On Wed, 3 Nov 2004 10:42:21 +0100, "b"
<nospam.bengabenga@caramail.com> brought down from the Mount tablets
inscribed:

>>>> Can a prostitute  or male porn star be the leader of your country if 
>>>> they
>>>> meet
>>>> the other qualifications?
>>>
>>>yes.
>>>*if they meet the other qualifications*.
>>>Problem with the examples of porn-stars going into politics such as the
>>>Cicciolina in Italy and a couple of others IK can remember was that they
>>>didn't meet the other qualifications, so it was all pretty pathetic.
>>>Showbusiness, rather than politics. But this seems trendy nowadays, actors
>>>in politics, Reagan, Schwarzenegger... just one step from support to
>>>participation which has now been crossed.
>>
>> The bastards! How dare they forget that they are merely actors and not
>> citizens with just as much right to seek office as anyone else!
>
>Trust me, I don't think actors or porn actors or prostitutes aren't citizens 
>like everyone else, and sure why not, *if they meet the other 
>qualifications* , of course.

These are encoded into statutes somewhere?

All they have to do is meet the statutory/constitutional requirements,
and convince 50% plus one of the voters to vote for them. Or a
reasonable fascimile thereof, if we take the quirky US electory
college into account.
>
>I only think it's interesting to note, in the current state of politics, 
>this tendency to elect show-business people.
>Politics is now part of show-business in a way, with the importance of ever 
>growing importance of public image.
>Berlusconi is another name that comes to mind when speaking of this 
>tendency, running more than half the Italian media...
>
>seriousness apart, it does make the elections fun, a cynical part of me 
>hopes that this trend develops, and that in the coming years we'll see a 
>duel between a Britney Spears like singer and a high class ballet dancer or 
>something, or maybe the Bearded Woman against the World Rodeo Champion, 
>colorful possibilities are endless and would give world politics seem more 
>attractive, maybe.
>
>To be honest, i'm probably old fashioned but I do value education and 
>political awareness / involvement as part of the important qualifications 
>for running a country.
>which doesn't mean that a prostitute or a porn actor cannot meet these 
>criteria, of course. 

Those are your personal criteria when voting for someone, not the
criteria for a person running for, attaining, or holding an elected
position.





--

Michael Cash

"I am sorry, Mr. Cash, but we are unable to accept your rap sheet in lieu of
a high school transcript."

                                Dr. Howard Sprague
                                Dean of Admissions
                                Mount Pilot College