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You expect politicians to be brave, fearless and know how to use power. But here's a politician admitting to being powerless. That is such a screwed up situatio

You expect politicians to be brave, fearless and know how to use power. But here's a politician admitting to being powerless. That is such a screwed up situation. (To be clear, I am not blaming them but the existing political environment).

randomdata 4y ago
> You expect politicians to be brave, fearless and know how to use power. You do? There is some nobility in stepping up to be a public servant, but you're still a servant at the end of the day; one that works for a bunch of petulant, out of touch bosses who can't get along to save their lives. Not where I would expect to find the brave and fearless. There may be something to be said about the marketing opportunities that a head of state-type position opens up for such a person, but a general representative without a fancy position in government seems like a strange fit for someone who isn't afraid to take on the world.
- webmobdev 4y ago
  Yes, I know I am in the minority but I do admire politicians. When you work with them, you realise the skill-sets you need to become an elected representative. Imagine CEOs who have to manage not thousands or tens of thousands, but millions of people (in populous countries like India and China). You need to command respect from the people, know how to deal with people of varying personalities, you need to know when to follow and when to lead, you need to have the ability to identify potential leaders and teach them to lead, you have to watch out for backstabbers and political opponents, you need to be clear about your self-interests and other people's interest, you have need to know how to negotiate between various power brokers etc. Most of us cynically mock them and even despise some of them, but it really is not easy to be one.
  - randomdata 4y ago
    > Imagine CEOs who have to manage not thousands or tens of thousands, but millions of people Except it is an inverse relationship. You have possibly millions of people, all with conflicting ideas, trying to manage you. If you want to use that analogy, it is more like being a CEO with millions of shareholders who have no distinct profit motive and can't come together and decide, in a unified fashion, what they want out of their company. Although the board of directors is a much closer analog. > it really is not easy to be one. Nor is there much upside, except in the most prominent positions providing a branding advantage, which is why it is a strange choice for those who aren't limited by their own hangups. Academically interesting, for those into that kind of thing, but being brave and fearless is often at odds with having a proclivity towards those academic interests, so while it indeed takes a lot of talent, you don't expect bravery and fearlessness to necessarily come along for the ride.
ekianjo 4y ago
> You expect politicians to be brave, fearless and know how to use power No, I expect them to be complete incompetent fools. Most of the time I find out this is not wrong.
- gadders 4y ago
  "Politics is showbiz for ugly people."
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

randomdata 4y ago

> You expect politicians to be brave, fearless and know how to use power. You do? There is some nobility in stepping up to be a public servant, but you're still a servant at the end of the day; one that works for a bunch of petulant, out of touch bosses who can't get along to save their lives. Not where I would expect to find the brave and fearless. There may be something to be said about the marketing opportunities that a head of state-type position opens up for such a person, but a general representative without a fancy position in government seems like a strange fit for someone who isn't afraid to take on the world.

webmobdev 4y ago
Yes, I know I am in the minority but I do admire politicians. When you work with them, you realise the skill-sets you need to become an elected representative. Imagine CEOs who have to manage not thousands or tens of thousands, but millions of people (in populous countries like India and China). You need to command respect from the people, know how to deal with people of varying personalities, you need to know when to follow and when to lead, you need to have the ability to identify potential leaders and teach them to lead, you have to watch out for backstabbers and political opponents, you need to be clear about your self-interests and other people's interest, you have need to know how to negotiate between various power brokers etc. Most of us cynically mock them and even despise some of them, but it really is not easy to be one.
- randomdata 4y ago
  > Imagine CEOs who have to manage not thousands or tens of thousands, but millions of people Except it is an inverse relationship. You have possibly millions of people, all with conflicting ideas, trying to manage you. If you want to use that analogy, it is more like being a CEO with millions of shareholders who have no distinct profit motive and can't come together and decide, in a unified fashion, what they want out of their company. Although the board of directors is a much closer analog. > it really is not easy to be one. Nor is there much upside, except in the most prominent positions providing a branding advantage, which is why it is a strange choice for those who aren't limited by their own hangups. Academically interesting, for those into that kind of thing, but being brave and fearless is often at odds with having a proclivity towards those academic interests, so while it indeed takes a lot of talent, you don't expect bravery and fearlessness to necessarily come along for the ride.

ekianjo 4y ago

> You expect politicians to be brave, fearless and know how to use power No, I expect them to be complete incompetent fools. Most of the time I find out this is not wrong.

gadders 4y ago
"Politics is showbiz for ugly people."
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]