Friday, December 7, 2007

Start writing the checks, bro

You see, Gents, big government really is there to help. Help themselves to your money. Know what you get for it? Relegated to second-class status. That's right, your income, the taxes upon which you pay until sometime in mid-May (for you US folks) are there to fund programs designed to help out someone that's "more equal" than you.

In other words: "We have to be UNFAIR to make things MORE FAIR."

Men in the west are increasingly becoming aware that government of the people, by the people, for the people is looking a lot more like government of the people, by the bureaucracy, for everyone BUT you.

Minister-for-men - epetition reply

7 December 2007

We received a petition asking:

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to restore equality for men by creating a minister for men."

Details of Petition:

"In this era of single parents, divorce and blended families, the role and reputation of a man has been diluted to a point where he is severely discriminated against in almost all arenas. I call on the Prime Minister to show true equality to men by creating a Minister for Men to reflect balance in Parliament as Ruth Kelly is currently the Minister for Women."

The Government's response

Thank you for your e-petition about the creation of a Minister for Men. Though the Government recognises that there are areas where men face disadvantage or discrimination, a glance at the income and poverty figures will show that, overall, inequality in our society affects women to a far greater extent than men. That is why the Government appointed a Cabinet Level Minister for Women in 1997 whose remit was, and is, to promote equality of opportunity in our society. The current holder of this office is Harriet Harman QC, MP and she is supported by Barbara Follett MP.

Despite the passing of the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination legislation over 30 years ago, and other improvements since 1997, women in Britain still experience significant disadvantage in our society. For example:

* Women account for over half of the United Kingdom's population, but only make up 19% of MPs and 29% of local councillors.
* Black, Asian and Ethnic minority women account for 8% of the UK's female population but make up less than 1% of local councillors.
* Only 10.3% of the directors in the boardrooms of the top 100 FTSE companies are female;
* The gap between the pay of male and female workers is currently 12.6% for full time and a staggering 40% for part-timers.
* Women are the main victims of domestic violence in the UK and 83 of them are killed by their partners or ex-partners in 2005.
* Women still shoulder the lion's share of caring for the old and the young and 90.5% of lone parents are female.

However, the Government recognises that men do want to spend more time with their families and this is reflected in the action we have taken to improve work life balance. That is why, in 2003, we introduced the right to request flexible working for all parents with children of under six years old or with disabled children of under eighteen years old. In April this year this right was extended to include people who care for adults.

Our Government is determined to fight discrimination and ensure everybody in Britain can make the most of their talents regardless of their gender, race, sexuality, age, faith or disability and we are committed to tackling these inequalities to create our vision of a fairer society and the role of Minister for Women is crucial in delivering our aims.

The Government have established the new Equality and Human Rights Commission which will champion equality, diversity, and human rights as defining values of our society, encouraging all our institutions to operate for the benefit of every individual.

Harriet Harman will be working across Government with Ministerial colleagues to ensure that we deliver on this ambitious agenda.


To all the readers out there, post this quote from the UK on your blog. Spread the word. Don't let them relegate you to second tier status (while paying first-tier taxes) without a fight.

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