Is it just me or does parliament seem to be filled with ministers who have antiquated ideas and are completely out of touch with reality in every way? I can give you two really good examples of this:
Case One: Maria Miller; Minister for disabilities.
Repeatedly it has been pointed out by several organisations that this minister refuses to interact or listen to people who actually have disabilities in this country. There is now a petition and campaign to get a vote of no confidence against her which can be found here on facebook. She has systematically failed to understand the needs of disabled people in the UK and has also failed to act to protect disabled peoples interests. You would think that as her job is to make sure the disabled of the country get a fair deal that she would have opposed some of the cuts to disability benefits and support; she didn't. She also did not attend the hardest hit march which took place earlier this month in London. If anyone was responsible for ensuring it got such a small amount of coverage as it did get it will have been her, she could have just helped get the march more coverage but even this is beyond her capabilities. The predominant complain of those who are disabled in the UK right now is that ATOS, the people who assess your capability for work whilst on benefits, have an unfair system. The only thing I have heard Ms Miller say on the subject can be found in this blog here. Frankly her opinion on that matter is insulting to everyone and in my opinion just shows how out of touch with not just public opinions but also with facts she is.
Case Two: Ken Clarke; Minister for Justice
Today Ken Clarke out did himself on the matter of antiquated views and ideas by making it plain that he doesn't considder some rapes to be 'serious rapes'. I mean come on! How is a violation of a woman's body never serious? Its more than ridiculous to even insinuate that any case of rape or even sexual harassment is less than a serious matter to be taken will all seriousness, As a woman I find it incredibly frightening that the man in charge of the justice system in this country could have such a poor grasp of the effects a rape or sexual assault has on a woman's life. His opinions seem more in line with those ideas still held by much of Britian that somehow a woman who is raped asked for it or deserved it some way either by wearing skimpy clothes or by being intoxicated. Rape Charities frequently remind us that even if sex has already begun and a woman changes her mind if the act continues that is rape. It shows a frightening lack of comprehension and also a massive lack of respect for women, The person who discusses the Ken Clarke issue best is Laurie Penny on the New Statesman blog here and best expresses the outrage at his comments from a feminist point of view.
But seriously these are the people we have entrusted with the laws and policy making in this country? These people with dusty antiquated views who are so out of touch with reality that it almost beggars belief. They have a fundamental lack of understanding of the common people. It frightens me a great deal that the fate of so many lie in hands such as these.
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