Again, so much for my updating this blog every week. I keep remembering to do so which must mean that I just need some time to get into it. A little update from my last post to now; I got a freaking job! Yay! I start tomorrow and I'm quite nervous. I guess I'm just not sure what to expect, it being my first job. Its going to be interesting to wake up at 6 in the morning everyday though. Like I'm back in secondary school!
So lately I've taken a slight interest in political situation in Australia. Before I start let me just say I'm no expert by any means. But one thing kept popping up that got me thinking was all the talk about quotas. I think it started out with the new liberal cabinet in federal politics not having many women. Many pointed out that a labour cabinet would have more women because the party has a quota for the number women and that that only having 1 woman in the cabinet was a "great" sign of sexism.
Today, watching the news, I noticed another call for having quotas for lesbian and gay politician. Now, don't get wrong, I think its incredibly important for EVERYONE to be represented and the freedom to make choices should not be limited to a particular demographic just because they are greater represented.
Personally I dislike the idea of having quotas for anything. To me it stipulates that you don't have to have the merits for achieving something but rather being female or lesbian or gay or a polar bear will get you there. Yup, it totally will.
Growing up in Singapore, I always heard tales of ethnic quotas in the local universities. Now, I never had to face that (because I sailed the seas for my degree) and in 2012 the education minister denied any such quotas. But as a kid, the stories scared me! That you could work hard and score average grades but being of a minority ethnic group you're not going to get into university because of a quota. And that people of larger ethnic groups didn't have to even do well to get in. I found it ridiculous then and I find it ridiculous now.
I've always worked hard to get what I want. That's what I believe. I think every position should be earned by merit. Not by where you were born, or what colour your skin is or you sexual orientation. Some might say I'm being a dreamer expecting fairness in this world but I think its the people afraid to lose their power that allow unfairness to go on.
Back to the whole politics thing, I do agree that there is a under representation of the population in the government. With having one woman in the cabinet, I think basically the best were picked from the hand dealt which is fair. I don't believe quotas are the way to represent the population. What we're going to end up with is a group of unqualified people making great decision on behalf of a very big country. I know its not a solution but there are more ways to include women, aboriginal people, gays and lesbians. I think more community outreach programs to develop politicians, training programs, more encouragement in general will help. Its not going to fix it overnight but many things in our life's are the changes of a generation and not a night.
But then again, I'm no expert. Just a little person with my own understanding of the world.
