Discussion of the Day
Licence for politicians
Dec 14, 22
Vehicle drivers need licenses to be authorized,
Lawyers need licenses to practice law,
Applying the principle for politicians will get smarter leaders to run the governing system without fear of criticism and injustice. Have them go through proper training, certification and licensing in terms of political science, communication skills and behavior. License awarding will be done through the higher government representations, i.e. UN.
Comments
  • Agree
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    • Some years ago I read that pollies in Switzerland were chosen from top executives. They were given a 3 year term in parliament and then returned to their industry positions and did not return to the parliament as members. Have we got enough top executives here to front for us I wonder. Would we be choosing from Trade Union executives and Aged Health Care Executives? Just a thought.
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      • Do not really believe in license for politicians however, I do believe in term limits. The original idea was for people to be voted in and then after a few years return to their jobs or farms or whatever having done their service to the country. Now a days politicians have made lifetime careers of their positions and they are no longer really '' in service '' to the country. Many are bought and paid for by lobbyists and other players. The money they receive on the side is well above what they receive from the taxpayer. In addition, the perks have grown with lifetime pensions and health care as well as security for them and their families. We need term limits, and they need to receive social security and Medicare along with whatever retirement they are able to pay for. If they are able to make book deals or whatever AFTER they have left office ok.
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        • What's the license criteria? How to lie, how to omit the truth, how to break promises, how to distract from questions, how to take advantage of insider knowledge, how to make a bribe look legal. It is such a tough job they would be sitting the license every year ?? by the way the UN is corrupt and has been for ages.
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          • I'm not so sure about this one. It sounds good in theory, but I'm not sure that it would be workable in practice. And perish the thought that the UN should be involved in training them! They cause more problems around the world than they solve!
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            • ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT
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              • A delusion .Politicians Have to agree to it .Some do have some of the qualities you suggest .We are fortunate we don't live in a country where Communism rules .Have you thought about studying ???to go into politics .It is so easy to be critical from a lounge chair
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                • What a good idea John M
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                  • If the UN was involved it would be unworkable, but in Australia it wouldn't work. First we have the parties and the pre-selection. So does everyone wanting to be pre-selected need a license? What about the Senate? Dozens of silly little parties such as the Sex Party stand for the Senate, and before each election they hold down a real job so hardly have time for training. Who exactly would do the judging for a license, clapped out politicians or public servants? Do I really want some snake oil trained liar representing me, I don't think so, I much prefer a real person who honestly wants to do the right thing for the electorate.
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                    • What an interesting topic. I couldn't Imagine this happening though. Politicians are known for their opinions on things, and how they voice this to the public is how they get voters to side with them. This couldn't be regulated, as Imagine if they all followed the same reasoning in their speeches? Then we effectively would only have one party? It's the differing opinions that help a government form, and make changes..good and bad.
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                      • Unfortunately there are some folk who don’t like qualifications and an understanding of appropriate decision making for all and think it’s ok to be uneducated when it comes to what is required to administer a cohesive civil society.
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                        • Hi, John M. I know that licenses sound like a highly workable system, however I am concerned that we will end up with more of the same that we have now. There are so many formally uneducated people out there who show intelligence, tenacity, skill and tolerance and an ability to think outside the box out there that a lic. system may exclude them from standing for public office. I am thinking particularly of those who have a neurological difference from those in the main population, but who can make a great but different contribution. If the parliament is to be truly representative of the people of this nation, then we need divergence, and that may mean less of the middle class, middle aged men and women who appear to dominate Question time daily.
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                          • NOPE reduce the salary to basic wage for first term and the weeds will not apply. training them only make them more efficient liars, and the EDUCATION system in the WEST couldnt train anyone....
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                            • excellent idea which should be introduced
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                              • Great logic!
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                                • Not sure if that would really be the answer, having said that I have no idea what the answer should be. Good politicians are few and far between.
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                                  • Why, they would only lie on the application,anyway
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                                    • You've got to be joking, It seems that most politicians were practicing lawyers prior to retiring into politics
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                                      • I have an idea. All pollies should undergo a rigorous medical examination for health and mental issues. Not a polygraph test. As part of these tests and this is important!! they will be given a truth serum drug to find the truth of why they want to be a pollie. What they are prepared to do, in their roles. We could check for indicators of honesty, work ethics and other essential attributes. Well, what do you think?
