Why do we elect idiots?

[Iwassoclose]

No matter how developed or undeveloped a country is, why is it that we can't find some decent leaders to put into power. Why are we always electing short sighted fools who do more bad than good? What does it say about the human condition that we choose over and over people who would steal candy from a baby and send an invoice to the parents for labor?

[Farnhamia]

No matter how developed or undeveloped a country is, why is it that we can't find some decent leaders to put into power. Why are we always electing short sighted fools who do more bad than good? What does it say about the human condition that we choose over and over people who would steal candy from a baby and send an invoice to the parents for labor?

I'm gonna give you a chance to flesh this out with some examples or something. And I don't mean a list of three people, I mean names and misdeeds that back up your contention that this actually happens.

[Iwassoclose]

No matter how developed or undeveloped a country is, why is it that we can't find some decent leaders to put into power. Why are we always electing short sighted fools who do more bad than good? What does it say about the human condition that we choose over and over people who would steal candy from a baby and send an invoice to the parents for labor?

I'm gonna give you a chance to flesh this out with some examples or something. And I don't mean a list of three people, I mean names and misdeeds that back up your contention that this actually happens.

Recently my province had an election and they picked Doug Ford as a premier. This guy was the brother of Rob Ford, the crack smoking mayor of Toronto. We already knew this guys history. Yet he managed to win the conservative votes to put him into party leadership and then on the provincial level the premier of the province.

Since then this guy has more or less done everything expected of someone like him to do.

Bungled up firing of hydro CEO to get rid of high priced employee. Ended up costing the province over $100m in penalties.

Gutted funding for kids with autism, then lied about it repeatedly

Reduced funding for education, apprentaly having larger class of 40 students will to quote "make students more resilient"

Getting his buddies into positions of power even when they are woefully under experienced until even the party he leads back up and say that's inadvisable

We knew this guy was shit. But he got into office no problem.

I look across the border and hear stories about the president and various leader across the states and have to wonder how people like that managed to get into power at all

[Gig em Aggies]

I'm gonna give you a chance to flesh this out with some examples or something. And I don't mean a list of three people, I mean names and misdeeds that back up your contention that this actually happens.

Recently my province had an election and they picked Doug Ford as a premier. This guy was the brother of Rob Ford, the crack smoking mayor of Toronto. We already knew this guys history. Yet he managed to win the conservative votes to put him into party leadership and then on the provincial level the premier of the province.

Since then this guy has more or less done everything expected of someone like him to do.

Bungled up firing of hydro CEO to get rid of high priced employee. Ended up costing the province over $100m in penalties.

Gutted funding for kids with autism, then lied about it repeatedly

Reduced funding for education, apprentaly having larger class of 40 students will to quote "make students more resilient"

Getting his buddies into positions of power even when they are woefully under experienced until even the party he leads back up and say that's inadvisable

We knew this guy was shit. But he got into office no problem.

I look across the border and hear stories about the president and various leader across the states and have to wonder how people like that managed to get into power at all

through democratic elections its the same way dictators get into power sure you might think someone in office is an idiot but if a majority voted for said person then your out of luck until the next election.

[Ethel mermania]

Honestly I dont know why any sane rational person would want to run for elective office, the process is a 2 year swim in the deep end of the pool of bullshit.

[Gormwood]

Can be any reason really.

Some people have fantasies of being Heath Ledger's Joker and just want to watch the world burn.

Some just want to stick it to the establishment.

Some just want to extract salty tears from whoever politician or whatever party they hate.

Some are drawn in by desperation to a charismatic moron.

Everyone has their own reasons.

[Saiwania]

Honestly I dont know why any sane rational person would want to run for elective office, the process is a 2 year swim in the deep end of the pool of bullshit.

It depends on what office. Becoming POTUS is a pretty good deal. You get a six figure pension for life. Most Presidents are quite a bit more motivated though, because successful campaigns usually take quite a bit of work. Ex-presidents generally speaking, can make more money from giving speeches and making appearances at various events, so they do this.

Just get in for 4 years and don't get removed from office (run the clock out) and they can get $207,800+ each year thereafter until they die, among some other benefits. Very lucrative, people don't get anywhere close to this in the private sector, unless they're a CEO or corporate executive.

It is effectively becoming rich or upper middle class for life, if they can budget money fine enough.

[The Whisperer in the Darkness]

Honestly I dont know why any sane rational person would want to run for elective office, the process is a 2 year swim in the deep end of the pool of bullshit.

I think this is an important point.

The process and requirements (leaving aside financial ones) acts as a siphon for what sort of people enter politics. There are people who get into politics for virtuous reasons, but there are more bad people in the world than good (in my opinion). More often than not, it seems that the reasons folks get into politics is to increase their purse, their fame, and their ego.

There is that common saying: "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." But I have heard a variant which rings more true to my ears: "Power attracts the corruptible." The sort of folks who desire power and high standing and celebrity are also the sort who are already corrupted.

[Mzeusia]

We elect idiots because it isn't hard to become an idiot in the eyes of the public. It doesn't take much for people to start thinking their politicians are idiots.
Yep, governing a country is hard.

[Shofercia]

No matter how developed or undeveloped a country is, why is it that we can't find some decent leaders to put into power. Why are we always electing short sighted fools who do more bad than good? What does it say about the human condition that we choose over and over people who would steal candy from a baby and send an invoice to the parents for labor?

