Who'd you rather vote for?

[Deja Q]

Keep in mind what politicians, all of them, do once elected: Sell their vote to the highest bidder unless it's about giving themselves pay and bennie increases in which case it's a "Yea".

[iamjoy]

1. Loaded Question

And who would you want to fix your leaky pipes - a career plumber or your friend with a wrench and a Time-Life book?

There is something to be said for career politicians, and would some one with no experience scream when exposed to Robert's Rules Of Order?

[onehandle]

2. Uh, from the 'outside' with 'no experience'...

...tend to be billionaires with a motive or a sideshow puppet like Ahnold.

Career politicians have actual experience running things, although they tend to be owned over time.

Too complex to pick one or the other.

[karynnj]

3. Nothing like biasing the question

First of all shouldn't there be a "depends on the individual" category. There are corrupt businessmen (with unscrupulous practices), corrupt politicians, and corrupt former military officers. Someone who has chosen to be in politics at that level for decades almost certainly did so because they wanted to serve and guide their country rather than make a fortune. The skills needed to be a Senator or Governor for a long time would lead to financial success in private life.

There are people who serve their country in various elected positions remaining true to their core believes and acting with great integrity. I think there are politicians who are not bought. Not to disparage any other Senators, I think Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg and Corzine most certainly do not sell their votes.

I would actually prefer some political experience. It's possible that there is someone so incredible that I would choose them without experience, but they would need to be not slightly better than the others, but head and shoulders better. A President will need to know how the legislative branch works.

[Old and In the Way]

4. I remember when public service and statesmanship were important

ideals in our country. Of course, that was when Democrats were in the majorities. I also remember how the Republicans started complaining about career politicians and forced term limits down our throats. They managed to get our career politicians kicked out of office and that gave them an opportunity to buy their way in. So we now have Republican opportunists whose only "special interest" is feeding us the legislation dictated by their corporate masters.

No, I'll go with the career politician, I think. The ones who value public service, have wisdom and knowledge gained form decades of serving the public. Who has the real power of the institution when we limit terms of our public servants? It's the people we don't elect, the bureaucrats. I don't like laws that tell me I can't vote for someone and reward a person who has proven his value. That's part of the reason why we are in the mess that we are in today.