Today, Meg Whitman for governor. Yesterday, Carly Fiorina for McCain. Is this how our female leaders will move to the top?

Joan Ganz Cooney - who should know, after all - agrees with me that climbing the ladder in the business world and succeeding - is an unexcelled learning and growing experience. We find who can take the pressure, who has the brightness, ability to work with people (very often almost at the top of the list), and, of course, that inner drive. From experience, I know that there is always sacrifice involved on a personal level if this is to be your course. My personal belief is that politics is another ball of wax entirely. The political connections made going up the ladder are essential to feeling - as well as being fit for the higher positions. Politics is a far different world than business, but the confidence gained in the rise in business will hold you in good stead. But unfortunately, in politics it is who you know in the beginning who sees you as an up-and-comer and will take you under his/her wing to instruct you, groom you behind the scenes, give you that push that will make a move upward easier that counts far more than in the business world. Confidence reigns, public speaking ability will take you far - along with the smarts gained as you learn the ropes, so to speak. Efforts are noticably being made to see that women are put in high positions IF warranted. But as I have said here, in any of the positions, it is crucial that we have the best PERSON who is the best fit for the job, man or woman. This is not a run for Miss America where a loss is just too bad. In our politics of today, we pray for the person who is the most well versed, well suited, and the hard to define word “right” for the job. In our present circumstances, the closer the look before the choice is made the better. All our lives may depend on it!!!

Women are slowly breaking through “glass ceilings” as our potential is recognized. We have to remember that it isn’t just men keeping women from top positions but other women as well. Some prefer to work for a man instead of a qualified woman supervisor. A woman who has earned her position should be respected and supported by her peers. Jealousy among those not immediately chosen for a slot can undermine the ability of the person selected to do her job. As more women move into top management we should be looking at qualifications not gender. One of the best supervisors I ever had was a woman editor who knew her own mind. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She set high standards I was proud to follow.

I believe we aren’t at the place yet where we can’t take a person’s sex into consideration when it comes to employment, just as we can’t take race out of the equation completely as well. I agree these shouldn’t be primary factors when hiring, but they should be up there as consideration factors. As a nation, in some instances (I stress some not all) businesses should reflect their communities and clientele. I’m happy to see so many women taking top positions in corporations, but its disheartening to see that this one simple act is viewed as monumental. The fact that women still don’t earn what a man does is bizarre.

Belinda, I don’t agree that we aren’t at a place where we can’t take a person’s sex into consideration. We are at a place where we still DON’T but CAN’T is another thing completely. We should not. Just consider the candidate with the best skills. Unfortunately, women often manage with a different style but are judged by a standard set by a more male style of management and so do not fare as well.

Hey Meg, how’s the child slave labor situation in China? After all you were President of Stride Rite and the kids were paid 93 cents and hour for a 13 1/2 hr day making Keds shoes. And you knew about it too as you toured the plant where they used their bare hands to put glue in the shoes and they had no ventilation of any kind and the fumes were so bad that even your eyes were affected. Way to go Meg—are you going to introduce these practices into the California government? After all you have all that labor from Mexico just waiting to work for despots like you.