Politics of Love

Discrimination is bad. That's why laws and principles are in place to protect the rights of people who are members of protected classes. The list of protected classes is long and growing. Today discrimination is prohibited based on:

race; color; creed; religion; national origin; citizenship; age; sex; disability status; marital status; parental status; sexual orientation; gender identity; political ideology; criminal history; genetic composition; and more.

In Seattle, Washington, women who breastfeed babies in public are a protected class shielded from discrimination.

For members of protected classes, discrimination is prohibited in employment, housing, and public accommodation. Members of protected classes cannot be denied access to public programs and cannot be excluded from public activities. Members are safeguarded from harassment. People with family or friends in a protected class get these protections too.

From this one might think good progress is being made in guaranteeing equal rights for all Americans. There's another view, however, which says these efforts are not enough.

US Senator Cory Booker spoke at the Democratic National Convention on July 25, 2016. He said observing tolerance for those in protected classes is not enough. Extending respect, dignity, support, and cooperation to others is not enough. Guaranteeing rights and ending discrimination, sometimes under the force of law, are not enough.

Senator Booker said society cannot function properly and our nation cannot work well unless people are loved. That the highest duty of a patriot is to love every fellow countrywoman and countryman. That the only way to ensure people have a sense of worth and value is for others to love them -- especially members of protected classes.

So it's not about acceptance, it's not about equal rights, it's not about ending discrimination anymore. It's about embracing people, celebrating their choices, and loving everyone everywhere.

The US Constitution has a Bill of Rights. Is it time to enact a "Bill of Love"?

Why Aren't There More Women in Public Office?

Women are underrepresented in elective political offices at federal, state, and local levels. Is this because of unfair treatment, lack of equal rights, repudiation of entitlements, discrimination, misogyny?  Here is one view from a study in 2012.

"Men Rule - The Continued Under-Representation of Women in U.S. Politics"
Women & Politics Institute - School of Public Affairs - American University
Washington, DC. - January 2012

Seven barriers to women running for office:

1. Women are substantially more likely than men to perceive the electoral environment as highly competitive and biased against female candidates.

2.  The way Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin's candidacies were treated in 2008 aggravated women's perceptions of gender bias in the electoral arena.

3. Women are much less likely than men to think they are qualified to run for office.

4. Female potential candidates are less competitive, less confident, and more risk averse than their male counterparts.

5. Women react more negatively than men to many aspects of modern campaigns.

6. Women are less likely than men to receive the suggestion to run for office — from anyone.

7. Women are still responsible for the majority of child care and household tasks.

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Injustice

You are the victim of racial profiling by police. Now what do you do?  1) Refuse to follow instructions from police. 2) Go to court and rectify the injustice. Pick choice #2.