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You know, this whole not liking career politicians thing... isn't it kinda like not liking career doctors or lawyers? Why would we not want people who have spen

You know, this whole not liking career politicians thing... isn't it kinda like not liking career doctors or lawyers? Why would we not want people who have spent their careers learning the ins and outs of the political landscape to represent us? Would we really rather have an amateur? How well did that work out when we elected one president?

trident5000 6y ago
Because they do anything to cling to power and make sure their side of the isle wins and therefore their own seat. Career politicians are why Washington is so dirty.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
  While it is difficult to believe that power-seeking is entirely orthogonal to choosing a career in politics, just how do you envision things will go with politicians who are not experienced at actual politics? Again, wanting a representative who is not experienced at politics to represent you is kinda like wanting a lawyer who isn't experienced at practicing law to represent you. Or a doctor who isn't experienced at medicine to treat you. What I'm saying is, I think you've latched on to the wrong quality as a focus of your ire. People being career politicians is not the problem, it's people being corrupt power-seeking assholes. That's a difficult problem to solve, I know, which is why it is so tempting to blame the problem on something easier to solve, but I think that sentiment is one pushed largely by career pundits to manipulate people.
throwaway316943 6y ago
I don’t think that’s a good comparison. You’re comparing professions that people interact directly with and which compete in an open market. Except for local politicians, most people will never have the chance to directly speak with career politicians and their choice is very limited when it comes time to choose one after which you are locked in to their services. It’s hard to think of a good comparison because anything comparable is usually political in some way. I would like to see more transparency and sortition applied to government. It’s probably impossible to do away with the career politicians since they are specialists but I think we should do more to keep them accountable like selecting a group of people whose task is to both directly observe and petition elected officials. Basically solving the problem of politicians being so far removed from the people by bringing a sample of the people to the politician. Sort of like a jury during a trial.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
  > I would like to see more transparency and sortition applied to government. I agree. > It’s probably impossible to do away with the career politicians since they are specialists Again I must emphasize that it is not the career part of this that is the problem. The only alternative that doesn't involve career politicians is electing amateur ones who have no experience navigating the political landscape. > I think we should do more to keep them accountable like selecting a group of people whose task is to both directly observe and petition elected officials. I could envision a system like that that I could support but there'd be a lot of complications to work out. We should probably have something like that for police too. > Basically solving the problem of politicians being so far removed from the people by bringing a sample of the people to the politician This I just find kinda funny, since that's already how it works. You can get a meeting with your senator or congressman directly, though it isn't easy. Talking to one of their staff is pretty doable. Letters and phone calls are low-effort, but of course they also count for a lot less. The term "special interest groups" gets bandied about frequently in derogatory fashion, and while it does include corporate lobbyists it also covers hobby clubs, activist groups of various kinds, and trade unions, all of which make their cases to senators and congressmen on behalf of their members (which may include you). And of course your locally elected officials also meet with them about their concerns.

trident5000 6y ago

Because they do anything to cling to power and make sure their side of the isle wins and therefore their own seat. Career politicians are why Washington is so dirty.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
While it is difficult to believe that power-seeking is entirely orthogonal to choosing a career in politics, just how do you envision things will go with politicians who are not experienced at actual politics? Again, wanting a representative who is not experienced at politics to represent you is kinda like wanting a lawyer who isn't experienced at practicing law to represent you. Or a doctor who isn't experienced at medicine to treat you. What I'm saying is, I think you've latched on to the wrong quality as a focus of your ire. People being career politicians is not the problem, it's people being corrupt power-seeking assholes. That's a difficult problem to solve, I know, which is why it is so tempting to blame the problem on something easier to solve, but I think that sentiment is one pushed largely by career pundits to manipulate people.

throwaway316943 6y ago

I don’t think that’s a good comparison. You’re comparing professions that people interact directly with and which compete in an open market. Except for local politicians, most people will never have the chance to directly speak with career politicians and their choice is very limited when it comes time to choose one after which you are locked in to their services. It’s hard to think of a good comparison because anything comparable is usually political in some way. I would like to see more transparency and sortition applied to government. It’s probably impossible to do away with the career politicians since they are specialists but I think we should do more to keep them accountable like selecting a group of people whose task is to both directly observe and petition elected officials. Basically solving the problem of politicians being so far removed from the people by bringing a sample of the people to the politician. Sort of like a jury during a trial.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
> I would like to see more transparency and sortition applied to government. I agree. > It’s probably impossible to do away with the career politicians since they are specialists Again I must emphasize that it is not the career part of this that is the problem. The only alternative that doesn't involve career politicians is electing amateur ones who have no experience navigating the political landscape. > I think we should do more to keep them accountable like selecting a group of people whose task is to both directly observe and petition elected officials. I could envision a system like that that I could support but there'd be a lot of complications to work out. We should probably have something like that for police too. > Basically solving the problem of politicians being so far removed from the people by bringing a sample of the people to the politician This I just find kinda funny, since that's already how it works. You can get a meeting with your senator or congressman directly, though it isn't easy. Talking to one of their staff is pretty doable. Letters and phone calls are low-effort, but of course they also count for a lot less. The term "special interest groups" gets bandied about frequently in derogatory fashion, and while it does include corporate lobbyists it also covers hobby clubs, activist groups of various kinds, and trade unions, all of which make their cases to senators and congressmen on behalf of their members (which may include you). And of course your locally elected officials also meet with them about their concerns.