- Joined
- Jul 13, 2017
- Messages
- 13,568
- Reaction score
- 8,485
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Slightly Liberal
I've been looking at the situation in Venezuela. A lot of people blame socialism or American interference or oil prices for the catastrophe. But there is little talk about the real problem. The real problem is Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro were never qualified to run a government. Chavez went to military school and Maduro never even finished high school. How could people with such basic educational levels be expected to deal with complex macro economic problems?
I think for democracy to survive there must be some basic educational requirements for lawmakers, governors, and heads of state. At a minimum, they should have a Masters in economics.
How did the United States prosper so far without educational requirements? Well, from the beginning this country has been run by elites. Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin were intellectual and social elites. And for a long time the political parties were controlled by the wealthy elites who usually only promoted candidates who were well qualified.
I predict that the increasingly complex problems we face will be handled by completely incompetent leaders and voter confidence in democracy will dwindle ushering in an age of dictators like Putin. Russia is an example of a nation where people have lost faith in democracy.
Should there be some educational or training requirements for elected offices?
I think for democracy to survive there must be some basic educational requirements for lawmakers, governors, and heads of state. At a minimum, they should have a Masters in economics.
How did the United States prosper so far without educational requirements? Well, from the beginning this country has been run by elites. Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin were intellectual and social elites. And for a long time the political parties were controlled by the wealthy elites who usually only promoted candidates who were well qualified.
I predict that the increasingly complex problems we face will be handled by completely incompetent leaders and voter confidence in democracy will dwindle ushering in an age of dictators like Putin. Russia is an example of a nation where people have lost faith in democracy.
Should there be some educational or training requirements for elected offices?