Well, first, it's an imperfect system, which is all we'll ever get. We're still human, after all. I say "don't know enough" as a specific and non-judgmental qu

Well, first, it's an imperfect system, which is all we'll ever get. We're still human, after all. I say "don't know enough" as a specific and non-judgmental quantifier, not an overall statement - in other words, while otherwise competent and capable, and possessing areas of expertise, the average person may not know enough about specific issues and the diversity of interests surrounding those issues to draft adequate policy, nor judge the quality of drafted policy. That's not to say they couldn't learn, but people simply don't have enough time to fully engage the issues of the day. Because of this, we've elected to have a republic. Ideally, this means we choose gifted and dedicated people to represent us and to, as their full-time job, build up a body of knowledge and wisdom such to devise policies which best address pressing issues (Ideally.). This is a concession to the fact that we as citizens simply do not have the time to become experts both in our chosen craft and in the business of state. As to their qualifications, they're nothing but dedication, integrity, and intelligence. Ideally. Obviously this isn't what we have, but it's the thinking behind what we wrote down a few generations back, and I think it's still valid.