SLG
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All-white parliament bad?On Newsnight, they're complaining about an all-white Holyrood parliament when even Westminster can manage a few MPs from ethnic minorities. But Holyrood only holds 129 seats and Scotland only has 2% ethinic minorities, so it's not that unrepenrentative IMO. Westminster on the other hand has over 600 members and the UK has closer to 10% ethnic minorites. Am I justified in thinking this is acceptable?
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neil8r
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Re: All-white parliament bad? | SLG wrote: | | On Newsnight, they're complaining about an all-white Holyrood parliament when even Westminster can manage a few MPs from ethnic minorities. But Holyrood only holds 129 seats and Scotland only has 2% ethinic minorities, so it's not that unrepenrentative IMO. Westminster on the other hand has over 600 members and the UK has closer to 10% ethnic minorites. Am I justified in thinking this is acceptable? |
I'm interested to know, when people come on and talk about representation of different groups(whether it be ethnic minorities or women) does anybody look and see what proportion these groups make up of the political parties? After all if there is 2% ethnic minorities in Scotland it doesn't mean that there is an equivelant proportion within any political parties.
I don't think the fact the parliament is all-white at present is necessarily a big problem it's whether the 129 Members of the parliament are adequately representing their constituents. And the issue then is whether or not our members are talented enough at their job.
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Avatar
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I agree with both of yourselves, I think its fair enough, there isn't a huge ethnic population in Scotland atm and those that do live here certainly are better integrated into our society than they are down in England, I dont think there are many if any "ethnic areas" as such that would require representation in the way that they maybe would in England. Have there been any "home grown" terrorists types from Scotland?
Besides there is that guy thats standing for the SNP in May, but I'd hate to think he's a token ethnic minority and that the pc police will start creating quotas on who we can and can't elect.
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SLG
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The other point would be that the same electorate have elected ethnic minority councilors and MPs. I think if the parliament want to be more representative, it would need to expand the number of MSPs, something I expect to happen post-independence anyway. And yes Avatar, Bashir Ahmad should get elected for the SNP on the list and I doubt anyone would claim that he is any less quality than many of the other MSPs.
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Morph
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I feel that its a case of best man for the job. If an MSP was ethnic and does the best job then he should be in the parliament. If the people vote for a MP it will be on policy and probaly personality not race. Scotland seems to be mostly settled on the race front. IMO it is pretty well integrated. THerefore it is not in the intrests of Scotland, as Avatar suggested, to make quotas on who we can and cant vote
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Cado
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There is something incredibly undemocratic about the underlying intent IMO. Simply that a greater power has the belief that it can be permitted, in some way, to define the make-up of the elected chamber.
There's a slippery slope developing here.....
What galls me is that in making such comments they demonstrate that they know they have the power to alter to make up of the elected chamber. They could potentially use this argument to have a potential trouble maker blocked from election - even though their local party selected them. Alternatively - to have known 'loyalists' parachuted into seats, presently represented by 'nobodies' - by using some sort of 'discrimination' argument.
Sorry but this stinks. The system is still, officially, an elected constituent MP, FPP. Chosen by local people and elected by local people. If they find this system too awkward (because society generally has a totally different outlook to our would be social re-engineers) then they should reform the electoral system first - rather than trying to bend it using the cover of 'ethical' arguments.
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Babygael
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The very fact that we/you are using COLOUR is racist, because COLOUR has nothing to do with what a person is like. What the debate should focus on is ..CULTURE!!! Do we share the same thoughts?/Feelings...do we march to the same drum?
The question should be rather, is this person like us? Think like us? And so on. But not whether a person is of another colour, surely?? This is irrelevant!
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BonnieBlueFlag
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God political correctness is a load of s**t. Just read any Post-Colonial theory and you'll realise how bias it is against the west and white people in general. Seriously do yourself a favor and ignore these people.
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SLG
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Well they were talking about colour on the program. I agree it's far too simplistic. But it is important to encourage a representative parliament.
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Avatar
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BabyGael raises a good point - i dont think this really has anything to do with culure as such, they dont want different cultures in parliament or anywhere likely - by focusing on colour they are simply just giving the illusion of a representative government. Culture goes far deeper than skin colour and as far as culture goes most of us are forced to conform to the prevalent western pop-culture and that is what will be represented at parliament no matter what colour of skin the person wears.
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Cado
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Agreed Avatar+Babygael.
The original motive for discrimination legislation IMO was that colour of ones skin was a superficial characteristic - therefore it is wholly wrong to make judgements/valuations of an individual based purely on some superficial physical characteristic.
However - to then use the concept to effect some change that may be advantageous to some grouping - using an argument based on physical superficialities - is EVEN WORSE! Simply because those people who are in such a position of influence should clearly be aware of what they are doing.
Its things such as this which make me cynical of so much of the discrimination legislation. I support the concept as it has worked to eliminate many pre justices - however I'm growing more convinced that the underlying intent was to create mechanism that the Govt can use to manipulate social relations to suit the governing political agenda.
At high school we got lectured against 'pigeon-holing' people. The Govt have taken this casual social tendancy and transformed it into fearfully effective mechanism for social manipulation.
Ultimately I think it will spell disaster - trying to re-engineer the outlook of 60M individuals, an almost infinite number of variables. Its going to end in tears.
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SouthernJock
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In reality, its not down to race or colour on who should be picked to stand for election but who is best for the job. In reality the ethnic minority in Scotland does play a part in politics, or has no one noticed? We have asian councilers and asian MPS in westminster, it just happens that there are no asian msp's. Its no big deal and not really worth getting our knickers in a twist over. The crirteria should always be who is the best candidate for the job and most definately down to fulfilling a quota based on race colour or sex.
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