Response to LatumWay on All Female Shortlists... kinda...

[skepticoz]

Itś definitely a difficult issue but I agree that stacking the cards is a shoddy solution and would be detrimental to naturally regulated checks and balances that are supposed to underpin democracy. I also doubt that the existing imbalance, comes down entirely (or even mostly) to the time and effort spent in child raring. Nor is it necessary to assume that woman's interests are so partisan to men´s, that women could not be well represented unless the numbers of each sex/gender are proportional.

[CalypsoCatnip]

Ya know, I can't argue with this. I think creating shortlisted elections would have far-reaching negative effects upon the whole democratic process.

[4iner2]

@WhyKeepPiranhas I'll try pming you the link since youtube doesn't allow them to be posted in comments. It should be atleast somewhat accurate since 2,775 people were polled and factors such as age and education seem to have been controlled for.

[Ryuu44]

But there are weman on normal lists. It's just the fact that they're not being choosed. This type of voting tells people "no! don't vote the way you WANT to vote. Vote so that there are just as many weman as man in the parlament"

[4iner2]

@WhyKeepPiranhas There is an enormous gender gap in interest in politics. A poll that can be found by googleing "harris poll reading" found that men are 150% more likely than women to have read at least one book on politics in the span of one year, and 122% more likely than women to have read atleast one book on current affairs. Unsurprisingly, it's even higher (300%) for books about business.

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@4iner2 that's really interesting. is there anywhere i can get this info as hard data?

[Arikiel]

I don't know how your system works but if women aren't represented in parliament isn't it because women are choosing not to vote them in?

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@Arikiel thats a simple version of my arguement. it seems really simple but people just say that it MUST be discrimination or it MUST be a malicious social construction; they say its impossible that women simply aren't choosing those roles. I'm beginning to think that it is actually that simple.

[AtheistEnthusiast]

@FranWins0827 Not just in leadership, but in all occupations. I know there are certain laws that dictate a minimum of women in jobs that require a great deal of physical strength (such as firefighting). While there are woman who are qualified to take on these jobs, not all women who apply can make the cut. BUT because of this shortlist, they get hired. Personally I feel if a job can be done better, it SHOULD be, especially when lives are at risk.

[FranWins0827]

Positions of leadership should be held by the person most qualified. Male or female. End of story.

[failedcontinuum]

I only have to say I agree... if there was a massive need (as in females are the only people who can represent an idea because there female) for females in the uk government at the moment... then more should run and more people should vote for them. since this isn't happening I have to conclude that weather or not your genitals are inside or outside your body has little to do with representing a political party, except maybe position security do to risk of pregnancy removing them from office.

[ezmereldagreen]

i think you're right..it is wrong and undemocratic and somewhat patronising. there should, however, be other steps taken to encourage women to run for political posts. there is an old schiool tie structure still in place which of course goes against many men too. it starts with the kids - ALL schoolchildren need to be encouraged to stand up for themselves politically.

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@ezmereldagreen cool, thanks for the comment. i agree with you too.

[Jamez773]

I have to say, what I like about this channel is that you are willing to say I don't know and look into a subject further if you don't understand it all the way instead of acting like you know everything. Good job WKP. Can't wait for the next video. OH! and be sure to wave a burger in front of Jacob. XD

[ezmereldagreen]

@Jamez773 spot on.

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@Jamez773 way ahead of ya'

[Jamez773]

Men can represent women and understand their problems. That's kinda a major issues that many politicians run on in many countries. It's giving fuel to the fire that only men can understand men and only women can understand women. You might as well make all Black short lists, All White short lists, all Muslim short lists, ect. You can make the same arguments for those.

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@Jamez773 some people support shit like all black shortlist and stuff.

[JustaEropeanGuy]

There ARE female presidents and leaders, google it. I think it would be condescending and stupid for people to put up a political handicap and basically say "look, we know you're incompetent, so we'll make it easier".

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@JustaEropeanGuy a lot of those women who are in power though lead countries that have qoutas in place to make sure women get into government.

[JustaEropeanGuy]

@WhyKeepPiranhas I don't even get why this is coming up from you guys, you guys had Thatcher.

