Qualifications for elected public offices
- Thread starter iamcanadian
- Start date
yes...
well, given the new info from this thread i think we should start a new party of the uppitys. the motto will be we are too good looking to be wrong, so listen to us, you stupid ham-and-eggers!
well, given the new info from this thread i think we should start a new party of the uppitys. the motto will be we are too good looking to be wrong, so listen to us, you stupid ham-and-eggers!
Re: RE: Qualifications for elected public offices
not too shabby CK :thumbleft: ...... although we might want to use less/simpler words... :wink:
the caracal kid said:
not too shabby CK :thumbleft: ...... although we might want to use less/simpler words... :wink:
Seems to me that in a democracy, which Canada purports to be, that the very basis of democratic elections is that virtually anyone can, and should, run for office. Perhaps if we had a few more of the so-called "common" people, instead of the educated lawyers and economists, maybe we could do better. Or maybe not, but education does not translate into wisdom.
perhaps, but people tend to fall for the old appeal to authority far too easily. "oh, he is a lawyer" or "oh, he has a PhD" results in people miscrediting the individual for competency in areas outside their specialization (or worse, fail to recognize the candidate's fallibility within their specialization). There is also the issue of experience in areas pertinant to public service that certian private professions naturally nurture.
Re: RE: Qualifications for elected public offices
Agreed, but that speaks more to our expectations, as opposed to the qualifications of the individual. I will agree as well that some sort of experience in civil, municipal, or provincial politics would be preferable prior to trying for the federal public service. But I would oppose mandatory qualifications, if it ever came to that.
the caracal kid said:
Agreed, but that speaks more to our expectations, as opposed to the qualifications of the individual. I will agree as well that some sort of experience in civil, municipal, or provincial politics would be preferable prior to trying for the federal public service. But I would oppose mandatory qualifications, if it ever came to that.
Agreed, the enforcement of mandatory qualifications should be highly discouraged, in my opinion. And I would also agree that I would like a Member of Parliament for my riding to have political experience in at least some way or another. But then again, perhaps for some Ministerial portfolios, mandatory qualifications could be of slightly more use; for example, an accountant would be a highly preferable position for a Minister of Finance; and for a Minister of Health, being a doctor or health consultant couldn't hurt.
Honesty and personal integrity is all that is needed. People of reasonable intelegence can generally see when they are being lied to.
If they can't tell because the professional's and public servant lied to them convincingly at the time they accepted a recommendation, then with honesty and personal integrity the elected official can go back to the recommendations and rather than take blame, pass on the resposibility and accountability to the professionals and public servants who are found to have lied to them (or made a mistake, nudge, nudge, wink, wink).
It is intended to be a simple process, but because we tend to elect a majority of people who do not have personal integrity, they refuse to pass on the responsibility for the lies and misrepresentations made to them to the true culprits and simply act stupid about most things that go wrong to avoid taking personal action abdicating their public responsibilities in the process.
If they can't tell because the professional's and public servant lied to them convincingly at the time they accepted a recommendation, then with honesty and personal integrity the elected official can go back to the recommendations and rather than take blame, pass on the resposibility and accountability to the professionals and public servants who are found to have lied to them (or made a mistake, nudge, nudge, wink, wink).
It is intended to be a simple process, but because we tend to elect a majority of people who do not have personal integrity, they refuse to pass on the responsibility for the lies and misrepresentations made to them to the true culprits and simply act stupid about most things that go wrong to avoid taking personal action abdicating their public responsibilities in the process.
Re: RE: Qualifications for elected public offices
Some experience with politics can mean they can be part of the problem. I would say a history in politics and in non-elected public offices should be strikes against candidates unless they are seen to be shining stars which very very few ever are.
People who are not average members of the public do not reflect a typical public and should not be considered the best people to advance a public interest.
Given choice between a lawyer, a career politician and Mr. Joe Public, Joe Public should be considered the best person for the job of representing the public.
bluealberta said:
Some experience with politics can mean they can be part of the problem. I would say a history in politics and in non-elected public offices should be strikes against candidates unless they are seen to be shining stars which very very few ever are.
