Just watched the closing ceremonies of the winter Olympics...

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Was fascinated by the repeated slogan "One World, One Family" -- which was even done (beautifully) in fireworks. And it seems to me, as it always does, that ordinary people (and, I know, these athletes are totally extraordinary -- but ordinary in terms of their political power) usually want the best for everybody. Hell, I've watched athletes at the Olympics help their fallen competitors -- and it always seems true (as IOC Chair Bach says) that they want to do the best, but always want their competition to do their best, too.

The world's problems all seem to be the fault of us old farts -- the "made" politicians the world over.

How about we recruit all these athletes to run for office? I'll bet they'd be less belligerent than our current crop of leaders.

(Note: idealists like me write the stupidest things -- we can't help it.)

 

[TransmutingSoul]

God works in Mysterious ways

I see these thoughts are becoming more popular with the younger generation.

Regards Tony

 

[Brickjectivity]

How about we recruit all these athletes to run for office? I'll bet they'd be less belligerent than our current crop of leaders.

We could certainly add requirements. For example we could require some combinations of experience and certifications. We could require the ability to do understand Math calculations, too...such as the ability to understand weighted averages; and we could have a limited form of the bar exam that political people would have to study for and pass.

We could require one of the following: X years of school, a certification, several years in the military, several years management, several years as a notary, several years as an employer, .... and so on.

 

[The Hammer]

We could certainly add requirements. For example we could require some combinations of experience and certifications. We could require the ability to do understand Math calculations, too...such as the ability to understand weighted averages; and we could have a limited form of the bar exam that political people would have to study for and pass.

We could require one of the following: X years of school, a certification, several years in the military, several years management, several years as a notary, several years as an employer, .... and so on.

I like the idea of a political BAR exam. Make them actually understand civics.

 

[Brickjectivity]

I like the idea of a political BAR exam. Make them actually understand civics.

Another possibility is that we could require a certain list of abilities from them as a group. For example at least one must be a healer, one a wizard, one a bard and so forth. We don't have to let all of them be rogues or all of them be giants or all of them be knights. So when an office goes up for election we add a list of credentials which the congress currently lacks. So if no one in the House of Reps currently has experience in Real Estate then this would be one of the credentials. We could make the constitution state that if all credentials aren't filled then Congress gets no lollipops. This would be complicated, but legally I think it would be supportable.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Another possibility is that we could require a certain list of abilities from them as a group. For example at least one must be a healer, one a wizard, one a bard and so forth. We don't have to let all of them be rogues or all of them be giants or all of them be knights. So when an office goes up for election it comes with a certain list of credentials which the congress currently lacks.

So politicians should be Druids? I can deal.

 

[The Hammer]

So politicians should be Druids? I can deal.

Guess that means I'm in.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

So politicians should be Druids? I can deal.

Where did Druidism come into this?

 

[Sand Dancer]

Guess that means I'm in.

It's Hammer Time! Didn't I say this a few months ago? Stop being lazy and get your campaign going.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Where did Druidism come into this?

Brickjectivity said: "Another possibility is that we could require a certain list of abilities from them as a group. For example at least one must be a healer, one a wizard, one a bard and so forth."

Those are different types of Druids.

 

[Wildswanderer]

Was fascinated by the repeated slogan "One World, One Family" -- which was even done (beautifully) in fireworks. And it seems to me, as it always does, that ordinary people (and, I know, these athletes are totally extraordinary -- but ordinary in terms of their political power) usually want the best for everybody. Hell, I've watched athletes at the Olympics help their fallen competitors -- and it always seems true (as IOC Chair Bach says) that they want to do the best, but always want their competition to do their best, too.

The world's problems all seem to be the fault of us old farts -- the "made" politicians the world over.

How about we recruit all these athletes to run for office? I'll bet they'd be less belligerent than our current crop of leaders.

(Note: idealists like me write the stupidest things -- we can't help it.)

I cynically think that would change if any of them actually got into power.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I cynically think that would change if any of them actually got into power.

I get cynicism. But I also get that there are people (I'm one) for whom power really doesn't have any big allure.

 

[InChrist]

Was fascinated by the repeated slogan "One World, One Family" -- which was even done (beautifully) in fireworks. And it seems to me, as it always does, that ordinary people (and, I know, these athletes are totally extraordinary -- but ordinary in terms of their political power) usually want the best for everybody. Hell, I've watched athletes at the Olympics help their fallen competitors -- and it always seems true (as IOC Chair Bach says) that they want to do the best, but always want their competition to do their best, too.

The world's problems all seem to be the fault of us old farts -- the "made" politicians the world over.

How about we recruit all these athletes to run for office? I'll bet they'd be less belligerent than our current crop of leaders.

(Note: idealists like me write the stupidest things -- we can't help it.)

Nothing wrong with being an idealist. Yet, I think for the most part it is narcissistic type personalities who are attracted to politics and political positions of power. Not always, nor every politician, but the majority.

Narcissism: Why It's So Rampant in Politics

 

[F1fan]

Back in 1984 I was two years into my cycling, and in February/March I went to Austin, TX to train for the 1984 season. Many bike racers went there to race and train. Bike racers were packed into a store in Austin called Wild Oats in the evenings. I was there quite a bit getting my groceries. You'd see athletes staring at a can of peas for 2 minutes because they were so wiped out from training that day. It was so awesome as a I remember it. Just great being there.

The Tour of Texas was happening, a big stage race in the USA promoted by my friend Richard Degarmo. I wasn't good enough to race it but it was fun to watch the races. The Olympics was in LA that year so bike racers from all over the world were in Austin that spring. It was amazing to be there. Going on training rides with so many Olympic athletes was something I've not done since.

This was Reagan's America and Russians were the enemy. But there were many Eastern Blok nations in the USA for the games. The attitude of athlete versus athlete was not political. There was a lot of fun and support among the athletes that competed. The Russians were among the best amateurs since their best didn't go pro. Athletes always want the best challenge to face. We did not like the boycott in 1980 and we did not like the Russian boycott in 1984.

 

[F1fan]

God works in Mysterious ways

Too much mystery, not enough work.

 

[F1fan]

Brickjectivity said: "Another possibility is that we could require a certain list of abilities from them as a group. For example at least one must be a healer, one a wizard, one a bard and so forth."

Those are different types of Druids.

As long are they move huge rocks into circles in the middle of nowhere, and no one can explain how, we're good.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Too much mystery, not enough work.

Then we need to get off our backsides.

Regards Tony

 

[Audie]

Nothing wrong with being an idealist. Yet, I think for the most part it is narcissistic type personalities who are attracted to politics and political positions of power. Not always, nor every politician, but the majority.

Narcissism: Why It's So Rampant in Politics

Nothing necessarily or innately wrong with
idealism, maybe.

But the greatest villains of the 20th century were idealists, idealist ideologies.

Communism. Idealistic!
Nazusm
Japan's plans
Pol Pot
The USA has doneca lot of its " ideals" to the world.

Name a political villain who is or was not an idealist.

 

[oldbadger]

How about we recruit all these athletes to run for office? I'll bet they'd be less belligerent than our current crop of leaders.

We've tried 'athletes in politics' in the UK. They didn't lead as well as they could compete in sports, sad to say.

We all have abilities and disabilities and the idea that, say, a skier would be likely make a brilliant politician is no more probable than making an artist in to an Indycar star, or a brilliant bricklayer in to a top stock broker.

 

[Revoltingest]

How about we recruit all these athletes to run for office? I'll bet they'd be less belligerent than our current crop of leaders.

(Note: idealists like me write the stupidest things -- we can't help it.)

I agree with that last sentence.