Donald Trump is the first person elected to the office of POTUS that had not previously been elected to a high level elected position, held a cabinet position, or served as a Flag level officer in the military. This has of course generated a great deal of discussion as to his "qualifications" to hold the office. But it has also brought up the specter of one of the most reference but least talked about concepts in modern American politics, that of the political outsider.
In many political campaigns candidates have proudly referred to their "outsider" status as a selling point for themselves, invoking the not uncommon idea that that politics is a dirty game that... taints people who have been in the game too long and have either directly stated or insinuated that politics is in need of some outside blood.
So in the abstract not speaking about Donald Trump specifically I put up the following questions about this broad discussion.
1. To what degree if any is prior political experience a reasonable requirement to hold high office in the United States?
2. Building on #1 if you prior political experience is a reasonable requirement should it be codified into an actual legal requirement for the job?
3. Is there any validity to the common idea that mainstream Washington politics is too "insular" and out of touch with the needs and the wants of the country and if so is there any validity to the idea that electing "outsiders" who are not part of that a good idea?
4. To what degree is "politics" it's own distinct skillset or school of thought apart from the various legal, foreign affair, domestic affair, military, and economic roles the elected officials are actually in charge of.
5. To what degree is the idea of electing people from non-traditional areas such as science, academia, the humanities or yes even business worthy of consideration?
In many political campaigns candidates have proudly referred to their "outsider" status as a selling point for themselves, invoking the not uncommon idea that that politics is a dirty game that... taints people who have been in the game too long and have either directly stated or insinuated that politics is in need of some outside blood.
So in the abstract not speaking about Donald Trump specifically I put up the following questions about this broad discussion.
1. To what degree if any is prior political experience a reasonable requirement to hold high office in the United States?
2. Building on #1 if you prior political experience is a reasonable requirement should it be codified into an actual legal requirement for the job?
3. Is there any validity to the common idea that mainstream Washington politics is too "insular" and out of touch with the needs and the wants of the country and if so is there any validity to the idea that electing "outsiders" who are not part of that a good idea?
4. To what degree is "politics" it's own distinct skillset or school of thought apart from the various legal, foreign affair, domestic affair, military, and economic roles the elected officials are actually in charge of.
5. To what degree is the idea of electing people from non-traditional areas such as science, academia, the humanities or yes even business worthy of consideration?
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/2gRIfDh
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