vote. Previously you bought up the subject of the Whitlam Government. Conservatives then had no problem using an undemocratic senate to bring down a democratically elected government. Nor did conservative governments have any problem relying on a minority party the DLP in the senate to ram through what they wanted. I'm not a supporter of the Labor government but conservatives when not in government seem to think they have some god given right to 'call an election' whenever it suits them to take back power, and they call that democracy.

Poirot & Paul,
If you read my post again you'll see that's exactly what I said.