When shall we require politicians to prove they are honest, competent and capable?

Going into politics does not require you to be honest, or capable..Anyone can run. All it takes is to have speaking skills





We cannot allow a person without a true and tried background to end up running a country, corporation, union, or holding any office. Yet, that is the case.





Otherwise, how a person as GWB could end up being the president of the most powerful nation on Earth?


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In a world which values education, where it is necessary to have a drivers license, ANYONE may end up controlling the lives of thousands, or millions. That explains the state of affairs, worldwide.|||I agree with u completely.. in my country (India), people with criminal records and with cases running in the court also become MPs (that's equivalent to senators in US)... and these criminal records even include attempt to murder and rape...





people are being illusioned to think that these seemingly 'influential' people can help them and that they may reform... my suggestion is the same.. for a qualified office and for a qualified post where u have national or local responsibilities, u should be required to pass a certain test to show your eligibility and these should be tested from the very basic level... u should show that you have the people's interest at heart and not the interest of your bank balance.. a leader shouldn't need to propagate himself.. he's readily available to his people..





i would suggest that political school be designed where those who choose to represent the country and take care of it can attend.. anyone vying for a post should pass the school.. and the school should be of PhD level... meaning the curriculum should necessarily include active participation in the country's affairs...





of course in a country like mine this is highly impractical, because of the hundreds of languages that exist here.. but time can show the boon of a political school. it can only be benefitted if it becomes mandatory that they pass thru this school.....





another suggestion would be to overthrow the government if any of its decision is not in public interest.. A nationwide polling procedure should be in place for such a proposal, of course....





anyway i feel the only way we can keep check on politicians is to keep everything transparent and keep a scoring mechanism for each and every decision they make|||I don't have a solution to most of the problems, but I do have a solution to one: from now on, every President should have his entire personal fortune and salary tied to the economy. If the economy does well and grows, then the President makes a boatload of cash. If the economy tanks, then the President loses his family fortune. That'd do a lot to keep things honest I think.





Is it workable? I doubt it. But I got to say that it sure appeals to me!|||That is what the Free Press provided by the first amendment is supposed to do.


Sadly, American press is no longer filled with journalists, but with agenda filling operatives and an inexperienced socialist with merely a 'community organizer' resume can become the leader of the most powerful nation on the planet.|||And, as GWB proved, it does not even require speaking skills.





The way we test candidates is to expose them to our questions during campaigns. Does the candidate meet my standards or not?





Collectively, we make the selection.





What other method had you in mind?|||When voters start examining a candidate's character and history more than the empty words they spit out.|||we need to end career politics and get people into politics for the good of the state, not monetary or other personal gains.|||hello my friend .. my answer is when the new era..





and formed only a government of wise .. which interest will be the largest common good.|||Sadly it is not the case at all.|||That's like asking a leopard to change its spots!|||When we don篓t give to they our vote!!!!!|||to answer your question I think you have to truly re evaluate your fundamental beliefs in general politics... You say,





"Going into politics does not require you to be honest, or capable..Anyone can run. All it takes is to have speaking skills".





I say that is the illusion society creates...any man can become president!!! RIght...thats a crock...Just the fact that a father/son combo got into the presidency out of all of the qualified candidates should be a huge red light for many but we ignore that....THE real people who find themselves in politics usually have one thing in common: money. Now Im not being completely pessimistic here, but lets face reality, not romanticized views on our nation. Yes there are many "normal" blue collared people who make it in politics, however the vast majority are overwhelmingly wearing the white collars.





Its not a matter of being competency or honesty, it is merely the way the system is set up. Certainly you are right, there are many qualified people to lead and end up as good politicians. However those people never get the real chance, because of what the system has already installed. Human nature tells us that when in power, we take advantage. That is the sad reality, and that is what current politicians practice. However to end that problem, i find it necessary to take the power that they hold against the people. The real question is; when do we revolt and truly take over as "the people"? Whenever we rework the current political system and people are truly "equal", is the time you will find yourself true politicians. So to answer the question, since only an idealistic utopia would bring forth "competent" leaders, we will unfortunately NEVER see or require politicians to be capable.