People who are not average members of the public do not reflect a typical public and should not be considered the best people to advance a public interest.
Given choice between a lawyer, a career politician and Mr. Joe Public, Joe Public should be considered the best person for the job of representing the public.
Most 'Joe Public's don't pay attention at all to politics and the issues of the day. They don't know what the isssues are, let alone an opinion on the direction of the country. I don't want Joe Public as my elected representatitive... I want somebody who has demonstrated intelligence, and who has formulated opinions on the issues. I think most people attracted to politics do so out of high ideals - they want to make a difference. I think most of these people are moral people.
It is the system that is dysfunctional, the system that blunts all ideals and clear thinking. Everything becomes so short sighted... how will it play on the evening news, and how will this keep our approval ratings up. And regardless of the high ideals that led these people into politics, power corrupts. And absolute power such as that exercised by the Liberals over the past 12 years corrupts absolutely.
It is the system that is dysfunctional, the system that blunts all ideals and clear thinking. Everything becomes so short sighted... how will it play on the evening news, and how will this keep our approval ratings up. And regardless of the high ideals that led these people into politics, power corrupts. And absolute power such as that exercised by the Liberals over the past 12 years corrupts absolutely.
Just a couple of weeks ago I was talking to my MP about various things. Well one thing led to another and my MP advises me that low income people get what they deserve, low wages, no benefits, lousy hours, etc. I'm shocked by this so I precede to tell Mr. Randy Hawes of the BC Liberals that he better watch what he says as he holds a position which requires NO qualifications for. He preceded to tell me that as an MP one has to win the popular vote to run for the party, then they have to win the popularity vote amongst the voters. I asked him what credentials are required to sign up to become a politician with ANY party. Do you need a grade 12 high school completion certificate? no; do you need a university education? no; do you need a drivers license? no.
Funny how people who hold professional positions are required to cough up their certifications before they are offered the position, but not politicians.
So I further ask Mr Hawes should Wal-Mart start paying $100K a year because a doctor decides to become a greeter? He had no response to this.
When I called Mr. Hawes it was during the teacher strike here in BC in October 2005. He further ranted that teachers don't deserve what they currently get. But when asked how much someone should make after 6 years of university he had no answer.
Then he proceeds to tell me that he has a university education and his classes were filled with over 100 students and he had NO problem learning in that environment but doesn't understand at all why the teachers feel they need lower class sizes. (I wonder if he would like to try and control 100 6 & 7 years olds for 6 hours) (I'd pay money to see that one).
Then a couple of weeks later the Libs try and put thru a huge pay raise. Well Mr. Hawes and his university education proudly states "This 15% pay increase really only amounts to 5%......"
Thank god this clown isn't a Finance Minister.
Funny how people who hold professional positions are required to cough up their certifications before they are offered the position, but not politicians.
So I further ask Mr Hawes should Wal-Mart start paying $100K a year because a doctor decides to become a greeter? He had no response to this.
When I called Mr. Hawes it was during the teacher strike here in BC in October 2005. He further ranted that teachers don't deserve what they currently get. But when asked how much someone should make after 6 years of university he had no answer.
Then he proceeds to tell me that he has a university education and his classes were filled with over 100 students and he had NO problem learning in that environment but doesn't understand at all why the teachers feel they need lower class sizes. (I wonder if he would like to try and control 100 6 & 7 years olds for 6 hours) (I'd pay money to see that one).
Then a couple of weeks later the Libs try and put thru a huge pay raise. Well Mr. Hawes and his university education proudly states "This 15% pay increase really only amounts to 5%......"
Thank god this clown isn't a Finance Minister.
Yeah obviously the grasp of good finance,accounting, and economics is one thing that most politicians lack.
The greatest political asset any politician can have is a grasp of numbers in all respects (Accounting, Statistics, Economics, Science, etc).
The greatest political asset any politician can have is a grasp of numbers in all respects (Accounting, Statistics, Economics, Science, etc).