[JustaEropeanGuy]

@WhyKeepPiranhas Wasn't there an old roman or greek system where there would always be two heads of state unless in an emergency? Don't remember my history too well, but I think that's not that bad of an idea. What if you have a male and female position on certain jobs? You would vote on both of them, every party can have 2 candidates so on... Then again McCain-Palin... idk, complicated issue and a quota is not a decent solution.

[evilsceptic]

As much as a I hate all female shortlists, it isn't a Human rights issue because political parties are private organisations. Although you might argue that it's illegal under the sex discrimination act.

[noswonky]

I completely agree with you. I don't know either.

[unhappy4life9]

I talked to Tony Blair for some legal advice on how to deal with a naughty little libertarian! He suggested I give the libertarian a spanking!

[unhappy4life9]

I hope you get punished! You've been a very bad boy!

[SecularNumanist]

you make fucking videos?

[ryanmshepard92]

@SecularNumanist I hope. I'd like to see videos of him fucking, preferably his brother Jacob.

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@SecularNumanist just started really. you seem shocked and afraid.

[SecularNumanist]

@WhyKeepPiranhas

nah, its cool. its interesting to see the differences and similarities between you and Latum...

[TheLaughingOut]

One factor that I don't think you mentioned is that men and women might be more likely to vote for a man. That would certainly hurt a woman's chance at getting elected. I don't see a solution to that one though. People have to become better educated before we'll see a significant change.

[LeoMRogers]

In my view, the best solution is to allow parties to put forward 2 candidates, provided they are of different genders. Then when it comes to counting the votes, count the votes for each party, and then of that party, the votes for each candidate.

I think this because people vote for parties before they vote for gender. The only female candidate in my constituency that belonged to a party was the lib dem. I'm not going to vote lib dem JUST so there are more women in parliament....

[LeoMRogers]

@LeoMRogers ... However it is a factor i might consider if i were to choose between a male and female candidate of the same party (along with whether they are competent politicians, and whether i agree with their views).

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@LeoMRogers thats completely your right to do so as a member of this democracy.

[LeoMRogers]

@WhyKeepPiranhas yes, but my point is its not something i get to do. At the moment, if i want to vote for a woman, i have to vote for the liberal democrat candidate. If i want to get a female candidate for the party i want to vote for, i have to join that party and get involved in the local aspect of the party etc.. when i'm not necessarily that loyal.

[LeoMRogers]

"legally, women have the right to stand for parliament, so why dont they?"

That is an oversimplification. Although you CAN run as an independent candidate, you are unlikely to win, you are unlikely to even get your deposit back (you have to pay £500 to stand, you get this back if you get 5% of the votes).

The issue is are the parties putting women up for election? if they are, are they putting them up for election where they have a chance of winning? Sadly not.

[hellomoto170]

the issue for me is at the moment, the proportion of men/women STANDING to be elected is not equal, there are more men. So, it kinda makes sense that there are more male members of parliament. Also, even if it were equal, the proportion of those ELECTED would not necessarily have to be equal because what if a certain candidate is just better than another, regardless of whether him.her being elected would balance/outweigh the scales or not? The best candidate gets my vote regardless of gender.

[Evilanious]

Just out of interest. There is a small political party in the Netherlands (they have 2 seats out of 150 in our so called 'second chamber') which until recently (a court forced them to have other rules) didnt allow women as members of the party. (they are fundamentalist christians) No I think most people disapprove of this but do you think they should have the right as a political party to refuse any and all women just because they are women from their organisation.

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

@Evilanious I suppose I would support their right to exclude women, though I would not vote for them because I disagree with excluding women.

[tattooskin72]

I disagree with short lists, affirmative action, etc. I think these things do nothing to actually get to the root of whatever social ills might exist...

You had a lot of good things to say in here... first and foremost, that we do live in a society where women are perfectly capable of and legally able to run for office or even be the CEO of a company... but these aren't things that are just handed to people. It's dog eat dog and you have to fight for it.

Not saying I like it though.

[ThatsMrFrank]

sibling rivalry ey ;)

[WhyKeepPiranhas]

fuck its out of focus