Americans have an unhealthy desire to see average people promoted to positions of great authority.No one wants an average neurosurgeon or even an average carpenter, but when it comes time to vest a man or woman with more power and responsibility than any person has held in human history, Americans say they want a regular guy, someone just like themselves.
-- Sam Harris
Rebuttal
....wanting a regular guy... should not be merely assumed to mean wanting an average politician.A regular guy, as I take it, is someone without airs, to whom you can imagine yourself chatting, who doesn't talk down to you, with whom indeed you could have a beer or a cup of tea, and all the rest of it.
There's nothing to say from this that his or her abilities in filling a position of authority must be no better than average.
"Americans say they want a regular guy, someone just like themselves."
Oh?
The average guy changes their opinions as dictated by political surveys.
The average gal cheats on their income tax forms and hides money offshore.
The average guy has a medical plan that covers everything from Viagra treatments to breast implants.
The average gal wants a $400m bridge that will service only a few people.
The average guy wants their representatives to have a remarkable 142 days of Congressional experience.
Ad nauseum...
What the average American does receive is a blistering barrage of political pablum broadcast to them in every way possible. The average American is sadly - much like the average citizen of any country - molded by forces who want them as consumers.
What I'd like is for someone like me or Michael or JD or Smitty or Penelope or Maureen to get the chance to ask real questions of politicians. Wouldn't that be a blast?
Posted by: Deez | Sep 04, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Love this.
You know what I hate? I hate those "who'd you rather have a beer with?" polls about presidential contenders. Last time around, our choices were a wonkish dork with limited social skills, or a recovering alcoholic who has trouble with words when sober and who would inevitably label you with an asinine nickname.
This time? A creepy old man with a weird laugh who'd bang your wife if he got half the chance (and, half a bottle of viagra), or a kid with ambitions of glory who has trouble limiting his words to one syllable. Joy, joy... put rat poison in my beer if those are my options...
The biggest issue here is that the best campaigner is rarely the best person for the jobs - some of the skills that are required for the former are antithetical to the latter. Things like making decisions based on reason as opposed to polling numbers. Taking an unpopular stand and holding the course. Basic honesty.
Anyways Animal, sorry for a comment that's probably run longer than the original post - just had to jump in for a sec...
Posted by: Martin | Sep 10, 2008 at 09:24 AM