Does Education Really Matter, cont.

A reader writes:

Since I have less than 2 years college credit and most of that is from military classes, correspondence courses, and experience in electronics maintenance and supervision, I tend to believe that learning outside of college in the real world is also very valuable. I also have a Commercial Pilot's License with Instrument Rating.

Well, good for you! You've done a lot with your limited education. Would I say that you're an exceptional person because you've managed to do all that without advanced education? Probably not.

I believe that both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have had extensive "real world" learning. McCain, the guy who got legacied into Annapolis, may have had his share of hard knocks, but really all he managed to do was parlay his story into a somewhat distinguished senate career. Palin? Sorry -- I wonder if she's even read as many books as the fabled list of those she allegedly wanted to ban from the Wasilla public library.

But here's the kicker -- having a president who was at the bottom of his class, or a vice president who took six years and five colleges to graduate, is simply unacceptable! Having a hockey mom who has the intellectual capacity of a pitbull with lipstick as next in line scares the living shit out of me.

As Americans we want the best and the brightest to occupy those offices -- not just the guys who are just like us ordinary guys. I don't want the guy who delivers my mail, or even the woman pediatrician who helps keep my kids healthy, to negotiate with world leaders on behalf of more than 350 million Americans. Sure, those people make for inspiring stories, but when it comes to leading us and inspiring people all over the world, I want the person whose whole life has been one amazing accomplishment after another, who has overcome incredible adversity to achieve fantastic heights of success, whose intellect is dizzying, whose very life story inspires me to be better. What I don't want is someone whose worldview stopped expanding until the moment she was thrust onto the national stage with nothing more than snazzy glasses, a pretty face, and a gaggle of good-looking kids.

After eight years of frat boy leadership and "dark lord" shadow leadership, it's time for genuine intellectual superstars to have the job. It's time for Americans to champion people who possess the leadership skills, the self-confidence, but above all the breadth and depth of knowledge, to do the job. Neither of the candidates on the Republican side can demonstrate that level of knowledge; both the candidates on the Democratic side can.