A modest proposal to improve the quality of government

[Speck Tater]

You can't be a physician without an MD degree. You can't practice law without passing the bar exam. You can't be a contractor without passing a licensing exam. You can't even use a shortwave radio to chat with friends until you pass an FCC license exam.

What if colleges and universities had accredited degree progams in governance. What if you couldn't run for mayor or governor without at least a BS degree in governance? What if you couldn't run for Congress without at least a Master's degree in governance. What if you couldn't run for president without a PhD in governance?

At least that way we might get a larger percentage of people in office who actually had a clue about what they are doing. Isn't POTUS a more critical job than the optometrist in your local Wal Mart? Shouldn't it at least have the same level of competency and licensing requirements? I mean, what gives when you won't let someone give your dog a rabies shot unless he is educated and licensed to perform that job, but we let complete morons run the country. That's insane!

[stopthegop]

1. against the entire concept of citizen govt

the founders (esp Jefferson) wanted....they would already be appalled at the professional 'leaders' we have

[Speck Tater]

3. Maybe the founders called this one wrong.

The world is a more complex place now and competancy is vital. Even a barber requires a license as evidence of competancy. Citizen government was probably fine when what was being governed consisted of cotton plantations and cattle ranches, and those in government had a solid understanding of cotton plantations and cattle ranches. But the world is not that simple any more. And as technology becomes more complex and the interconnections of power and influence worldwide become more tangled maybe the time for governance by amateurs is drawing to a close.

[stopthegop]

4. we'll just have to disagree...

'professionals' tend to look down on others...already a problem in education...need less career pols, not more...

[LeahMira]

8. Not true!

'professionals' tend to look down on others...already a problem in education...need less career pols, not more...

Professionals are just people who happen to know more about a particular topic or subject that the average person does.

I really do wish that conservatives would get past their prejudice against anyone who happens to be well-educated. I don't think anyone is trying to claim that people with less formal education are stupid. I certainly don't think that way... although I will admit that it depends on the person. You find some dim bulbs who are educated and other dim bulbs who are not educated.

Really, though, there are brilliant mathematicians who can't fix a leaky toilet and skilled plumbers who can't add up the charges on their own bills.

The pioneers who settled this country were not usually well-educated individuals... in fact they were usually pretty strange folks that most of us would not want for next door neighbors. It bothers me that Republicans honor "the pioneer spirit that build America" when chances are that if any of them ever met a real pioneer they wouldn't like him very well.

Why can't people just be content with who they are and willing to contribute what they do best without dissing other people who just are different? ... not smarter than they are, but just smarter in some things and maybe not so smart in others.

Professionals are fine people. Doctors, for instance, are professionals, and darn if I want a plumber if I have a chest pain!

[rock]

7. Nope. They got this one right

The idea as bad as having (judgmental) criteria for voting.

[Nederland]

2. Wrong

Some of the biggest problems in government today are the product of people that have decades of political experience. No, sometimes what is needed is not a person with vast experience or education, but simple common sense.

[Maine-i-acs]

5. Jury duty first.

If a person serves jury duty, they go into a pool to be summoned for local or state rep.

If they serve as local or state rep, they go into a pool for state senate.

If they serve state senate, they go into a pool for the House.

If they serve house - Senate.

IF senate - then President.

Radical and stupid idea all around. Don't bother trashing the idea.

This is even stupider: Pay them the median income for the district they serve. Ban lobbyists all around...

[HFishbine]

6. No

Think it through. All sorts of pitfalls if the government starts creating greater barriers to elective office. The single greatest hurdle is one that should be eliminated -- the need for massive amounts of money. Adding certain additional tests, or measures, or criteria before being able to run for office would only make things worse.

[Drifter]

9. That would not have stopped AWOL ...

since all of his achievements are a result of his corrupt fathers influence.

Cheers
Drifter