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kim kyeongmin

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Do you need political experience to be a president?

Ronald Reagan, american president was a entertainer before he became president. Is political experience inevitable to be in presidential seat?

Topics: politic
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  • Jonathan Gronli

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    Dec 5 2012: It isn't required, but it doesn't hurt to have experience in either politics or leadership.

    For example, Zachary Taylor was a general prior to becoming President - so not political but leadership. Ulysses S. Grant was the same.
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    Maxime Touzel

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    Dec 4 2012: No

  • greg dahlen 20+

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    Dec 4 2012: Not only was Reagan governor of California, he was also for a while the president of the Screen Actors Guild, which is the labor union for entertainers. In a way, I think everything in life has a political aspect, so I think you could do a job which is not a political job, but still learn a lot about politics.
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    Roy Bourque 20+

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    Nov 28 2012: If one does not understand the political process, then one is at a disadvantage from the start. The president not only needs to know what is good for the people in good times, he/she must also make tough decisions when all goes South. Lack of political experience can make a bad situation worse if you don't understand the forces you are in control of.
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    Chetan Somani

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    Nov 27 2012: I think its mandatory to have an experience in a field which u going to lead.
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    Robert Winner 50+

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    Nov 26 2012: I believe the requirement is to be 35 years of age and a natural born citizen of the United Statres. For some countries the rise to presidency is a family business As I have said before the key to election to office is the art of seduction of the voters.

    In regards to the seduction statement above ... the major problem, in my opinion, is that the voters are not well versed in 1) the political process 2) the Constitution 3) the business of running a country 4) the ability to discern fact from fiction 5) the ability to make their own decisions (have become sheeple).

    When we get a higher percentage voting for American Idol than for President ..... we have a problem.

    I onced asked a man in the Philipines who he would vote for and he told me Marcos. I ask why. He said that Marcos was already a millionaire and did not need to steal as much as the other guy who was not yet a millionaire.

    I accompanied my state senator to a school visit. In the government class she asked simple questions such as who is pres / vice pres / senator / ect ... The superintendent and principal were shocked that the seniors could not answer these questions. They were taught to the book and to pass the required tests ... they knew little about the government.

    All the best. Bob.

  • Barry Palmer 50+

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    Nov 26 2012: Political experience is very helpful for a President to be effective. The real power to effect change is in Congress.
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    Elizabeth Gu 30+

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    Nov 26 2012: It's required. But it's not necessarily for the record of one's resume, but it should be for one's own experience. And hopefully, despite what you experience, you need to be able to maintain your integrity as long as you can.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Nov 25 2012: One does not need lengthy years of being a politician to be a president.
    One needs the courage to take responsibility even when it is not convinient to do so.
    One needs passion for service, and the ability to communicate effectively, and the wisdom to identify talented, and sagacious people that would give helpful counsel.

  • george lockwood 20+

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    Nov 25 2012: Reagan was also governor of California. Washington,Grant, and Eisenhower were Generals.
    One problem out of the three - he was president during impossible times. Lincoln had a very brief low level political exoerience. Washington and Lincoln the two(2) greatest Oops Washington did help with our greatest documents. The point is not a great deal of political experience is needed. Governors have run states Senators have friends that can be very helpful in being President. There is a problem While there have been very old Supreme Court Justices and Senators, being President is work,work, and more work.

    • Jonathan Gronli

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      Dec 5 2012: Actually Washington was also a delegate in the first two Continental Congresses as well before becoming president. Eisenhower also had prior more prior political and leadership positions than just general. For example, he was the 13th President of Columbia University and the first governor of the American zone of Occupied Germany. Just saying.
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    sterling brewer

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    TED Translator
    Nov 25 2012: it should be.
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