Meritocracy

[rugbykidd]

All i can do is laugh in the face of world leaders and governments, especially my own. Why should the people that run our countries be elected as leaders because they can talk the talk.

I say promote a meritocracy whereby world leaders achieve their positons from their knowledge, achievements and evidence that they are capable of their job.

Get the GRADES before they use the GOB!!

[marty]

i say people vote on who they want to lead them...

[rugbykidd]

So do i, but the candidates for the election should be 'the best of the bunch' accademically

[Whisper]

no they shouldnt
academics isnt everything
far from it
its international politics
allot of the greatest scientists in the world have HORRIBLE social skills
and they tend to get caught up in the details and have trouble keeping track of the big picture

I don't care if my leader knows his the periodic table as much as I care that he/she can handle stressful situations, the spotlight, and both domestic and international issues
street smarts
intuition
the ability to read people
etc...

there's allot more to being a leader than how many PhD's one has

[Sage]

The problem with academics is that it promotes generalists, who are fairly good in a number of things, when what we need these days are specialists, who are very good at what they specifically do. As Kodie said, it doesn't really matter how well a leader knows their periodic table or math skills or whatever. They should simply be good at what they are required to do- Which would include a knowledge of government, economy, etc.

[rugbykidd]

I completely understand that any country needs specialists, but they require guidance from a generalist. In the UK Gordon Brown is the Prime Minister, and Alistair Darling is the Chancellor. Should the prime minister not have a minimum required knowledge of economy etc. Just like they should have a required minimum knowledge of education, healthcare and global affairs etc... NOT just reading the notes of the specialists.

[Sage]

I completely understand that any country needs specialists, but they require guidance from a generalist. In the UK Gordon Brown is the Prime Minister, and Alistair Darling is the Chancellor. Should the prime minister not have a minimum required knowledge of economy etc. Just like they should have a required minimum knowledge of education, healthcare and global affairs etc... NOT just reading the notes of the specialists.

If they don't do the job well, people aren't going to elect them a second time.

[rugbykidd]

That isnt what i'm saying,, Why should they even get close to being a member of parliment at all without having a c/v that consists of the basic educational levels needed to do the job of a generalist.

[INFERNO]

I don't think it should be based on academics. I do think that they should have some sense of the economy and other topics other than what their advisors tell them, however, I don't see it as being necessary for them to have specialty training in it. But on the other hand, if they don't seem to know what they're doing, unable to handle the spotlight, poor sense of politics, etc... then they're not going to be re-elected anyways.

I don't think it's necessary at all to know a good deal other than politics, government, economics, policies and such. In other words, their scientific background (not including political science) is irrelevant. If they're a brilliant mathematician and a great politician, then congrats to them, their immense mathematical knowledge isn't going to be of much use other than some bragging rights.

[Reality]

No, grades really aren't *everything*. Reality and the world of work teaches you far more than any school, college or university could ever dream, meaning experience is probably the best tool, and that includes in the world of politics.

However, politicians with a good degree of understanding on issues such as economics is still a good thing, and nobody wants a complete moron running their country. But grades still aren't everything. Someone can have top marks in economics and still be pretty crappy at actually dealing with the economy due to the lack of experience they hold.

By the way, INFERNO, I haven't seen you in a few days. :) Hello!

[dstnyisurs]

Yes, leaders have to be able to talk the talk, but beneath all of that, most of them have some idea what they are doing. They're a lot smarter then we give them credit for. They talk because they can read people, and the abylity to read people and know how things will be reacted to and so on is an important skill to have.

[sebbie]

World leaders are leaders not because of the qualifications that they have but because the skill they posses to lead and influence people.

There are people in the world who are fantastically smart, but they would not be able to sway a crowd of millions.

[scuba steve]

just because someone's booksmart dosn't mean they'll be able to put their knowledge into actions like britains gordon brown he was selected as a child for some special education system and was admitted into the university of Edinburgh at sixteen.
but it dosn't really show does it?

[sebbie]

just because someone's booksmart dosn't mean they'll be able to put their knowledge into actions like britains gordon brown he was selected as a child for some special education system and was admitted into the university of Edinburgh at sixteen.
but it dosn't really show does it?

Gordon Brown has not been that bad of a prime minister, he just came into the job at the wrong time in my opinion. Tony Blair left when the country was embedded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The economy is not his fault entirely, and before the recession the UK had the strongest continuous economic growth the country has seen.

[Modus Operandi]

I disapprove of basing everything on academics. Leaders require a special set of skills, more along the lines of language and oration then math and science. Not that math and science aren't important skills to have, but not too key. Remember Dubya, all you americans? Proof that you don't need to be smart to plunge us into 2 wars at the same time. /political rantage

But really, you dont need to be a genius to be a great leader, in any country.