Because the media will find scandals where none exist, i.e. MSNBC's reporting on the Kavanaugh Hearings, which mostly keeps the intelligent candidates from running. At least that's the case in the US. Remember what happened when Starbucks CEO merely explored tossing his hat in the ring? The "waaaaaa!!!!" media cries could be heard all the way down in Argentina.

[LiberNovusAmericae]

We elect idiots because they manage to appeal to certain groups of people. Also, many political organizations are corrupt, so we're stuck with choosing the lesser of the two evils.

[Hurdergaryp]

Honestly I dont know why any sane rational person would want to run for elective office, the process is a 2 year swim in the deep end of the pool of bullshit.

I think this is an important point.

The process and requirements (leaving aside financial ones) acts as a siphon for what sort of people enter politics. There are people who get into politics for virtuous reasons, but there are more bad people in the world than good (in my opinion). More often than not, it seems that the reasons folks get into politics is to increase their purse, their fame, and their ego.

There is that common saying: "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." But I have heard a variant which rings more true to my ears: "Power attracts the corruptible." The sort of folks who desire power and high standing and celebrity are also the sort who are already corrupted.

Power attracts the corruptible, eh? Sounds about right. In Ethel's political cesspool, those are the floaters who get turned into polished turds by their spin doctors.

[The Black Party]

"Let's look and find the strong and able leaders..."

[The Black Party]

We elect idiots because they manage to appeal to certain groups of people. Also, many political organizations are corrupt, so we're stuck with choosing the lesser of the two evils.

If only there was a radical third position that seeks to abolish the current faulty system to align ourselves behind...

[Free Arabian Nation]

We don't, Democracy is not actually run by the people but by the elite class who pick and choose who they want in office.

[Ethel mermania]

I think this is an important point.

The process and requirements (leaving aside financial ones) acts as a siphon for what sort of people enter politics. There are people who get into politics for virtuous reasons, but there are more bad people in the world than good (in my opinion). More often than not, it seems that the reasons folks get into politics is to increase their purse, their fame, and their ego.

There is that common saying: "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." But I have heard a variant which rings more true to my ears: "Power attracts the corruptible." The sort of folks who desire power and high standing and celebrity are also the sort who are already corrupted.

Power attracts the corruptible, eh? Sounds about right. In Ethel's political cesspool, those are the floaters who get turned into polished turds by their spin doctors.

As Kissinger said, "Corrupt politicians ruin it for the 10% who are honest".

[LiberNovusAmericae]

We elect idiots because they manage to appeal to certain groups of people. Also, many political organizations are corrupt, so we're stuck with choosing the lesser of the two evils.

If only there was a radical third position that seeks to abolish the current faulty system to align ourselves behind...

What policies would that entail? I always seen third position parties as a bizarre hybrid of communism and fascism.

[The Whisperer in the Darkness]

What policies would that entail? I always seen third position parties as a bizarre hybrid of communism and fascism.

He means "fascism."

sigh...

Better to not engage.

[Indo-Malaysia]

We don't, Democracy is not actually run by the people but by the elite class who pick and choose who they want in office.

*cough* Electoral College *cough*

In all seriousness, it is the fault of the La li lu le lo

[Pope Joan]

Folk Singer Pete Seeger seems to believe that we indoctrinate our children to be uncritical when making societal choices:

What did you learn in school today
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today
Dear little boy of mine?

[Verse 3]
I learned our Government must be strong;
It's always right and never wrong;
Our leaders are the finest men
And we elect them again and again


==

[Badb Catha]

Because it is idiots that vote. The idea of the democracy system is not faulty in and of itself, but it's extension of voting privilege to the entire population is. Were democracies to restrict voting to only informed constitutes then they would see a sharp decline in poor leadership quality. This however is contrary to liberal democracy, in which everyone must be treated equally and thus be awarded an equal vote in spite of their own ignorance; paving the way for disaster.

If you allow fools to vote then they will vote for fools.

[Badb Catha]

If only there was a radical third position that seeks to abolish the current faulty system to align ourselves behind...

What policies would that entail? I always seen third position parties as a bizarre hybrid of communism and fascism.

You cannot combine Communism and Fascism.

What policies would that entail? I always seen third position parties as a bizarre hybrid of communism and fascism.

He means "fascism."

sigh...

Better to not engage.

Why?

[The Feylands]

You mean people in general are somehow above the leaders they elect?

People aren't "rational". Nor are most people particularly interested in deep thinking and stuff. Not their calling in life, so to speak.

And I mean - the feeling of having someone else deciding so you don't have to can be kinda nice. Which can entail just voting for the candidate of the usual party because it just feels right.

[The Feylands]

Because it is idiots that vote. The idea of the democracy system is not faulty in and of itself, but it's extension of voting privilege to the entire population is. Were democracies to restrict voting to only informed constitutes then they would see a sharp decline in poor leadership quality. This however is contrary to liberal democracy, in which everyone must be treated equally and thus be awarded an equal vote in spite of their own ignorance; paving the way for disaster.

If you allow fools to vote then they will vote for fools.

Or we somehow figure out how to design a system that could be described/defended/marketed as a sort of "enhanced" liberal democracy but actually gives people power equal to the responsibility they're taking on?

China has an intriguing way of doing elections and stuff whereby there are direct elections on the local level (where I presume people are more likely to know about the issues on the table eh? ) but then indirect elections through several instances all the way to the top. I've toyed with the idea that something like that could kinda balance the need for ordinary people to feel like they're empowered with the level of responsibility their votes actually takes on..?

[Internationalist Bastard]

Because we are idiots