Commentary on women in politics, Britain’s budget, the big shift in US foreign policy, on being US Secretary of State, how women are doing, Venice is disappearing, and Canadian unions are in trouble.

Much more than Sarah.

Financial Times -- The Achilles heel of women in politics
“Game Change” , a TV docu-drama centred on Sarah Palin, raises many questions about female political power in America.

The inter-generational divide puts the squeeze on David Osborne.

Economist -- George Osborne's "Granny Tax" woes are not about political clumsiness, but cowardice
AS GEORGE Osborne, the Conservative chancellor of the exchequer, endures a second morning of horrible headlines about a stealth "Granny Tax" supposedly hidden in his 2012 budget, voices within the commentariat are questioning whether he deserves his reputation as a master of news management and political strategy.

Quote worth noting.

“[W]hat what really lies beneath the outrage swirling around is an inter-generational conflict. The debt crisis and subsequent austerity cuts have left older people (who are broadly home-owning savers) feeling the pinch from low interest rates and high inflation rates that broadly favour the young (who still have mortgages and debts).”

The foreign policy focus shift to China means the United States is giving up being a global power for a Pacific centred regional one.

Yale Global -- Global Power Shift – Part I
The US plan to boost its presence in Asia could be less about expanding security and more about setting new priorities.

What it’s like to be Secretary of State.

Economist -- An interview with Hillary Clinton
HILLARY CLINTON has announced that she will not continue in her job for a second term.

The Economist Intelligence Unit uses five measures to rank countries by the economic opportunity that women have. The measures are labour and policy practice, access to finance, education and training, legal and social status, and general business environment.

Pdf below -- Women's Economic Opportunity Report 2012

Into the sea.

The Atlantic Cities -- As Sea Levels Rise, Venice Sinks
Rising sea levels are an obvious problem for the canal-laden city of Venice, Italy, which is threatened with increased flooding as climate change pushes the waterline farther and farther up. And now, scientists have found that the flooding problems are being exacerbated by the entire city's gradual sinking.

Can unions work?

Globe and Mail -- The sorry state of our unions
So it has come to this: Even union leaders are losing faith in the power of their unions.