Public Servant - Basic Qualifications

We just had a mid-term election. Many new people are elected to Congress and State Houses and local governments. The question I have is what qualification do these individuals must have in order to succeed.

- Nov. 2018

Our Constitution is not very clear on this topic. For certain offices, there are age limitations. There is also citizenship requirement to run for President. However, there should be some practical guidelines for any public servant. This article explore some of these basic qualifications.

For example, if you want to be a policeman, you need to go to school and be trained in the police academy. You must understand our laws and our justice system. You must also learn how to deal with crisis and emotional people.

If you want to be a teacher, you need to be certified by the State and pass certain tests.

If you want to be a bus driver, you need to get a special license and be trained to drive a large vehicle through city streets.

If you want to be a lawyer, you need to go to law school and learn our laws and the past case histories and how to argue in front of a judge...

In most every profession, there is some form of qualifications or standards that one must pass in order to work in those fields.

What I am getting at, is that the same must apply to all our elected officials.

• Speak English fluently.
• Understand our Constitution and how our system works.
• Be honest and truthful when dealing with the public.
• Abide by all laws and regulations on the books.
• Treat all people equally and with respect.

Since a lawmaker suppose to write new laws, he or she must understand the law and how it is to be practiced. Therefore, many of our public servants have law degrees. It is not a necessity but it would help.

A lawmaker must also understand economics and finance. He or she must know how funds are raised and how best to spend those funds for the public good.

A lawmaker must be a people person. He or she is elected because they are very pursuasive. They can talk to a large crowd and convince them of their vision and how they want to improve their community and lives.

Finally, a lawmaker must be a good negotiator. He or she must deal with various other individuals with vastly different agenda and come up with a deal that satisfy all concerned.

Our Constitution.

Oath of office.

Pledge of allegiance.

In NY 14th Congressional district, a young women named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was elected. She is 29 years old, graduated from Boston University with a BA degree. She is running as a Democrat but proclaims to be a member of the Democratic Socialist Party.

At 28 years old, Ocasio-Cortez was one of the youngest nominees for Congress.

Her young age is not the problem but her lack of knowledge is troubling. In many interviews, she seems to lack the basic understanding of our democractic system. She does not have a good grasp of basic foreign policy.

During a PBS interview, she said, “Unemployment is low because everyone has two jobs. Unemployment is low because people are working 60, 70, 80 hours a week and can barely feed their family.”

She also believe in abolishing ICE. Does she even know what ICE does?

She and Bernie Sanders wants free college education for all.

Does she know our Constitution? which calls for a limited Federal government.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

The simple question is this. How can someone pledge an oath to support and defend the Constitution when that person either does not know the Constitution or worse disagrees with the basic principles outlined in our Constitution?

Amazon just announced the location of their new headquarter. They chose Long Island City, NY and Crystal City, Virginia. This should be welcome news for New Yorkers. Yet, the first one to critcize this is no other than the newly elected House of Representitive, a socialist, by the name of Alexandria Cortez. Why am I not surprised?

New York City, you voted for her and you can keep her. If I was Amazon, I would change my mind and move to Texas or Nevada or Florida...where I would be welcomed...

“I just want to let you all know how proud I am of each and every single one of you. For putting yourselves and your bodies and everything on the line to make sure we save our planet,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

Ocasio-Cortez then talked about her own experience protesting climate change.

“We don’t have a choice. We have to get to one hundred percent renewable energy in 10 years. There is no other option,” Ocasio-Cortez added.

Meanwhile, NASA scientist is predicting a cooling due to lack of sunspots...

The lyrics of this song just pop into my head every time I think about Alexandria Cortez...

It seems she does’t know much about foreign policy...

She doesn’t know much about economics...

She doesn’t know much about civics...

She doesn’t know much about science...

She doesn’t know much about freedom and self reliance...they go hand in hand.

How did she get elected to Congress?

what did she learn at Boston University?

A self proclaimed socialist - Mr. Smith takes Washington scenario.

She needs all the luck she can get.