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                                        • Not sure about this. I'd rather vote for someone who is a bit more relatable to everyday people than someone who has narrowed their career path for politics. If the certification process takes a long time you'll have a lot of book smart people with no experience in the real world plus the age diversity in politics will decrease.
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                                          • Dont trust any of them
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                                            • I absolutely agree and if they stuff up, they should lose it like everyone else.
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                                              • A politician Must have 15-20 years of employment in other than unions and political parties. In other must have worked in free enterprise
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                                                • If politicians started at the local council area level like they had to do in the past. People would have a better idea of their value before they moved up the ladder to State then Federal level. They would not need a licence because if they fail at the base then they cannot progress.
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                                                  • A majority of the people here in Australia that have gone into politics are just in it for the money. They aren't there to represent us even though they are supposed to be there for that very reason. This is why we vote, this is why we need a democracy, even though some times we really don't have a great choice to choose from. Our leaders are supposed to lead us and many have failed a long the way hence why they aren't in the job any more and this is why we suffer as a nation because simply we don't have good enough people in the top job or good enough people wanting to do the job in the first place. Sad but very true.
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                                                    • Politicians are meant to represent the people, all the people from all walks of life. Not just those fortunate enough to be able to receive a tertiary education. That is the whole idea of having a representative democracy.
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                                                      • Oh no, not the UN, the "united" part of the Name is very misleading.
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                                                        • Agree with you Robert M, do not trust any of them.
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                                                          • we need things like common sense and practical thinking, politicians are professional thieves who look after themselves, I know there are good ones that are honest in their attempts to help us but they are too few in numbers, there's a word they all like to use [ the honorable], this is a word that needs to be earned not given, I volunteer here and there to help people to get the joy of helping I think this thinking should be aligned to our leaders, leaders lead by example in my day, they go hungry when there's not enough food, they stay back and fight when everyone is running, they keep working when everyone is asleep and tired find me a politician with that attitude and ill vote for him
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                                                            • I’ve said this a long time ago but remember they make the rules
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                                                              • The problem is most pollies have learnt to lie as they are trained Lawyers or Accountants.
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                                                                • You've got to be a bloody good liar to become a politician of any colour, never mind the rest.
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                                                                  • ALL PROFFESIONS NEEDS LICENSES BUT IF THEY ARE ALREADY IN THERE POSITIONS NOBODY ARE PERFECT.. .
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                                                                    • I think it is reasonable to expect politicians on state or federal levels to have a degree in politics, at least, along with a strong record of community involvement.
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                                                                      • Politicians should have a licence to prove they know how to use their brain, or in fact, prove they actually have one!
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                                                                        • don,t trust politions there in it for the money and telling lies to get what they wont if i didnt have to vote they can go to hell
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                                                                          • ....and prison for those who fail us..... isn't that right Scotty?.....I bet you wish someone would beam you up about now........
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                                                                            • You're so right APB!
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                                                                          • like a license to lie
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                                                                            • Probably not, sometimes everyday people have more commonsense
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                                                                              • Never going to work as all Pollies are a subspecies of Humanity that has yet to be classed. A better idea was promoted in the 1930 Eugenics where the killed off all the feeble minded people for the good of the majority and as every Politian has a Power Crazed melomaniac who is only there for what power that they can gather for themselves it would be a better idea of Appoint an Administrator for a 6 month term at which point they get replaced no matter what and put down the Subspecies and everyone connected with them for the benefit of Humanity. As for training them most of the current crop are Professional Politicians they did Political Science at University worked for a sitting Politician all their lives till they could get elected so we in effect have what you want and they all leave a lot to be desired they lie cheat and keep the mug punters in the dark as to what they are doing so we currently have everything but Licensed Pollies here in AU and then there was Trump in the US of A and we do not want to see someone like him running the show here. As an argument against Deamoncratic Erections remember every Great Ruthless Leader was democratically elected as Popular Person by the Masses and at the very least that lead to WW11, Korea, Vietnam and so on.
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                                                                                • View all 4 replies
                                                                                • I’ve never heard of Deamoncratic Erections. You have made my day Colon ha ha just joking Colin. Something new for me to research…
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                                                                                • Colin L 88398Christine M 323842
                                                                                  They say if you can read the first and last letter in a word you can read the word. I like throwing in some strange ones to see who actually comprehends what I have written.
