Sexism Alert: Testosterone Needed for International Finance?
October 10, 2009
by Bruce Nahin
|The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
I made a big discovery yesterday. Those of you who do not have testosterone running through your bodies are apparently unqualified to discuss international finance.
Recently Gov Palin wrote an article discussing international finance and the decline of the dollar. She wrote in part:
The British newspaper The Independent reported today that Gulf oil producers were negotiating with Russia, China, Japan and France to replace the dollar in pricing oil with a basket of currencies. According to the Wall Street Journal, Arab oil officials have denied the story, but even the possibility of such a talk weakens the dollar and renews fears about its continued viability as an international reserve currency. In fact, today a United Nations official called for a new global reserve currency to replace the dollar and end our “privilege” to run up huge deficits. We can see the effect of this in the price of gold, which hit a record high today in response to fears about the weakened dollar.
Norman Ornstein of the America Enterprise institute, quoted in London’s FINANCIAL TIMES disputed the Governor’s right to discuss the issue. He stated in part:
The dollar has always been a testosterone issue among America’s political classes. This time there may be a legitimate debate to be had over the dollar’s reserve status, but Sarah Palin is not qualified to participate in it.
In discussing the issue at Conservatives4palin, Doug Brady asks:
Does Mr. Ornstein mean to say that only those with “testosterone” meet his criteria to discuss manly topics like the dollar and it’s affect on energy prices? After all, these issues can’t possibly be understood by a lowly woman whose real place in life is to be home cooking and knitting socks. Never mind the fact that she is a former mayor and Governor of a huge energy producing state and has demonstrated that she has more testosterone than the entire Obama Administration combined.
Perhaps Ornstein is just an elitist. Because the Governor did not attend a Ivy League school, or spend her days in the beltway. But I do find that Ornstein’s use of the male hormone as a qualifier to be at the very least strange.
Let’s see. International finance is a corrupt vile mess AND testosterone-laden. Norman has connected the dots!
It would be wonderful to form an international coalition for the “Integrity of Women” to shine a light on the fields of finance and economy. Too many men like Madoff and Soros are all about gaming the system rather than strengthening the economy and enhancing opportunities for all.
And of course, I have to ask the political question of our era: why are they all threatened by Sarah Palin? She appears to be speaking truth to power. The ivy-leaguers no longer have the characterological strength for that.
A testosterone issue? WTF? Not qualified to participate?
The old laws prohibiting women from participating in arena’s existed only to make men look like they could handle it. If you are a man, only losing out to men, certainly no one will notice that women are naturally better than men, at pretty much everything. So men change the rules. Why do men cut their hair short and make long hair “feminine”? Because they can’t grow it long. If they could, growing long hair would be manly and an example of why they should be in charge. God they are so reprehensible and pathetic. A testosterone issue? Come on.
I happened to listen yesterday on CSpan to a panel of experts discussing finance issues (federal bank, debt, effects of interest rates) organized by the American Enterprise Institute. no female on the panel. In fact one participant was a former student of a female professor in the audience.
the chair who took extraordinary time for his talking time belittled the apparently well known woman asking her for her who she as before she stated her question. she snipped back, something ‘don’t pretend you all don’t know me”. the person answering the question than said, indeed he was a student of her and owed about everything he was contributing today to her teaching.
UPDATE FROM NEW YORK SUN:
“Mrs. Palin’s comments suggest she’s savvier than many give her credit for being. No sooner did she issue her warning about the dollar than Reuters found a number of Republicans declaring she was right” So much for Ornstein’s comment’s about her lack of qualifications to engage in the discussion
A recent CNN television broadcast gave the impression that Esperanto aims to be a single global language. The comparison was with a global reserve currency, instead of the US dollar.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpC8mPk4QBM
May I put the record straight? Esperanto intends to be an auxiliary language, or a second language for all.
Please see http://www.lernu.net for confirmation.
Leave your Response Want an avatar? Get a gravatar!
Community Room
February 22, 2012 at 11:22 am
February 17, 2012 at 2:39 pm
February 6, 2012 at 4:25 pm
January 30, 2012 at 2:36 pm
January 26, 2012 at 4:38 pm
January 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm
January 15, 2012 at 11:37 am
January 9, 2012 at 6:36 pm
BUILD your NETWORK
Our Network of College Women
Protecting our Teenage Girls
We’re in the Media »
Click to see our latest stories in the media
More Stories »Recent Comments
The Latest from our Blog
Archives
Pioneer Mentors
Blogroll
Find us Online
Subscribe Entries (RSS) | Comments (RSS)
The New Agenda is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls by bringing about systemic change in the media, at the workplace, at school and at home. More...