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.
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.