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                                                                                • Christine M 323842Colin L 88398
                                                                                  Did I pass the test?
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                                                                                • Colin L 88398Christine M 323842
                                                                                  Well you saw the Deliberate Mistooks didn't you?
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                                                                              • I think they should authorize vehicle drivers in order for them get driver licenses. I also think lawyers should need a license to practice law in any state.
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                                                                                • Good in theory but won’t work. Too many have vested interests.
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                                                                                  • Don’t be silly they wouldn’t pass the training
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                                                                                    • Brilliant John,I agree!
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                                                                                      • They all get very specific training already. Media training for example, that’s how they all learn the skill of not answering any question put to them, but offering up something that they want to talk about on every occasion.
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                                                                                        • Yes, the donations they receive just insure they'll stand for an agenda the donors want and the big buck donors aren't little ol' you and me. They are big companies with lots to gain because of tax corruption and same goes for wealthy and rich private donors who get the benefit of great tax breaks their donated money bought them. I think the the liscencing of politicians could be beneficial, but we need to take it steps further with no campaign donorship. All it is for is to make sure laws that benefit the the wealthy and big corporations what THEY WANT. It's a real doozy of an issue. But as I've seen a few other people post, people, the voters, need to be educated about the best options out of those who are running for office, and then vote for that person, and hope and pray they do the right thing while they are serving as our politicians. Go to public policy meetings and speak your mind about what these committees are doing in your neighborhoods. Start small and make changes in your communities to get changes made close to home and then move up the political chain and say your piece. I just don't think there is a solution to such an out of control problem. Except to exercise our right to vote and use our individual voices. ??????? Tough one
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                                                                                          • I think to say that licensed politicians means we will get smarter leaders to run the system without fear of criticism and injustice is incorrect. Whenever we place, or someone places themselves, above criticism then we are asking for Trouble. We are inviting autocratic, despotic, dictatorship to take over. Three perfect examples of this are front and centre in, at least, three countries today. Three countries where you are not allowed to criticise the President or the Government. Those countries are China and Russia and North Korea Criticise either the leaders or their hand-picked Government Members and you risk, at best, imprisonment, torture, trials at which the outcome is decided before you even get to court with the "verdict" always being "Guilty" followed by the Death Sentence. Or, as is the case in Russia under the steel heel of little Vladimir Putin (he is under 5 foot 7 inches) - for writing this he would arrange for me to be murdered as he tried with Navalny. To have a politician and their fellow politicians considered to be above criticism invites, as in those countries, Corruption at the Highest level with no-one able to hold any of them to account. Yes, by all means, make sure those wanting to stand for our Parliaments have been trained to Tell the TRUTH at all times, to keep their Promises, to behave towards women and men in a respectful way, to have it instilled into them that they are there to Serve the People and not, as we see the universal practice today, to serve themselves. The first step towards corrupt, autocratic government is to grant those in government Rights, Privileges and Protection against criticism and prosecution - Rights and Privileges they would deny the rest of us!
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                                                                                            • Not sure about that,might make no difference because some will still be able to spin a tale to keep their licence
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                                                                                              • Unfortunately the everyday ordinary voter will feel like they just don't understand the difficulties of everyday ordinary life.
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                                                                                                • Having a licence to drive doesn't make someone a good driver...
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                                                                                                  • not feasible
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                                                                                                    • We the voter give them the License when we vote them in and take it away when we don't vote for them.
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                                                                                                      • Having a licence to do something doesn't make a person 'smart'. A lot of politicans have been through the Private education system and it hasn't made them any smarter. In fact, it has probably made them more detached from what the 'average' person has to struggle with. Life experience is a better teacher than any education or 'licence' training will ever be. If we want better politicians, we need to ban political party donations and there needs to be transparency, and more importantly, accountability. If we don't do our job properly or do something illegal, we get the sack and in some cases, have criminal charges brought against us. Politicians can do whatever they want, cause damage to society eg Robodebt, and get away scott-free. Accountability starts in the home, when you are a child, and you get disciplined. No licence needed!
