Voters are fed up with career politicians. Instead, so-called “outsiders” are winning election after election, often on promises of tackling corruption and injecting fresh ideas into broken political systems. Authenticity is valued over experience.
Former reality TV star (and current US President) Donald Trump is the most high-profile celebrity politician, but we can also see the trend at work in Ukraine’s recent landslide election of TV comic Volodymyr Zelensky. In a bizarre case of life imitating art, Zelensky is the star of a hit Ukrainian show about an ordinary high school teacher unexpectedly being elected President of Ukraine.
Of course, celebrity politicians are nothing new. Ronald Reagan had a career in Hollywood before he entered politics; Arnold Schwarzenegger served two terms as the “Governator” of California, and former Polish President Lech Kaczyński and his identical twin brother (and former Polish Prime Minister) Jarosław Kaczyński starred in a hit children’s movie in the 1960s.
On the other hand, are we too suspicious of professionals? We wouldn’t go to an amateur dentist or doctor, so why should we trust amateur politicians to know what they’re doing? Career politicians have an understanding of the political process (not to mention relationships with stakeholders forged over decades) that help them get legislation passed.
Do we need professional politicians? Do we need “outsiders” to inject fresh ideas and dynamism into our political systems? Or do outsider politicians just reflect our obsession with celebrities? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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Please do not besmirch real professionals (doctors etc) who in the past swore the “Hippocratic Oath”- nowadays more an oath to preserve life etc- with today’s run of the mill politicians who are subordinates to someone or something, are mostly “rabidly hypocritical”= Hypocrites…….to preserve a political party or their Masters voice!
Especially the “national ones” being seconded (“Spitzenkanditaen”) to EU supranational bodies (“Commissioners” etc) – required to swear an oath to only further the interest of the political EU and forgo (=“traitors”) their national bodies interest- who they served & were sent from previously.
There is a massive difference between a “political science graduate”= a de(g)creed person= “professional” and a common politician who only requires to be savvy & sly enough getting “democratically” elected.
Such persons may have the ability to mesmerize, talk like a waterwheel, create lots of hot air- but may be unable to read, write= with no higher education!
Who in the end distinguishes & allows the (s)election of the good, the bad, the ugly & disastrous politicians? The present system?
Honesty is always a good beginning!
Why are Europe & the USA- “once” the leading global innovators- falling behind modern China in nearly every field & aspect one compares?
Has, and how much has the political EU concept (& their politicians) contributed to them “lagging”- because of their fixation on “restrictive & narrow minded historical party political approaches”- compared to some of today’s successful imaginary innovators, like China’s Jack Ma & former SA/USA Elon Musk- to name just two?
Both managed to create huge successes for their countries- the one officially within a communist- the other under a capitalist system! What’s wrong with the EU concept- who seemingly vegetates & cannibalizes its past successes? For how long can it last?
NO! I propose taking advice from this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyGWML6cI_k
professional politicians? No. I would rather see concerned citizens with a talent and drive to improve their local, regional or national government seek election. Too often, professional politicians run for office to remain employed (or empowered) vs. representing their constituents.
NO ! We need people ( politicians if you want) with common sense…
No, we need honest people Who Cares for the citicens.
When democracy is about party competition, each party seeks to establish a platform to win support of individuals and groups of shared value. Democracy would unavoidably tear the society apart when parties are fighting against each other for political power. Democracy is therefore mainly governing for interest the political party is representing, not that of others i.e. only part of the citizen is counted, others being ignored.
No, we need politicians well prepare, with real knowledge about the needs and problems that a society has. People with ethic and principles. Political parties that break their ties with lobbies.
Actually…..we don’t need politicians……and blood sucking beaurocats either!
As somebody just said above we need honest people as politicians, but it wouldn’t hurt to have to also give some relevant professional exams in order to occupy certain seats.
We need peoples politicians not corporeated.
Most would be opposed to people who’s only life experience was in politics…..however once you agree that people from a wide a background as is common to society as a whole is to be preferred to represent us……then you have to accept that many will have outside interests. ..whether it be commercial, philanthropic, professional etc.
We need visionairs with their feet on the ground. Technocrats in mind and socialists at heart. Doers who care for human life, perceive challenges as opportunities for optimum solutions & personal achievement as their social signature. Thus, the basics of any job out there …
We need less politicians, not more. We need civic assemblies.
You mean career politicians who are in it for themselves. No thanks. We have plenty of those
No,but we need people with law profiency. Such as myself.
No!!!!
Wé have seen the results of professional politicians and professional economists in many countries. Are they positive ?
Fare il politico non è un mestiere è una missione. In questo mondo guidato dalla finanza abbiamo bisogno di politica , oggi più che mai.
If that implies knowing philosophy and history yes
We need “puppets for threads”!
No. Politics should be oriented by people who know what ordinary life is and not just by people spoiled by power and money. When you have to clean toilets you start using them in a proper manner and respect the one who will use next.
Do we need professional politicians?
Odd question as all the politicians you have are professional politicians. And the quicker the public get rid of all of them, the quicker they will see the kind of change they are looking for.
To repeatedly accept the same political people, with the same political message and ideology and expect any kind of change is ridiculous. The only way to eat from a different menu is to have different cooks.
No. The answer is in this question: “We wouldn’t go to an amateur dentist or doctor, so why should we trust amateur politicians to know what they’re doing?”
We should not blame those who are being elected, voters cannot shed their responsibility. Long time ago, when only elites can run for election, whoever elected ought to be elites of the governing power, top level of elites. When everyone can vote and everyone can run for election, a Trump presidency is natural and unavoidable. Even worse, when a Trump is elected, more Trumps would be encouraged to run for elections. The current trend is that the trust and support to parties and politicians are declining. May be, political parties that have sacrificed quality to win election and governments have been sacrificing national interests for unnecessary and unreal reasons such as ideology, alliance and anything claimed “national security”.
Politician is not a profession, it needs people with a political sense and to government putting public interests above private interest or political interest of the faction or party. This appears to be quite simple but it is easy to say and difficult to do. Same as playing chess, everyone can learn how to play but not every can win.
Democracy is about party competition and election. Party has to claim representative of all interests so as to win votes. How can political party representing such a great variety of interests can function normally? not to say establishing a workable political platform for good governance. So, do not blame always politicians or governments, it is the very system of democracy that has seriously hindered the formulation of rational policy for collective interest of the whole country. Election outcome is unavoidably not representing majority interest, for example the Brexit. When the political system is open wider, more unqualified politicians or individuals can join the political process. This is how democracy is heading towards a decline. It is a structural problem.
Career politicians should be banned not only in the UK , but the EU , as they have proved to be the problem , and they are totally unaccountable . If nothing is done to change the systems there will be massive unrest across the EU , and politicians , parties , the governments and electoral systems will be destroyed . All politicians have to be made accountable for all their decisions and actions even after leaving office , and NGOs have to be under surveillance as they have undermined democracy and refused to respect the rule of law