Education

[Crystallas]

Why would they be required to take courses? Maybe they can skip that whole step and self-educate themselves. The information is available, the books are there, the historical sites/museums, a great base of experts and historians who often speak independently about specific subjects. To me, requiring a formal education does not make things any better.

 

[Vega]

Why would they be required to take courses? Maybe they can skip that whole step and self-educate themselves. The information is available, the books are there, the historical sites/museums, a great base of experts and historians who often speak independently about specific subjects. To me, requiring a formal education does not make things any better.

Because, clearly, they aren't taking it upon themselves to self-educate. When a potential elected official makes statements about their intended position that are horrendously false, I have to wonder why that sort of behavior is acceptable. If they aren't going to hold themselves accountable, I don't see why we shouldn't be able to enforce more education on those who are making the decisions for us.

 

[Crystallas]

Because, clearly, they aren't taking it upon themselves to self-educate. When a potential elected official makes statements about their intended position that are horrendously false, I have to wonder why that sort of behavior is acceptable. If they aren't going to hold themselves accountable, I don't see why we shouldn't be able to enforce more education on those who are making the decisions for us.

This is not an issue of education on the politicians part. The voters don't research their candidates well enough. Instead, too many try to confirm their bias, and ignore the results of specific policy. "It's broken mah, donchu worry, I'll duct-tape her together, make her work!" LOL

 

[Vega]

This is not an issue of education on the politicians part. The voters don't research their candidates well enough. Instead, too many try to confirm their bias, and ignore the results of specific policy. "It's broken mah, donchu worry, I'll duct-tape her together, make her work!" LOL

I don't disagree with you with regards to the voters. It's definitely a societal issue, but I'd still feel better knowing my politicians were competently educated.

 

[Crystallas]

I don't disagree with you with regards to the voters. It's definitely a societal issue, but I'd still feel better knowing my politicians were competently educated.

I used to feel the same way, and believe me when I say that I don't blame you, nor am I trying to make you seem wrong on this issue. However, I did have a change of heart when I read a Noam Chomsky book(I am not a big fan of his, but I am an obsessive reader) and forgive me for forgetting the title. He talks about being asked repeatedly about being one of the foremost intellects in the world, and how he copes with being so heavily researched and referenced. Then he went on to describe how he would further get repeated questions on what he attributes his intellect in origin. His ultimate answer(at least in this writing) was that the smartest man that he had ever met, and the most educated man changed his life. This man was never formally educated, and he believed he was even a high school drop out. But when he recognized that himself, a man who was well respected in an elite category, bowed down to this 'uneducated" man's knowledge and intellect, he realized that we often discriminate against those who do not have a formal education out of our own laziness. Our own laziness to just take yet another document for granted, and believe it to define an individual. This concept was very wrong to him, and I happen to agree with him. I had to rethink everything from that point about education. You can call this one of my own eureka moments, maybe?

We as voters bare the greatest responsibility. We have taken too much for granted in such forms as documentation, going off the conclusions of others. The real flaws begin with our complacency.

 

[Vega]

I used to feel the same way, and believe me when I say that I don't blame you, nor am I trying to make you seem wrong on this issue. However, I did have a change of heart when I read a Noam Chomsky book(I am not a big fan of his, but I am an obsessive reader) and forgive me for forgetting the title. He talks about being asked repeatedly about being one of the foremost intellects in the world, and how he copes with being so heavily researched and referenced. Then he went on to describe how he would further get repeated questions on what he attributes his intellect in origin. His ultimate answer(at least in this writing) was that the smartest man that he had ever met, and the most educated man changed his life. This man was never formally educated, and he believed he was even a high school drop out. But when he recognized that himself, a man who was well respected in an elite category, bowed down to this 'uneducated" man's knowledge and intellect, he realized that we often discriminate against those who do not have a formal education out of our own laziness. Our own laziness to just take yet another document for granted, and believe it to define an individual. This concept was very wrong to him, and I happen to agree with him. I had to rethink everything from that point about education. You can call this one of my own eureka moments, maybe?

We as voters bare the greatest responsibility. We have taken too much for granted in such forms as documentation, going off the conclusions of others. The real flaws begin with our complacency.

Okay, let me clarify a bit here. I am from the same school of thought - I don't feel that all people with a degree in their hands could be considered educated and/or intellectual by any means. I even like to think of myself as one that is fairly well-educated, but that came from my own research and learning. I only hold an AA degree, which was ridiculously hard to get and took forever (disability/mental issues) but that is an entirely different topic. So, I think when I use the word "educate" I mean something different from the traditional usage.

However, in a leader's case, I don't think they necessarily feel pressured or a desire to educate themselves further. This isn't totally their fault, because as you said, much of the country is complacent with this. But, I do find it frustrating and do blame the politicians as well for not wanting to accurately and honestly follow the law as it was written. I can't help but feel that they could benefit from some sort of additional education... as we all would.

 

[Crystallas]

Okay, let me clarify a bit here. I am from the same school of thought - I don't feel that all people with a degree in their hands could be considered educated and/or intellectual by any means. I even like to think of myself as one that is fairly well-educated, but that came from my own research and learning. I only hold an AA degree, which was ridiculously hard to get and took forever (disability/mental issues) but that is an entirely different topic. So, I think when I use the word "educate" I mean something different from the traditional usage.

However, in a leader's case, I don't think they necessarily feel pressured or a desire to educate themselves further. This isn't totally their fault, because as you said, much of the country is complacent with this. But, I do find it frustrating and do blame the politicians as well for not wanting to accurately and honestly follow the law as it was written. I can't help but feel that they could benefit from some sort of additional education... as we all would.

:clap I can fare well with that

 

[Awoon]

The whole point of this thread is that the College educated are running the world, the world according to the media and them is in financial trouble. This didn't happen over night and the finger pointers (remember both sides are college educated) have no firm solutions to the problems that they claim are upon the world which they run.

That causes people to be scared, restless, antagonistic.

 

[Falvlun]

The whole point of this thread is that the College educated are running the world, the world according to the media and them is in financial trouble. This didn't happen over night and the finger pointers (remember both sides are college educated) have no firm solutions to the problems that they claim are upon the world which they run.

That causes people to be scared, restless, antagonistic.

All the world leaders have been wearing clothes. And now we're in this deep financial do-do. Maybe we should start electing naked people.

 

[cablescavenger]

Do politicians need a college education?

Well it is better than a religious education