The politicians closest to me on the issues are often, being political amateurs, the
most incompetent!
I think we’re confusing two kinds of competence.
There’s political competence, the ability to raise money, produce sound bites for television, kiss babies, and so on. I think that’s what you’re talking about.
And there’s executive competence (or something), which is a little more like rationality, decision-making ability, ability to govern. I think jimrandomh was talking about this kind of competence.
I once looked at libertarian candidates for state and Congressional positions; their websites had errors (ranging from spelling to serious misunderstandings of economics.) That was what I meant by being “amateurs.” A former truck driver with his heart in the right place is not an expert on the details of policy. He might compensate by having a good work ethic and good sense, but he might also do a lot of damage by proposing policies that have unintended consequences he’s never thought about.
Well, sure. But that’s precisely why I don’t think “voting for qualifications” is a good idea.
The ways that a voter can gauge a politician’s “qualification”—his resume, his past accomplishments, even (someone suggested) his GPA—would make government insiders and perhaps private-sector executives look the best, depending on where you put your emphasis. It wouldn’t make truck drivers look good. If you’re voting for a truck driver, it’s either because you know him personally and know him to have good character (not true of most voters) or because it looks like he shares your values.
I think we’re confusing two kinds of competence.
There’s political competence, the ability to raise money, produce sound bites for television, kiss babies, and so on. I think that’s what you’re talking about.
And there’s executive competence (or something), which is a little more like rationality, decision-making ability, ability to govern. I think jimrandomh was talking about this kind of competence.
No, I mean governing incompetence.
I once looked at libertarian candidates for state and Congressional positions; their websites had errors (ranging from spelling to serious misunderstandings of economics.) That was what I meant by being “amateurs.” A former truck driver with his heart in the right place is not an expert on the details of policy. He might compensate by having a good work ethic and good sense, but he might also do a lot of damage by proposing policies that have unintended consequences he’s never thought about.
Intelligence and expertise don’t seem to be a reliable protection against this error either however.
Well, sure. But that’s precisely why I don’t think “voting for qualifications” is a good idea.
The ways that a voter can gauge a politician’s “qualification”—his resume, his past accomplishments, even (someone suggested) his GPA—would make government insiders and perhaps private-sector executives look the best, depending on where you put your emphasis. It wouldn’t make truck drivers look good. If you’re voting for a truck driver, it’s either because you know him personally and know him to have good character (not true of most voters) or because it looks like he shares your values.