I confess to feeling continued ambivalence about political life, aware of its shortcomings and disappointments, but drawn back to it again and again because of its infinite promise. Justice can triumph, wrongs can be righted, and pain can be alleviated, if the right fix is found. The optimistic illusion that one can change the world is difficult to resist, especially when from time to time that illusion is sustained by even a hint of reality. Change does happen in the political process.

Madeleine M. Kunin

Categorized in : Disappointment Pain Optimistic

Inaction, contrary to its reputation for being a refuge, is neither safe nor comfortable.

Madeleine M. Kunin

reputation safe action

Contradictory as it seems, malnutrition is a key contributor to obesity.

Madeleine M. Kunin

obesity contradictory keys

When all the world appears to be in a tumult, and nature itself is feeling the assault of climate change, the seasons retain their essential rhythm. Yes, fall gives us a premonition of winter, but then, winter, will be forced to relent, once again, to the new beginnings of soft greens, longer light, and the sweet air of Spring.

Madeleine M. Kunin

spring sweet fall

Those who speak up, those who use their connections, are more likely to succeed than those who sit and wait.

Madeleine M. Kunin

connections use waiting

Simply put, when women do well, everybody does better.

Madeleine M. Kunin

wells doe

One is responsible for one's own life. Passivity provides no protection.

Madeleine M. Kunin

protection action life

Money often determines not only who gets elected, but what gets done. Which voices do lawmakers listen to, the banks or home owners, coal companies, or asthma sufferers, the CEOs or the unemployed?

Madeleine M. Kunin

coal voice home

We're all basically made of the same stuff: generosity and selfishness, goodness and greed.

Madeleine M. Kunin

selfishness generosity greed

We see the world through the lens of all our experiences; that is a fundamental part of the human condition.

Madeleine M. Kunin

lenses fundamentals world

Our right to disagree is precious but fragile. The best way to protect and preserve it is to let the other side speak without demonizing them or destroying their right to be heard. Such civil exchanges are the heart beat of democracy - essential to keeping it alive.

Madeleine M. Kunin

democracy essentials heart

Women need to see ourselves as individuals capable of creating change. That is what political and economic power is all about: having a voice, being able to shape the future. Women's absence from decision-making positions has deprived the country of a necessary perspective.

Madeleine M. Kunin

creating voice country

Like art, political action gives shape and expression to the things we fear as well as to those we desire. It is a creative process, drawing on the power to imagine as well as to act.

Madeleine M. Kunin

drawing expression art

A skilled worker, regardless of the job description, remains a treasure.

Madeleine M. Kunin

description treasure jobs

When there is violence against any person in society, because he or she is different, it threatens us all. Only by speaking out are any of us safe.

Madeleine M. Kunin

violence different safe

Video games seem to be mostly a boy thing - viewed by young boys and created by big boys. I believe that if more videos games were created by women, the violence in these games - especially against women - would be rapidly toned down.

Madeleine M. Kunin

games boys believe

There are no more excuses for leaving women out of the inner circles of power. Qualified women are everywhere. Women are ready for leadership; they just need to be identified and asked.

Madeleine M. Kunin

leaving circles needs

Most female CEOs have been more understanding than their male counterparts, of the stress that new mothers experience to 'do it all,' which often means, 'all by themselves.' Why? They've been there. They understand the policies needed to keep women in the workforce.

Madeleine M. Kunin

stress mother mean

Legislative proposals that would enable an employer to determine whether or not a woman's insurance would cover the cost of birth control strikes women as particularly bizarre. Is the boss going to take care of the children that are conceived accidentally? Stop treating us like children. Women are grown ups.

Madeleine M. Kunin

boss birth-control children

“Job Killer.” Those are the two words you are most likely to hear uttered by most American CEOs when confronted with proposals to enact family-friendly work policies.

Madeleine M. Kunin

friendly jobs two

If we are to create a new agenda for family/work policies, employers and employees have to take a seat at the same table and recognize their mutual gains.

Madeleine M. Kunin

agendas gains tables