Informed, Engaged Voters Lead to Quality Public Leadership

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I would agree that character is the single most important in consideration of who we cast our ballots for in this, or any, election. I do wish we had a reliable mechanism for revealing candidates character. Perhaps a questionnaire about core beliefs based on some model of character would be helpful.

Phil Eastman of ID 10:27AM October 27, 2010

MKS if your definition of informed and engaged is to work and pay taxes for a few years, then that would mean that everyone is informed and engaged already, and that isn't the case. I think one of Hagel's points is that we need people to be willing to do more than that.

WDN of TX 1:53AM October 27, 2010

...This describes almost nobody in office today or in the next congress.

Blue Shark of NY 6:56PM October 26, 2010

Rather than staying the background it would be good to have you in the foreground, specially in Latin America. Hillary just does not have the temperament to do well in Latin America.

Alina M. Lopez Marin of CA 6:04PM October 26, 2010

Senator Hagel is correct; voters need to be informed and engaged, and elected officials need to perform the duties of their offices according to their consciences. This may sometimes conflict with the desires of their constituents.
Although fortunate enough to have received a graduate degree, I no longer consider school education the best metric for "informed and engaged". I think someone who has worked and paid taxes for a few years deserves that description more than does someone who holds a degree. I do not say this in support of "means testing," but rather in support of the contributory aspect of "engaged".
I also think Senator Hagel's exhortation to consider office in the spirit of public service an excellent argument for term limits.

MKS of GA 4:20PM October 26, 2010