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                                                                                                        • And Scott is the appropriate word in regards to Robodebt. He should be charged with manslaughter regarding all those that committed suicide after being accused of dishonesty, and then hounded to pay back money they never owed.. Actually culpable negligence would probably be the more appropriate charge, given that he was repeatedly advised that the program was dishonest and illegal right from the start, yet he ignored all the advice and went ahead with it anyway.
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                                                                                                      • Unfortunately it is the politicians that would have to vote for this in Parliament and we all know what they would vote for, which means nothing will change.
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                                                                                                        • I agree wholeheartedly. Also we should change our voting system from preferential voting to one vote one value, then politicians who do not have enough votes will not get in on preferences
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                                                                                                          • Having a licence in no way means you know what you are doing, just look at most drivers, who would set the test, set the questions, we get the people we vote for, that's democracy, not some trained monkeys that some fool thinks we should have, do we want to be like North Korea or Myanmar, or worse Afghanistan or Iran run by the chosen few, that is the self-chosen few
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                                                                                                            • Per the usual way of politics, I can see this becoming a lucrative side business
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                                                                                                              • As said this is an interesting idea but I can see it going wrong,
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                                                                                                                • I don’t think that will change anything. Politicians live off handshake deals. I’m sure some one would just sign them off.
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                                                                                                                  • Politic is good if it runs fairly and honesty is the foundation, but the one who is in politics is not honest, and twisted the truth, to rake in the money into his /her pocket, and think that they are above the law, bugger the rest of us.. vote them out the next time.
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                                                                                                                    • hmm interesting idea but think impossible to work. Most politicians now have no life skills as like teachers they have spend their life going to "school" Not to mention who is going to set up the test paper for this licence?
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                                                                                                                      • can we find a unbiased licencer?
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                                                                                                                        • And yet ANYONE can have children.
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                                                                                                                          • the question is who is going to pay for this license - another pay rise to accommodate it?????
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                                                                                                                            • You forgot to mention fining them or sending them to jail when they break the rules. As can happen to vehicle drivers.
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                                                                                                                              • What an excellent idea John. I agree but never thought of a licence but always thought they should be trained properly and have to prove it
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                                                                                                                                • I have known a politician as a good friend. i do agree with licenencing
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                                                                                                                                  • ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT IS WHAT WE NEED, WITH 0 MONATARY VALUE
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                                                                                                                                  • Yes, licences are required for every thing and everyone in some way, state or form, in everyday living, however I’m not sure how needing a license to be a politician will make a difference? After all what brings a politician into a leadership role is OUR VOTE! So maybe we need to make sure we learn from high school level what it means to govern/lead a country, and then make sure we all vote, and I believe from the age of 16. Let’s look at Christopher Luzon for example, what skills does he have to be a good leader - studied at university of Canterbury, gaining a master of commerce (business administration degree) he was the chief executive officer of air New Zealand, he has been MP for botany downs since 2920, he appears to have good value’s and Christian faith, a family man, full of hope for our beautiful country. So I believe we as everyday working folk, need to do our research thoroughly before we vote, and then do our best to accept the results!
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                                                                                                                                    • You are conversing about a meritocracy type of government involving politicians' readiness (competency) to run for office - which has never been practice on this planet. Still a NICE DREAM.........DREAM ON!
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                                                                                                                                      • This idea is not in keeping with the original intent of public service established by the founders. The original idea was that people from all walks of life should be able to serve in public office for a period of time and then return to their previous lives. We should get back to that. Get the big, dark money out of politics and take other measures to discourage career politicians.
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                                                                                                                                        • yes
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                                                                                                                                          • What rubbish
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                                                                                                                                            • Hear, hear. We have had some pretty shonky characters in politics - time to make it a little harder for them. And, time to lower their over inflated wages. People who truly care about this country and it's people will do it for love not how much money they can make!
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                                                                                                                                              • Good point but law made by government on themselves will not happen
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                                                                                                                                                • I agree.
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                                                                                                                                                  • it would never work.
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                                                                                                                                                    • I don’t trust the UN. What are they going to be taught. Only honest people can be trusted, most of those do not go into politics. The problem is the thirst for power. We need to vet the people running better, deeper and raise our children better so we will have a generation of trust worth people.
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                                                                                                                                                      • No. This is silly.
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                                                                                                                                                        • sounds good - now you need politicians to pass it through parliament. Not a chance!
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