Politicians are kind of like racehorses. Most of the time, they're bred for their positions, having attended fancy schools and getting a law degree or some other really expensive piece of paper which they then show to people to enter races.
Some are black horses, with no fancy paperwork, appearing on the scene through various sketchy careers and experiences having nothing at all to do with the ivy league (or the racing circuit). I’m looking at you, The Body. 💪
So which careers would make for a great politician? Let’s take a look at the contenders:
- 🧠Mind your BUSINESS. Oh. Well, that's boring. And predictable. Over the last several decades, most Americans have reported that a background in "business" is what politicians and lawmakers need to steer the country in the right direction. Of course, just saying a background in “business” leaves a lot to the imagination, doesn’t it?
- ⚖️ LAWYER Up. But what we actually usually end up with is a lot of lawyers. Look at Congress right now - 175 of them have law degrees! That makes them the second highest profession represented in Congress. But you know what they don’t have? They don't have a lot of accountants to keep those lawyers in check. 😠
- 📚 Always Playing POLITICS. Most politicians actually have a background in - well, politics. And most of them are college educated. A whopping 96% of members have a degree. It's usually in law, economics, or political science.
- 🎥 HOST With the Most. Let's just come right out and say it -- show biz doesn't hurt. A background in entertainment, whether it's acting, game shows, or comedy, has led to successful political careers for people like Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- 🎉 Festivus for the REST OF US. Holding a particular job before running for office isn't necessary. You also don't need any specific degree, or any degree at all. The qualifications required to run for elected office are typically a) be born here and b) be breathing. Heck – you don’t even need to be human, apparently! 🐶
Okay, so people aren't racehorses. But representation matters, and people from all walks of life with all sorts of experience and backgrounds should be encouraged to run for office. We're what makes the wheels go round.
Guess what? The President is only one racehorse, but there are lots in the race - so have a say in YOUR local & state government racehorses! Here’s three small things you can do that make a BIG impact:
