Politicians spend much of their time—and ours—trying to convince us that we and they are the same. Probably, 80 percent of a political campaign is focused on this idea.
The candidate must persuade voters that they can identify with the candidate and that the politician easily understands the problems that an individual voter is facing every day. Only when this hurdle is overcome can the candidate offer solutions to those problems.
Voters rarely accept the solution, unless they feel that the candidate understands what it is like walking in their shoes. It is similar to the argument that it is difficult for a person to take advice about marriage from a priest who has never been married.
To gain a vote, the prospective elected official must argue that he or she is simply doing the job of president, legislator or mayor in the same way the individual voter would if that private citizen had the time to run for public office and win. That is why candidates love to be seen in places where people go every day—the public school, the bus terminal and at the local food stall.
Candidates are not photographed at five-star hotel cake shops; they have their pictures taken at the public market.
However, they must also project an image of being just a little bit more qualified than everyone else, having gone to a better school or coming from a “better” family. It is a critical and narrow path that politicians must walk to be at the same time “of the people” and yet a little “above the people.”
But the reality is something entirely different. Most politicians do not have a clue as to what an ordinary citizen’s life really is like.
Here is the total private-sector experience of the leaders—in no particular order—of Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom. “Private sector” means working outside of the government, a political party, or for a government-funded organization.
Prime minister, age 61: two years as a university researcher. Prime minister, age 49: seven years as spokesman and corporate lobbyist. Prime minster, age 44: two years as substitute school teacher and actor. President, age 61: no private-sector experience. Prime minister, age 61: three years as foreign sales representative. President, age 63: no private-sector experience. President, age 60: no private-sector experience. President, age 49: no private-sector experience. Prime minister, age 54: no private-sector experience. President, age 62: no private-sector experience.
Having lived a combined 564 years, these world leaders have had to work for real living like we do for a total of 14 years.
Is it any wonder then why their solutions to real world economic and social problems might not have a connection to our real world?