Making progress at a snail's pace

This has been an exciting week, with Hillary's speech at the DNC and now a female VP candidate on McCain's ticket. I don't know much about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, but I'm thrilled she'll be part of the election debate. I was really disappointed to see so many women (except Hill) on the sidelines and in traditional roles (dutiful wife, daughter, etc.) during the DNC.

The U.S. is far behind other countries in terms of the numbers of women who are elected to political offices. I'm getting more and more interested in politics as I get older, primarily because I have more time, and I recognize how much power there is to really change the world if you are a leader in the public sector rather than in your household, church, school or business.

I want this blog to include comments from conservative and liberal, old and young, gay and straight, black and white (and every other race) women, and men if they're interested. I'd also like it to include discussion on arenas outside of politics. Ruling the world involves what appears in the media -- I cannot believe that editorial pages of papers still feature 90 percent male writers. It involves what artists are featured -- men still dominate the music world and other forms of art, not to mention sports. I have nothing against men. In fact, I love several: my Dad, my husband and my son, to name a few. But, it's not fair that women who are so smart and compassionate don't play a bigger role in ruling our society.

Please join me in this dialogue. Let's share how we feel about politics, candidates, the media, music, books, raising kids, the war, etc. We have a lot of wisdom to share and some day we will rule the world. And when we do, I'm convinced it will be a much better place.

Reviving If Women Ran the World

From 2004-2006, my biz partners and I wrote a column for Women Business Minnesota Magazine. The purpose of the column was to engage more women in public policy issues. Topics ranged from running for school board to profiles of women who've led the way to policy change. Sadly, the magazine closed at the beginning of 2007 and the editor, Carol Ratelle Leach, died at a young age of a heart attack in mid 2007. There was no longer a forum and cheerleader for women interested in policy changes... until now. I am reviving the column here and inviting my friends and colleagues to participate. Women have a rare opportunity to have an enormous influence over the 2008 election and the issues that are discussed leading up to it. Please join in this vibrant discussion.