Are politicians taught to be stupid or are they born that way?

[TonyG]

Today when that small airplane crashed into the building in Milan, within minutes the Italian government stated that it was the work of terrorists. Did they first bother to check anything out? NO!

The black mayor of Philly stated in a speech to an NAACP convention over this past weekend that "WE run this city. WE control the City of Brotherly Love." Today during a press conference to give an apology he stated..."I was wrong, there are several good people among the other nationalities."

I have come to believe that many politicians' brains have never fully developed.

 

[Zamdrist]

Intelligence is not a prerequisite to leadership.

 

[bored1]

Better yet, How do they keep getting reelected?

 

[Monazwx]

Tony

Don't you know?

The information is checked, re-checked and checked again before they say anything.

(Yeah right!)

Politicans live with their foot in their mouths. I think it's a requirement for the position.

 

[pondman]

genetics

Most have their name printed on the back of their belts so they no who they are when they pull their head out of their asses.

 

[rexfelis]

Taught?

Teaching implies that you advance, not regress.

Can you teach someone to be that stupid?

I think it would be impossible for them to be taught such idiocy because I don't think it's possible to be that stupid unless you're born that way.

Must be a "politician gene" or something.

 

[patient1]

It's easier to trust somebody dummer than you are.

Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton are examples of very smart men. Not the most trusted, and with good reason. The more they got away with, the more arrogant they became.

If you think politicians are evil or corrupt, most people would prefer somebody dumb enough to get caught at the time they attempt to pull something.

 

[Unclebill]

Originally posted by Zamdrist
Intelligence is not a prerequisite to leadership.

I'll beg to differ a bit here. Intelligence is a good quality in a leader even if not a prerequisite; but what has this to do with politicians?

Do not mistake a politician for a leader. They are entirely different things. Occasionally, you'll find a leader among politicians but that is the exception rather than the rule.

Are they taught to be stupid? I doubt it. I don't think mere indoctrination could achieve such magnificence in the realm of ignorance. But it's the very intelligent dishonest ones who worry me most.

But I think generally politicians are less stupid than they are completely self-absorbed and have found the perfect means in life to live at the expense of others. They are parasitic freeloaders for the most part who derive whatever passes for self-esteem by their exercise of the power to dispose of the lives and property of others.

They have evolved and refined a profession which attracts the worst among us generally. And don't you find it interesting that a very great percentage of politicians are also lawyers?

 

[koalabear]

Today when that small airplane crashed into the building in Milan, within minutes the Italian government stated that it was the work of terrorists. Did they first bother to check anything out? NO!

The black mayor of Philly stated in a speech to an NAACP convention over this past weekend that "WE run this city. WE control the City of Brotherly Love." Today during a press conference to give an apology he stated..."I was wrong, there are several good people among the other nationalities."

I have come to believe that many politicians' brains have never fully developed.

All they need is a line of bullshit like a used car salesman, and voters flock to them.

 

[TonyG]

...But I think generally politicians are less stupid than they are completely self-absorbed and have found the perfect means in life to live at the expense of others...

I have to agree.

 

[SINthysist]

No. We elect them that way...

 

[paganangel]

politicians suck...

but the people are no bargain either.

 

[miles]

No. We elect them that way...

What you mean "we" Kimosabe?

 

[SINthysist]

The 51% of us dumber than the 49% of you, trusted side-kick...

AWAY WE GO! HIHOSILVERRRRRRRRRRR....................

 

[heterotic]

I actually think politicians are taught to be stupid. I read some piercingly insightful political commentary from Dave Barry a while ago, which statement sounds like I'm kidding but I'm not.

Paraphrased, it goes like this: Special interest groups ask politicians for money. If they don't give it to them, then the politician has a specific group of mad people that won't vote for him. If the politician does give it to them, then he has a specific group of happy people that will vote for him, and only at the cost of lowering the satisfaction of the general population with "the system" for taxing them more heavily.

I think there are more counterproductive dynamics of this sort going on in the government, training politicians to be stupid and weeding out the ones that won't learn. Hard to get rid of things like that, though. Simple, but hard.

 

[SINthysist]

Here's how it works.

We have a sparse population, so everyone gets the politicians ear. I throw a not-for-profit event. The state grants me X dollars towards said event. Later that year, I attend fund-raiser, get to rub elbows with the muckety mucks, shake hands with jocks, and make a donation in the sum of X dollars.

But I can always talk to the guy and he's easily influenced.

Until he talks to the next guy...

 

[Ishmael]

.....................................

But I think generally politicians are less stupid than they are completely self-absorbed and have found the perfect means in life to live at the expense of others. They are parasitic freeloaders for the most part who derive whatever passes for self-esteem by their exercise of the power to dispose of the lives and property of others.

They have evolved and refined a profession which attracts the worst among us generally. And don't you find it interesting that a very great percentage of politicians are also lawyers?

I think there are some altruistic ones out there, usually 'first' termer's. Once the adrenaline of power is in the blood they to become 'spoiled'.

For others, read Lord Acton. Unclebill already knows.

Ishmael

 

[paganangel]

I think there are some altruistic ones out there, usually 'first' termer's. Once the adrenaline of power is in the blood they to become 'spoiled'.

For others, read Lord Acton. Unclebill already knows.

Ishmael

well, i haven't read lord action, but i think it's more than one's own power corrupting their altruism. it's a case of the power of others, and the system corrupting idealism. in order to get this i have to give that...etc.

 

[SpaceToast]

Oh, don't blame them. Just look at who hired them in the first place....

But I kid the political process-

-M@

 

[Ishmael]

well, i haven't read lord action, but i think it's more than one's own power corrupting their altruism. it's a case of the power of others, and the system corrupting idealism. in order to get this i have to give that...etc.

"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely"........Lord Acton

Ishmael