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833 points Bluestein | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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notresidenter ◴[] No.40716362[source]
It's a really nasty feeling to live in a society influenced by politicians in power with ideas so far away from my own, while also having little influence over their decisions, unless I give up what I like doing and go into lobbying (or politics, which seems to me like the poor man's lobbying)

I've sent an e-mail to the permanent representative in the country I live in, but I feel particularly blindsided knowing about such a decision on the same day it is voted. And angry for all the people, especially journalist friends, that are out there and unaware of what's going on.

I'm not sure this is what democracy is supposed to feel like, but if it is, it feels like shit.

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ClumsyPilot ◴[] No.40716648[source]
You are missing historical perspective - listen to recordings of western political leaders from the 70’s - whether good or evil, left or right, it is obvious they are clever, talented people in their prime years.

To have someone like Trump, Biden or Boris Johnson I charge would be unthinkable. We are governed by low calibre people that should already be in retirement.

Core of the problem is that talented people no longer go into governance in the West, it’s now low-status career. (You age to consider all career paths, not just becoming president).

In China it’s a high status career, and the results speak for themselves.

Until we have high-calibre, ambitious and talented people go into politics again, we will continue this muddling decline.

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1. Bluestein ◴[] No.40717866[source]
>> We are governed by low calibre people that should already be in retirement.

>> Core of the problem is that talented people no longer go into governance in the West, it’s now low-status career.

>> Until we have high-calibre, ambitious and talented people go into politics again, we will continue this muddling decline.

I very much resonate with this. Also, with concerns that the opposite might just be as bad: I could name en European, western country of several dozen million people governed by (downright) a career, borderline pyscho narcisist career politician. How do we keep -that- from happening?