We can only hope that the person we put in charge of our nation's government has the kind of quality experiences that will enable himer to make wise decisions on our behalf. What kind of experience qualifies a citizen to be put in charge of the most powerful military machine on the planet? If directly related experience is required, then you'd have to have previously served as a general in command of a large military operation. None of the candidates has that kind of experience.
But there are other types of experience that are even more valuable than directly-related experience. Perhaps the most valuable kind of experience that any Presidential candidate could bring to the White House is EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. Have you had the experience of learning about the history of those regions of the world where conflict has flared over the past half century? Have you had the experience of learning about how nations have pursued international relations in the modern era? Without this kind of quality experience, should you even be considered for the job of President of the United States? Are you going to embarrass us before the world by not even having a good grasp of your own country's history?
Yes, experience is important, extraordinarily important. But the quality of the experiences you've had is far more important than the number of years you've spent on the planet 'experiencing things.' By just about every measure, the quality of Barack Obama's educational experience far exceeds that of the Republican ticket. If all facets of "experience" in a candidate's record were weighted to reflect the superior value of educational experience, then Barack would have far more Total Experience Points to his credit than either both John McCain and Sarah Palin combined.
It's a winning argument, Democrats. McCain's Celebrity Soul Mate may be very comfortable in front of a microphone, and she may be well-qualified to perform across the country as an inspirational speaker for her political party, but it is actually terrifying to think of someone with so little relevant knowledge making decisions as President. It would probably be a good idea for us to start modeling some fear of this nightmare thought.
Candidates are required to provide records of their finances; why shouldn't we require that they show us their college transcripts? We're doing the hiring; don't we have a right to know?
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