Presidential substance
As we enter the primary season of the 2016 US presidential elections I have a simple request: competence.
Who among us is willing to be operated on by an under-qualified surgeon? Is anyone prepared to fly in a Boeing 787 with someone who only has Cessna 172 experience? We even expect our bus drivers to be highly competent. Why then are we willing to hire our next President based on her or his popularity?
Without a doubt, a secretary, a janitor or a retail sales person goes through a more thorough vetting process than our presidential candidates. Sure, they do get vetted for financial wrongdoings, they got through a security background check and every single one of their press statements, speeches or tweets is dug through for dirt.
But what about the actual competencies? Don’t we want the leader of our nation to have more than charisma? We want them to be versed in the issues. We want them to understand the international system. We need them to have managerial, budgetary and negotiation skills; proven skills. It’s as though they next CEO of your favorite Fortune 500 company were hired based on their ability to sway rather than to manage. Somehow, the big buck financiers that are ready to put manipulated pawns in charge would certainly not allow the same to happen in their precious executive suite.
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August 8, 2015