should politicians have a college degree?

Question

you can either give your opinion or a good source to answer this question, you may even give a source of a great biography of a politician that is a graduate from a college degree...

Answer 1

Yes and No...

No, in the sense that a person can be self-taught politics. I have two B.S. degrees but neither is in political science. I acquired political knowledge through years of research for political novels.

Yes in the sense that they need to have some knowledge of the laws because politicians create legislation. It seems absurd that ppl illiterate to the law would be the ones creating them.

Answer 2

Funny - some of the most memorable individuals in history didn't have college degrees. There was Benjamin Franklin (third-grade education and phenomenal accomplishments in many areas, including political) and Abraham Lincoln (generally considered a great president).

A politician should have a certain level of intelligence, but intelligence is about innate ability to think, reason, solve problems, and have common sense. They should perhaps be tested for certain types of intelligence and knowledge (two separate things), but I don't think a degree should be required.

Schools are often aimed at the nicely above-average IQ, which means that students who thrive and complete college may be plenty intelligent but may not necessarily be extraordinarily intelligent. Schools often lose students of really exceptional abilities because they aren't aimed at such students and often don't even recognize the abilities of such students. Therefore, there are plenty of non-degreed people who have more than enough knowledge and ability to be a politician. Its would just be a matter of having a test (of anyone - degree or not) for a certain level of ability and maybe for a certain degree of emotional well-adjustedness.

The late Peter Jennings didn't have a degree. In fact, I think he may not have even had a high school diploma; yet, most people would have believed him to be someone who was capable of being a politician. Didn't Bill Gates drop out of college before finishing? Didn't Harry Truman lack a degree?

Answer 3

Absolutely not!!!!
I have never met a Brilliant College Educated person. Many are very clever, even "smart" But very few college educated people have the ability to think for themselves, much less make thoughtful and wise decisions that effect the lives of so many people. Some of the most Brilliant business people ( IE: Bill Gates) never received a college degree. Albert Einstein never received a college degree. Though they may have been awarded one in a honorary sense, they didn't put in four years at some university to earn a degree. In my never to be humble opinion, lawyers should be banned from politics altogether, the truly wise need not have a college education to make a difference in the world.

I may be reading your question wrong but, because someone does or does not have a degree, in no way determines their ability to govern. In fact, most people would agree that some of the most educated people they know are not bright enough to fully grasp the most compelx issues we face in politics. Look at the United States Congress and all of the Federal Government, 99% of the people there are college educated, at least with a Bachelors degree of some kind, Do you believe they make honest and informed descisions on a regular basis?

I don't.

Answer 4

Personally i would say no.

A college education means very little out side of technical fields. I have met too many educated fools to believe other wise.

Many of our greatest presidents didn't have or need a degree. A college education while an important thing for Americans is not the yard stick by which we should measure.

Having worked with many people in important positions i can tell you that the ability to make and stand by a decision is more important than any piece of paper. Our politicians should be leaders. They should lead the country to a better future.

Let us continue to leave the republic open to her people.

Answer 5

Your best source is your american and also British constitutions,
and,the wrights of the individual citizens.If you accept only college
graduates as candidates you will have to change the provisions
of your constitution in order to do so;that is to say,remove the right to be elected to more than 90% of the american people.I don't think you want to do that.Whether a person has or hasn't got a college degree is not in the least important as it is his vision
his aptitude to understand needs and solve problems.

Answer 6

Not in a democracy. Politics should be open to anybody who wants to participate. Requiring a degree could be simply the first step to excluded 'unwanteds'. If a pure meritocracy existed then it may be viable.

Answer 7

Harry Truman, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln did no longer bypass to varsity. they are additionally my widespread presidents. George W Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Warren Harding went to varsity. They weren't sturdy presidents. the respond isn't any.

Answer 8

It is not necessary. Having a college degree would help, but I would rather have someone in office with common sense and leadership ability.

Answer 9

No. Politicians should not necessarily have a certain amount of formal education. I'd like to see the voters have more education though!!!!!

Answer 10

Yes, they should have a college degree, and it sounds like you are trying to do homework on yahoo answers, just do the work yourself so you can learn more!