Step Right Up

The media and career politiacians would have us believe that there are some "special" requirements to become a Congress-person, President or even Supreme Court Judge.

They ask, "what are your qualifications?  Have you ever been elected to office before?"  as if those things really had anything to do with those positions.

We are not only being lied to, we are being misled, deceived and intentionally mis-informed.

As per the U.S. Constitution, you know, the document which sets the law of the Republic and enumerates the powers of the federal government (they hate that by the way):

House of Representatives:

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

The Senate:

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The President:

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

Supreme Court: (emphasis my own)

He (the President) shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law:


Special Note: (emphasis my own)


The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

What you see above is pretty much it.  That is all that is required to fill any of those positions, elected or appointed.  In terms of Supreme Court Judges, it is pretty much left up to the president as to who he or she thinks is qualified to take on such a role but there is absolutely nothing that requires them to have been in the role as a "professional" judge or even a lawyer previous to that appointment.

To become a Senator, a Representative or even President, one need not have ever held public office prior to their being elected to the post.  One need not have been a lawyer or have held any elected office prior to that point at all.

Why do you think it is that those positions were left so open?

It was because the government is by, of and for "The People", that being anyone who fills the above mentioned requirements.  Almost anyone can fill those.  A farmer, an accountant, a writer, a janitor.  Anyone at all who is able to convince others that they are a capable and trustworthy person to represent their city/county/state/country to their best ability.

What is most required is an ability to learn, to be honest, to stand on their principles and to have some degree of wisdom.  Anyone who is capable can be educated.   I would surely prefer an un-educated wise person over an educated fool any day.    The wise person can learn, but the fool will always be so.

Don't be conned.  Don't be made to feel inadequate.  We must have faith in the "everyman/woman" among us to be able to take the mantle of leadership placed upon us by our peers and represent the people with integrity, honor and principle.