Interesting reading in this: "The Rise of the Second-String Left," especially in the causes cited.

Although, I think in all fairness, the right is not putting its first string on the field either. Most of our politicians are second-stringers, no matter the party or philosophical affiliation.

When "would I want to get a beer with this candidate" becomes our main consideration in an election, we're not going to get the deepest thinkers running for office. With that as our main consideration, we're going to get frat boys and snake oil salespeople as candidates. And we'll deserve that.

Conan, that reminds me of the perennial schoolchild complaint: "why should I have to work hard to please a teacher I don't like - or one who doesn't like ME?"

Well, because that's the sort of situation EVERYONE has to deal with, regularly?

Plus, one wouldn't ask "would I want to get a beer with this surgeon," so what's the difference? Both surgeons and leaders are SUPPOSED to be a lot better educated and informed than most people.

Both surgeons and leaders are SUPPOSED to be a lot better educated and informed than most people. ~ lenona at December 13, 2021 8:05 AM

One difference leona is that I don't consider politicians to be leaders. I don't need to be led. I need someone to take care of the governing functions I don't have time to devote to doing properly - i.e., draft and read legislative proposals while considering the long-term unintended consequences such a proposal, if enacted into law, might bring; wrangling votes; overseeing regulatory agencies; etc.

That's why the US is not a pure democracy, but a representative democracy. We once expected of our representatives not lockstep party-line votes, but that they would use judgement and govern with some attempt at wisdom, representing the state or district that elected them.