Continuing education for politicians
In Western countries there is an excellent system of requiring continuing education of professionals in various fields such as law, medicine etc. Even politicians are expected to be well read and graduates who have had experience in law or political sciences. The public hold them to very high standards.
In India, off all professional classes, the politicians seem to be the least educated but wield power that even the most educated citizens cannot dream of having. Bureaucrats, who generally are educated and have passed civil services examinations (which are of high standard) are subject to the whims and fancies of uneducated politicians who come to office. Law breakers rule the law makers and those like you and me who follow the law.
Prior to entering office, there should be a minimum standard that should be set. For instance, a health minister should have studied medicine, or worked in the field, or volunteered in the system for a minimum period of time prior to entering office. Instead, politicians go straight from giving populist speeches written for them to commanding the highest offices in the land.
Imagine having a doctor who became a doctor by giving a few speeches and then "elected to the hospital". What kind of medicine would such a doctor practice? Patients if they have no choice of going elsewhere would suffer. As citizens of this country we have no choice currently but to accept the system. But with growing awareness and education tables will eventually turn and politics will be held to the same standard as other fields such as medicine. It is high time that happens. It starts with the public demand for continuing education for politicians. They will have to stand in the same long lines we do at government offices to learn what the public are subject to. That is the first lesson that they will need to learn.
Blessings to all
Swami Ponnurangam
In India, off all professional classes, the politicians seem to be the least educated but wield power that even the most educated citizens cannot dream of having. Bureaucrats, who generally are educated and have passed civil services examinations (which are of high standard) are subject to the whims and fancies of uneducated politicians who come to office. Law breakers rule the law makers and those like you and me who follow the law.
Prior to entering office, there should be a minimum standard that should be set. For instance, a health minister should have studied medicine, or worked in the field, or volunteered in the system for a minimum period of time prior to entering office. Instead, politicians go straight from giving populist speeches written for them to commanding the highest offices in the land.
Imagine having a doctor who became a doctor by giving a few speeches and then "elected to the hospital". What kind of medicine would such a doctor practice? Patients if they have no choice of going elsewhere would suffer. As citizens of this country we have no choice currently but to accept the system. But with growing awareness and education tables will eventually turn and politics will be held to the same standard as other fields such as medicine. It is high time that happens. It starts with the public demand for continuing education for politicians. They will have to stand in the same long lines we do at government offices to learn what the public are subject to. That is the first lesson that they will need to learn.
Blessings to all
Swami Ponnurangam
