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The Century of the Common Iowan blog now has 1 week under its belt. I would like to thank everyone for stopping by and checking it out. I realized yesterday that I had moderating comments on, so I approved all the comments and changed it so the comments would appear right away. Please feel free to post comments and I will try to respond.
I also have received some criticism about being too hard on Rep. Latham and King for not having a college degree. I can see how my posts could be interpreted that way. As I blog more, I will surely write better entries that are shorter and too the point. I have also learned that sarcasm is harder to detect in blogs than in real life conversations.
Let me try and explain why my thinking on why our Representatives should have a college degree.
Is it fair that I attacked Latham and King for not having college degrees? I think so. However, I don't think it is fair to the thousands of Iowans who work hard everyday and do not have college degrees. This question that I wrote in the entry about Steve King sums up my reasoning:
Not having a degree might be ok for King's previous profession as a Earthmoving Contractor, but US House Representive?I think it is reasonable to ask our elected officials to have a certain level of education. Our elected leaders are in Congress debating many issues that affect a lot of people. I don't want just an average Joe representing me and making difficult decisions that affects everyone in my community and state.
I am a teacher and value education a great deal. That doesn't mean I think everyone has to have a degree to be successful in life, though in today's globalized world, it sure helps to have one. In today's world, it is vital to have some training after high school. In classrooms I see many hard working students who will be successful because of their work ethic, not because of their intelligence. I know many adults who are successful that do not have college degrees. It is not realistic to think everyone is going to become a doctor. Our elected leaders might have gotten to where they are because they are hard workers, but I would want my leaders to be educated enough to be able to debate all the issues that come up in Congress.
Hope that helps clarify my position. Please post any comments if you wish.
**Update**
Politicians believe (rightfully so) that every classroom should have a well qualified teacher in it. That qualification is based on education level. It does not take it account that a teacher that doesn't have a physics degree has been teaching physics for 20 years. As a teacher, I believe that politicians should also be well qualified. I don't think it is wrong to hold our elected leaders to a higher standard. This is just something that I consider before going to the polls.
4 comments:
You may have clarified yourself, but I don't think you've changed your position much. To me you still are coming across as condescending towards those without a formal education.
"Our elected leaders are in Congress debating many issues that affect a lot of people. I don't want just an average Joe representing me and making difficult decisions that affects everyone in my community and state."
So what happened to for the people by the people? To me you are saying that anyone without a formal degree are just "average joes" and not worthy of an elected office. I say that's bullshit.
"In classrooms I see many hard working students who will be successful because of their work ethic, not because of their intelligence."
So now those who cannot afford an education, and are unable to have one provided by loans/grants are just not intelligent enough? We should just focus on our work ethic?
"I would want my leaders to be educated enough to be able to debate all the issues that come up in Congress."
And the final nail in the dumb-folks coffin..if you didn't go to college you can't debate an issue.
Bullshit. Elitist. And NOT progressive.
CommonIowan..my ass.
I'll have to agree with the detractors here - there's an awful lot you can learn without a college degree.
After all, if we were to use the college degree requirement there would be no possibility for folks like Harold Hughes. (A "drunk drop out" in his own words.)
Latham isn't a dumb guy - he's been part of his family seed business (and big farming operation). I would consider him to be "misguided" but not dumb.
I have to disagree. A college degree just shows that a person found a way to pay for four (or more) years of schooling. Is education only found in a classroom at the site of a university? Why, then, do even educators have to have 'field experience' before going it alone in a classroom? Common sense is most important for an elected official. That and knowing how to hire really smart people to work for you.
Ahh the age old debate. The debate over "elites" vs. "the common man" has been going in America since there -was- an America. Adams v. Jefferson, Quincy-Adams v. Jackson. That being said...Both side are right.
There is nothing about a college degree which ensures that its holder is more intelligent or better qualified then someone without a college degree. There is nothing about -not- getting a college degree that says the person is lacking in intelligence or is somehow unable to grasp the issues facing our national leaders.
Having a college degree, however, does increase the likelihood that one has been exposed to differing view points and ideas that are part of the common parlance of political debate. Yes, a salt-of-the-earth farmer can make his way in the cut throat halls of Washington. But as much as "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" is our ideal, it is most certainly -not- our reality. Washington is full of Ivy League educated snobs, both within its chambers and out. Having spent some time on the coast I can assure you that working out from under the "Iowa hick" image takes a bit of work, and you're not taken seriously until you do.
Congress is a place to get things done...and that means opening doors. While a college degree doesn't necessarily do that, -not- having a college degree can most assurdly keep those doors locked far longer then it might otherwise take. If nothing else being exposesed to Rhetoric, Western Civiliation, and Soci. 101 gives a common language with which to speak to Dr. Snotty-Tot. And speaking the language is never bad thing.
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