Quote of the Day - 6 July 2013

In a rare touch of irony, Shane Jones also provides our Quote of the Day today, having been also featured in our Whodunnit? series. He is quoted in a Herald story on Labour's proposed Man-Ban:

Mr Jones said he had spent yesterday in and around Kerikeri and Kaitaia talking about the proposal, "and the overwhelming response is the public doesn't want the country run by geldings".
"Of course it's important that we have a diverse set of personalities in our caucus but merit cannot be disowned for mediocrity, whether it's Maoris, women or anyone else."
Mr Jones said most people in the provinces - where Labour needed to recapture support - were focused on the economy.
"They don't care who is going to exercise the power provided they're talented, they've got merit and they can develop a solution to the economic woes affecting so many people."

Shane Jones is absolutely right. The 120-odd people who represent us in Parliament should be there on ability first and foremost. Gender, identity, sexual orientation and all the other labels are very much a secondary consideration.