How to Choose our MP's

Forced to resign. Not because he did his job badly, not because he didn't achieve the tasks he was meant to achieve. No; he was forced to resign because of something he did in his own private life, not affecting the outstanding job he was doing in any way.


The Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, was a great leader. He took his post strongly and vowed to crack down on corruption, shady practices, and he made a change. He was named by Time Magazine as 'Crusader of the Year', while others called him 'The Sheriff of Wall Street'. Many saw him as a potential candidate for president; yes, the future for Spitzer was very promising.

So what brought the man to resign? Very simply, his involvement with prostitution; in his free time, he spent money on a high-end prostitute service. Not that it affected his job, his efforts, or even his output, at which he was doing amazingly well. But because he was doing something considered immoral in his own private life, the people struck down, and demanded he resign, or otherwise face impeachment.


And so the past few days have seen a huge fuss being thrown about over this 'scandal', to which Spitzer finally announced his resignation. And therefore, New York has just lost a valuable leader, one capable of stimulating progress and brining about beneficial change. And why? For something he did in his own private life? Something he did not let affect his position as Governor? Something that could in no way affect any of the people of New York?

What he does in his own spare time is nobody's business. He wants to sleep with prostitutes? Fine, as long as it doesn't affect his job. He wants to smoke up, drink? As long as he does a great job, so what? He doesn't poke his nose into your private business, why do you poke your nose into his? Remember Bill Clinton? The American President who moved the US into a stage of prosperity and wealth? Who made life good for the people? Who brought strength to it's economy? He was thrown out for having an affair. An affair. Something many people denounce but end up doing behind closed doors. How did the affair affect his job as president? Not in the least. But the American people decided that he should go, and so he did. And the sad thing is, he will always be remembered for his affair, and not for his great achievements.


Leaders shouldn't be chosen through what they do in their personal lives, but for what they can do in their position. You don't hire an Engineer because he doesn't sleep around, but you hire him because he can do his job well. You don't hire a Doctor because he doesn't drink, but you hire him because he can heal his patients. You don't vote for an MP because he makes a great religious speech, has a beard that goes down to his waist, or a thob that goes above his knees. You don't vote for an MP because he belongs to a specific relgious sect, or because he's your friend or your neighbor. You vote for an MP based on his educational and working credentials. Based on his knowledge of how to enact change, based on his experience. You vote for an MP based on his awareness of how political processes work, and perhaps on his familiarness with other fields that would make his position more useful.

Let's vote for politicians, bankers, and doctors. Let's vote for engineers, economists, and scientists. Let's vote for people who have enough knowledge to make a difference in our parliament halls, to make a difference in our country.

Until then, enjoy the ongoing parliament arguments every week, and the fights that start up 10 minutes into every session. We're not very far away from this: