Why aren't there more people with a scientific background in politics?

Answer 1

Society shuns science. The people elected into politics are those who are the most charismatic.
Society, as a whole, 'trusts' people from a financial or legal background to do a better job of running the country. This probably isn't such a bad thing - most of what they do is about money. Problems only arise when they rely on their own high-school knowledge of science rather than asking people who actually know what they're talking about.

Answer 2

father of my schoolmate is a recognized mathematician. some time ago he decided that it is not fair just to talk about the politics and how poor it was so he listed as a candidate to parliament and got elected. in a short time he got massively sick of it all. being a scholarly person, doing hard science working with facts versus doing politics is like oil and water. i can compare what the word ecology means at the university and what it means in politics. throw up throw up throw up throw up throw up. therefore i have given up hope for some change. yeah, society shuns science, that is it, the person before me has my vote.

Answer 3

Scientists are too smart to endeavor into the unknown and unbelievable stupidity called politics. Not to mention that most scientists have a hard tom communicating with broad audiences, especially those that are under or willingly uneducated.

Answer 4

The pay is better in science. Or people with science backgrounds hate dealing with the morons that make up most of the electorate .

Answer 5

Because science is hard work, people like to think a little, but make them think a lot and they will hate you for it. If someone wants to get into politics they will thoose a subject that is more likly to help them get into politics easy.

Answer 6

The general populace is not very scientifically oriented, so even though they would want someone smarter than they are, they wouldn't want someone way too smarter than them. They like to pretend they know what is going on so they can offer criticism about it.

Answer 7

I think you will find quite some scientists working in politics, but more behind the scenes, as expert or advisor.

Answer 8

Because scientists try not to "polarize the debate," or sound-byte the world into snippets of black and white. Plus scientists tend toward introversion, which means they don't need the approbation of the masses to find their sense of self-worth.

Answer 9

The rare politician, that cares for anything,
but loads of money for themselves,
may well study their subject/ field of expertise well .
but the main criteria for office, these days seems to be money.

Answer 10

because scientists are concerned with determining facts and truths while politicians are concerned with winning popularity contests and being "in" with the cool crowd.