Much of political decision-making concentrates power in the hands of those already inside the circle, who tend to be men. Excluding women may not be the intention, but when they are not invited into the room where decisions are made, you can see how it happens.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the unintentional exclusion of women from political decision-making processes dominated by men.
Jo Swinson emphasizes that the concentration of power in political decision-making often leads to the inadvertent exclusion of women, as decisions are typically made by a small, homogeneous group. This observation points to a systemic issue where women's voices and perspectives are overlooked, not necessarily by intention but by the dynamics of power and access within the 'room' where crucial decisions are made.
In practice
In a keynote speech on gender equality, one might quote Jo Swinson to highlight the importance of inviting diverse voices to decision-making tables.
Social democrats are characteristically modest - a political quality whose virtues are overestimated. We need to apologise a little less for our shortcomings and speak more assertively of achievements. That these were always incomplete should not trouble us.
Nominally left- and right-wing populists differ primarily in their choice of which 'others' to exclude and attack, with the former singling out big corporations and oligarchs, and the latter targeting ethnic or religious minorities.
The corporations are powerful only because we have allowed them to be. In theory, it is we, not they, who mandate the state. But we have neglected our duty of citizenship, and they have taken advantage of our neglect to seize the reins of government.
The citizens of the United States have peculiar motives to support the energy of their constitutional charters.
We must be the great arsenal of Democracy.
As soon as politicians start climbing up the ladder, they suddenly become kings. I don't know how it works, but what I do know is that republics came to the world to make sure that no one is more than anyone else. The pomp of office is like something left over from a feudal past: "You need a palace, red carpet, a lot of people behind you saying, 'Yes, sir.' I think all of that is awful."
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.